Originally Posted by
Aleste
From my understanding (and messing around) the difference is that
the bar-element spell will help reduce the chance of the ailment landing on you, and subsequently on a partial resist, the overall duration of infliction. Whereas
the bar-ailment spells reduce the potency and duration of the effect.
Ironically, it always seems better to keep up the appropriate bar-element rather than the bar-ailment as most harmful effects are quickly and more easily -na'd off in the first place.
The only useful ones (for arguments sake) are barpetra and barsleepra... and even then sublimation counteracts the latter.
The problem is that the bar-ailment spells don't get much use because we often have to end up within range for a decent-ish casting time for a spell whose effects are below marginal.
A simple fix would be to have it work akin to aquaveil and prevent the specified ailment a number of times. Once, maybe twice (with gear).... or to have it nullify that specific ailment off a NM's aura effect. Aura of poison? Barpoisonra and negate that poison aura. Obviously if a NM has multiple auras, it would only negate that partial ailment.