system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[General Fantasy] How do I create cheap magic resist gear so that my armies doesn't get annihilated?
gpt
If you are dealing with powerful wizards, you are already fucked. They are basically gods already.
  
Magic armor is expensive, and won't help much. Focus on training your troops to avoiding pitfalls like throwing spikes, hitting People with guns, or attacking one and one in a melee, instead of supporting each other to distract and minimalize casualities.

What more, you need a SEROIUS attitude adjustment. Those "heroes"? they are a bunch of terrorists. Your troops are the real heroes, so act like it!

Mutual respect means they will be loyal, and fight to the death. Get respect by treating them well.  
The same goes for civillians. They will be a lot less opposed to you taking over the town if you provide aid to get them back on their feet, and increase the standard of living. Taxation is a lot easier if the subjects feel they are getting something back for the taxation.  
Nobody rebels against the dude who came in, built a well, and has a nice frendly garrison who stopped the monsters.