Why is stoneskin so... well, ugly?

[Empressia]

I don't like Stoneskin at all because it's a chore to cast it all the time. I don't know why so many parties, even in duty finder when doing non-difficult content, won't move until you stoneskin the whole party. It's really only effective on tanks.

Anyway, I might like casting it more if it actually looked pretty. Can't we do better than blocky textures spinning around a character? Maybe the target's skin could become rocky or crystalline for a second after casting it. Or just better textured rocks could swirl around the character.

I'm pretty sure u haven't done t8 and t9 OP

[Defteros]

yes, please.
make the party sparkle like Edward Cullen when I cast stoneskin on them!
/sarcasm

[Sanguisio]

The lols, the lols
Just stoneskin, and get some DOTs up in the opening pull.

In alot of fights stoneskin saves me and other healer coming out cleric for large parts.

[ChiiSoSeriouz]

Knowing when to stoneskin a target is practically mandatory in certain endgame fights. e.g. Turn 8 Allagan field, Turn 9 ravensbeak, megaflare, Garuda x wicked wheel. I use ss as much as possible, to me it's an invaluable skill. I miss the old 1.0 animation where it was a stone wall that came up from the ground.

[VanilleFang]

I never really understood the appeal of SS until I learned it. I thought it seemed incredibly weak and pointless. But after I started to use it in dungeons I understood that SS is like... So easy on your MP and helps sooo much. That and Regen. Holy crap Regen ilu.

[EricCartmenez]

SS followed by Regen. Keeps my MP close to max for many dungeons. Also helps in trials so I can focus on the tanks without losing DPS.

[Audri]

SS is a really nice skill, not just because of the damage mitigation, but also because it gives the tanks a few precious seconds to gain aggro on the mobs before we healers start healing and attempt to steal it away. I also love having it on dps because then I can see which ones are standing in the stupid XD. If a dps manages to get through a dungeon without losing the SS guess who's getting my commendation.

[Saseal]

SS is a really nice skill, not just because of the damage mitigation, but also because it gives the tanks a few precious seconds to gain aggro on the mobs before we healers start healing and attempt to steal it away. I also love having it on dps because then I can see which ones are standing in the stupid XD. If a dps manages to get through a dungeon without losing the SS guess who's getting my commendation.

What if it was lost due to a targeted/unavoidable hit? o_O :x (like Ultima's missiles, for ex)

[MicahZerrshia]

I agree on the animation. XI has a fantastic SS animation, v1 was horrendous, and arr is just boring and ugly. The spell itself is wonderful tho

[Jican]

So SS isn't worth casting because it's ugly? Wow.