"here's to hopeing we have something to look forward to as much as Savante, Illusionry Allies and Spellshiled in the next expansion. "
And after all the nerfs on those... are they still that much to look forward to? At this point, I am excited that we are going to get some new content to play with in the next expansion. Based on the treatment of Illusionists thus far, I am not expecting any 'game-altering' abilities/spells to come in this new expansion for us. I am left with the assumption that based on the lack of 'fixes' to our spells, or their effects on existing content, we will not be getting any new lines that will suddenly allow them to work.
What I still want more than any expansion is some type of guidance/thoughts on how the Illusionist class fits into a raid roll down the road. I would like to see some form of flexibility in the make-up of raids that will allow more diversity than Tank/healer/healer/healer. But I don't think that will happen. It is totally apparent that Tank/healer/healer is the menu of the day (everyday).
It makes little difference how powerful casters are, there is not a single raid scenario where an Epic mob can be defeated by a raid full of casters/healers/ and accessory classes (like Illusionists). Even though I feel that SHOULD be a possibility. I honestly believe the greater risk IS pulling off a feat like this. Sure casters would potentially have really powerful spells, but they are still VLA classes. If they cannot keep the mob rooted/stunned, they will wipe.
My worst fear is that SOE does not know what to do with us. They don't have a plan/path that we eventually evolve to where all this makes sense. They created the Enchanter class in EQ 1 and it became a very powerful class in just about any given scenario you could think of. They designed this one to have 'similarities' so they could have a basis to design around. But, you cannot create a carved 'wooden' figurine out of STONE.
I mean really, how else can you explain that the 'core' of our abilities of out class are forbidden in the area where they could provide their greatest benefit? What sense does that make? Here Illusionists, we designed all these great abilities just for you to mitigate and perform the role of Crowd Control... and the small print that we are adding in 'ninja' style states that you cannot (under any circumstances) use them against a specific set of mobs where they will make the biggest impact.
We are making sure you can't by either raising the resists (above debuff capability) so they will not land; or, we are basically going to ignore the fact that you are casting them and prompt you with a message saying you cannot use these (almost said 'this ability' which would indicate a single spell and we KNOW that isn't the case) abilities.
VR,
Kailen - 60 Illusionist Faydark