Please fix protect

[Kaisha]

I'm just sitting here happy that they removed its MP cost of Protect in 4.0 so the cost of rez+protect wouldn't murder your MP so much in Savage content. That said, I'd prefer it if they just removed its set-it-and-forget-it approach to Protect, or make it yet-another buster/aoe mitigation skill like Sacred Soil or Palisade so it's a more actively used skill.

[MartaDemireux]

I feel like removing it and having the light and full party bonuses apply a 15% defense buff would be just fine.

I also like the idea of it being a cooldown on a 30s timer. If they make the buff equal to Eye for an Eye, they could remove that less iconic skill and make our choices for Role Abilities less difficult. Maybe even combine E4E effect into Protect’s. That way even if the effect doesn’t proc, the tank is still getting some mitigation.

[Shurrikhan]

You may be don't know, but others do.
+15% of current defense values.
You are welcome.

Which means nothing without also knowing the percent mitigation given by Defense, assuming, unlike as in most MMOs, that it's even linear in the first place.

[Shurrikhan]

But it will feel like you're actually doing something with it, it'll be more satisfying to use.
That's the idea around every single skill in the game.
You could boil all healers down to one mitigation skill with a 30m duration, one HoT with a 30m duration and a GCD heal and it would all work out fine and balanced, but it wouldn't be interesting or satisfying to play.

On Shell/Protect mutual exclusivity and damage types: You're right, if these were still role skills.

But I think if they were a WHM only mechanic, they wouldn't be seen as strictly mandatory (because AST doesn't always get the Bole out and SCH doesn't always get a Critlo) so it would simply be a weaving skill used as a bonus, and would make WHM more interesting to play.

This.

Hotshot felt most like pointless bloat after it was turned into a 60-second buff. Straight Shot felt silliest and most lackluster after being extended from 20 to 30 seconds.

[Zephanoa]

Pretty sure they stated that they felt like they should get rid of it. The only skill involved in protect is getting it back on someone when they die and even then that rarely occurs. I think it should be more potent but on a timer. Think they should give protect essentially stone skin but make it not a one hit and it's done skill.

[Gumbercules]

Think they have hinted at just making it always on so long as you are grouped with a healer i think

[miraidensetsu]

If you're not gonna get rid of it (even though you should) over some silly nonsense of it being "too iconic" then for mog's sake make it actually useful and intuitive. Right now its useless. Most players argue its reduces damage. but by how much? we don't bloody know.

Right now its broken and as healers we deserve a better version.

Change Protect's effect to the PvP Protect. And give it back to WHM. Solved.