I've just started a pure mage character. I took the Goblin Staff from the goblin mage sitting on the porch of one of the sheds in the opening northern woods. 1 point in lt pole, 1 pt in magic weaponry and whamo! I'm whuppin butt. Killing things more easily than I did with previous rogue and fighter characters, at least for now...
P.S. this is CE, by the way.