How to make Illusionist a popular class

[miller6]

Want to make illusionist a popular class in your campaign? Allow them to sacrifice existing (i.e. already cast and in effect) illusions for a spell of any class that they've previously seen cast during that adventure that is one level or less than the existing illusion. In so doing, a clever illusionist will "layer" illusions then burn them off as other spells at a time of their choosing. Warning, this is reminiscent of wild mages... and makes a properly played illusionist a formidable opponent!

Another option, consider illusionist spells to be a psionic (i.e. mental based), rather than a magic-based class, and in so doing, they can penetrate anti-magic barriers with their mental-based "spells".

Just a couples ideas worth trying...

"Gotta love C&C...It's designed for home rules!"
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"The adventure continues"

[Arazmus]

I like illusionists the way they are. The beefed up spell choices in the 4th printing should put them on equal footing with other casters. There is one spell I need to work out and submit if it isn't in the new printing. Have to wait and see.
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I'll tell you what I do like though: a killer, a dyed-in-the-wool killer. Cold blooded, clean, methodical and thorough. ~Zorg

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I've had some fun with illusionists in my games. Once a player gets hold of Major Image, they can do some really fun stuff. I tend to leave as-is as well, but if a player comes up with a really neat idea, I'll often let 'em run with it and see what happens. Spell choice is critical, however.