Im at Sorcerer and I find them very good indeed. I use a debuff to pull(it easier to get the aggro off ME whit one hit) and then I set my pet to the mob.. wait until pet has done some dmg and then I hit a dmg over time spell.. then I use eighter Drain or the other nuke I have to kill it. I dont get aggro and I can kill oranges easyli! Just remember NOT to use AoF debuff when other mobs near!!!!!
Whats the point of DDs that drain health to the caster? Really, I don't see the point, casters don't tank, and therefore don't need to heal themselves through DDs. Even if they do tank, whats the DD do for them then? They can't cast whiles fighting...
Life drain compensates the life lost from shifting health to allies (via the spell from the Essense spell list (called Body/spirit here, for some reason)), or is very handy as your quick-cast spell.
Has anyone tested the actual effectiveness of Strength debuffs on mobs? I don't want to waste my time casting spells that have no real effect (cf. EQ's str debuffs).
I have tested those spell quite often and they DO work. They indeed root the mob for a short period of time but their moving speed will decrease drastically. You'll have enough time to kill a blue- mob without your simulacrum by draining (repete untill dead) if you need to, or you can run away if needed.