Having had a mage up to 60 and looking and reading while doing so, here's what I've learned/heard.
I've heard that straight arcane is good for grinding, however, by the time I heard this I was 60...so I can't validate that.
Ice is survivability, Fire is Damage.
Speccing in Fire creates a very good one on one damage machine, giving access to pyroblast and flamewave (which is fun btw.)
Ice gives more things slow/freeze and gives the ice barrier and the ice ability that makes you an ice cube. The barrier absorbs damage and the cube protects you from damage and wipes aggro I believe.
Usually most mages go arcane and then either fire/ice. There are fire/ice builds for pvp, not sure how that build would hold up in PvE, since you'd be missing PvE staples such as IAE and Evocation and Improved Counterspell.
I played a 21arc/30fire build on my mage, I enjoyed PoM-Pyro combo and flamewave was great in keeping things in AoE range or slowing down attackers in pvp.
However, the last time I played a mage was several patches ago...things may have changed since then. My personal advice...have fun with it, your first respec is cheap.
I've heard that straight arcane is good for grinding, however, by the time I heard this I was 60...so I can't validate that.
Ice is survivability, Fire is Damage.
Speccing in Fire creates a very good one on one damage machine, giving access to pyroblast and flamewave (which is fun btw.)
Ice gives more things slow/freeze and gives the ice barrier and the ice ability that makes you an ice cube. The barrier absorbs damage and the cube protects you from damage and wipes aggro I believe.
Usually most mages go arcane and then either fire/ice. There are fire/ice builds for pvp, not sure how that build would hold up in PvE, since you'd be missing PvE staples such as IAE and Evocation and Improved Counterspell.
I played a 21arc/30fire build on my mage, I enjoyed PoM-Pyro combo and flamewave was great in keeping things in AoE range or slowing down attackers in pvp.
However, the last time I played a mage was several patches ago...things may have changed since then. My personal advice...have fun with it, your first respec is cheap.