To Bolty - the polymorphed sheeps are suppose to only wonder about 5 yards at most. The devs confirmed that its a bug with their AI that it acts like critter. Maybe they will even make the polymorphed animal stick in one place... --- Mongo beat me to it =\
On the other hand your complaint that mages don't do enough damage to be taken into group now is really not valid. Last push they were the best damage dealing class, and with a new change to rogues (most special attacks now miss at pretty abnormal rate - about 1/3 of the time, and the stealth openers and finishers miss about 50% of the time), the only other class geared towards high damage output, the mages are the best damage dealers period. Combine that with AOE capabilities, free food/drink for party, intelligence buff for casters, and the new talents and I don't see why anyone would not want one in their party.
Of course priests will still be the first choice, and warriors will be second now more then ever, but thats a different story =).
On the other hand your complaint that mages don't do enough damage to be taken into group now is really not valid. Last push they were the best damage dealing class, and with a new change to rogues (most special attacks now miss at pretty abnormal rate - about 1/3 of the time, and the stealth openers and finishers miss about 50% of the time), the only other class geared towards high damage output, the mages are the best damage dealers period. Combine that with AOE capabilities, free food/drink for party, intelligence buff for casters, and the new talents and I don't see why anyone would not want one in their party.
Of course priests will still be the first choice, and warriors will be second now more then ever, but thats a different story =).