For context, I was indifferent to and entirely okay with adding a 1 second cast time to the two largest damage shields in the game. It wouldn't have affected my gameplay much other than requiring me to be a bit more strategic and mindful of when I cast shields.

Capping shield strength at 40% of max health? My gut reaction is "this is garbage; I'd much rather have a cast time." However, I don't have a feel for how shields having resistance will factor into the equation since I can't use PTS. It could be that the reduction in shield strength will play out okay because shields will be hardier. I just don't know. I suspect it might balance out okay on my lightning mage. He runs thunderbug's carapace and has higher health/resistances thus is fairly tanky for a damage dealer (I usually run him as a tank when I do normal dungeons; sometimes vet ones if it is the easier ones). I suspect it will fare poorly for my magical cat, who has comparatively poor health/resistances and is also loosing some of her off-healing. Hopefully the devs will give us the option of "1 second cast time + big shield" (my preference) and a "no cast time + small shield" (not my preference).