What would make bone shield work?

davey1107

A couple of updates ago they had high hopes for bone shield, but I don’t see it in anyone’s builds ever. Does anyone use it? When is it viable? And if not, what would it need to be a usable skill?

I like the idea of a stam based shield...I just can’t warrant this one on any of my stam characters.

Septimus_Magna

Doesnt it scale off max health? I also think it costs too much stam to cast.

Checkmath

Everybody was very excited, when it was announced, that the shieldstrength will scale with your stampool. But then this change didnt make it to the live server and only was left as an idea behind. I think the devs didnt want to give stamina toons such a good defense skill, which would compare the light armor skill. Light and medium armor should have its differences: while light has a damage shield, medium armor has cheap dodge and major evasion. That together with a max stam scaling damage shield would be pretty strong, especially since the skill is available for everyone (also heavy armor). Recently with dragon bones they buffed the sinergy of it, which can make it a good shield in a overwhelmed situation, especially since only one needs to activate the sinergy. So an example is a smallscale group, which fights in narrow places. Maybe it has its use in similar pve situations, but i am not aware of any atm...
Atm it scales with max health for the caster, which would fit in a lot of tank builds. Normally they use their magicka to cast shields, but if a class doesmt have one damage shield in their toolkit or on an ice staff tank, a stamina shield surely works fine.
In the end the skill is rarely used. For selfish casting its pretty expensive and most classes have its own damage shield. The synergy is pretty cool tough, but the cooldown somehow makes it ....meh.
To make the skill more useful some additional effects should come along casting it. Some kind of buff, i mean its a bone shield....
maybe it would be fun, if the caster would really summon some skeletons. Just thought about it, that the skill could be changed: summon 4 skeletons with 10k health. As long as skeletons are summoned, they absorm 30% of your damage (similar to guard). Either you get something back, when a skeleton disappears (resources, ultimate, or maybe healing) or you get a buff like protection as long as a skeleton around.
Ok that just came to my mind somehow. Otherwise some buff to the caster nay be sufficient. Also the sinergy cooldown should only count for the player activatong it, otherwise the sinergy effect is a bit lame.

Mureel

I can tell ya now; it for sure scales with everyone who uses the synergy's health. People can see it for themselves.

It scales on bastion and mine gives 118% health. Confirmed by my group for testing purposes.

However the range to synergise is terrible.

That is the main problem with it.

If the range was better could be good in 4 person groups but I really couldn't say in trials as no testing as yet.

So it's bugged if the above was not intended. I've literally had my group report back on how much it was for them and they confirm the above.

Jorvuld also increases its time active for all.

Tasear

It's the range of the synergy. It's good skill if you can get it to work. Though it doesn't fit well in active gameplay as you have to stack on each. In those regards, It's probably designed for tank and healer. Still considering the duration and cool down...you would think it warrants increase in range of synergy.

RavenSworn

It's an excellent tool for a healer. 118% health scale shield for a tank that rocks 40k++ health? You can literally stand most if not all boss one hits.

Ladislao

davey1107 wrote: »

A couple of updates ago they had high hopes for bone shield, but I don’t see it in anyone’s builds ever. Does anyone use it? When is it viable? And if not, what would it need to be a usable skill?

I like the idea of a stam based shield...I just can’t warrant this one on any of my stam characters.

Yes, it is pretty strong and useable skill. The reason that you rarely hear about it is that it is a group skill, which implies close interaction with the group. And almost all the builds of bloggers are released solely for solo play.

In general, ZOS has done an excellent job of synergies. Now a lot of synergies find their place in the cohesive groups, because for their successful use a great reward is given. With the introduction of Harmony trait in the next patch, it will get even better

Tasear

Ladislao wrote: »

davey1107 wrote: »

A couple of updates ago they had high hopes for bone shield, but I don’t see it in anyone’s builds ever. Does anyone use it? When is it viable? And if not, what would it need to be a usable skill?

I like the idea of a stam based shield...I just can’t warrant this one on any of my stam characters.

Yes, it is pretty strong and useable skill. The reason that you rarely hear about it is that it is a group skill, which implies close interaction with the group. And almost all the builds of bloggers are released solely for solo play.

In general, ZOS has done an excellent job of synergies. Now a lot of synergies find their place in the cohesive groups, because for their successful use a great reward is given. With the introduction of Harmony trait in the next patch, it will get even better

Harmony ( if it's for healers) + guidance =

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/349428/sorcerer-healers-collection-dragon-bones-updated-new-build-added#latest

http://tamrielfoundry.com/topic/alanarres-invincible-dk-shieldtank/page/12/

Two builds using it OP

DarkAedin

Self tested in 4 mans, trials, cyro, ic, bgs.

Awesome ability, good downtime on synergy so 2 player pvp group cant spam it (albiet high uptime with mindfull play)= ballanced.

it helps when u callout that ur using it so ppls know to hit it - easy fix = increase range by 2m.

Cost on stamplar in 5 vo = 2.6k and change = cheap enough to put into ur rotation.

@ZOS_GinaBruno