Wizards are just fine group dps in classic. This isn't blue with years and years of kunark and velious twinks running around. Evac is great in a pinch too, and a lot more needed without all the aforementioned twink gear to carry you through bad pulls.

In my experience there is too much green no exp at 48+. I leave the camp for those 45 and under.

Full six man xp groups at higher levels (like 47+) are all about keeping pulls coming as close to constantly as possible, in every era. Wiz may be fine in lower level groups but eventually the mechanics catch up to you. Wizards can't sustain dps without downtime, and downtime kills the flow of a full xp group. Melee and pets beat wizards at sustained dps exponentially, and druids can evac while also offering heals and a multitude more other utility options than a wizard.

This isn't like the "rangers suck" stereotype which was proven to be wrong. Wizards are simply the most inefficient class for a higher level six man group, bar none and its not even close.

In classic, there's only so many camps, and only so many mobs. High congestion works in the favor of wizards, as it allows them more time to med between pulls, which in turn allows them to spend more mana on nukes. There's always going to be downtime in groups until Kunark and players can spread out more.

They also bring a lot more to the table in utility, especially in emergency situations. Rogues and the like are great, but they can't burn down a target if there's trouble, or CC root an add when the enchanter is LOM. To say nothing of evac that saves lives in classic, particularly.

Wizards bring a lot more to the table than they're given credit for. They'll never be top tier dps in groups - but they're not nearly as bad as people think they are, especially since much of that opinion is flavored by extreme overgearing from an extended timeline on Blue.

Wizards dont need to use their biggest, most mana intensive nuke on every mob to be effective.

Ive recently discovered the nightly kithkor pickup groups. So many mobs on a normal decent zem

Goodluck pulling nonstop at any high level camp there isnt enough mobs

6 wizards can kill faster and keep more crap cleared then any group

sorry you suck

Barcode?

6 wizards vs 6 mages? i'm gonna hafta go with 6 mages. not that it ever happens. 6 tanks regenning at 30/tic, close to the same nuke per critter to finish.
Not that i dispute that 6 nukers could clean up in a dungeon with very very crowded condtions. with rune spells, they could easily take zero dmg every fight.