I wouldn't call them "useless", and I love using them, but I'll admit they're lacking that little extra grand archmage power. Controlling the weather, slowing down time, sending Sims through portals that gets rid of them for a few hours or so and total mastery of life and death, making the very Grim Reaper your summon and your underling. The possibilities...!
They do feel a bit watered down. Take the Zap spell. Indoors, it would work as usual. Outdoors, it would be lightning that strikes your target.
Alas, my spellcaster Sim have to settle with making Vampires uncomfortable when they come knocking.
