> but I always felt the battlefield should
> be for the warriors, while the mages
> stayed back home in their towers
> (casting spells fropm there!) or
> perhaps stood on hills overlooking the
> battles.

I've just recently started a Wizard (tired of kill stealers getting my
kills) and I can say now from personal experience that what you say you want
above, is how it is. Wizards can't get into the fight on the field and do
any good. They need to stand back overlooking the battle and cast spells
from afar. Otherwise, their frail bodies are swiped aside in a quick death.

As a Wizard, you start with 20 hit points. They don't go up quickly after
that either. At level 5 I believe I have 60 (going from memory). I'm finding
that a Wizard is VERY hard to solo in the first 5 levels compared to the
Bard. Spells are easily interrupted (even when standing still and not being
attacked) and if something isn't affected by one of your spells, you're
toast. No Selo's to escape with, not enough time to gate, no way to run fast
enough.. just toast. Also keep in mind that Wizards have NO healing spells.
I helped someone out last night while fighting something that was red to me
(I'm a sucker for someone in trouble).. It killed her, I killed it (with
like 5 hp's left and no mana) and then ended up dying from the poison. Had I
had Hymn at level 4, or minor healing at level 1, I would have lived. I have
a certain respect for Wizards that have made it to level 12 and above now..
But I still love my Bard and his less-than-perfect songs..

> For my tastes, a mage should be a little old
> man or woman, complete weakling, easily
> slaughtered with a gigantic axe...

And they most definitely are. If a mob gets close enough to one, they're
easily killed.

> That is if one could get close to them.

Exactly. =)