Everyone in chardok expected the aoe groups to die eventually either with the chardok 2.0 revamp or changes to agro with invulnerability (da/db).
http://www.tski.co.jp/baldio/patch/20010627.html
This artificial cap on the number of mobs affected by ae spells is sloppy as shit. It affects various other encounters on the server like CT/tunare. It is also a significant nerf to wizards/mages. Whatever, at least it opens up another xp zone to low 50's other than KC.