Discussion of the Academy faction (Mages and Wizards). Tactics and their specific features.

I also like to level up the Summoning skill for Mages. There are always spells available, mana for them (it's a very mana-intensive school), and there's usually enough magic power. And the school itself is versatile, dominating almost all stages of the game.

Yeah, I personally always leveled up all magic schools for my Mages. It turns out pretty well; they move faster, and they have all the spells, but you lose the "Lucky Sorcerer" and "Empathy" bonuses. I think that 1 magic school and such a "Bonus" are a worthy replacement for the other 3 magic schools, plus you need to do so much from the very beginning that your eyes get tired.