Quote Originally Posted by Destous View Post
Your ability to miss the point is awe inspiring.

Is SSII more convenient than casting 8 stoneskins?
Yes.

Is a 5s cast time on SSII, a skill which can't be used in combat, convenient?
No.

Your bit about "the spell is optional" is funny, even if it is just grasping at straws. What skill in this game isn't optional? Can you make a relevant argument to my very simple point.

But there is a big difference between something being convienient and something being necessary.

In the context of a raid, then it really doesnt matter how long it would take to cast, unless its your very first pull of the night, then you are most likely waiting on other people cooldowns, so casting SSII as an instant cast, or as a hard cast, or hard casting 8 stoneskins doesnt really matter.

In the context of other content, then having a lower cast time which allows it to be cast regularly between pulls may upset the balance of the game, soloey because stoneskin lasts 30 mins as a buff. Other aoe shields with lower cast times not only shield for less but last 30seconds, meaning they are useful only if the enemy/boss uses an aoe within the very first part of the fight. The 30mins on stoneskin gives too much leeway in regards to everyone being guaranteed to absorb one attack without being healed. In dungeons this would be abusable (guaranteed stoneskin 2 after every pull meaning healer can dps more and theoretically dps can do so as well as they dont have to move for that very first aoe).