Certain abilities should be off the GCD

[Raansu]

I think everything is fine. Shield Bash, is not... I repeat... IS NOT... an interruption skill. Yes it CAN function as one but it is FAR more effective as a mitigation tool. Just about every class has a means to stun/interrupt. PLD's strength is slowing down the pace and this is a tool that functions towards that strength. I see it as more of a active tool than a reactive one to be spamming to stop every single skill attack.

With Shield Swipe/Haymaker, they don't need to be off the GCD but I would like to see their windows lengthened by 1-3 seconds. But that really isn't a necessity... it is fine as it. Sure it takes some effort to coordinate and sometimes you just plain miss out but really I think some things in this game SHOULD take effort. Yeah it would be 'EASIER' if they changed the skills but easier is not always better. They way they are now, all you have to do is focus a little (which can be hard because as a tank you have to watch so much... watch your heal, your pt's health, the enemy's health/skills, the ground for AOE effects, etc. so focusing on your hotbar in this mix of all this is not always a luxury you have.) but it's all a trade off. I mean c'mon they are 40tp skills well generous potency and additional effects... they should take some effort/focus to use and not just become a derp skill.

Shield bash was clearly designed to be ab interrupt skill. It serves no other function outside of that. It's damage is relatively low, its stun is short, it doesn't increase enmity (well it does, cuz damage, but not in the sense of being an actual threat building attack like other abilities...you know what I mean -_-) and it costs more than shield lob. Abilities like this should have their own CD and be useable during the GCD. In fact, many abilities should function in such a way. As of right now the abilities purpose is limited due to priority going to other abilities thanks to the GCD being WAY to long and the fact that practically everything is tied to the GCD. Adding logical choices to abilities creates real depth to a fight. Currently, as much as I am enjoying this game, simple things like this in the battle mechanics I find both boring and extremely frustrating. Simple improvements like adding logical decisions to abilities could go a long way in making things like shield bash more useful and would add more depth to the fights than people would give credit for.

You can spam shield bash right now as much as you want. If it was off GCD and given its own cooldown (say 30 seconds) the skill itself becomes far more of a commodity in that a great tank will learn exactly what they need to use it on and when. This adds depth IMO.

Exactly.