As for winning or losing, it's been a mix. Half of the trial roulettes I've been getting have the new player mythology tome notification, with some having multiple new players. If I can put up stoneskin and protect, it gives the party a chance to get their footing in the fight and the stoneskin can absorb some of the initial clumsiness some players who are newer to the content may have. Protect can also mean having a player alive or dead when they've accidentally eaten a hit that they meant to dodge. We've all had those moments where we've accidentally eaten a hit.

I'm just saying that 18 seconds really isn't too much to put up with when stoneskin and protect can only benefit the party. Three minutes without the battle starting is excessive, and I will agree to that. It's just those players who are impatient and start as soon as the blue circle disappears, which can often do more damage--especially when you have a blatantly rude DPS player who starts the fight and has Ifrit blast fire breath on the party or has Titan rip off everyone's faces.

I'm looking for official ruling from the development or admin team to see what the right course of action is here, as the presence of this behavior is increasing with each day.