Lightning shield shouldn’t have been made baseline. It changes absoltuely nothing to the gameplay and forces a cosmetic change on the player. On top of that, it uses very outdated VFX.
If we’re being forced to play with it, then at least please update the visuals to modern standards.
For enhance at least it can be a useful source for passive msw stack generation.
Wouldn’t mind a graphic overhaul though.
I was just thinking about this today, too. It generates maelstrom for Elemental when you’re hit, so it’s pretty much required, but it’s ugly as heck.
I prefer it over earth shield thats for sure. I can’t stand a floating rock all muddy and rocky vs a cool looking lightning ball lol i wish they would replace it with something better
Interesting choice of words…
If I give you a buff that increases your damage by 10%.
Is it forced? Yes, why would you not use it?
Does it change anything to your actual gameplay? No, no it doesn’t.
Well…
A) if you’re being hit in any situation as ele or enh it does indeed change gameplay since it works as a generator
B) in content like raids where you’re not being hit, just don’t put it on if you don’t like it? It doesn’t change anything if you have it or not, ie not forced
Even when you’re being hit though, it doesn’t change gameplay. You’re still using the exact same priority/rotation, you’re just getting resources faster. Your rotation may speed up slightly but it’s not going to be something you notice.
I agree that it should be passive and either have no graphical component or get a graphic update. It’s the same thing it’s been since Vanilla. It would be cool if it had no visual when not being hit but when you do get hit, small sparks arc off and hit the attacker. Right now it’s a remnant of an older system that they’ve lazily tacked some basic resource management into so you feel compelled to cast it on the off chance that you do get hit. But if you were to just not cast it, I doubt you would notice it missing and that makes it tedious and unrewarding.