I had this idea a while ago to turn demesne passive effects into active effects. Here's how.

Give mages a new "energy" thing. Every few seconds, you gain 1 energy, and the maximum energy you can have would be, say... 5. For 1 energy, you can use one demesne effect - actively. For 2 energy, you could use two effects simuntaeously. And so on, but the effects only work that one time you use them and they work instantly, so you have to keep timing them and using them carefully. Using demesne effects does NOT take balance of any kind - it just consumes energy. This way, you can time and use the effects actively and however you want. It'd also have the side effect of making things like tsunami/typhoon more useful for knocking people out of the trees/sky because you can actually make it happen when you want.

Obviously, some of them (like jellies) would have to be rebalanced if this were done, but... thoughts?

I've created a new skill for mages. It’s a VERY costly skill, and advancement in it is excruciatingly slow. Each construct requires several different components to make, an extra offering of gold and it takes a very long time to create one. The creator must perform a very specific ritual, and if the creator messes up, all items and money spent on the creation are lost and he must start over. Once finished, however, the construct will obey the creator's commands, including combat support. The construct remains with the creator at all times, but may be ordered by the mage to guard a certain area or do other specific things. Along with these, mages have an empathic link to their construct, allowing them to see what their construct sees and hear what is being spoken in the construct's room. The way golems are controlled is by use of specific commands via tells, being that the mage has a telepathic link to their construct. The mage would only be able to send tells to his specific golem, as he would never be able to communicate with another’s construct. Aside from normal pet commands, the golem has specific commands that it follows. Commands are as follows: TELL GOLEM ATTACK (person) orders the golem to attack your target, using whatever available attacks it has. The set timer for golem attacks would most likely be 6-7 seconds. TELL GOLEM DEFEND would set the golem to defend itself, reducing the damage it takes significantly, but also making it so that it doesn’t attack. TELL GOLEM SCOUT would be somewhat like dreamform, in that you’d control the golem’s movements. Note, however that you cannot set the golem to attack. It would only be able to move, and thus is vulnerable to attacks from your foes. TELL GOLEM GUARD would set the golem to guard the room it is currently in and attack your personal enemies. Note that this command would work while it is scouting, though it will put your perspective back to your main character. Once set in guard mode, the mage must go to the golem and order it to move by TELL GOLEM ACTIVE. This command also sets the golem to follow you wherever you go. All golems have the ability to detonate via a magical detonation device implanted inside them. TELL GOLEM DETONATE will cause the golem to be destroyed, dealing damage to everyone who is in the same room as the golem. Note, however, that due to the telepathic link the mage has, that the mage is also dealt a significant amount of damage and is stunned for a few seconds. They may only have ONE construct, and if they wish to make a different one, their current construct must be sacrificed, losing all material components and gold used to make it. Constructs also have a magic resistance of 3, though other elements can harm them depending on their type. With that, here's the skillset and their details.

Construction:

Flesh Golem: Create a being made of flesh
-- Components will be discussed later. An offering of 50,000 gold must be made. Construction time is 5 minutes. Does blunt damage with a stun attack. Cut vulnerability of 3, blunt vulnerability of 2, fire vulnerability of 1, very fast equilibrium gain, very fast balance gain.

Taint Golem (geomancers): A creation of mud and dirt held together by the powers of the Taint.
-- Components will be discussed later. An offering of 60,000 gold must be made. Construction time is 10 minutes. Afflicts enemies with various diseases with its tainted touch (pox, anorexia, sickening, vapors) with blunt damage. Blunt resistance of 1, cut resistance of 1, poison resistance 3, vulnerability to ice 2, slow equilibrium gain.

Water Golem (Aquamancers): A being made from the purest waters.
-- Components will be discussed later. An offering of 60,000 gold must be made. Construction time is 10 minutes. Freezes enemies with an ice attack, and also does a knockdown attack (ice damage). Blunt resistance 1, cut resistance 1, fire  vulnerability 3, slow balance gain.

Ent (Hartstone/Blacktalon): Summon the mighty Tree Shepherds of old.
-- Components will be discussed later. An offering of 60,000 gold must be made. Construction time is 10 minutes. Afflicts opponents with asthma, does cut damage and very occasionally sap (hartstone) or blacklung (blacktalon). Blunt resistance 2, cut vulnerability 2, fire vulnerability 2.

Psionic Golem: An ethereal golem that feeds off the minds of their prey.
-- Components will be discussed later. An offering of 70,000 gold must be made. The construction time is 20 minutes. This golem afflicts opponents with mind debilitating effects (stupidity, confusion, dementia, hallucinations, etc.), can do a psychic damage attack and even send pre-set illusions to the opponent’s mind (for example: Revan sets a supersling illusion into the golem. One of the golem’s attacks could be that illusion.) Ice resistance 1, lightning resistance 2, poison resistance 1, physic resistance 3, blunt vulnerability 1, cut vulnerability 2


Stone Golem: A golem made from stone.
-- Components will be discussed later. An offering of 80,000 gold is required and the construction time is 20 minutes. Slow, but strong and hard to hurt with weapons. Does pure physical blunt damage. Blunt resistance 1, cut resistance 2, slow balance gain.

Iron Golem: The ultimate construct
-- Components will be discussed later. An offering of 200,000 gold must be made and construction time is 30 minutes. This is the ultimate construct. Very difficult to harm, and it packs a punch. Does pure physical cut damage. Cut resistance of 3, blunt resistance of 3, vulnerable to fire 1, vulnerable to electricity 3, vulnerable to cold 2.

This is an -extremely- rough draft of my idea and is open to suggestions. If you toss out demesne effectsand add in more active spells, then I believe this idea would be feasable. Comment away.