I know you have quite a few replies on this thread already and everyone has done a pretty good job explaining things, but I figure a little more input can't hurt. :)
Realm of Magic is easily one of my top three packs (along with Cats & Dogs and Vampires) but I absolutely love witches and magic, so I may be a tiny bit biased towards it. :D
If you have played since originally posting this, you'll have noticed that Spellcasters do have their own perks but that it's a bit different than the Vampires system as Spellcaster powers are divided up by "spells" and "perks." The easiest way I can describe it are the spells are the ones you learn through the game by practicing magic, reading tomes, and dueling, all of which give you perk points that can help you level up your spellcaster rank. The perks are much more like the vampire's power system where you use the points to buy perks. Except in this case they're not so much as powers as they are just, well... perks that help out your spellcaster with the spells/magic they already know. For example there's a perk that allows them to discharge when their meter is full which prevents them from dying from spellcaster overload and another which allows them to make potions more quickly than if they didn't have the perk.
As others have mentioned, your Sims family/friends don't really react to them practicing magic since they don't do it autonomously. This is one of the very few issues I really have with Realm of Magic as I wish they did practice magic without being directed to do so. Or for there to at least be a lot trait that activates automatic magic use when spellcasters are on that lot. However, I think this is probably, as I mentioned in another thread another result of nerfing. Only in this instance I think Spellcasters came pre-nerfed to avoid all the anti-occult people who were just going to buy the pack anyway complaining. The only way I think your relationships could take a hit is if you directed your spellcaster to cast some sort of nasty spell on curse on them.
The Magic Realm as a world, is definitely very beautiful and unique and has that sort of Harry Potter feel to it, but it sadly not livable which is my second of three issues with the pack, since I would love if it were liveable. It has it's own unique weather (if you have seasons) where it's always warm and cloudy. Any Sim can visit there at least, but non-spellcasters have to use the portal in Glimmerbrook whereas spellcasters just have to use the Glimmerstone which is in their inventory. The magic headquarters building isn't really the prettiest thing to look at, but that's the same as all EA builds really. And you can replace it with a different version from the gallery by activating free build mode.
Glimmerbrook is also very pretty but way too small. Which is my final quarrel with the pack. I mean I understand budget-wise with there being a whole new world (The Magic Realm) why it's so small... but I wish it had even just a few more lots because it's by far another one of the prettiest worlds in the Sims in my opinion.
You can make clubs with spellcasting as an activity I think, but I have yet to try this out so I'm not sure how it works.
Overall it's a really awesome pack that I feel is well worth it, so I don't think you'll be disappointed in it. :)
Whatever you do though... do not play the sages... or they won't be sages anymore and the game will have to generate new ones. If you don't mind this, then go for it... but I just figured I'd warn you.
