First, I've played Gothic 2 (NOTR) only one time, back in 2006, as a paladin. It was great.

Now, I'm playing it again and I'm still not decided which faction to join, mercenaries or mages.

I have 59 Strength (77 with amulet, belt and ring equipped), 34% in 1 Hand skill (40% with bonus from a weapon), 260 Health and very few Mana points.
I have 11 unused Learning points.

I didn't do anything that raise my strenth or dexterity (drink potion, eating Tekla stews, aples, shrine of Innos etc), I'm waiting until the Learning points cost will be too high.

I learned Lockpicking, basic Skinning and some Smithing (regular weapons). I have 3000 gold an lots of items for sell.

I've done all quests that can be done (I think) and I cleared most of Khorinis region, including Black troll and all bandits. I haven't kill (yet):
- fire lizards (I killed one, but it was a pain in the ass, and I won't try that again soon)
- shadowbeasts (I've easily beat one)
- wargs (I can beat one, if I can isolate it)
- orc warriors (I'm optimistic I can kill them now)
- skeletons (also optimistic)
- golems summoned at altars (also optimistic)

I intend on taking my revenge on all the beasts who made me run through bushes (except for the fire lizard), and then choose a faction.

If I join the mages, and invest my future Learning points in Strength (up to 94 or less) and then in Mana, Brew Potions and Learn Ancient Language will I manage to get through the game or shoud I stick to Mercenaries as intended?

Thanks!

Why do you wanna do so? - is the important question! - what do you wanna use
(what you have "achieved" (long story) is really not important - (espc) to answer your question "Problem" as mage: as soon as you are mage
1) You cannot get strength at shrines anymore
2) Skilling strength (and all other attributes and weapon-skills; except mana, which is cheaper) cost now more skillpoints!
> ~ 90 Str skilled is essentially "fullwarrior"-build = Mellee-warrior
> decide what permanent-potions you wanna make/what to max at the end str. or mana
> mainly melee (wanna be mage?) and just wanna support from iceblock, minions, high-area-dmg (in the end)
> mage with much and acceptable melee-dmg (skilling mana to 90 with mage is the same expensive as strength with other char -->
> mainly-mage with much strength should also work - dont know how high, but others go with low dex and dex-weapon [as support only though, but +str = more dmg] -->

--> problem with those: decide how you split mana/str permanent potions
!-> overall problems: skill what you want in "not mana, runes etc" before becomming mage
THOUGH: 1 mana-perm-potion is + 5 mana, 1 str/dex is 3 points permanently raised
you can go full mana resp. the potions or with full strength leaving 12 "permanent plants" [of 25 King's Sorrels] (for mana eg.)

Wert+1 LnP _ [skillpoints for rainsing 1 point "in [mostly!] anything"]
bis 30 __1
bis 60 __2
bis 90 __3 __ [so up to lvl 90 you pay 3 skillpoints for
bis 120 _4 __ |... for 1 point gaint [for mage mana, for others 1 point str/dex/1-H ...]
darüber_5 __ [source: YiYa.de & "database" deutsch ]

There are even some minor runes, that can be found ingame!
[Database:] http://mondgesaenge.de/G2ADB/EN/
[not as extensiv as the german one though - found at the same page ]

for 100% in skill with possible boni [tablets etc] you have to skill to:
2-H _ 75 % [73% for mage]
1-H _ 69 %
Bow _70%
C-B _ 80%
Attributes depending on faction, few points though only at the near end!
for all factions ca, but few more than [without selfmade potion and shrine!]
Str + >60
Dex + >55
Mana + >135 mage =161 [if you "get everything"]

Permanent potions maximum
Str + 39 ___ [because of the few dragonroots to find/get]
Dex + 51 ___ upto75 [least to max theorethically possible]
Mana +125

=>
"Guessed" conclusion
> Stop your Str skilling [59 +>60 +39 (perm-potions) +10 (shrines) >= 169 more than enough with magic i guess strongly]
> Go for weapon["art"] of your choosing
[choose if only up to master with boni for melee-mage or less runes (and additional+mana?) for "mage-supported warrior"]
> Mana __ [+161 +20 (shrine) +12*5 (60 - rest perm-pot's) = ] __ +241 (boni only!)
> As mage choose wisely what you want to get (runes are expensive)
> for more melee are the few good runes maybe -> areadmg at the very end, ICEBLOCK, high summon skills maybe
!-> [look in database]

Dont play much search for god in prayer
That the Truth may reach you!

Thanks for your answer.
I already joined the mages, I'm intend on going mainly melee with support from some strong spells. I'm not investing in Strength anymore. So far, so good.

Before joining the mages I prayed at altars of Innos, knowing I won't receive Strength bonus afterwards.

My Strength is 97 (115 with amulet, belt and ring equipped): 76 (from training) +10 (altar of Innos) + 2 (from 2 Tekla stews) + 2 (from 50 apples) + 1 (Onar) + 6 (from 2 Strength elixirs).

My Learning Points will go in:
- Brew Strength Potions
- Learn Ancient Language
-1 Hand skill (raising from 34% now, to at least 50-60%)
- Mana (I hope gaining mana doesn't scale up like Strength, Dexterity and others)
- Runes

From Chapter 1 I went straight to Jharkendar, I'm doing fine, but the only benefit of joining the mages was the possibility of doing the quests in the monastery.

Playing battle-mage is very much possible in NOTR. The starts you have shouldn't passed much problems other then you might go a bit mana hungry for a while, yet you should have enough strength for that. I prefer the dexterity variant with matter sword. It also offers a ton of xp via pickpocketing.

Well, I finished Gothic 2.
Only in Chapter 3 I start investing in Mage build: Mana points, Circles of Magic and Runes.
I was in Chapter 5 when I had more than 150 mana (enough to cast the advanced spells), learned the 6th Circle of Magic and made 3 runes: Ice Wave, Summon Demon and Fire Rain.
I should have invested earlier in Mage build because In Chapter 5 I had 162 Strenght (+ bonuses from items), 91% in 1 Hand skill and 860 Health.

Indeed, playing battle-mage is possible in NOTR, but only in the end I used some spells.