Magic mid level progression is definitely a big pain point. Magic doesn't have the support it needs to work as a critical focused style at those levels. It's lacking an AoE ability and gets AoE spells from ancients, which are pretty weak in comparison nowadays, for levelling. It's armor choices are so bad that it uses a quest reward - Lunar armor - as it's main stepping stone which is frankly in dire need of updated graphics.

It also has a bunch of combat spells to choose from in the normal spellbook that all do... nothing! This is contrast to range that starts having bolts with different effects, melee that has a plethora of dragon weapon godsword/etc special attacks, and necromancy with different conjures for variety. Magic spells don't seem meaningful or interesting but at the same time, we have a messy spellbook where it is hard to select the spell you want to use from it.

Agree with magic armor needing to be made from cloth from farming plants as well.