Think venomancers are overpowered? Please read.

The point of this thread is to come up with a list of advantages and disadvantages that each individual class holds. In a separate thread, there was an argument that the advantages given to venomancers far surpass those of other classes. I'd like to take that argument into its own dedicated thread.

There are two possible outcomes:
1.) The list shows that every class has an equal balance of advantages and disadvantages. Us, the people who argue that venomancers are overpowered, essentially lose the argument.

2.) The list shows that venomancers do indeed have advantages that outweigh the advantages of all other classes. Us, the people who argue that venomancers are overpowered, essentially win the argument.

If done correctly, this thread will PROVE beyond the shadow of a doubt that venomancers either are or are not overpowered. That will allow the people who argue over this issue (as you all love to do so often) to have a reference to point to, which will stop the arguments and flaming in their tracks.

So, without further ado:

THE LIST

Blademasters
Advantages:
- The best class for taking on multiple mobs at once due to heavy armor + loads of AoE spells (?)
- Can solo mobs 20-30 levels above their own, depending on mob type
- Fast leveling

Disadvantages:
- AOE's limited mostly to axes
- Weak against magical mobs
- Skill points have to be spread out over atk, dex and vit, so balancing them can be tricky

Wizards
Advantages:
- Highest single attacks of any class
- Possibly the most feared class in TW's

Disadvantages:
- The weakest physical defense of any class, incredibly hard to solo with - might as well forget about some bosses
- Long cast times, leaving them vulnerable and defenseless
- Clerics can heal and buff better than wizards, and have faster-casting spells that do nearly as much damage - why roll a wizard then?
- Difficult in PVP due to flashy attacks, long cast times and low HP

Archers
Advantages:
- Hits criticals more often than any other class, crazy damage as a result
- Uses both physical and magical attacks
- Strong against all classes in PVP, backed up by the majority of the top PVPers in every server being archers

Disadvantages:
- They miss more than they should (?)
- Completely unable to solo higher-level bosses, at least not without being at a level far above the boss
- High damage can grab aggro from bosses, thus leading to instant death - this forces archers to hold themselves back on bosses
- Only class without an HP recovery ability

Clerics
Advantages:
- Heals and buffs, oh my
- Very powerful magic attack
- Looong stun skill
- Possible the most sought-after class in the game for parties
- Both physical and magical attacks, making them flexible against opponents

Disadvantages:
- Drains mana quickly due to all that casting, buffing, etc., not to mention Plume Shot isn't exactly low-cost
- Squishy, but ability to heal + buff better than anyone makes this not so bad (?)
- Responsibility to heal the group makes leveling difficult, might spend most of the time healing instead of nuking that FB boss (thus getting less exp from it)

Barbarians
Advantages:
- Usually highest HP, physical defense of any class
- Tiger form makes this even better, and enables them to run much faster
- Great versus magical mobs - Alacrity of the Beast cancels channeling of opponent

Disadvantages:
- Lacking in damage due to focus on vitality over attack, also low dexterity makes this even worse
- Repair costs through the roof due to soaking up loads of damage on heavy armor

Venomancers
Advantages:
- HP and MP-recharging skills
- Stun skill that does not miss, does not use chi
- Phoenix = gigantic advantage in PVP that no other class has
- Pets are able to pull single mobs out of groups, which all other classes are usually forced to avoid
- Huge money-making potential due to being able to solo TT and more when others cannot, pets make this possible
- Fast leveling

Disadvantages:
- Squishy - this can be negated in PVE by simply using a pet, but they can be 2-shotted by an archer in PVP
- Cost of phoenix and herc is huge
- Mediocre at PVP - this is proven by statistics showing that most of the top PVPers of each server are not venos, phoenix or not

Here's some tinder for the fire: ONLY VENOMANCERS can solo TT at 70, and tank, both with relative ease. That's not fair. Most other classes would be utterly demolished trying to attempt such a thing. Archers and wizards might as well consider it impossible. The advantage given to venomancers makes them overpowered. PROVE ME WRONG.

Edit: One possible solution has been proposed! One of the biggest complaints about venos is the the phoenix and herc, which can enable venos to PVP like fiends and tank bosses solo, respectively. Instead of altering them (which venos do NOT want to see happen), what if every other class were given a $200 optional item or two which could compare to a phoenix or herc? This way, the venos and their pets would not be altered, players of other classes would have something that could compare and thus would likely stop complaining, AND it would make more money for PWI. If you agree or disagree with this, PLEASE add a comment about it. Thank you!!