A Question on Equipment

[Taqwus]

Try a Black Lord prophet with a Star of Heroes or other decent early weapon. Good head-bashing.
One note: mounted commanders do not incur regular encumberance from armor, if memory serves, but spellcasting encumberance always includes double armor encumberance regardless of mount. Don't make your mage wear Monolith Armor unless you can somehow deal with huge amounts of fatigue. You also can't give tower shields (including the Crystal Shield, if memory serves) to mounted troops.