I can't wait until the formulae are redone to make all stats function as intended
There are just so many stats that factor into everything....

Say a Plains footpad hits you with Luminous Spire... Its Astral damage....
So thats Fire, Wind and lightning

First and foremost It would be the Footpads Piety vs your own piety to decide whether it will be resisted

Then its the Footpads Int vs your Mind

followed by the footpads Magic Potency vs your magic defense

Then The game looks at each elemental attribute that applies to said spell....
(There is also some confusion with this one.... Some people say high fire element helps take less damage from fire spells... I've heard others say High Wind element helps defend against fire spells since wind beats fire...)
So there are at least 3 elemental attributes from the footpad vs either 3 elements of yours... OR the Elemental Resistances value (Which is given as one number as opposed to individual resistances for each element) or possibly even a formula involving both Elemental Attributes AND your elemental resistances

Shell's Magic damage modifier is applied, if applicable

No one knows where the Delta(Rank) modifier exists in the formula.. if not in several places, possibly even capping other values

Then after all of this is done, The damage is subtracted from your HP as determined by your vitality stat

Any shock spikes or Punishing barbs counter damage is calculated (as another set of calculations)

Its easy to see how a formula involving this many factors and variables can become too complex and contain unbalanced values....

Keep in mind, an RPG (MMO or otherwise) needs a very in depth damage formula, as that is the cornerstone of your game
But It will be nice when all of these values have a more clear meaning