H'okay, so, it is generally accepted by everyone that whoever invented the saplings for druids is a dirty sadist. Having to chop it multiple times while the trees themselves are flinging you around is ridiculous, whereas realitycheck is instantaneous.
BUT, I do like the idea of a way to protect demesnes... so I think mages should have a similar skill to even the odds a bit. Therefore, I present you you'se:

CROMLECHS! (GEOCAST CROMLECH to use)

A cromlech is a stone circle, sort of a stonehenge-ish type of thing. It would work exactly like a sapling, and summoning cromlechs would kill any trees, or make them petrified, as well as nullify any aquamancer defense (see below).

Obviously there needs to be an aquamancer version, possibly some kind of fountain or ice sculptures or somesuch, which when cast gets rid of cromlechs and saplings.

Casting saplings where a cromlech/fountain is present would cause them to regrow again of course.

Possibly, the cromlechs, saplings, etc could have a passive effect. Healing for the fountain and Seren trees... maybe damage or something for Glom trees and cromlechs.

Yeah. Pesky druids.

No. You lose.

See, mages can actually do things outside of demesne. Druids can't. End of story.

No forest=Near every Druidry skill nullified.

We can damage kill as we afflict the hell out of people, but that's a bit different.

(Also, doesnt the Crow Instakill need trees to work?)

At least mages don't have to worry about other mages instantly getting rid of their demesne rooms with ease. Druids also suck badly outside of their demesne unlike mages whom have psionics and so on.

Saplings are still a bloody arse. How about making this a fairly hefty power skill, and putting it somewhere high up the Mage primary skillsets. That way, chopping is by far the better option - but it isn't the only option.

If saplings are a problem, find a way to better deal with saplings.

Stop trying to fix problem A by changing issue B!

I still think that geomancers and aquamancers should just receive a skill to form their own axe (which is of high quality with a power cost), this way at least we don't have to rely on an outside source in case we lose our axe and can't find another. Geomancers would obviously form their axe from stone, and Aquamancers from ice.

Agreed.

I think saplings should be a little bit easier to chop. That, or a new skill could be added (maybe 5 power or so) to taint/flood over sapling. Also, I think other druids should have a delay when they try to forest over a sapling.

How about this.... I'll stock my shop full of axes and you can run to it and buy one whenever you need? Ofcourse why would I stock axes if nobody tells me they need them.

As a note, I think you want to make sure they are all high damage axes, Dag. I don't think either other stat matters for chopping.

Here's the solution to saplings: Make friends with an Axelord!

Not true, talk to borca he was pretty dam good of out demesne.

Hmm sorry but now I think about it I recall a post saying sapings should be chopable in one hit in most landscapes? Did I miss this out or something?

With a high damage axe and reasonable strength, they should be one hit chopable in all non-natural forest locatoins.

Make them one hit chopable in all non natural forest location with any axe and any strength.

I agree with some of the ideas people have posted about the sapplings for both sides. Either make them a one hit kill or, give Mages the ability to raise their own and thus even the playing field between them.

Recovery time on chop is less than the recovery time on realitycheck, isn't it?

Not that I've noticed.

What about adding a new ability to Mage staffs? "TOUCH STAFF TO SAPLING"

For Aquamancers, the ground around the sapling turns to really liquidy mud and it falls over.
For Geomancers, the tree is petrified, and then crumbles.

And it could cost 1 power and/or a decent chunk of willpower? That way chopping would still be the cheaper option, but they'd have this available too?

Time on realitycheck is 2.5-2.7 seconds. Time on chop is 2.0-2.3 seconds. So, they're about equal.

Damage does effect the axe. 10 hits with a 196 damage axe for a 500 pound tree, 15 hits with a 110 damage axe. Speed doesn't seem to, but Hiri forgot to have timestamping on

(Note that "500 pound tree" means natural forest, and a sapling that's been growing for 5 IC years, so no whining about 10 hits being too much )

Even better, make it so that you can chop trees using your staff. Except it would have to look a bit different, with the end becoming coated in sharp stone or ice when you swing it.