I think the ritualist was made to be a replacement for the monk. I'm not saying all the way, but instead of groups being blah blah blah and two monks. It would be blah blah blah 1 monk 1 ritualist.

I think I said this, but the ritualist was made to be a anit-melee protector and the Assassin a anit-caster killer. Though when I went up against a ritualist using my Assassin I killed it off easier then anyother class :P , but the others were a bit harder