I've been using wards a lot lately. I've gotten to where greater ward is a big part of my playstyle. When it negates roughly 10% physical damage and works well with spells to allow me to close gaps on mages or block shout attacks from high-level draugr.

That being said, I just noticed something. There are no Expert or Master level ward spells! Anyone know why this would be? I can imagine them being very powerful for my Undead Hunter or any other mage, really. Maybe I will create one in the CK and put it on the Nexus or something, because I couldn't find one when I searched for it.

This is my first melee character where I really haven't focused on blocking attacks, rather than mitigating their damage through armor, and Wards really help with this.

I think I would use wards a lot more if they had an innate magicka absorb component. I know you can grab a perk for it, but with destruction as weak as it is, I haven't ever had a character where I could afford to waste magicka on wards, unless it was strategic to do so (like blocking enemy FusRoDahs as you mentioned or whatever).

I have tried using wards, but can never seem to stick to using them. Either they break way too fast, or the damage would be taking is negligible.

What would be good names for Expert and Master level wards? I could name them that, which is boring, or I could try to go along the same lines as Lesser, Steadfast, Greater, etc...

Okay, so I've made an "Expert Ward" spell that increases along the same lines as the others. It offers 100 Magic Damage Protection, 100 AR, uses the expert restoration perk, etc.

Now I just need some ideas for the Master level spell. Thoughts?

I've essentially been using it as my all-purpose "shield" spell. I have my paladin abilities keyed to F1-F4 (More Hotkeys Please), so I can quickly switch to healing if I get low on health.

The only time this really doesn't work is when I fight melee bosses. They hit so friggin' hard. This is when I usually equip my Skyforge greatsword to be able to block attacks and get the benefit of Quick Reflexes.

It's been pretty fun so far. Restoration levels pretty quickly this way, too. Healing, Turning Undead, and Wards.

you cannot, I THINK he made a mod or something.

Correct. I used the CK to create the spell. It works like a charm, too.

I was told of a certain scrolls that boosts restoration spell's effectiveness (thanks again guy). The greater ward turned into 160 AR and had a spell negate of 160

Add a restoration potion to that and you would get some crazy stuff.

I received the suggestion to name the Master level spell "Shalidor's Mirror" and have it reflect some spell damage back on the caster. I was also thinking of something that deflects arrows.

I will be renaming the Expert Ward to Grand Ward to match up with Grand Healing.