As I mentioned in another thread, the only way I've ever got a mage character out of Privateer's Hold is to use Short Blade and the Ebony Dagger until training and spell-making were available. That means I've failed if keeping the mage "pure" is the objective, and I'm finding she too often relies on her wakazashi when her spell points run out.
The problem seems to be that spells aren't very effective offense until higher levels because of their spell point cost and the chance that the target will save. So they don't get enough use at low levels to reach the higher levels (apart from practice spamming).

Does anyone have any strategy for a character who wants to use only magic? Or should I regard magic as an auxiliary skill for other classes, who need to recall, levitate etc. and can't stay pure either. Is any "pure" build viable?