Well i played BG2 with my imported paladin and a brand new Wild mage years before (10+). Havent stepped into BG2EE yet. I am now playing BG:EE with a wild mage in my party. With these experience; (most possibly mentioned this way or another)
Nahal is incredibly potent, and actually quite reliable with shields , on higher levels. I remember memorizing just that for all my 1 lvl spell slots on BG2. You can cast known, not memorized spells, spells higher than your level.
I Try to cast spells without damage compenents with Nahal, in case of ( caster becomes target,area effect etc) . Party friendly spells ( that you cant target party members even if you want to ) are still friendly if target changes via Wild surge. ( Slow, horror etc)
In BG:EE it seems you start with Improved Chaos Shield even though you are not at appropriate level. (bug? ) You can cast improved chaos shield first with a reckless dweamor. If you are lucky at this wild surge, rest will be safer.
Cast somewhat away from party ( in case of Sunburst, caster becomes target, fireball,etc) If some surge targets you, mostly you still have a chance for a saving throw. And if you have an affect that can stop bad affects, they will apply. Using some protective spells can help. ( Shield, blur,mirror image etc. )
Its Fun! : I remember casting Wish on BG2 With Nahal and getting Area Effect... 5 wish at the same time! Again I got area effect simulacrum BG2.. for whole party! ... casted Chromatic Orb With area effect, pretty much killed anything around (BGEE) 2 from us .. killed someone with a Cow.
So wild mage is a must in my opinion. There is no way you can see these kind of things in game without it. Good luck!
Comments
(most possibly mentioned this way or another)
Nahal is incredibly potent, and actually quite reliable with shields , on higher levels. I remember memorizing just that for all my 1 lvl spell slots on BG2.
You can cast known, not memorized spells, spells higher than your level.
I Try to cast spells without damage compenents with Nahal, in case of ( caster becomes target,area effect etc) .
Party friendly spells ( that you cant target party members even if you want to ) are still friendly if target changes via Wild surge. ( Slow, horror etc)
In BG:EE it seems you start with Improved Chaos Shield even though you are not at appropriate level. (bug? )
You can cast improved chaos shield first with a reckless dweamor. If you are lucky at this wild surge, rest will be safer.
Cast somewhat away from party ( in case of Sunburst, caster becomes target, fireball,etc)
If some surge targets you, mostly you still have a chance for a saving throw. And if you have an affect that can stop bad affects, they will apply. Using some protective spells can help. ( Shield, blur,mirror image etc. )
Its Fun! :
I remember casting Wish on BG2 With Nahal and getting Area Effect... 5 wish at the same time!
Again I got area effect simulacrum BG2.. for whole party!
... casted Chromatic Orb With area effect, pretty much killed anything around
.. killed someone with a Cow.
So wild mage is a must in my opinion. There is no way you can see these kind of things in game without it. Good luck!