There IS a difference in animations for certain classes....Pugilists cross their arms before they do a spell, kinda. Well, at least both hands move over the body, whilst for GLD, your shield arm stays at your side and only your weapon arm moves.

Kilta, you're right about that, except for the Ancient Magic. It IS a bit worrying when your normal tier-1 spell looks more powerful than the Ancient Magic ones, seeing as they are meant to be BOOMPH and all that jazz.

Offtopic: Does anyone use magic which is based on their own affinity? I'm heavily aligned with water and earth, so I commonly use those two elemental spells.