Mages can't Punch?

[Rasmuffin]

Just got the game and about 5 minutes in I swap to my mage with the unarmed trait to help share the front line burden. Then I right click, spell menu pops up. I've already went through single and some double spell combos all laid out on my notepad so I know how to cast a spell and 6 with insignificant level. But is this a gross oversight or is there some option not in the key bindings or any simple way to have my mage use unarmed combat? Any way to make at least one mage's hand not be glowing?

I have checked other forum posts and after 5 mins I decided to make my own.

Ty for the help if you can point out what I missed.

[Dr.Disaster]

You found the one form of attack a mage can't perform: an unarmed melee attack. Mages "melee" attacks are their short ranged spells. To cast spells you need to be able to access the spell interface, even without any gear. So trying to attack with empty hands (note their aura) opens the spell interface.

[Komag]

It sounds like it was an error to allow the unarmed trait to be chosen if you have a mage, oops.

[WindyCityGamer]

You found the one form of attack a mage can't perform: an unarmed melee attack. Mages "melee" attacks are their short ranged spells. To cast spells you need to be able to access the spell interface, even without any gear. So trying to attack with empty hands (note their aura) opens the spell interface.

Yeah, that's somewhat annoying. They should have made a way to turn jazz-hands on/off.

[Dr.Disaster]

You found the one form of attack a mage can't perform: an unarmed melee attack. Mages "melee" attacks are their short ranged spells. To cast spells you need to be able to access the spell interface, even without any gear. So trying to attack with empty hands (note their aura) opens the spell interface.

Yeah, that's somewhat annoying. They should have made a way to turn jazz-hands on/off.

Melee with a LoG mage is kinda pointless because they have no weapon skills at all.
Of course you can hand your mage a torch so he can wave that burning stick under some monsters nose.

[steyrhahn]

I sometimes give my mage a spear early in the game when he doesn't have much mana or many spells. At least he can get in a hit or two and get better XP.

[Ixnatifual]

I usually roll minotaur mages with high strength so they can really help out early game when mana is low, so this does affect me a lot.

Minotaur mages actually work really well because they don't end up any worse than non-minotaur mages due to a little known secret...

SpoilerShow

The secret is actually so little known I end up with gimped mages this way myself!

[thomson]

Melee with a LoG mage is kinda pointless because they have no weapon skills at all.
Of course you can hand your mage a torch so he can wave that burning stick under some monsters nose.

Usually it is, but I finished EOB1 with the final blow was bare hand slap in beholder face by my girl mage. You can't humiliate your enemy much more than that