1) Mages are extremely underused on 1alt, and everyone knows they are the most fun class. This would definitely be an incentive to use the class by at least a few. Not to mention reward the players that have stuck with them.
2.1) Mages need a goal to go after. Everyone else has the option of saving up for a cobalt staff, if you're a mage user then you have no reason for gold. Is that fair?
2.2)The price suggested is high enough for a item that is not near as sought after as its "equivilant" , the cobalt staff of the winds. Because of this it wouldn't be flooded into the game by any means. Probably will only see a couple people with it for a long time. (Not to mention that the price of leveling past 35 is slightly ridiculous, but it helps the economy, and will also limit the amount of the scroll and also the cobalt staff.)
2.3) Cobalt's are transferable from character to character and are a blessing, devastate sticks to one character, therefore will be less valuable to buy.
3.1) Cobalt and pretty much all item's of very high value (from boots to rings, everything) are valuable to player vs. player and player vs. monster. With devastate it is a strictly player vs. player spell. This is because of the massive mana drain. It's about 2.5 times more than a beam, and against monsters it doesn't effect it very much(compared to beam).
3.2) For 10mill this spell isn't near as dominant/useful as a cobalt. It won't overpower mages, it will just enhance them a little. Which other classes have a cleric to do the same thing, mages have to opt to spend 10mill for the same thing you can get for your buddy logging on a cleric.
4) Main recently went back to PK, and they're are a few scrolls active over there. If the spell was added to 1alt it would take a very long time before there would be half as many as main has. And in my estimation it wont ever have more than main. Because of the fact that 10mill isn't easy to make on 1alt, and anyone that does make it will probably opt for a cobalt. Plus the fact that there are few mage users, more less mage users with 10 mill.
Anyways, that's my case, and I really would appreciate it if you would please stay on topic. I will read with respect, and respond with respect to any post that disagree with this post as long as they're thought out posts. Thank you for your time.
edit:For the record, Day is the only active mage above 33, and i have nowhere near 10mill.. and will soon have even less.
edit:Also, something else useful to point out, there is only 1 cobalt staff in the game as of now.
Edited by Achilles, 12 January 2009 - 10:58 AM.
