Quote Originally Posted by Riko_Futatabi View Post
Why not make it possible to be used in battle and just quadruple the MP cost?
It's because content isn't based around the idea that WHM can use an AOE stoneskin. The ability to use an AOE Stoneskin does create the dynamic that whenever no one has stoneskin to just reapply cause why not it last 30 mins if I"m not mistaken so there is no reason to not put it in your rotation if half the party needs it reapplied.

They added it the way they did because it's meant to ease the battle prep phase for healers, rather than having to SS 8 people to provide that slight buff as the start of the fight they put it in to save time.

The other issue is this, an AOE SS if kept to work just like current SS would provide a huge huge huge huge hugeeee advantage compared to SCH's Succor which is an AOE cure + shield that only last 30 seconds.

With tank HP like 1980 a WHM SS would provide 1980 defense, if I"m not mistaken a Succor can maybe break 1k if not 850-1k.

Even with 7500 HP with an 18% shield would provide a 1350 shield for the person who has SS on them.

It's clear to see how game breaking and OP it would be to allow an AOE SS to be used during combat because it pretty much makes Succor worthless in comparison.