ClockworkSwordfish Deckspert

Mana ramp can be important and you may find it works for you, but I find with Ruric, it's best to obsessively run as many creatures as possible. The trick is to find creatures that can do what you want your nonland cards to do - you have the right idea with the mana dorks and the magus, for instance. I'd try to push it, though, with things like Fierce Empath, Heartwood Storyteller and Krosan Tusker. Arashi, the Sky Asunder and Jiwari, the Earth Aflame are creatures that can be used as removal when needed. Tempting Licid and its brethren can be an aura without Ruric Thar blasting you.

The only noncreature, nonlands cards I'd run are things like Domri Rade or Call of the Wild. Once you have enough of a density of creatures, Garruk's Horde, Vizier of the Menagerie, Oracle of Mul Daya and Courser of Kruphix can provide great card advantage.