>Usually these logs are about two rounds long. A midlevel
>invoker that isn't lagged out can pour out a terrifying amount
>of damage, not the least of which because hardly anyone gears
>for saves at those levels. (This, too, is an interesting
>chicken and the egg problem.)
>

I find this hard to belive. I can not imagine an invoker killing one of my warriors at level 30, given that we are both roughly the same level and at full health. My level 30 warriors tend to have in the region of 30-40 kills and 0-5 deaths(closer to 0 than 5 in most cases). A warrior (non giant) with half a brain will have 30-40(I think ive had over 50 at some point even, without any hero looting, just stuff I pick from my kills) damage roll at 30, which means that a voker unless hero geared is gonna die in a bloody pulp in 2-3 rounds unless prepped with aura, shield and protection etc. It should be mentioned that 95% of mages, or non-tank classes experience the same treatment.

Even though a voker can dish out major damage, a warrior with no vulnerability is not gonna lose 600 health in 2-3 rounds.. That is high damage even for a hero.

Im a fairly competent player, but I can not produce even remotly the same results with a mage at those levels. I have tried, several times. The most balanced casting class ive played is the druid. I may even go as far as to call them overpowered from level 15-40, then they even out in hero range. If you try to model mages after druids sort of.. atleast when it comes to defensive ability and when you get protections it should get MUCH more balanced.

Druids get 2 damage redux spells, the carapace thing and the protection from metals very early. They also get very nasty offensive abilities and shield block + parry. Things like thorn and fireseeds completly destroyed people in mid levels, and is easily nearly as damaging as invoker spells and moreso damaging than shifter forms etc. Mages get their damage reduction stuff much later, they only get parry and their offensive abilities is well.. stronger than a druids by a bit but not not nearly enaugh.

Oh and druids got a fair bit more health than a mage aswell.

Give mages the shield spell early and let them keep it up 24/7, give them some avoidance spell that either evade damage fairly regularly (perhaps implement it in pass door) or atleast reduce damage consistently on hits. Make the pass door thing in such a way that barrier nullify it. This way you increase mage strenght thoughout the ranks, aswell as give them a needed boost at hero if they dont have barrier.