Dunno what to tell you. I never actually found my barrier wand and relied on a barrier source. On top of that my sienna was in a god awful place I really hated going to so I didn't have sienna half the time. That said, you being a coder and all I suppose you may know specific things to overcome all the weaknesses of a duergar AP that I couldn't overcome.

I'm not sure what those things could be honestly except having a healer or bard nearby at all times though. Also I'm not saying an AP can't win fights. I won a few. What I am saying is most classes can win those same fights alot easier, with less preparation and way less risk from dying. The change from between when I had my axe and after I lost those souls was immense. It took that many souls just to be competitive for me. And it took me half of Finley s life to get them.

I'm not great at PK but I know the basics so I am pretty sure I on average didn't make major mistakes. I made a few, but not so many that I wouldn't notice how badly the class itself was working out. And I've played many classes within the game so I have a point of view for reference that includes playing warriors, thieves, assassins, shapeshifters, transmuters, rangers, shaman, and a few other classes here and there.

Of them all that I have played, APs are by far the overall weakest by hero ranks when speaking of just the stock build.

Also as long as I'm speaking on it...considering its the only class that has a PK requirement to get its higher level spells, I was pretty unimpressed by Flames of Ninarmum...err...whatever.

Here is an idea I had if you would consider it.

Take each control and give them a few extra things they can do and foucs that on a defensive/offensive split. What I mean is the following:

I get flames...I set my control over flames to...

OFFENSE

It does its blast thing
Chance of setting attackers on fire

All these would be random effects.

DEFENSE

Sets wherever I am standing on fire (like that village svirf from a little while back)

Grants a small resistance to fire and negative damage

It would be nice to have more utility.