[Twan]

Answers are rarely evident in the last part.

I.e, I've voted alteration rather than thaumaturgy for astral, because in early game body ethearal is often my first goal if I have astral mages, and in levels >6, I rush alteration 8 to have will of the fates since midgame for the big battles (and if I have an astral pretender I continue for wish as soon I have the pearls). But of course, with communions and spells like paralysis and enslave mind, I always developp thaumaturgy 6 in between (I'm in the "not racing for uniques" category).