I really feel fireball should have some more innate AoE or something, or you should let lightning chain once by default at least. Or grant access to Elemental Nova much much earlier?
The lack of AoE felt terrible for those first few levels, and though I started having fun once I gained some chaining on lightning (mana strike was neat also), it wasn’t until I unlocked Glacier that I felt as though Mage was actually fun.
Glacier is amazing, by the way. Whoever designed its everything needs a raise.
Anyway, I’ve only reached endgame with a Void Knight, so I can really comment much else, but I felt the need to bring up my experience and opinion since a huge ARPG fan I’m friends with basically dropped the game after just a few levels with Mage. I doubt he got to Glacier, which is a shame. New player experience and all that…