You'll keep terrain. I doubt Bards will. There's no reason for them to have it, and every reason for Mages to get it. Phantoms will probably be Mage only too, from the sounds of things. I dunno, maybe not. I'm sure everyone will get cool stuff, I'm just having trouble thinking of offensive illusions that would go in Glamour and not Phantasms. Maybe I should play my Mesmer more.

I think Illusions is alright for mages right now, balance-wise, but not for bards. Hence why I think Phantasms would just be mostly the current Illusions skillset, and Glamour would be mostly new (Although, there are several illusions skills beyond Adept which I wouldn't like to lose - fireworks, improved, programmed, manse)

We won't be seeing the new illusions specializations until early 2007 though.

I'm betting it will be primarily defensive/utility/hindering. Which will rock!

Remember that bards who do not choose Illusions cannot put on actual performances.

It seems like a combatant / non-combatant choice to me.

Why can't they put on performances? Emotes are your friend.

Also remember illusions can be detected, and its more irritating than you might think.

Imagine Richter sitting at your performance saying, "Nice illusion, but you can't fool my master artisan eye!" "What a poor illusion, try better next time." "Flawed illusions eh? Just don't bother." The whoooole way through.

Emotes blow. If you can title yourself, they're a bit better, but you're still stuck only doing things that begin with your name, which really constrains your style. Even doing EMOTE PERFORMS BLAH BLAH, or EMOTE ENACTS A SCENE is repetitive and annoying.