Wards are apparently restoration spells. From the name we can infer that they are protective. They can't work like Oblivion/Morrowind shield spells because those spells are still there under alteration with names like oakflesh.

What does that leave? They could work like shield spells in Daggerfall, which were basically temporary hitpoints. Or they could work like a shield that only exists while holding down the cast button. Or... really, I haven't the faintest clue.

Has anyone whose actually played the game said anything about wards?

Well from what I saw in the game, wards are channelled spells that put up a barrier in front of you and it keeps draining mana. I only briefly glanced over the spell description but the apprentice version blocked damage and increased armour rating as long as it's maintained.

I prefer the alteration spells as 1st line of defence and though they don't block damage they will lower it by increasing your armour and they last for at least a minute.


Sidenote: most spells cost a lot of magicka until you unlock the perks for it.

Was it channeled with both hands or one hand? And did it activate quickly so you can use it kinda like a shield to block with? If so, that sounds really awesome!

Sounds like a great spell to have in one hand while being aggressive with the other hand.

Thanks, just the info I was looking for.

I don't think they are channelled. Take circle of protection in the E3 demo for example, that seems like a ward spell but it is cast once and appears, the player doesn't hold it. Plus I think ward spells all create circles around the player which provide protection as long as they stay inside them...

I may be wrong though, that was just what I assumed, I haven't seen any other footage of wards.

"I've heard others say the same".

I was under the impression that shield is the channelled spell, and ward is just another buff, but that is speculation on my part so I could be wrong.

I just found it in another forums, apparently it's from people who already played ( cannot link for obvious reasons ).

"....just said. they basically produce a shield in front of you that absorbs damage from spells. with the perk the restore mana as well. yes, theyre restoration spells."

"Mage class in this game can use Alteration shields which are a passive armor class bonus that can be more effective than wearing full suit of light armor and you also get the Magic Ward spell line in Restoration which is basically a channelled spell shield that you time to cast when you see a big ass fireball headed your way."

So the ward spells are shields then, and Alteration's shield effect has become a passive armour buff... Okay.

Huh, I suppose the circle of protection spell isn't a ward then. Interesting though they're supposed to be used as your about to get attacked, sound like they have heavy magicka drain (which would explain restoration having magicka regen perks).


I still think alterations shield spell works the same as people have seen it in action. Oakflesh, Stoneflesh and so on already act as the 'shield' buffs so having the shield spell as a buff too would be pointless.

EDIT: Unless of course it was changed near the end of the development, which is possible.

Maybe alteration's shield spell will give some resistances like that perk in block tree and it would be used like the shield (blocking == channeling)

EDIT:

Another source (from this forum ) http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1254316-ive-played-60-hours-so-far-spoilers/
"Yeah basically its a shield that stops magic from hitting you. You hold the button down and when you let go or run out of magicka it stops. "

YEEESSS!!

Ward spells are the chaneled magic shields. Goodbye alteration, hello and welcome restoration!

Yeah this is gonna be one of the first things I mod.

To me, alteration is now about moving, stopping or changing matter - telekinesis, paralysis, feather - whereas restoration is about repairring or bolstering a body back to or beyond it's original specification - restore, fortify.

Making a body more resilient to damage, Vs projecting a shield that stops or slows incoming matter makes the two types of barrier spell seem back to front.

The wards I've seen only block magical damage. While it's true that both alteration spells and wards give an equal armour bonus, the alteration spells can be precast which frees up a hand.

My personal approach was:

Precast shield with 2 hands with the alteration perk and then a destruction spell in 1 hand and a healing spell in the other. I was wielding destruction spells with 2 hands first, but that didn't work against stronger enemies.

Were you wearing armor? There is a perk in alteration that gives HUGE bonuses to those spells if you are NOT wearing armor.

Robes but I wasn't high enough for the alteration perk.