I pretty much gave up playing my Mage. With the pet nerf and no crowd control a mage on here now is really not worth the effort solo anymore. Just too much down time.
But I have been welcomed a lot lately in groups which does negate the XP penality. So I have been playing my Iskar Necro more now. But like you I find a Necro really
repetitive also. But there is no really easy class on here. So pick what you want to play.
Good Mage guide here for areas to level.
http://www.project1999.org/forums/sh...ad.php?t=53963