Mid-seventeenth century. Post Civil War, Interregnum. So, a bit earlier than the series you're talking about. All weapons are smooth-barrelled and the bayonet hasn't come into use yet (though I might have someone create one), cannons are used as siege weapons but they're slow and expensive so they're not generally used in open warfare as much. None of my novel takes place anywhere near the sea, so I'm avoiding naval warfare. Plus all the actual warfare is pretty much over by the time my novel starts.
The Napoleonic wars with dragons, is that Temeraire? I've heard of that, but I've never read it.
And magic is good at aiming and defending, but there are vary few magic users and there's no way of delaying spells or casting them on a person or object, so the magic users themselves have to cast every explosion/shield spell themselves, taking a lot of concentration and energy. The rise of guns is worrying magic users into thinking that they are going to become obsolete, not the other way around. A decent magic user can protect a hefty line of cavalry from a musket volley or two, but not continuously and not without gaps in the shield; given the inaccuracy of muskets, their commander's more likely to tell them not to waste their energy on defence and to attack instead. Having magic on your side ups the chances of winning, but it's in no way foolproof and, as magicians are all high ranking because their skills have always been prized by the nobility, the people don't like them that much for getting praise and money for doing things that they don't even think are that good.
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