So your claim is that people who think Illusion is boring just don't know how to use it properly. It's no secret that you can use Illusion for days and not get involved in melee and it's not even complicated to do so. That's the point. Easy=Boring imo.
I would prefer if my high-level boring Illusion spells weren't just retreads of low-level boring Illusion spells. Even so, I'd enjoy using them a lot more even if there was just one little effect besides an aura. Fear spell... ok... how about a simple holographic anything for them to run from?
Hang on a minute. The high level Illusion spells are nothing more than retreads of low level Illusion spells, and destruction is far better?????
Novice Spells: Flames, Frostbite, Sparks
Apprentice Spells: Firebolt, Ice Spike, Lightningbolt
Adept Spells: Fireball, Ice Storm, Chain Lightning
Expert Spells: Incinerate, Icy Spear, Thunderbolt
Master Spells: Fire Storm, Blizzard, Lightning Storm
Yeah, Destruction is no where near repetitive like Illusion.
Ignoring the fact that you conveniently left out all the Rune and Wall spells, each Destruction element is different and affects things differently. I know you know this so I won't explain. Not to mention you left out Cloaks... which also happens to include Whirlwind Cloak, which is basically pure protection.
Flames can be cast continuous, Fireballs are projectiles that explode and effect an area, Chain lightning jumps from one person to another, Frost slows people down, Ice Storm affects a bigger area than Frost, thus making it more useful in a different way. I could go on but I'd like to move on to Illusion for comparison.
Clairvoyance- Different but utterly useless unless you still get lost, even then only partially useful.
Courage- Targets won't flee
Rally- Targets won't flee again
Calm- Targets won't fight
Pacify- Targets won't fight again
Harmony- Targets won't fight
Fury- Targets attack anything
Frenzy- See above
Frenzy Rune- An appreciated spin but same effect as above
(Not to mention all of these effects can be duplicated with a potion, maybe easier)
Fear- Targets run away, also can be duplicated with a potion
Invisibilty- I make WAY better potions for this effect
Muffle- Great for quick-leveling, but easily attainable through other means. Completely redundant late game imo
All the Master Spells are retreads except for Call to Arms which is only useful with followers and Vision of the Tenth Eye, which you know as well as me is
completely useless.
So unlike you, I went ahead and listed EVERY Illusion spell that I know of. Thanks because now seeing it all in print, I really hate it.
Also, people keep coming at me with Destruction, which is fine since I did mention it in my OP, however, my primary school has always been Alteration, Illusion was my second school before I dumped it for Destruction for fun factor.