I want to like this elite spec so much more but I came away feeling disappointed. I don't play a thief to be the group healer, which in it's current state is more the case than playing a guardian which should be as close to a healing class as we have. Out of all the new elites, this one seems to have lost it's way the most in what it's supposed to be.
The good.
You get a lot of skills/effects to help allies. I love the scepter, and it's a relatively quick attack as it should be. I think this is a good compliment.
The meh.
Targeting allies to give them bonus health/armor/protection is a neat touch, but unfortunately, that means I have to choose between participating directly in the battle with DPS vs being the healer. That kinda doesn't fit with a Thief concept IMHO. Also, it's also difficult to STOP aiding allies instead of shifting to attack an enemy. Several times I'm trying to shoot the critter killing me and it keeps focusing on someone and dumping aid into them.
Shadow Shroud combat skills were confusing and difficult to tell if/what they were doing. Too much helping an ally and too little helping yourself or damaging the enemy.
The bad.
I'm not happy that the Scepter is only main hand. It needs to be like the dagger and pistol and usable in both hands. I want a duel scepter layout with some better oomph in it's attack in slots 4 and 5. Not more healing. More firepower or more special conditions like the pistol and daggers get.
The Siphon I don't think is working as advertised. I don't steal anything. It doesn't seem to do anything when I siphon an ally either. What happened to anything stolen?
The elite skills seem to be aimed specifically at stacking torment or barrier. There's not much more to it than that.
Ultimately, as much as great potential that lies in this elite class, it's way too much philanthropy and far too little larceny.