I'll offer some concrete advice for a new mage.

The single biggest thing is visit a city and buy Lesser Magic Wand (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=11287) from the auction house the moment you hit level five. It does nearly as much damage as your spells and doesn't use your mana. Enchanters make them to level the profession: they're dirt cheap. At level 13 get Greater Magic Wand (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=11288).

You are super squishy. If something is smacking you on the nose RUN AWAY.

Again: RUN AWAY.

Use frost nova to pin the enemy, then run. Use frostbolt (slows target) to keep range open. Worst case, out of mana, run in a big circle and cast fire blast every time you have enough mana. Always wand instead of hitting enemy with your weapon.

The mana issues really aren't that bad with a wand at the ready. wand wand wand

For a new player or someone used to a sturdier class and getting frustrated, Draenei is definitely the best race with its instant heal. (Hordeside for learning mage, Troll has the best racial.) The herbalism profession adds another heal, and glyphing evocation adds a third.

Put the first talent points to speed up casting either firebolt or frostbolt (not both).

Bit disorganized, but there you go: all a baby mage needs to know.

While I don't think Bell offered all that much useful starter info, three cheers for telling people not to choose a stupid @#!%ing name. (By the way, if you have to call yourself Draagon or Wolffkiller because the real spellings are already taken: choose another name entirely, 'kay? Much better to not be Meddic and be confused with Medic, Medicc, and Medicx forever.)

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