It is apparently very difficult to balance an RPG so that magic users and melee fighters are on an equal footing, especially early in the game. This was a problem with Arcanum, and it is also a problem in BD. Take my advice. Start off with the death knight as a Warrior and your character as a Survivor (thief). It's remotely possible to cast your character as a Wizard, provided they can hang at the back of all battles to fire off spells undisturbed, but if you are attacked by more than two enemies, they will inevitably swamp your Wizard who is powerless when faced by a melee attack.