Yep, that basically how mage live in this version of KB (i mean KB CW).

Don't worry about not able to reach very high int, int boosting items are the most numerous, more than defence and attack boosting items.

Companion Elenhel (he is in verona) also provide +4 int (as long as he is with you).

Usually you'll have 45 or 50 int as minimum, even 60 int is not a dream. At that time, happy blasting your enemies with mass destruction spells. Usually you'll win the battle very quickly because of constant bombardment of damage spells. I recommend getting mage skill called Destruction (upgrade it to lv 3).

Well, my pet dragon have become the legendary star dragon, i'll order him to wipe them :cool:

I would have to disagree with you here, i did KBAP Imposs noloss with mage and i never used the destruction skill tree at all (except once or twice when i needed to use a low level flame arrow to whittle down the last few troops of the last stack)... I just realised i don't even know what many of the spells look like in effect (like the black-something high level one that affects living enemies).

Your key spells, the most important ones - are less than 10 in number. For me they are Phantom, Stoneskin, Divine Armour, Magic Spring, Turn back Time (most powerful spell in game), dispel, heal, teleport, maybe blind and a few others i can't recall just now.

Ie they are Status affecting spells which scale well with increasing leadership. Simple Stoneskin is arguably the most game changing spell there is.

The advantage of the Mage is Higher Magic, nothing else.

Lies. The final and most powerful advantage of the Mage is the most scantily clad portrait to look at. :)

lol

Well, back to topic. Mage is the most dependant on the items generated by the game randomize, either you're going to have a leader type mage (excel at controlling battle) or the destruction type (excel at boom boom blast all the oppositions). I prefer destruction mage though, with insanely high int, it's much easier than leader type mage in most battles.