Backpacksepp: Hi,
for the first two chapters I would recommend the heavy gold chainmail (quite expensive), a cuirass, some steel gauntlets, and the shadow boots. Weapon: The officer sword is the best sword until chapter 3.

Backpacksepp: You can easily go as a complete mage at mid chapter 2. Before you might also rely on a sword and in Chapter 2 on a bow but don't need to increase stats as melee. So stats to be considered as mage:
1. Constitution - mana + mana recovery, health + health recovery and also spell projectile duration (such as fireball)
2. Mysticism - power of your spells
3. Perception - a bit more power for some spells, but can be neglected
4. Hold restriction down for the first chapters since it affects your mana drain

Backpacksepp: Strenght affects the damage you deal with a meele weapon. Combat increases attack and defense = the probability of hitting or missing an attack.