More Paladin-centered shields needed to close the gap with Aegis & Ochain

[Hayward]

OK, things were bad before with these lazy-minded players shouting "Aegis/Ochain PLD only" for any and all endgame events, but now it's gotten to the point people might as well not even level the job now without either of these supposedly rare items.

I'm calling on S-E to design shields that close the gap between these and shields that non-hardcore players can build or buy. I've recommended a Magian Elemental path series that allows different attributes and augments before, but I'd also like to see crafted shields that also narrow this chasm that has led to this lazy-mindedness.

No job should ever find itself locked out of events due to a lack of R/M/E/D weapons/gear. This, above all else, is killing the game.

[Camiie]

You'll probably get a lot of flak for saying what you did, but you're absolutely right. If a job is essentially non-functional without an item of that caliber then the job is highly flawed. If the perception is that a job is essentially non-functional without an item of that caliber, when that is not actually the case, then the perception is highly flawed.

[saevel]

Yeah it's gotten to the point where unless you have an O.Chain you don't even come PLD. SE's fault for making those shields so broken in the first place, then making NM's with such high offensive power that their needed in the first place.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Yeah it's gotten to the point where unless you have an O.Chain you don't even come PLD.

"Gotten to?" It's been "Bring Aegis or bring another job" practically since the Aegis was introduced.

[Karbuncle]

I'mma have to agree with OP after reading the first page. Gap is huge.

[Zhronne]

Yeah it's gotten to the point where unless you have an O.Chain you don't even come PLD. SE's fault for making those shields so broken in the first place, then making NM's with such high offensive power that their needed in the first place.

I agree (this goes beyond just PLD btw, but delve weapon atm made the situations for DDs a bit better than it was before, I guess) but you'll have to concur with me it's very hard to balance these things.

You have to make PLD necessary. If monsters don't hit hard enough PLD won't be necessary, and people will just use DDs to tank, or just plain zerg the monsters.

Imho the "wrong" thing about tanking in FFXI ist hat it relies too much on gear. In other games gear matters of course, but tanks get all the "necessary tools" from abilities, spells and job traits.
I feel they should work on this for tanks, and somehow nerf Aegis/Ochain (small nerf please!)

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

I feel they should work on this for tanks, and somehow nerf Aegis/Ochain (small nerf please!)

They are getting nerfed, effectively. Shields (and instruments) are being specifically left out of whatever plans they have to upgrade RMECs one last time.

[Zagen]

They are getting nerfed, effectively. Shields (and instruments) are being specifically left out of whatever plans they have to upgrade RMECs one last time.

Considering those changes are to bring R/E/M up to par with Delve weapons how exactly is that nerfing items that weren't out classed by Delve weapons (none in instrument's case)?

[OmnysValefor]

They are getting nerfed, effectively. Shields (and instruments) are being specifically left out of whatever plans they have to upgrade RMECs one last time.

They were left out because they weren't replaced. When people first got ahold of item lists, there was curiousity about the steadfast shield, in hopes that it would be some sort of stepping stone, but noone asked "What about my Gjallarchain?"

[Demon6324236]

They were left out because they weren't replaced. When people first got ahold of item lists, there was curiousity about the steadfast shield, in hopes that it would be some sort of stepping stone, but noone asked "What about my Gjallarchain?"

Exactly, shields do not need a boost because they are fine and were not effected by the new items in the least. Weapons on the other hand were completely trashed, every Delve weapon is the best weapon of its category so far as I know. Even the MAB staff beats all other nuking staffs and SMN staff beats Nirvana, so really weapons were completely trashed. Now on the other hand, there is no new instrument, and Steadfast is good but does not come close to Ochain without some block rate enhancement, Aegis goes without saying is still the top because there is no other way to break the cap, Steadfast lets you stack on some more MDB at best, which does not even come close to a comparison with Aegis.