Nyeshet said:
Wizard specialization is akin to specialization in any class that offers options:
Psion specialization (as you've already stated)
Cleric specialization (domain selection)
Fighter specialization (bonus fighter feats)
Ranger specialization (combat styles / feats)
Monk specialization (combat style / feats)
Rogue specialization at higher levels (rogue specials)
It's a matter of degree. Saying a race can be an Archer Ranger is similar, choosing feats is different. As well, neither of those actually HAS other names for the choices. Saying a particular race has FC: Cleric of Jimborie would be closest.
Your earlier post strongly suggested that Wizard (Illusionist) was not the same as Illusionist - thus my comments on giving me and others the book and page number that this "Illusionist" class appears in. You also stated that whenever someone on this thread stated "Illusionist" as their choice they were not choosing "Wizard (Illusionist)" but instead some pre-3e class that does not exist in the current edition and thus has no place on this poll.
Then, in your second post you stated that Wizard (Illusionist) was, in fact, the class that everyone has been stating they are voting for when they stated "Illusionist." From that view then all Wizard votes count towards "Illusionist" and none of the Beguiler, Bard, etc votes count towards it. After all, they do mean Illusionist in the sense of Wizard (Illusionist),. right? But that is not what you said in your first statement at all.
Because you've avoided the point. An Illusionist IS a Wizard(illusion specialist), everyone knows it by that title and that's how they're refered as in the books. When someone says Telepath, or Illusionist, they're refering to a specific thing.
Choosing Wizard in the poll is not the same as choosing Illusionist, I never said Wizard (Illusionist) was different, but Wizard (Illusionist) is not an option either, only Wizard is.
People have said that they voted Beguiler because Illusionist wasn't an option. If Illusionist had been stated as Wizard (Illusionist), I'm sure they'd have put a vote there. The simple fact is, we all understand that a Wizard (general) isn't the same as saying a Wizard (illusion)
Illusionist should not now nor ever be on this poll, as it is not a class in its own right - merely a specialization of the Wizard class. So either all / most Wizard votes count towards Wizard (Illusionist), or Illusionist is a class in an of itself that has not yet been published for 3.5e (nor even for 3e). Either way it is not a viable option for this poll - which focuses on current and complete classes - not past edition or sub-sets of classes.
You're getting into an arguement over semantics, everyone here knows what an illusionist is, but you're denying it based on a strict reading of it being a catagory of Wizard, while ignoring the simple idea that the POLL is in no way official. As well, it's the people being polled that are suggesting to add the option and everyone knows what it means.
So, simply put, I don't see why the resistance to letting Illusionist stand in the informal poll, except for the personal choice of two members.