These things are explore items, to my understanding. I think it's safe to say that exotic weapons are also most explore items--or at least the skills which they grant.

That said, why not treat the aura, shield and barrier spells similar to exotic weapon skills? What I mean by that is, through use of these "nontraditional" skills, you improve at their use and learn to tap into their source better. When you begin to use aura, it shows up in your skill list just like an exotic weapon skill might:

Rip: 0% (53%)

I am not certain of the exact numbers for the damage reduction aura, shield and barrier provide. But I think it's something like:

Aura: 15%
Shield: 20%
Barrier: 50%

Give or take, of course. So instead of gaining the full benefit of the spell upon immediately finding some foreign object through your exploration travels, how about having these spells increase in potency (both amount of protection and duration) through the percentage of what your skill is in the respective spell?

Maybe instead of aura granting 15% (give or take) to boot, how about having it start at 8% and increase through usage.



What this proposal would do in effect, in my opinion, is reward veteran players the most. By veteran, I mean the characters who have reached 3-4-or-500 hours in the game. The character with longevity. It would require more challenge for aspiring anti-paladins, or any mage class for that matter. Instead of immediately becoming far more powerful at level 36 (which is the level you can have all three, A/S/B), they would gain a smaller measure of power and have to rely on skill (as opposed to iceball spam, neurological disrupt spam, rake-rake-rake, etc.). Then as time goes on, they gain in much greater power (which is the current stats for A/S/B), just as a master mage should.

As far as spam practicing goes, I'm okay with that. If a mage wants to suit in a study someplace, and actually have to learn their magic before it gets powerful, that's a grand idea. Or you can have the less dedicated people, and they can just live with reduced effectiveness, and eventually garner the full benefits, should they make it that far.



Thoughts and opinions?


P.S. Since it's been a couple months, I've cooled off. I want to apologize to Gabe and Yhorian for my rude comments here, and elsewhere.