Is the Illusionist Dead?

[Paragon Kobold]

Back in 'the good old days', i.e. 1. edition, there was two arcane spellcaster
classes: The Magic-user, and the Illusionist. While the Magic-user was by far the
most popular class, the Illusionist was a distinct class with his own spell list and
level progression table. Gnomes often used the Illusionist as part of a multi-class
combo. Then in second edition we got the option of specializing in any school of magic,
and the illusionist sort of dissappeared in the crowd. In 3.0 his last refuge was as the
favored class of the Gnome. Now the gnomes have started singing instead.

Is anyone playing an illusionist anymore? Just about all the Wizard specialists I see
these days go for the sheer power of the Evocer, or the versatility of the
Transmuter. There are very few feats for use with illusions, and a lack of suitable
prestige classes.

Is my experience typical? Is it just part of the general problem of the schools being
unbalanced (I don't see a lot of Diviners these days either. But then; I never did.)
Should something be done to restore this class to its former glory?

 

[Snowy]

I've got a gnome illusionist in my game, did say he could have favoured class wizard though, it made sense and fitted my vague memories of what the races were like (never played dnd before now, but had friends and a sister that did).

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

I love illusionists, and prefer to play them (well, illusionists or elementalists).

Mostly I go for sorcerers with scads of illusion spells - because I also like sorcerers very much.

So no, they aren't dead. Just wheezing along with the packmule, behind the sexier adventurers.

 

[Illvillainy]

No, but they're often sorcerers rather than specialist wizards. Most people don't find specialisation worth it nowadays, unless they're a Red Wizard in training and such.

 

[Akrasia]

'Castles and Crusades' has rehabilitated the illusionist as a distinct class.

If I were still running a 3E campaign, I would have kept the illusionist as the gnome's favoured class. Giving the gnome 'bard' makes about as much sense as giving the half-orc 'paladin'.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

No, illusionists are still cool.

So are bards.

The Auld Grump

 

[MrFilthyIke]

I still like Illusionists, but would only play them in the right group.

Still looking for that group...

 

[Romnipotent]

Illusionists suffer from one thing, lucky saves means nuttin! an Evoker or something generally means 1/2 damage on a save. Which may mean nothing to a roleplay heavy smart group in a city... but the Diablo like focus many groups I see have, means illusion isn't as tactical.

 

[Pinotage]

The last enemy wizard my PCs faced was an illusionist. Didn't really get to see him in action since he failed a Will save against Confusion, but it was nice to see what Illusion could do when I stat'ed him out. Invisibility is there, the Shadow spells are really useful, as are Mirror Image, Displacement, Phantasmal Killer, Rainbow Pattern and loads of cool illusion spells. A prepared illusionist who knows the PCs are coming is very dangerous.

Pinotage

 

[The Amazing Dingo]

Thank you Paradon Kobold! I had fallen into the trap you just mentioned and totally forgotten about the Illusionist and his arsenal of powerful spells and...

...how improper of me. I really have to correct that issue.

And let my PCs know I've corrected that issue in the most henious way possible.