Babuguuscooties wrote:Can anyone explain to me what I need to do when I take my first archmage level? Do I lose spell slots or something?
I think you need to select the spellcasting progression you wish to progress!
As for the abilities granted at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, those consume memorized spell slots after you rest, or active the ability. It has been bit tricky to figure what spell gets 'spent' to fuel the Archmage abilities on a wizard, but you should have no issues on a Sorcerer.
Note: Haven't played an Archmage in years... So who knows how it is today...
Babuguuscooties wrote:Also, from an RP perspective... Is Archmage an actual title, is it something my character would recognize about himself etc?
No one can stop your character from calling himself an archmage - just as no one can stop others from teasing your archmage for not having a tower.
Now, generally speaking, some class and PRC names sound a lot better than others. For example, were I to make a Man-at-Arms, I would never have the character call himself a man-at-arms, he would just think of himself as a knight. Perhaps a 'hedge-knight.' With Ninja I think I would just go with scoundrel. Etc. Etc. While my Paladin for example would be a paladin and a possible Bladesinger would be a bladesinger.
So in otherwords, it is up to you to decide how your character recognizes himself.
I think it is easiest to just pick the most prominent class of the build and focus role-play around that one, while the other classes just provide minor flavour here and there.