Is it just me or do wards suck?

[Weylin]

Wards really need to be refactored.
What good is a shield that requires 2 seconds to project, and then gets shattered instantly?
The ward sucks up mana insanely fast, just to simply have it up, even when you're perked into restoration it leaves no mana left for offensive spells.

In general, you're better off just using cover and evading attacks. Using a ward puts you entirely on the defensive, and unless you go on the offense, you'll simply get worn out and lose in the end.

The only time I found any use whatsoever for the wards was to mitigate a bit of damage from dragon breath, but once it shatters (which only takes about half a second...) I still get practically nuked by the fire. I'm better off just using heals and tanking it that way.

Anyone find a practical use for wards that would justify putting perk points into them?

[mpd1958]

You are correct for the most part. I use to think the same way, but later found they can be useful for certain things. They will block a drauger shout, and with enough magicka and the right perks can block most magic attacks and even absorb the power of the incoming spell to recharge your magicka slightly.

[mpd1958]

With your armor and jewlery enchanted with magicka regen enchantments you can reach a nearly endless supply of magicka.

[Weylin]

Do the regen enchantments help when a spell is active, though? I noticed that magicka seems to stop regenerating when a spell is on hold, as well as for a brief moment after having cast something.

[Bomb Bloke]

I've no idea if they're any good. I only used them during those two quests where you were asked to.

Best defense is a good offense I say. Gimme a "ward bash" and I'll think about it.

[Weylin]

Well it would be handy if wards actually reflected a spell to where you are pointing.
Better yet is if they were based on timing rather than projecting it ahead of time, so you would have to project it the moment before you're hit in order to reflect it.

[Rhuto]

Well, I have started a lot of char, and all of them has done the mages questlines, and most of them have had problems on the second quest in the last fight for th books.

This time around I conjured my helper, and did not start the attack myself but started to use wards...in the start much of the attacks goes toward the player, and by refreshing the ward after each hit, they started to concentrate about attacking helpers...then I could start helping, and I managed it on first try....so yes...think wards is useful :)...just never tried them out before :) (skyre...free wards....when they draw magic..they aren't that useful)

[Sternrake]

OP, if you have companions(s) you may be able to use a ward spell to free up your friends to go on the offensive. Caveat: I never use wards either. I generally like to go on the offensive myself!

I usually carry a summon flame atronach spell and a good 1H weapon for when i get ambushed. Then, like you say I usually run for cover and snipe away with my bow.

[DFH01]

Enchantments that reduce the cost to cast spells are your best friends, you can easily get cost to cast down to zero, but your right i also find wards pretty useless.

[Skyrimnut]

Originally posted by Rhuto:

Well, I have started a lot of char, and all of them has done the mages questlines, and most of them have had problems on the second quest in the last fight for th books.

This time around I conjured my helper, and did not start the attack myself but started to use wards...in the start much of the attacks goes toward the player, and by refreshing the ward after each hit, they started to concentrate about attacking helpers...then I could start helping, and I managed it on first try....so yes...think wards is useful :)...just never tried them out before :) (skyre...free wards....when they draw magic..they aren't that useful)

There is also the option, not to fight for the books if your speech is high enough.

Wards are potentially great little tools. If your mana regen is high enough or have spell absorb, mana is replaced. The ward absorb perk is also awesome.

[Bomb Bloke]

Originally posted by Draaf fah Hahlor:

Enchantments that reduce the cost to cast spells are your best friends, you can easily get cost to cast down to zero,

Mid/late game, sure, but that's certainly not something you can do "right off the bat". By the time you're casting for free you can tank most forms of damage anyways.

[DFH01]

Originally posted by Bomb Bloke:

Originally posted by Draaf fah Hahlor:

Enchantments that reduce the cost to cast spells are your best friends, you can easily get cost to cast down to zero,

Mid/late game, sure, but that's certainly not something you can do "right off the bat". By the time you're casting for free you can tank most forms of damage anyways.

When i play a mage, i escape helgen and then i work on magic skills, the rest of the game goes on hold untill i'm ready, but thats me. You play your way, i play mine. ;)

[Some guy]

They are pretty useless to me, I just run from side to side with a weapon/spell. Weapon, I rush them. Spell, stay at a distance and fire away while dodging fireballs/ice spikes/lightning bolts. in both scenarios I just dodge from side to side. Much more easier and magicka cost effective.

[Azathoth, the Nuclear Chaos]

I would say that you should get Spellbreaker. Spellbreaker is the item you recieve after you finish the quest for the Daedric Prince Peryite. It is a shield that not only makes its own ward and protects from magic attacks, but also protects the player from dragon attacks.

[Ryika]

Wards are great against traps.

Other than that they're an awesome bonus for anyone who plays as melee has 100% Cost-Reduction on Resto skills. Which... probably not many people have, because it's super-ineffective, but if you're roleplaying a paladin, then they help a lot.

And many overhaul-mods make them more useful by making the game harder in general.

[Lu2]

its quite useful