Is this a good idea for dwarves in my books?

I like the idea about the animals and cavelry etc, but the thing about the magician instead of armour... I don't like it so much. When I imagine Dwarves I imagine small people who are great blacksmiths and weaponry producers. I think having a magician in the middle of battle producing a relativly weak protective force feild around the soldiers and animals as.... a bit unrealistic, if you know what I mean. I'd rather have the Dwarves fit with excelent armour and sheilds for protection.