I have a poisoner in the mid-20's and having grouped with thieves from other paths, I can say I felt underpowered compared to them when not tanking. Circle should make up that difference.

However, since we're on the subject of thieves, other things about this path left me with a number of questions. I may discover the why's later on so pardon me if I'm jumping the gun here.

1. No emetic weapon poison? That seemed really odd to me. Here my character is devoting his life to the study of poisons, but if he wants a poisoned weapon that does damage rather than maledictions, he'll have to go hunt up one that's pre-poisoned.

2. Maybe it's just me, put pre-poisoned weapons seem to discharge much more frequently than his applied poisons. I though it strange that a warrior weilding a pre-poisoned weapon with no education in the art would have a better chance of poisoning than my character.

3. Why bother to give inhaled poisons at 17 when emetic can't be inhaled and you can't learn knock-out till lvl 19. My opinion ,(for what little it's worth) give both at the same time.

Sorry if I've dug up some old complaints here. Just my observations.

Note: Regarding the recent area chages from a poisoner's perspective: Thank You! I'm very pleased that I now do not have to subject my character to "random" lightning strikes, ambushes and various other creepy-crawlies while trying to gather ingredients. I like my cobblestones very much.