...
this makes me sad
is tempest really that easy?
Tempest itself is okay. Its just most Rogue focus abilities are easily exploitable to basically destroy a single target in seconds even if its, say, a dragon. They're honestly worse than Knight Enchanter.
Focus abilities are considered to be magic from an old time, I think. Solas explained it briefly after the Haven invasion and right after the Dawn Will Come song. I figure this is an old magic that isn't strictly reserved to mages, that each class can perform under special training.
No they aren't and no he doesn't. Each spec gives a fairly clear basis for what it is and why it is as laid out by the trainer and focus abilities are just an extension of that within the context of the spec. Solas comments on any new magical forms you learn as a Mage ( He even likes Necromancy ) but doesn't exactly have much insight to offer on you building landmines in your bedroom at Skyhold as a Rogue.
Rogue is actually the only class that is 100% mundane in nature from a story perspective. Its Focus abilities are basically treated as feats of skill so amazing they only seem superhuman. Which is reflected in the flavour text. Whereas Warrior has two supernatural specs in Templar and Reaver. But those are explained as not being magic or in the case of Templar at least not what anyone understands as magic or even perhaps anti-magic ( "Reaching out to something older" "Reinforcing reality" ). The Reaver trainer is pretty clear its not magic its Dragon Koolaid.
Cole actually has the most insight into specs of any character, oddly enough. ( He can describe exactly how all three of the Mage specs work in terms of the Fade, as well as how Templar abilities work ). Party banter with Cassandra will also reveal how Templar abilities function in terms of magic ( Channelling the Fade makes reality mutable, Templar abilities are the opposite, they make reality rigid and unchangeable. Thus denying the way magic works. ).
Cole's abilities are "magic" based in a sense that he is a spirit of the Fade. They only emulate a Rogue. If you watch him in combat he doesn't actually go into stealth like other rogues. When he's "stealthed" his shadow is a different colour than standard Rogue stealth.
...I sense I am rambling.