The start of act 1 is easier played as a warrior, though once you get up a few levels you can start concentrating more on mage or survivor attributes, if you are so inclined.
More powerful (and mana efficient) spells, particularly shaman magic, start to become available in act 2. Archery is still a good backup though, for when you are running low on mana or are fighting weaker opponents and don't need magic. Also, a non-lead archer set to aggressive (right click on the portrait) will automatically attack enemies that come into range, giving you a a bit of warning of their existence and direction.
