Weird...
I'm on 40s too and I did play WoW for 15 years since 1year after launch
If I remember correctly, a lvl1 mage, starts only with one weak spell (fire or frost) which could compared with cantrips which what a bg3 mage lvl1 starts.
Its weird because back on that time, we have to play throwing fire bolts for a long time until lvlup and get a new spell
Maybe OP had played WoW on higher lvls for so long time and he forgot how was start a mage on WoW
