[Russ]

Mr. Gottwald, if project image and the sequencers are your only qualification for a competent mage, then you are probably right in not using Aerie. However, in that case, I would also suggest that you probably have an unusual playing style, as well. It also doesn't take into account the long period of time when the characters will be relatively low level, when Aerie's support is a godsend.

I abhor Aerie's personality... every once in a while she says something that doesn't make me want to wretch. But that's just a script thing, and appropriate for the character being portrayed -- she IS immature (that's why her Quayle sent her out in the world to begin with, because the Circus certainly wasn't doing her any good, and she desperately needs to "learn the ropes.").

As a spellcaster, she is unsuited to playing the same sort of role that one would use with Edwin, or Viconia, or even Nalia/Imoen. What Aerie is really good at is support, or, as my twin used to say back in our PnP days, "Swiss Army Mage." Ëven humble spells like "knock" have a purpose, and we've always gotten much more than the textbook mileage out of our spellcasters by playing combinations (say, web+cloudkill).

Healing ability is not to be underrated, either, as that is the determinant of your party's longevity, or adventuring range before resting. Potions eventually run out, and the ability to keep everybody afloat determines how far you go. In her case, it's healing plus bless, chant, fireball, haste, melf's, sanctuary... I suspect that most parties aren't getting much mileage out of fireball because they're not thinking group tactics and tossing off three or even four of them at a time, which, once you're good at judging range, is a great way of turning fights into non-fights.

By and large, I think the urge compare either of the dual-class characters in this week's threads, J. or Ae., to Viconia, is entirely misplaced, and a misunderstanding of their role. You take Vicky when you need a flat-out priestess. You take J. (well, in my case because she's one of my main character's best friends, and leaving her in a dungeon to rot would suck) because you need a druid and fighter. If your party needs somebody to play spellcaster shortstop... Aerie's your gal.