Perpetuating the off-topic, do y'all run wizards optimized for combat? Mine's specced mostly for dialogue and, while still very versatile, i can't keep him alive for more than 2 rounds.
My Gale is a damage wizard and I don't have much trouble keeping him alive, now or in the earlier version. Mage armor stays active at all times if I remember to use it. Misty Step is good for teleporting out of danger if he gets rushed.
I'm also running with Shadowheart and usually have her throw a Bless at the start of combat that includes the Wiz. That +4 to save throws really helps.
