[SixOfSpades]

Not being able to cast certain spells is not the kiss of death for a Specialist Mage--which is fortunate, because if it were the kiss of death, the Specialist Mages wouldn't exist at all. Hey, it's not like anybody refuses to use Jan (an NPC in BG2) because he can't cast Abi-Dhalzim's Horrid Wilting.

Take Xan: No Magic Missile? No Fireball? Duh--grab some Wands.

Dynaheir: No Monster Summoning? Wands again.

Xzar: No Mirror Image or Improved Invisibility? So what? MI is indeed a great defensive spell, but how often are you going to send your Mage into a melee anyway? And I, personally, only use II as one extra buffing spell for my Tank--one extra buffing spell that they don't really need all that much.

Edwin: No Identify. Oh, boo frickin' hoo. In BG2, the spell of True Sight also comes into play, for a grand total of *two* good spells barred to Conjurers. Happily, it can also be cast by Clerics, Bards, Inquisitors....