Reflect

[Kensagaku]

Okay I haven't read a lot of the thread, but I remember talking about similar effects in another thread, and I have my own proposition that might make the whole Reflect difficulties a bit easier to handle similar to the one from the other thread:

1) Reflect would be a single-target cast on any individual, can be made AoE by Accession.
2) Reflect would counter up to X number of spells, where X is based on your Enhancing Skill (meaning that RDM, with higher Enhancing, would rock this, but WHM and SCH could still get access and use it competently). Maybe like 1~3 spells to prevent it from being OP? Or more, but would require a longer recast time because monsters only cast spells so often unless under Chainspell/Manafont.
3) For limitations, reflecting spells would be limited to player-only spells to avoid stuff like Death and certain -gas from being countered. This would provide some aspect of balance.
4) For AoE spells, the original target is the only Reflect that will activate; if a party with Reflect on is hit by an AoE spell, the original target will use up one "use" of Reflect (see #2) while the spell is negated for the rest of the party. An AoE spell reflected will hit the target that cast it and any eligible mobs around it (example: during Voidwatch, you won't hit non-VW mobs nearby).
5) For damage/effectiveness of reflected spells, I'd say make it based on the player's stats, if that's not too complicated. Simply put that would prevent this from becoming overpowered while staying a viable defensive strategy. A melee with mediocre magical stats wouldn't reflect much damage, but would be protected from spells to an extent, while a mage who might get hit in the backline or even in front (the RDMs that do melee, or a WHM or SCH running in to AoE a buff like Protectra or Stoneskin-ga) can reflect it with more potency.


And to cover the issues that were given:

Reflecting Spells Cast On You

I suggest that player-originating spells ignore Reflect, simply because we normally cannot nuke/enfeeble/etc each other during battle. However, we wouldn't want Cures, etc to be bounced back at the user when a melee is nearly dead from physical attacks, because that would make this a very weak spell to use unless you have a tank who can turtle up enough to take hits until Reflect wears/is canceled.

Random reflection and AoE Spell reflection

Don't make reflection random, then. Have a reflected spell hit the target that cast it. Single-target spells will only affect the one who cast, but AoE spells will hit all eligible targets within range of the original caster (See #4, above). This includes debuffs as well as elemental spells, and with being limited to player-only spells, still requires that the mages be on their toes to handle certain situations (-ga debuffs, etc).

Effect animation

For this I'd recommend a simple shimmer effect (if possible) on the character who is being targeted, and the actual spell animation removed from the players. Since it would only be "targeting" one character with AoE damage hitting those around him, only the targeted character would need this effect, reducing lag on the server. Follow this by the spell animation being cast on the original caster, and in the chatlog something like:

"Monster A casts Fire IV."
"Reflect! Monster A takes X points of damage."

Stats

I can see the issue with this, hence why I made a limiter as above (see #2), which along with a decently long recast time (I'd say... 1:00~1:30, perhaps? I don't recall off the top of my head the average time difference between monsters casting spells, but it should be within 3~5 of their spells to be balanced, I think) would probably balance out this spell enough to make it potentially effective if used properly without making it overpowered.

And to mention stats, the damage of the reflected spell, as I suggested above in #5, should be based on the target that is reflecting the spell. If your character has low INT/elemental skill, your reflection of a nuke isn't going to be very potent, but you're still protected from it, giving you a defensive option without overpowering the damage on it. Mages, on the other hand, could make more potent use of the reflected spells, but would put themselves in danger if they're on the frontline with melee so it's more of a protection against backline nukes.

[Tesahade]

1) Reflect would be a single-target cast on any individual, can be made AoE by Accession.
2) Reflect would counter up to X number of spells, where X is based on your Enhancing Skill (meaning that RDM, with higher Enhancing, would rock this, but WHM and SCH could still get access and use it competently).

Rdm and Sch both have B+ enhancing magic and as for gear rdm has a with Duelist's hands +2, and Estoqueur's feet +2, cap = +24(slot with competition the competition is subtracted to show the lead it has over sch)
Sch has Savant's Bonnet +2 and Treatise Kirin's Pole(+10 aug)= +24(slots without competition that a rdm can use)
You can get a total of 505 enhancing magic (unless i missed a piece of gear) on both jobs. meaning 1 is not better then the other unless you account for sch having the power to double duration of the effects and make the spell AoE

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Rdm and Sch both have B+ enhancing magic and as for gear rdm has a with Duelist's hands +2, and Estoqueur's feet +2, cap = +24(slot with competition the competition is subtracted to show the lead it has over sch)
Sch has Savant's Bonnet +2 and Treatise Kirin's Pole(+10 aug)= +24(slots without competition that a rdm can use)
You can get a total of 505 enhancing magic (unless i missed a piece of gear) on both jobs. meaning 1 is not better then the other unless you account for sch having the power to double duration of the effects and make the spell AoE

Technically they don't. RDM has B+ and SCH and any other /SCH job gains B+ skill only under a JA. RDM is still technically they job with higest Enhancing as it's guaranteed.

Change arts and goodbye skill.

[Tesahade]

Technically they don't. RDM has B+ and SCH and any other /SCH job gains B+ skill only under a JA. RDM is still technically they job with higest Enhancing as it's guaranteed.

Change arts and goodbye skill.

I only seem to get 386 skill with /sch and B+ is 420(with full enhancing merits). Also as a Sch i never find myself casting enhancing magic without lights arts and absolutely never with dark arts up. Having the right arts up has yet to be a problem since i started the job so not sure i'm understanding your point.
Sch has B+ when it needs it so Rdm who has it all the time is better?
They both have it when they need it so they are on even footing other then the lead of +4 enhancing magic, that Kensagaku pointed out, Rdm has(515) over Sch(511)

[Daniel_Hatcher]

I only seem to get 386 skill with /sch and B+ is 420(with full enhancing merits). Also as a Sch i never find myself casting enhancing magic without lights arts and absolutely never with dark arts up. Having the right arts up has yet to be a problem since i started the job so not sure i'm understanding your point.
Sch has B+ when it needs it so Rdm who has it all the time is better?
They both have it when they need it so they are on even footing other then the lead of +4 enhancing magic, that Kensagaku pointed out, Rdm has(515) over Sch(511)

My point is SCH doesn't technically have it, they have D skill Enhancing. A JA changes that temporarily. There is times when you go Light Arts > Spell > Dark Arts > Wears off > Light arts recast: 0:30 it's not 100% reliable enhancing so as I said, not Natural B+ enhancing.

As for the 386 skill, not sure but isn't that because you're Enhancing isn't capped for the main job?

[Crossarius]

My point is SCH doesn't technically have it, they have D skill Enhancing. A JA changes that temporarily. There is times when you go Light Arts > Spell > Dark Arts > Wears off > Light arts recast: 0:30 it's not 100% reliable enhancing so as I said, not Natural B+ enhancing.

As for the 386 skill, not sure but isn't that because you're Enhancing isn't capped for the main job?

and still B+ Skill is B+ skill is B+ skill. I wouldn't cast a spell with such an effect under dark arts if it's gonna end up with enhancing skill modifying the spell, especially not if I am in buffing mode anyway.

Technically a SCH has B+ whenever he wants it by using LA. So technically SCH has B+. my two cents.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

and still B+ Skill is B+ skill is B+ skill. I wouldn't cast a spell with such an effect under dark arts if it's gonna end up with enhancing skill modifying the spell, especially not if I am in buffing mode anyway.

Technically a SCH has B+ whenever he wants it by using LA. So technically SCH has B+. my two cents.

The same is true as I said of any job /SCH (AKA. WHM)