So has anyone had experience with them yet?

We are currently facing a Barrier ritual and it's downright bizarre. The entire kingdom is failing repeated simple SoT attempts on average attackers. I've enjoyed taking a sapphire dragon down, but being able to do absolutely nothing about something even more powerful is hard to wrap the ole head around. We are pushing a ritual of our own out, but the enemy had more runes stockpiled so that was that. Still, Barrier is kinda ridiculous when mere SoT attempts become challenging.

Anyone else dealing with rituals and have any thoughts?