[Wereboar]

I don't know about using valks and lords for buff spells, from experience I want buff spells to be a high power level and lords ,valks, monks can't really accomplist that.

For example, bless and guardian angel are very low-level spells, so hybrids can cast them at higher levels quite easy. Later, they might cast superman or even soul shield at level 4-5 instead of shooting,
and the priest or (for me usually) bishop can cast other spells.

Haste at lvl 7 is much better than haste at level 3 for example...

I wrote that i'd use monk as spellcaster if he's the only one for psionic realm. Don't know what i would do with monk + bard. With a bishop or psionic, don't use spells with monk.

In addition, i usually feel that investing in other combat oriented skills, ie. powerstrike or reflextion pays off better than points into magic.

I usually invest skill points early, to be able to learn level 3 spells. Then, the skills slowly advance on their own if you use them regulary.
Then, i might come back late in the game when most other important skills are maxxed.

My first attempts on ninja and monk were quite bad - maybe because i always used 3 skill points on level up for the magic scool. It works much better with samurai in my experience.