Except ranger can't match the aoe until ranger gets arrow storm? You keep mentioning ranger, when it's really just reactive shot being buggy and arrow storm being op, the fix is simple.
My point is that mage combos can be very effective, almost all the spells in the first combo is available in act 1, and only cost a single ap, where ranger have to spend 2 ap for every shot, or are you saying ranger can do the same kind of aoe damage in act I? It's not like ranger win in terms of single target either when all of the mages' skills are 1 ap cost.
They can't match the AoE
if that AoE is hitting more than
three targets until Arrow Storm, no, and they also can't use more than two abilities per fight generally that hit multiple enemies. Yet, it doesn't even matter when they can take out 2-3 enemies faster anyway even without the AoE.
Early game with a LW (LOL) Ranger, you can rush to the Houndmaster Crossbow. You could opt to also play as Ifran instead, but this is only a good option through the earliest portion of Act 1 due to the power of his personal crossbow. That falls way behind to what an Elf (without giving up a helm slot) can start doing around level 7-8. Or you could always just duo with Ifran, rush to his bow and then drop him. But I guess that's not really solo, so it doesn't count.
I just find the LW requirement to make such an argument laughable though. You can make any build powerful with LW, and the majority of players are going to want to play the game with four characters, especially in their first playthrough, duo at most. After that? It doesn't really matter much unless you want to experience all that the companions have to offer, which means another four party group most likely. LW isn't a good metric at all for comparing builds. Before gear inflation, some are going to put it to better use than others, but it won't remain static throughout the game.
Your entire foundation rests upon LW. You're basically saying "Mages don't suck, see, you just have to solo completely if you want to do anything with them!".
