The difficulty of CT/ST is such that you don't need full buffs for any encounter. When I tank, I just go once I see everyone's in the arena, since otherwise it's just all of us sitting there waiting to see who makes the first move regardless of a ready check happening.

Raid-damage mechanics never happen until around two minutes into each fight, so if someone is afk longer than that, well that's their own fault, and you don't need a full 24 to do it all either. At most, 12 people. Only CT requires a situation of 3 tanks and 3 healers being present also, ST is more lenient than that.

Quote Originally Posted by BLaCKnBLu3B3RRY View Post
well, there is good news... Stoneskin II is coming. can cast it on the whole party, but only in a non-combat state.
I'm surprised it took them that long to consider implementing it in, since it was a pretty obvious omission straight from Coil1 days.