I know many people like to argue about the abilities of Templars, so I am going to offer my opinion. Templars are way more effective than the average populace here thinks. There, I said it. Why? Well, let's take a look at a theoretical average Templar build. I emphasize average.
Templar Armor: 20% Spell Resistance. Not horribly effective, but 1 in 5 spells not working is decent. 3 Willpower, 5 Mental Resistance. This is okay, paired with the bonuses of being a Templar, Mental Resistance is fairly strengthened. Now, considering the Templars ask for non-Grandmaster runes for the Final Battle, we can assume they would use them their weaponry. Based off the theory that the average, low-rank Templar uses Steel-Veridium equipment, they would have one rune. Most likely an Expert Dweomer rune for 6% spell resistance, or maybe a Master Dweomer for higher ranks. I know that most Templars are not going to have rings or amulets like the Spellward, Blessing of the Divine, or the Ring of Ages. However they would have something, and again, their equipment would increase in power to their rank
Theoretical ring 1: 5% Resistance to Spirit, Ice, Lighting, Fire and Nature. Theoretical ring 2: 8 damage vs. Spellcasters, 4 vs. Demons. Theoretical belt: 3 Strength, 5 physical resistance. Theoretical amulet: 2 magic, 5 mental resistance, 14% Spell resistance.
So, total equipment stats: 40% Spell resistance, 3 Willpower, 10 Mental resistance, 3 Strength, 5 Physical resistance.
Again, that would be a theoretical rank-and-file soldier. Higher ranked Templars would have better equipment. Now on the incident with the demons in the Circle. People keep talking about how there was an army of Templars that got slaughtered. If you go through the levels of the Tower, there are massive amounts of Demons, Abominations, and Blood Mages. As opposed to 20 or so dead Templars we see (whose bodies are far outnumbered by the piles of dead mages)and those Templars who were controlled by the Desire Demons. (Not to mention, since they disappear, we have no idea how many demons were killed, not to mention the fact that the Fade rip was still open, allowing armies of Demons to march across into the Tower.)I am not saying I don't think Templar-slaughtering mages don't exist, I'm saying that it would be like calling the average Templar a Knight-Commander with ridiculously high abilities. And quoting Flemeth as being a Templar-killer does not count, as even our Wardens seem to not be capable of keeping her dead, nor do we even know exactly what she is. Now, on the subject of Jowan, yes, Greagoir was overconfident and should have known better, but they only suspected he had dabbled in Blood Magic. That could have meant healing himself using the blood of a rat. Not using a powerful "Cone of Blood" type ability that even our Wardens, as Blood Mages, cannot use. My point? People need to calm down about the Mage vs Templar debate. Don't get me wrong, I love mages, I think that they are extremely powerful as well, in their own way. However, Templars are trained to kill Mages and demons, and they do so fairly well. And even if they were as weak as people say, why is it that no one ever claims the average Grey Warden is weak? We see them die quite a bit. Just some food for thought.