[Scott Hebert]

As a more extreme example, let's take the Arch Seraph vs. the Virtue.

You can say that their chassis is similar enough for comparison.

Their base costs:

Arch Seraph: 65
Virtue: 50

Their base dominion:

Arch Seraph: 1
Virtue: 4

Their base paths:

Arch Seraph: A
Virtue: AA

Their path costs:

Arch Seraph: 10
Virtue: 80

Oookay. So I would think that the potential for versatility makes the Arch Seraph cost more than the Virtue.

The problem is that the numbers don't help the situation.

Again, let us assume Dominion of 6 (which I have heard referred to as 'standard'). So let's do some examples.

Cost of Air-4 Dominion-6 Virtue: 95 points.
Cost of Air-4 Dominion-6 Arch Seraph: 218 points.

Okay, clearly the Virtue is superior here. Note that any increases to either Air or Dominion will benefit the Virtue more.

Cost of Air-4 Other-4 Dominion-6 Virtue: 247 points.
Cost of Air-4 Other-4 Dominion-6 Arch Seraph: 300 points.

Even with adding another path at 4, the Virtue is superior to the Arch Seraph. That is with a 70-pt. difference in Path cost. Note again that any increase to Air or Dominion benefits the Virtue, while increasing the Other costs the same for both parties.

Cost of Air-4 Other1-4 Other2-4 Dominion-6 Virtue: 399 points.
Cost of Air-4 Other1-4 Other2-4 Dominion-6 Arch Seraph: 382 points.

At 3 paths at 4, the Arch Seraph finally overtakes the Virtue, but the difference is only 17 points. This is not enough to enable an additional purchase on the part of the Arch Seraph (except for 1 level in a 4th path). So we can safely say that the Virtue and the Arch Seraph are equals at this point. Another way of putting this is that you would have to buy 4 paths of magic (at 4) to make the Arch Seraph a better buy than the Virtue.

The main culprit you can point to for the downfall of the Arch Seraph is the cost to increase her Dominion up to match the Virtue's. This artificially increases her 'base cost' to an astronomical level, to the point that the Virtue is the better choice for anything but broad but shallow magical knowledge.

Now, note the difference under my proposed mod. To get the Virtue and the Arch Seraph to equal levels, the Virtue would have to buy a point of Dominion (7 points), and the Arch Seraph would have to buy a point of Air Magic (8 points). Much more balanced from the viewpoint that the difference in costs is accurately reflected. Then, you have a much closer argument for which is better. If you want more than one path, then clearly the Arch Seraph is the cheaper (thereby better) way to go. However, if you want to specialize in Air magic, the Virtue would be better. She has better combat stats and innate immunity to the element's magical attack form.

This is my idea of 'balanced'. You have several equally useful options.

Similar arguments could be made for Lord of Fertility/Bull/Mother of Lions vs. Great Druid, and so forth.

In any event, hopefully this gives you some idea where I'm coming from in terms of this mod.