Least played classes?

[Captain Faceplant]

Wizards are great, but more importantly, they are what you make them. *This is my 5th wizard (1 on live, 2 on live progression, 1 on EQ Mac, 1 here), so I may be biased.

First, what wizards are bad at. Wizards are bad at safe grinding groups with nonstop pulls-- OT, DL, or any other simple and straightforward grind. In those kinds of groups, where it's all about damage over 5+ hours and there's no danger or thinking involved, wizards fall behind. Our damage over time doesn't hold up. We can't compete with a mage, a rogue, or a monk. These are the situations that people are thinking of when they tell you that wizards suck.

Now, what wizards are good at.

1) Raiding. There is no raiding guild that doesn't want more 60 wizards. Once you've taken care of tanks, buffs, and heals, you might as well make the rest of the raid wizards. Unlike a lot of classes, there is no cap on our usefulness in a raid. It would be a waste to bring 20 enchanters, or warriors, or shamen... or necros, or paladins, or SKs, or druids... But it's never a waste to bring 20 wizards, if you can find them.

2) Dungeon groups. Ignoring evacs, which are obviously a great "oh shit" button, wizards are great in dungeons because wizards are built for emergencies. A wizard is EQ's 911. Your puller brings too many mobs, the wizard burns the first few down and turns the situation into something manageable. You take adds into the corner and root them. You stun casters. (For some reason, no one seems to know that wizards have a collection of both 5 and 8 second stuns-- both with damage attached. On my max level wizards, I've used them to solo summoning mobs. They're that powerful.)

You've got snare; I shouldn't have to say what a dead critical spell that is. You've got a selection of roots, and when things go to shit, you should be on your feet using them, parking mobs off in the corner while the rest of the group gets things in control. You've got the biggest knockback spell in the game, should you ever need it.

Using all of that correctly is on you. If you sit on your ass and do nothing but nuke then you're useless. They should fire you and get a monk. To be a good wizard takes a good player, and if you are, your groups will recognize that and ask you back.

*I'm really drunk