You're not unlocking a skill to get specific path. Think about it this way:

Path of Mage is pure Wizard, so the game chooses one random skill of the Wizard in addition to specific bonuses
Path of Battlemage is Wizard + Warrior, so the game chooses one random skill of the Warrior
Path of Necromancer is Wizard + Scout and as above
Path of Enchanter is Wizard + Commander and as above.

So it's not broken, even if you do get a skill you don't really want.

If you follow the link in this post you can find information on classes and skills although the translation is a bit iffy at times.

@Seraphim: thanks That explains it.
So it was just happenstance that the skills appeared reverse, it actually selects from a pool then?

Yup, it's the pool of all available skills for default character class (in your case - Wizard). It just selects the one you don't have or even the one you're avoiding on purpose - like Necromancy. And it's random to boot.

In your example Necromancy is actually a normal skill for a Wizard. It gives you an option to keep summoned undead creatures in your army and makes them stronger.

The game also always takes the skill you're mixing your class with... so i.e. Necromancer class gets Scout and Wizard skills, so it randomly chooses a Scout skill to start with. But the whole class gets bonuses to creating undead and such stuff.

But most of the time mixed classes are weaker than pure ones, because pure Wizard can get to lvl 5 of skill, while the mixed ones have more skills to choose from, but their highest level is only 3.

Yeah I started with a Ranger on the 2nd highest level small shard 1 opponent.

It was darn slow going sadly, not sure how your really supposed to keep units in garrison as they are so damn expensive esp early on.

I chose Ranger because the Archer type unit you can recruit are so damn expensive and so weak early on. Spells run out to quickly. And i have never really been a hack&slasher.

Although my favorite 1st class unit is the Pikmen with that nasty First Strike of theirs, it's just so cool when the dwarfs surround and pound my 1 unit that has 2 or those Order of the Defenders, which increase Defense 2 and Counter Atk 1.

Anyway just got him to level 10 and chose the Sniper/Archer path, that instant double shot is just sweet :)