Protect/Shell Duration Increase

[Meleena]

Also to make things "fair" if the spell is used cross-class or casted by/on someone under optimum level the effect is 5 minute duration with a POSSIBLE reduced effect?

What reduced effect?
You mean that theres an effect right now and you want this to be nerfed on non mage classes? :P
Anyway joking aside, seriously, make spells working!
I could notice the damage decrease on my charactr in FF11, but I cant even see the changes in this game...

Oh and no!
Shell and Protect should remain 2 different spells, never combine them!

[Phenidate]

Honestly I agree with the sentiment that these two spells fail to matter during their duration.

Choosing whether or not you cast protect is about as compelling as taking a daily vitamin. Its not fun but you should do it because its supposed to be good for you.

If the Dev Team's stance on abilities is: powerful buffs should have shorter durations... I'm afraid I must report a massive game balance breaking ability. This spell is like punishing barbs but stuns a monster every time it hits you PLUS dealing damage back at the monster. Whats worse though is the negligible MP cost, a short recast time and a duration that's almost as long as protect! I'm sure you know what spell I mean, but I'll refrain from mentioning it on the forums so that other users won't pick up on it and exploit it at every opportunity.

[Kenshinryu]

I agree with you there! That would make playing a bit more easier and you wont have to rebuff so many times.

[Aeyis]

Personally i don't see how the buffs duration is their weak point right now..
Then again im used to playing (most) mmos (out there), where you run around with a full set of buffs lasting (if your lucky) 7 minutes.

5-7 Minutes is actually a pretty long time for a buff you know.
Anything more then that quickly starts to move into the ''to long to bother looking if the icon is even there'' area.

If 5-7 minute buffs bother you so much, why not rather complain about debuffs..?
Although people forget about those often since they don't give a shiny icon next to your own status, they're actually as effective (often a lot more) as for example protect/shell.

But, if you have your mind set about complaining about those 2 buffs,
try complaining about their actual weak point, which isnt the duration, but the recast time.

[Phenidate]

Personally i don't see how the buffs duration is their weak point right now..
Then again im used to playing (most) mmos (out there), where you run around with a full set of buffs lasting (if your lucky) 7 minutes.

5-7 Minutes is actually a pretty long time for a buff you know.
Anything more then that quickly starts to move into the ''to long to bother looking if the icon is even there'' area.

If 5-7 minute buffs bother you so much, why not rather complain about debuffs..?
Although people forget about those often since they don't give a shiny icon next to your own status, they're actually as effective (often a lot more) as for example protect/shell.

But, if you have your mind set about complaining about those 2 buffs,
try complaining about their actual weak point, which isnt the duration, but the recast time.

5-7 minutes for such a minor buff falls more into the 'no one in the group bothers to keep it up'

I'm in an Ixali grind right now and its been 2 hours since we last cast these two spells.

[Altera]

Yeah a bit longer duration on these spells would be nice 20-30mins would be perfect imo.

[Zelkelion]

Maybe I just do things a little slower and more carefully than most. But the day I learned Protect my life got a lot easier as a caster. Solo, it's mandatory. I can't take hits! In a party with my friend I try to keep Shock Spikes and Protect on her constantly, it's my way of contributing and trying to prevent slowdown or a situation where I have to heal. Because healing just destroys MP.

An increased duration might be nice, but I also think that it's fine as is. I think a great idea would be for an animation to show on the spell fading. Like a shattering version of the normal effect you see when you gain Protect. This could apply to all status spells, since the icons are kinda small and there's no noticeable message when they're gone.

[Perrin_Aybarra]

I agree that Protect and shell should have a longer timer but I also think that spells like Stoneskin, shock spikes, protect, shell, etc should have their effectiveness and lenght improved with the caster's PIE (piety). So the higher the PIE of the caster, the longer the buff last and is more effective (stoneskin absorbs more dmg, protect gives more defense, etc).

[Ryndael]

I agree that Protect and shell should have a longer timer but I also think that spells like Stoneskin, shock spikes, protect, shell, etc should have their effectiveness and lenght improved with the caster's PIE (piety). So the higher the PIE of the caster, the longer the buff last and is more effective (stoneskin absorbs more dmg, protect gives more defense, etc).

Stoneskin's buff is already based off of Mind, it blocks the same amount of damage as you heal with Cure II (Stoneskin II). Why would they change it to Piety? Piety only has to do with accuracy and dot damage.

[Perrin_Aybarra]

Stoneskin's buff is already based off of Mind, it blocks the same amount of damage as you heal with Cure II (Stoneskin II). Why would they change it to Piety? Piety only has to do with accuracy and dot damage.

Are you sure they are based off MND? I thought mind only affected your MP pool and not the healing potency (unlike FFXI) and that only INT affected your magic potency (cures and nukes alike).

Also I said PIE off my head like that, my suggestion could work with MND or INT or PIE w/e they decide to do with the stats when they are done with the overhaul. Stoneskin might already be affected by a stat since it has the cure potency but my exemple was more for protect and shell as the thread suggested and I threw stoneskin and shock spike and etc in there since they should all be affected the same way.