This is pretty much an extension of the counterspelling/spellcasting balancing. If you counterspell, you're basically defending while the other person drains himself to death. The same should be for banishing, and they should make it worth a whole skill by making it efficient. What do you think?

I disagree. Banishing takes out a combatant entirely, spell defense mealy makes them stoop casting spells at you, they can still shoot you and they can still cast spells on there allies.

Edward

But what's to stop people from simply manabolting them? Banishing's a waste of karma; it's a whole skill devoted to one relatively specialized task, and it's less drain and time efficient than manabolting.

The ability to steal the other guy's spirit, that's where it's at. Plus it leaves no astral traces, which can be handy.

Yeah swiping the other guys spirit is the nutz.

GM: You see a glowing ball of molten fireyness appear next to the enemy mage.
PC: I want to use banishing to steal the elemental from him and then use it on him.
"PC rolls 10 dice and gets 5 hits"
PC: I got five hits for that roll.
GM: OK, the rank 12 elemental gets to roll 24 dice to resist. "Rolls" He gets 8 hits, you have to resist 16 drain. (I dont have a book infront of me, so i might be wrong)
PC: Holyshit... (Knocked Unconsious)
GM: /Evil GM Laugh

I agree that anishing drain is waytoo high. The Banishing skill in general is pretty weak. By the time you've successfully banished away the services of anything you care about, you'll be too drained to be able to take control of it without risking death.

-Frank