I'm sorry if this has been posted, but I'm not going to read 305 pages lol.

As far as I know, the problem is the delay between the Cast and the AoE graphic. If you look at the Cast Time Bar above the Monster's HP bar, you will realise the AoE animation starts when that Cast Bar is filled up. BUT, the AoE graphic will start vanishing AFTER the Cast Bar is filled up (so basically, when the AoE is being cast).

Solution would be to have the AoE graphic timer vanishing a little before the Cast Bar is filled up.

Sorry for my english