Hey David --
As a long-time player, I long ago created a single-page piece of paper with
enough room for 22 characters (so I could leave gaps between groups of
characters in different locations, or scratch out some and have other lines
available, at least until up to the full 21 characters when space gets a little
tight), 2 lines per character (one per order), and I make photocopies of them.
On those sheets I organize my characters by location -- all the characters at
the capital first, with characters leading an army, navy or company so noted
and with everyone under their command listed next with their commander's ID
noted -- and put notes as to their ranks etc. off to the left of their names
and so on. I work out my orders there rather than in Automagic, because I can
see which characters are in the same hex, who is in an army and where, etc.
a lot easier than either looking at automagic or looking at my turn. I work
out my orders there, scratch them out, make corrections, switch which
characters are doing which orders at the capital in order to make the most efficient
use of the skill ranks etc, available, and so on.
Every once in a while I will want to verify my economics etc., in which case
I may use Automagic as a tool to do that. Or I may not have the rulebook
handy and will use it as a tool for remembering which bits of extra data are
needed. But for the most part, Automagic for me is just an excellent way of
getting the orders submitted -- in the correct format etc. I have never had a
real problem with formatting orders, but every once in a while I'll use an
order I don't use very often and may need a reminder as to the correct order
number or some specific bit of data -- and for that all the extra information
Mike has put into the tool is awesome. I don't use most of it -- but when I
do need something, it is available and definitely appreciated!
I definitely agree that the process of working out what I am doing, and how,
the finances and coordination of character orders and so on, is much of the
enjoyment I get out of the game. Having Automagic doesn't detract from that
for me -- it just makes submitting orders by email a whole lot easier. 
-- Ernie III
In a message dated 10/1/2005 3:43:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, greysquirre
l@blueyonder.co.uk writes:
Hi Mike
I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I'm very impressed with
automagic.
I just wonder if by making it too easy to do the orders we are losing an
important element of the game. I've always thought that working out my
finances and who can and can't do things was part of the enjoyment.
David
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]