Pretty well, the "trick" with this kind of build is ambush and burst your enemy. For example:
> See an enemy > Cast fulmination > Cast Thunderslash > If enemy is approaching, take your sword and fight. If not, thunder again until he/she approach.
You'll be ever a worse fighter on paper cause not wearing heavy armor and less health. But the initial magical burst damage (50 - 150 points of magic damage which ignores armor help to solve this gap).
My suggestion is that train a lot melee combat, you'll lose duels, sure. But you don't need "win the duel" because on the wilds probably you'll have enough time to cast your magic and destroy half of the health bar of your enemy before start the fight.
It's a difficult way to play, but very rewarded.
Someone needs heal? You're the man
Enemy is heavy armored? You're the man
Your mage/Necro needs some protection? Get your sword and become this "little bastard who is running around me and attacking all the time"
My personal tips:
- Get jadeite weapons (sword), cheaper than steel and still good damage.
- Combine you're armor.
- Ambush, ambush and ambush. You're not one of those character that can win a fight 3 vs 1.
Hope this help you.