Unless you got the patient of a saint, that ain't going to happen... you do realize that a level 1 mage only has a 1 level 1 spell to utilize, at caster level 1.
Yes, specialists will have 2... but then you'll loose other things.
Yes, the mages are good, but they grow so much stronger after a few level ups. That you ain't going to get if you start with a mage. Yes, Imoen can be used to carry you a bit, but you also need to utilize your melee ability even as a mage, and that's scary.
Hey! Well I'm not exactly a power gamer, I do enjoy gameplay more then characters power curve and do RP during a play thru, and personal favorite is spell combinations. My main character is a scholar who finds himself to be a Bhaalspawn. Thus I prefer a pure sickly mage who will one day become a demigod to lead a party of best heroes the land has ever known! Also there is always Ajantis to smite some evil while throwing curses at em. And lets not forget Boo.. cmon... cuteness of this guy is worth at least 6 man party
