Perhaps it's just me, but I'm finding these difficult to use. Even with the perks that reduce magicka costs in half, they still drain it really, really fast. On top of that, it's kind of hard to tell what exactly it's managing to block. Anyone been having a good experience with them that can impart some advice?

I second your request for advice. If anyone is good with these, please submit some.

I haven't gotten the hang of these either. I have the regen on hit perk as well, but they still drain my mana crazy fast and don't seem to gain me much mana on spell hits. It breaks a lot too, even with mildly weak spray spells being used on a Steadfast or even Greater Ward.

I read one tip that said they take a few seconds to get to full power, but haven't tested that much since learning it. Feels like the couple seconds used to charge it up would waste too much mana, but maybe I need to upgrade magicka more.

All in all, just healing spell damage has proven more mana efficient so far, but I'd like to learn to use these for combating powerful mages as they hit me pretty hard when they spam certain spells.

i think they're cool, and i got really excited when i first found out about them. the problem is that theyre draining so much mana, that id rather get damaged in health, then heal myself with a normal healing spell.. so mostly they're useless, but they do look cool..

As far as I've read, they're completely useless, even from a theoretical mathematical standpoint. It's more cost effective to just heal, or better yet, use a shield or dodge. Plus, you can get stun locked while trying to use one.

They work against enemy spells, that's about it.

A good idea by the people at gamesas and they look cool, but they need to be buffed a bit.

is it just me or does the tool tip make them sound more as a 'buff'? i swear i read the effect last 60s or something like that... i'm at work and cannot verify.
they would work if they were more like a 'buff'.

Hmm... So it's not just me I guess. They need some tweaking then, definitely, whether Bethesda can do it through a patch or whether it will need to be modded. I think just a slower magicka drain all around could make them better, maybe a quicker charge up to full ward power as well if its real slow.

For now I'm finding it way easier to just heal spell damage I've taken, plus I get stamina back as well.

I think you're thinking of the "flesh" line of spells, which are an armor buff.

I was looking forward to building up my ward abilities, but after reading this, I'll stick with restoration. Ward should be one of those things you cast and it last for awhile. You shouldn't have to keep casting it. That would help a lot because then you could heal and attack with a shield around you.

Well, it's supposed to simulate having a shield in your offhand, but magical. However between the magicka drain and the ambiguity on when and how effectively it's working, it's just sort of falling flat.

Yes, I actually looked forward to having a "magic shield", but it simply doesn't work, and a physical shield is much better, at least until the modders clean up after Bethesda's mess again.

It should probably be more along the lines of an instantaneous telekinetic blast that knocks the big nasties off balance when they are mid-hammer swing or deflects fireballs than what it is.

ward negates 60 points of defence (or damage?) What does that mean?

NPCs use wards so efficiently, possibly ward 'full power' time needs to be improved, so that PCs have time react and use timed wards. Wards should be able to deflect damage instead of absorb mana. WHat can be cooler than mirroring a fireball off and to the enemy forces.

It means it'll take that much damage until it breaks and interrupts the cast. Sort of like if you're holding up a physical shield to block and they power attack and you stagger back, lowering your guard.