That's why the D&D magic users (and Pathfinder by and large) have always been meant to be back rank combatants... and why I've never understood why everyone wants them right in the thick of a fight... They do their best work at range and if you have a couple of decent fighters/blockers, no one should get close to you... of course, few play fighter types anymore because the magic users are so much more powerful now.<br/><br/>So, instead of having to swing a sword for a poltry d6 to d12 plus perhaps 5 points, you get to throw a destructive magic for multiples f those... if you think ahead enough to not get into the middle of a fight and get turned into a pin cushion.