You're missing my point. The point is, A is next to impossible without A/S/B, leaving B as a solid option.

I have yet to see a mage reach top end success (the history altering success) without A/S/B. Then again, I don't have the greatest memory.



---"It sounds like you want (B); I think (A) is a lot more fun to play against."

Yes, it is more fun to play against A when I have a chance of actually killing them. But generally, the people who play the A type characters are people loaded with wand knowledge, therefore making them survivable to the point where they can amass power.

Some highlights of A/S/B (feel free to add your own):

* Makes characters extremely survivable, even against bad odds.
* Makes one on one matches (people with A/S/B vs. those without) extremely uneven, in most cases.
* Makes people even with subpar skill uber.
* Makes people instantly more powerful, with minimal effort put forth (comparatively to other classes that actually have to master things in order to survive, instead of loading up on gobs of damage reduction). All that is required is knowledge of wand spots. It's fair to say there is a good deal of information sharing at this point. Plus, if I can find roughly 20 or so locations with as little effort as I put into it, anyone can. It's not as hard as people claim.


What I am proposing is that you actually have to build up that skill in order to be that good, instead of the instant gratitude A/S/B currently provides. Why should A/S/B be any different (or better) than any other ability?