I've read some of the posts, thought I'd take a pause and toss my lil hand of glitterdust in a thread..
I was away for a wee bit, and coming back into game found a LOT of new updates, oodles of great new loot items, and Ships with amazing stacking buffs, so what I had in my cobwebbed pantry in Kundarak was left very outdated.. lol.

yes, I have to agree that play has certainly 'changed', yet, some things in-game, not so much..
I love my casters.
I ran in the all Sorc Shroud, which was awesome. I had not re-spec'd my sorc Littlemama yet, but when I saw Harry frozen solid and taken down likity split, I totally thought 'all right!!' Nice! Go Casters !
My eyes popped too when I saw the loooong cooldown of some of my most favored spells.. yikes!
There comes the challenge to ourselves to test our skills yet again.

Having played a few different toons, fighter, sorc, wizzy, cleric, etc.. it did help me get a feel of better ingame understanding, and so called 'needs' of others...

and Yes, been in quests say, Shroud, or an elite inspired quarters, etc.. joined with players, none of us knew each other at all, but they ran so smoothly, without even anyone uttering a word, boom bada bing, .. great runs.
And too, some that literally crashed, due to a lag spike or several, or a mis/non communication difficulty.. or someone is cranky.

We've all been new to the game at some point.
I remember my first Shroud and being given some good pointers as we went along. I was super grateful for that.

I admit, it does get frustrating when we don't get to participate, or get the chance so to speak, to really work with our character's full potential. Especially if it is a quest that one knows quite well.

True, too.. you get some players who just stand there, to quote another player, perhaps because they know not the quest nor what to do since they've never done it before.
I've used up all mana while watching other casters do quests and their blue bar does not move..

After all, it is a game.. ( gasp, did I just say that???!!)
We're here to have fun. To quote a Kobold ; really !? REALLY ???!!?

please don't be afraid to try new things, communicate, and help others..
Many a time, I've seen people die, and the leader and others have run off, and I go back and pick up their stone, take back to shrine or res them
and off we go.

I've been blasted by my bro's while on my cleric Whitebuffalo, for getting carried away by the moment and used up some precious mana, because I used my offensive spells to help take out a mob, ~ I'm having fun. (hey, nobody died on my watch) *grin

Some quests it is quite alright to change up the balance of old, and try something new. We casters are not just for firewalls, haste and the odd buff.
I solo a lot of stuff with different toons as do others, so it does work.

Especially now that we can specialize some spellcasting abilities.
It will take some practice of course, but let's try .. ?

I have yet to run some Epics, and not even done some quests yet, my lowbies need to get leveled up, cannot wait to do a TOD run.. Littlemama got new boots !!

So for now, wishing you a Great Run, tons of shiney loot...

I'm back.. aka 'Lem' Lemuria wizzy
Littlemama Whooopass Sorc, Dragonya fighter, Omatikiya my new wf wizzy, MysticWillow, Tooruk, Isyris, Tahotay.. et al...