Make wards work like the bone shields

[Delmuir]

I don't use wards, therefore nobody else uses wards.

Wards are pretty much the core of my dark crypt survival strategies on nightmare (blight absorption) and they're mandatory for Temporal Wardens (smeared damage absorption). A staff of warding is an important part of my toolkit and I find myself switching damage types fairly often via command staff, when taking on dangerous enemies.

Light wards for luminous horrors to absorb the initial searing light volley.
Arcane wards for oozing horrors to negate mana clash damage.
Lightning wards for Urkis.
And so on.

But, while we're on the topic of wards, it would be a huge help if the ward skill did not reset its cooldown every time you switch weapon sets.

You actually falsified a quote of mine for what? Dramatic sarcasm?

That's actually Michael Moore level of dishonesty. Anyone could have seen, just a glance away, what I actually wrote and yet you still felt the need to make up a fake sentence and falsify a quote…

More to your point, you didn't even capture the essence of my argument very well. I, in no way suggested that no one uses wards or even that I don't use them. Rather, that the primary suggestion would overpower them and I think there are more core elements of the game that need tinkering with and I would get rid of wards for the sake of simplicity.

I'm sure you'd find a way to survive...

[Ivels]

Hitler did nothing wrong. I'm uncomfortable around certain ethnic groups. I hate weekends, ice-cream and baby animals. I can't post more controversial opinions because I'm late for the local klan meeting.

Hold on there, Adolf. While I respect the right of every individual to hold their own opinions, I just cannot agree with some of yours. I love the weekends. I also think wards are an already useful, if a little niche defensive measure. Just because hammer is the tool I use 90% of the time doesn't mean I should throw the rest of the toolbox out, because sometimes I need a screwdriver to nail down the screws.

[Rathlord]

On my original archmage (arcane/aether no meta) I found ward incredibly useful for surviving my own aoe, which was almost always the preferred method of attack. I honestly think making it instant instead of taking an entire turn would solve the problem and make them as useful as any other minor feature of the game. I don't think a big sweeping change or rethinking of mechanics is called for- just slight tweaking to get it where it should be.

[overgoat]

Well that went down hill quickly. It is too early in the morning for Godwin's law to be invoked. Back on topic, I like Sirrocco's approach. Having a bone shield type protection but capped at a certain percentage and self regenerating would actually be useful. The current versions of wards are useful, but are very niche. I'm a fan of making these more useful for a wider set of characters.

[Grey]

Hold on there, Adolf.

This is really not an appropriate way to post. Please enjoy nerdy debates *without* being a dick to people.

That goes for you too, Delmuir.

[Ivels]

Some stuff. I don't think he appreciated the joke very much. Well what do you mean quote boxes are for quoting other people? Who on earth would find THAT useful?

I'm really sorry Grey, I was only responding to a quote I may or may not have made up and/or attributed to another person in a brash, yet hilarious manner. Furthermore, I will endeavor to include a trigger warning before dropping the H-bomb, so that my opponents have time to withdraw as I annihilate their arguments with a single historical reference.

In conclusion, I don't really like Sirocco's idea because current wards can protect you from large amounts of spike damage and 50% of a spike is still pretty spiky, especially if the spike in question is measured in the thousands. Sure, wards have a niche use, but they fill that niche quite well. I'm in support of minor improvements suggested in this thread (making the cast time instant, removing the talent cooldown when you switch to/from the off-set with a warding staff), not a total overhaul, which would be a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

EDIT: I in no way, shape or form support (TRIGGER WARNING?) nazeeism (is that how you even spell it???). It's all Delmuir's doing.

[Grey]

I'm really sorry Grey, I was only responding to a quote I may or may not have made up and/or attributed to another person in a brash, yet hilarious manner.

Whilst you may intend it as a joke it can come across as deliberately trying to pick a fight. Smileys exist to defuse this situation ;)

Sure, wards have a niche use, but they fill that niche quite well. I'm in support of minor improvements suggested in this thread (making the cast time instant, removing the talent cooldown when you switch to/from the off-set with a warding staff), not a total overhaul, which would be a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

I agree that the big problem here is their usability. If they could be turned into a sustain of some sort then I'm sure people would find them a lot more handy.

[HousePet]

I expect I'll code my idea into Arcanum to give it a bit of testing.