Protect/Shell (Buff Spells) Revamp Needed Please!

[naaros]

The AOE range is pitiful, IMO. I duo a lot with my friend, and one of us is constantly missing a buff because he'll move at the last second. He didn't even move that far, but it still misses one of us. The duration should be at least 10 minutes, too.

[BoulderGigas]

well for now all we have is Roaming Soul which will give you an 8.5 min protect shell and stoneskin and around 4 min shock spikes only thing is you need to figure how you wanna do it. like a minute recast so i usually do protect, shell, stoneskin, roaming soul + shock spikes so all are near 5 mins for short stuff, if im in a long party when recast is up after a minute i will roaming soul + protect, wait again, roaming soul shell, stoneskin not really worth it since it doesnt last anyway

[Zeref]

you can cancel any spell by using it again during the casting time.

Buffs are perfectly fine, any longer and basically we become useless as a support class, i've seen games like flyff where buffs last for like 30 minutes to an hour, and support clasess basically get invited to parties, get buffs, then kicked for more damage dealers or a healer, etc...

[Claire_Pendragon]

If Protect and Shell can't even last a Leve that's 2 levels lower than yourself, then that is too short.
Honestly.
Is it needed? nope, but it's just stupid.

My Attacks have bigger AoE range, while my buffs have nearly nothing it seems (Could be wrong, but I always mistake it, because I compare the distance to the other. Like Protect range, based on Fire AoE range.)

With such a HUGE cool down (1min, seriously? it's not even that strong, why is it so long?)
Length of casting is annoying, but only a problem in endgame fights. (Since I'm not there, I have no real complaints.)

Canceling is already in the game. (Didn't read the whole thread, but I'm sure someone mentioned it already.)

Personally I never got why Healers and Tanks in MMOs, are given 'short buffs' for the sake of keeping them busy...
that's like throwing a large exp curve to level... to keep them busy...
why not keep them busy with FUN?!
like, let them deal damage, that ALSO helps them do their job, in between main abilities.
and if it's going to be short buffs, better darn well make it both fun AND potent.
Like utsusemi. (GD that was the best buff in an MMO ive ever seen. both fun and potent.)

If protect was closer to utsusemi (for 1 ally target, or heck, AoE even) that would be pretty crazy for an MMO.

EDIT: read this

you can cancel any spell by using it again during the casting time.

Buffs are perfectly fine, any longer and basically we become useless as a support class, i've seen games like flyff where buffs last for like 30 minutes to an hour, and support clasess basically get invited to parties, get buffs, then kicked for more damage dealers or a healer, etc...

Considering you can swap abilities in, use the buff, then swap em out, I figured this is why SE did this in the 1st place.
BUT, considering BUFF classes are more of a hindrance, there should only be 3 roles, where all 3 roles 'support' in some way.
(Reference to Buffing being a problem, look to http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...l=1#post422308 )

[Derkatron]

I've not seen this suggested here yet, but has anyone thought of making Protect and Shell into short duration cooldowns? A large-range AOE with a 10-30 second duration that halves damage of the appropriate type, then has a 3 minute (or other relatively long) recast timer. As it is currently all damage is based around having protect and shell up, so its not a buff at all, its simply a penalty for NOT having it. By doing this and re-balancing damage around not having the consistent buff, healers get an emergency support button to push before predictable damage events (ifirit's explosion, for example) and are relieved of the constant buffing burden.

[Abithra]

I totally agree that Protect and Shell are too short but the Spikes in my opinion are perfectly fine duration, if not better then I expected.

As for AoE, yeah and no. I suppose what Ranka has said and same with Casting Time.

Cancelling needs to be improved but it is there (as people already pointed out). A nice hotkey or something like Esc or a controller button, would be cool if they added it.