In case meriting protectra V wasn't bad enough...

[Llana_Virren]

You take whm seriously, but you don't think casting -24.2% mdt on the entire mage party is more important than casting 60 defense on your melee party, even though you can do both if you would just put one merit into Protectra V. I think you need to get your priorities straight.

One merit in Protectra V does not a full potency Protectra V make. That's why we're looking at potential revisions to the spell. But using mediocre merits for the sake of helping your party isn't the answer. The point of this entire thread is how underdeveloped Protectra V is. Subscribing to "just put 1 merit in it" proves that point; and I have no desire to hinder my merit choices for the sake humoring those who are proving in each passing post they they don't care about being better than "ok" at WHM.

[Llana_Virren]

Yes, I find your play style to be questionably silly. I take pride in my whm and the way I play it. For you to imply that you are somehow on another level is an insult.

I imply nothing. You yourself said "its not that serious." If you take WHM seriously, it should be apparent in your posts (which it was not). I have nothing against different styles of gameplay, however I'm not going to support putting merits in a useless spell (useless due to its underwhelming design); and clearly enough of the playerbase has expressed this view, as we're seeing SE working on possible enhancements to the spell.

So while Accession>Protect V may cost more MP, it is MP I can afford to use. I don't view it as a waste of MP or strategem because I am not using that MP or strategem for anything else at that point, and I regain both before anything bad happens (like no MP or strategem available); so again, there is no actual loss there, despite your argument to the contrary.

When you poke and prod a player with weak logic and snobby attitude, you really shouldn't be offended (or suprised, to be honest) when the favor is returned.

The point remains that Protectra V isn't worth a single merit, the majority of WHMs here agree, and SE is reviewing potential changes. Those are the facts as they stand, no matter how any of us play WHM.

[saevel]

Why are people acting like Accession Protect V is somehow bad <.<

The spell lasts 30min and is cast before any major engagement. If your fighting something that dispel's buffs then Protect will be the last buff to be put back up.

[InsideOut]

I imply nothing. You yourself said "its not that serious." If you take WHM seriously, it should be apparent in your posts (which it was not). I have nothing against different styles of gameplay, however I'm not going to support putting merits in a useless spell (useless due to its underwhelming design); and clearly enough of the playerbase has expressed this view, as we're seeing SE working on possible enhancements to the spell.

So while Accession>Protect V may cost more MP, it is MP I can afford to use. I don't view it as a waste of MP or strategem because I am not using that MP or strategem for anything else at that point, and I regain both before anything bad happens (like no MP or strategem available); so again, there is no actual loss there, despite your argument to the contrary.

When you poke and prod a player with weak logic and snobby attitude, you really shouldn't be offended (or suprised, to be honest) when the favor is returned.

The point remains that Protectra V isn't worth a single merit, the majority of WHMs here agree, and SE is reviewing potential changes. Those are the facts as they stand, no matter how any of us play WHM.

You misunderstood. I said "its not that serious" meaning that wasting a stratagem to Accession+ Protect V your party is unnecessary, not the white mage job itself. The only thing in Group 2 worth meriting 5/5 is Shellra V. There are not enough situations to warrant Devotion 5/5 so its difficult to understand how someone who is so serious about the white mage job won't drop a single merit in Protectra V, especially when they see the value in it enough to Accession+ Protect V their own party.

Everyone in this thread, including myself, have said that Protectra V is crap but those of us who want that +5 defense bonus have tossed a merit in it because there is nothing else in that category that is worth 5/5 merits. Play around it however you want. For your play style, unlocking Protectra V will save time, MP, and a stratagem. Or you can stop being a sheep and cast your protectra IV with pride.Those are the facts.

[Llana_Virren]

Or you can stop being a sheep and cast your protectra IV with pride.Those are the facts.

I stopped being a sheep when I tossed my 1/5 Protectra V merit.

[InsideOut]

Why are people acting like Accession Protect V is somehow bad <.<

The spell lasts 30min and is cast before any major engagement. If your fighting something that dispel's buffs then Protect will be the last buff to be put back up.

When all a WHM has to do is toss a single merit in Protectra V to unlock the spell, yes.
Using Accession + Protect V takes time, MP, and effort to get off a single single.

If WHM had a single (1) merit option for an AoE Stoneskin that did nothing but cast regular old Stoneskin to all surrounding party members (no extra strength) I think some of you would be singing a different tune to this same song.

[InsideOut]

I stopped being a sheep when I tossed my 1/5 Protectra V merit.

Being wasteful does not suit a serious white mage.

[Llana_Virren]

When all a WHM has to do is toss a single merit in Protectra V to unlock the spell, yes.
Using Accession + Protect V takes time, MP, and effort to get off a single single.

If WHM had a single (1) merit option for an AoE Stoneskin that did nothing but cast regular old Stoneskin to all surrounding party members (no extra strength) I think some of you would be singing a different tune to this same song.

Quick trivia question: which one would be a useful merit allocation, and which one wouldn't?

Wasting a merit on Protectra V when even Martyr would do more good in the long run does not a frugal WHM make.

[InsideOut]

Quick trivia question: which one would be a useful merit allocation, and which one wouldn't?

Wasting a merit on Protectra V when even Martyr would do more good in the long run does not a frugal WHM make.

Putting a merit in Protectra V saves me from having to waste time, MP, and a stratagem. What does not putting a merit in Protectra V do for you except slow you down?
Do leaders stick you in the mages party often enough to make Devotion 5/5 worth it? I'm starting to see why they would do that. . .

[Llana_Virren]

I'm in the main party, actually, we don't have any healers in the mage party (unless you count the SCHs?) unless you're talking about a Bismark run in which I Devo the PLD who's supertanking the babies... other than that, I don't actually waste MP or a Strategem (although you keep saying it's a waste, without saying what else I should be using them for pre-fight).

Funny thing is, you're more against me doing Accession than I am against putting merits in Protectra V. Hmm....