Hobbit mages (horticulturalists) are N1 + 20%E, and they only need a lab, no temple is required. They're even allowed to wear boots!
Manuk you are right, the Bears have N1 + 10%E, but they need both a lab and a temple.
You can stick a thistle mace on any of the N1 shamen to make them more useful, or in an emergency 10 shamen casting Tangle Vines or Swarm can be a big help.
BigDis, I think if you have no death, it's worth it to try to get the wolf tribe shamen, mainly because Dark Knowledge only requires a D1 caster. Dark Knowledge can find you a Necro site, and then you're really off to the races. Maybe if you've got Acashic Record it's not a good plan. But otherwise as soon as you finally get your D1 Wolf Shaman, then just pop up a fort and start building your regular mages.