How do you Mage in Inquisition?

Dragon Age:  Inquisition decided to provide players with more choices for spellflinging friends.  One aspect of the multiple mage scheme that I enjoy is the fact that each has a unique set of personal talents and that there are enough basic talent trees that you can make each mage a master of a different type of magic.  But who's the mageyest of them all?  Do the Inquisition mages put the Dragon Age II mages to shame?

Dragon Age:  Inquisition--Solas

Solas is the first mage to join your party in Inquisition and is the resident oddball.  He's an elf who likes to hang out in the Fade and make friends with spirits....and possibly demons.  His knowledge of the Fade makes him an invaluable member of your party and someone who you can consult on all matters related to the breach in the sky.  The mages in Inquisition seem to be designed around the whole issue of the mage rebellion--all three of them have differing stances on how mages should be treated.  Solas, as an elven apostate (and other spoilery things), doesn't seem overly concerned with the fate of the mages in Thedas.  He's content doing his own thing and seems to lean more toward freedom for them.  Solas's personality reflects his odd interest in the Fade and he's not one to crack jokes but during party banter he often discusses serious issues with other members.  He's serious, quirky, and has a cute little bald head.

Solas's talents reflect his knowledge of the Fade.  He can cast spells that draw on the power of the Fade to weaken and defeat enemies.  His ability to create mini-rifts that pull enemies toward a central location is very handy.  When Solas has accumulated enough focus points you can have him unleash a barrage of fiery meteors on the battlefield.  When choosing how to spec Solas I typically lean towards the cold and spirit trees (I think he actually starts off with talents in both trees).

Dorian

After you've made your decision about which faction, mages or templars, that you want to join the Inquisition you meet your next magical companion.  Dorian is one of the more colorful companions to join you.  As a mage from Tevinter he has a very unique take on magic, mages, and his own homeland.  Through your conversations with Dorian you learn that he is estranged from his powerful magister family due to his seemingly rebellious fancies.  At one point a strange letter arrives asking Dorian to meet his father at a neutral location to try to make amends.  It's at this meeting that you learn that Dorian is gay and that his family has virtually disowned him because of his choice to forgo the required marriage and passing on of magical genes.  Dorian doesn't have much love for his homeland and is more than willing to help the Inquisitor deal with any Venatori who have crept out of the shadows.  I have always found Dorian's personality to be fun.  He has a confidence borne of the magical superiority of Tevinter culture.  Dorian has a kind of magical swagger that makes him a fun character to keep in your party.  His banter includes cracking jokes and making wry statements that generally elicit a chuckle.

Dorian's personal talent tree reminds me of the old spirit tree from Dragon Age:  Origins.  Dorian gains access to talents that allow him to cause enemies to flee in panic (nice for crowd control) or to turn into walking bombs that when killed will explode and damage other nearby enemies.  His Focus power grants the whole party great haste, allowing you to unload a large amount of damage in a very short time span.  Having this offensive choice that can impact the whole party makes Dorian a great choice for fighting dragons.

Vivienne

With two seemingly rebellious mage choices you need the choice for a more traditional type of mage.  Vivienne is a former first enchanter from one of the few remaining Circles in Orlais.  Her connection to the Circle is what defines her as a character and she is firmly in favor of restoring them.  Vivienne is also an Orlesian noble who has an in-depth knowledge of culture throughout that country.  Unlike Solas and Dorian, Vivienne's personality is much colder.  Vivienne can seem cold and haughty and is a difficult character to get to know.  You briefly get to see a crack in her hardened facade when she asks the Inquisitor for help in acquiring a rare potion ingredient.  It turns out that this potion is her last hope to save her much older husband who is dying of old age.  Despite helping her (or not...depending on your choice to lie to her) she doesn't warm up much.  I have always found Vivienne to be a difficult character to appreciate.  If you're having a difficult time enjoying Vivienne's personality I would recommend throwing her and Sera in a party together, the banter between them is hilarious.

Of the three possible mage choices in Inquisition I think Vivienne's talents boggle me the most.  I've read that they can be crazy overpowered if taken in the right combinations.  Her talents seem to revolve around making her a powerful melee mage.  She can conjure up a magical weapon and stab the living daylights out of any baddies in her general vicinity.  In combination with her other talents allowing her to maintain a powerful barrier this could be amazing.  I personally have a problem with my mages running around stabbing things and getting within melee range.  The few times I've taken Vivienne on a dragon hunt haven't turned out well for her (meleeing a dragon is bad...no matter how powerful your barriers are).

So what's my final magical verdict?  Are the mages of Dragon Age II more magey?
I vote Inquisition.  The unique talents of each mage allows you choose the perfect magical companion for each situation rather than being stuck with one.

Personality:  Dorian.  He's a fun character and has an amazing mustache.
Talents:  Solas.  He rains meteors down from the sky.  Nuff said.