Arcanum Walkthrough -> Magic and Technology
Magic
There are 16 colleges of magic. Each has five spells. To successfully study magic, you need a strong will. To cast a spell, you also need high intelligence.
The power of a spell depends on your magical affinity: the higher it is, the more useful the magic will be. It is beneficial for a mage to invest points in spells to quickly increase their magical affinity. Keep in mind that casting a spell will tire you.
Many magical items are found in the game, but they are not identified. To identify them, you must find an experienced mage and ask them to identify the item for a fee (usually 100 coins).
Technology
There are 8 disciplines in technology. Each discipline contains 7 inventions. If you have a lot of money, you can buy any discipline at Tarant University. Unlike a mage, a technologist will have to carry a lot of things, and they are quite heavy.
The principle of technology is this: you take two items specified in the instructions and combine them. The items will only combine if you have sufficient experience. In technology, as in magic, there are several schools that study specific items. However, you don't get tired when combining or using items.
Various blueprints for various devices can be found throughout Arcanum, but they are not for technology novices, as they require extensive experience. It's beneficial for a technologist to spend all their points on developing the technology.
Source: gamez.ru