My Mage is a Looney -- and paid the price

[Boron]

once a mage is in hand to hand combat he has only a 50% chance for casting spells the other 50% he will meelee

quickness + heroic quickness stack but you can only cast 2 spells per turn i think
so there's not much to avoid the wandering around and perhaps dieing

[Taqwus]

I've personally had Orokestes with Heroic Quickness and Boots of Quickness casting four spells per turn.