[Truper]

Whenever any mage is recruited (not summoned) in any province with a magic scale there is a chance (I propose 5% per level of magic) that he (or she, as appropriate) will be talented. A talented mage gets +1 power to one randomly selected path of magic he already has (after taking random picks into account). One-path mages (like Anathemants) will get a predictable bonus, and many-path mages (like Masters of Five Elements) will get an unpredictable bonus.

Cool idea! The way you've put it, it seems fun, not unbalancing, and does give magic scales a boost - and designs I've seen posted never do seem to emphasize magic scales. Myself, I often take magic +1 if I have inexpensive mages.

I've never been happy with magic scales only helping research and not helping actual use of magic.

While I know what you mean, this isn't strictly true, since using batlle magic in friendly magic dominion does reduce fatigue and enemy magic resistance.