I still remember playing Shadows Over Riva where you had magic to see through walls or teleport to a distance thus completely avoiding combat with though enemie

I still remember playing Shadows Over Riva where you had magic to see through walls or teleport to a distance thus completely avoiding combat with though enemies. Sure, if none of the mages in your party had those it made the game much harder, but that's the whole fun IMHO. If you are only playing the game yourself, I don't see a need to balance out the skills, spells, races, etc. I understand that balance is needed in MMOs and such, but I love single-player games that give you freedom and ability to "rule". Another example (non RPG though) of great non-combat magic is Heroes of Might and Magic where you have spells to summon boats, walk over the oceans, teleport across the map, see the treasure/resources obscured with fog of war, disguise your army as more powerful creatures, etc.