as before. Just sounds different, looks different but they still do the same ####. That was my point in the post. THe cabal system seems to be stuck in two way trench and people are having a very hard time thinking outside of it.

No matter how you toss and turn the powers they still are for the same purpose.
No matter how you mix and match the mages they still turn out a "Masters" cabal.
No matter how what you do you will be pretty much stuck in the trench because of the existing cabal system, the cabals already active. You gotta let go of the current system to build something truly intriguing, otherwise, you will still have the same ####, different day.

I dont know what parallel i can give you. Its like trying to imagine an alien, but thinking within the confines of our own planet and eco system. Scrap the confines and the possibilities are endless.