I totally dislike the gray and blue bars. Makes it doubly hard to kill opponents and just prolongs an already overlong battle. Additionally, all fire spells in the beginning end up igniting your own team!! Usually mages are kept in the back and you don't get a fireball to lob - you have cone of fire, ignite everything around you, etc. All my companions end up burning in every fight!! Stupid. Also Red Prince should be a mage with INT stats not a fighter. Beginning builds are crap.
Also poison touch ends up poisoning everyone as well not just the enemy.