I don’t really understand the direction Mage is going right now.
The class just feels… empty. A lot of the fun parts of the gameplay have been removed and what we’re left with feels extremely barebones.
I’d like to raise some concerns about the current direction of Mage design, particularly regarding the defensive toolkit and overall gameplay depth.
Historically, Mage survivability was not based on raw durability but on layered defensive tools and mobility. The class relied on correctly timing abilities like Ice Block, Alter Time, Blink/Shimmer, barriers, and situational utility to survive dangerous situations. The skill expression came from managing these tools properly.
Recently, however, many elements of that layered toolkit seem to have been reduced or removed. The result is that Mage survivability now feels heavily concentrated around Barrier and Alter Time, which creates a much narrower defensive profile than before.
When multiple defensive mechanics are removed or weakened at the same time, the class loses not only survivability but also decision-making depth. Instead of choosing between several defensive responses depending on the situation, the gameplay becomes more binary: either your main defensive tools are available, or you are extremely vulnerable.
Another concern is the removal of several abilities that contributed to the identity and gameplay texture of the class, even if they were not always part of the core rotation. Abilities such as Blast Wave or interactions around Shifting Power added variety and situational utility that made the class feel more flexible and creative.
Removing these elements may simplify the toolkit, but it also risks making the class feel less expressive and less engaging, especially for long-time Mage players who enjoyed that broader set of tools.
Mage has traditionally been balanced around the idea of high control, mobility, and clever defensive usage, rather than raw durability. When too many of those tools disappear simultaneously, the class risks losing the very design philosophy that historically defined it.
It would be helpful to better understand the intended design direction here.
Is the goal to significantly reduce Mage defensive layering, or is this part of a larger redesign that hasn’t fully come together yet?
Many players are concerned not just about power level, but about the loss of gameplay depth and class identity.