- While you might characterize Jin as second rate energy, actually comparing Jin to Energy is like comparing apples to oranges. If you want to make a fair comparison to Energy, use Endurance, not Jin.
- Endurance regens exponentially faster than Energy. To compensate, it must be balanced by some other factor. In our case, it's Jin.
Indeed. However, it dosen't explain why Jin interferes with Endurance regeneration (it, per definition, shouldn't.) We had energy removed (we're only class without it, rogues maintain their buffs with Energy iirc) but it was never really pondered from there. A ranger (as example) could use a spell (snare, debuff) and not loose their endurance regneration.
- While we may need to build Jin initially, once it's there, it's significantly easier to maintain than Energy. This may however, be easier for Harm monks than others due to Harmonious Body but it's still fairly easy to get Jin up quickly in non-HB stances as well.
Harmonious Body stance is pretty much useless in combat for Jin build; it has its uses in offtime (where you lie FD and afk etc) instead of meditation. It's much more fluctating than both energy and endurance. I like Jin, don't get me wrong, but it has glaring flaws in it's execution.
The buffs part I largely agree with you on. I suspect the devs feel our "buffs" as a whole can overpower us with no "maintenance" to keep them active, so to speak. I'm not exactly sure why they would feel this way given our current issues but the fact that they have not given any indication that a change is on the way regarding our buff durations leads me to believe that they feel it's where it needs to be. Thus, I'm relugating myself to the notion that they're here to stay.
Like other buffs require maintainance each 20-60 seconds - well, they don't. It feels more like it was introduced and never reviewed. Taps (primary from harmonious) are also 20-60 seconds where other classes where buffed up to 5 minutes, because there's simply no fun factor in reapplying them constantly.
My point is not to say the design is working well in it's current state. But with the right amount of time and attention, I think it could work very well. Certainly unique if nothing else.
Nod.