How does intelligence "limit" spells?

I've searched for the answer to this but haven't quite found it. That may be because the answer is "it doesn't".

I know that IN affects how many spells you can maintain (IN/4) but the manual also mentions that it is "the limiting factor in the learning of spells".

What's that mean?

Does it affect how many spells you can know total?

 

u must have a minimum of 5 in to buy any spell

 

Intelligence limits the number of spells you can maintain- I mean the enchantments that remain cast on you or your opponents until you disspell them, like Strength of Earth, or Hasten, or Shield of Protection. You can maintain one spell for each 4 points of intellect you have. This way, with the intellect of 8, you can cast on yourself two spells (suppose, Agility of Fire and Strength of Earth), but if you want one more spell on yourself, you will have to cancel one of those who have already cast.

 

Thanks for the heads up.
The min 5 IN requirement is certainly not very stringent.

Upshot:
Aside from the specific issue of spell maintenance, a mage can get along fine with an average intelligence (8).

Is that safe to say?

 

I just did a pure caster with an int of 8 all the way to the end. I'll admit having only two spells did get a little cramped (limited me to only tempus fugit and one other spell, usually the protection one, when I might have wanted con boosting, or dex)

 

I ran a 1/2 Ogre battlemage who's IN stayed at 8 for the longest time. Haste & SoE? Or SoE & AoF? Decisions....