FINAL FANTASY XI Job Adjustments Manifesto: Paladin

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Originally Posted by Ziyyigo-Tipyigo

Time to level dark knight instead!

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Already done that. It was the most emo'tional experience I've had while playing.. Don't ask.

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Originally Posted by Rorrick

Because it should be useful or not exist. Telling me to play a different job does nothing to solve the problem of a class with no job to fill.

And I do play different jobs. I'd like to break out the heavy armor every once in a while. Paladin is easily the best-dressed job in the game, but there's no reason to pull any of my gear out of my locker. This is a problem.

You still don't seem to understand that "play a different job if pld isn't needed" means you'll never be on Paladin. There's no reason to play it, outside of unfamiliar T4 Voidwatch NMs. Once people figure out the gimmicks to those enemies, that too will be an event where Paladin is shelved in favor of SAM, WAR, DRK and MNK. This cycle of figuring out new content will continue until there is no more new content on the horizon, and then Paladin will be permanently out of a job. This is what needs addressing. All the short-sighted people on here barking about Voidwatch are obfuscating the underlying problem.

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Well how do you play a tank class in a game that doesn't need a tank? Maybe you're right, the best thing to do is just eliminate it.

Since they're enhancing shield blocks.

(and since Cure IV is kind of obsolete)
A magic spell to make shield blocks absorb a portion of damage to restore HP.

Random additional effect Amnesia/Mute/Stun with Shield Bash. 5sec duration with mute and amnesia

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Originally Posted by Andrien

Since they're enhancing shield blocks.

(and since Cure IV is kind of obsolete)
A magic spell to make shield blocks absorb a portion of damage to restore HP.

Random additional effect Amnesia/Mute/Stun with Shield Bash. 5sec duration with mute and amnesia

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How do these things make pld useful to a group who can simply tank with one of the damage dealers?

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Originally Posted by DebbieGibson

How do these things make pld useful to a group who can simply tank with one of the damage dealers?

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I don't know what new difficult content is ahead of us. I was thinking in the future and the survivability of the job. Cut me some slack this is all I can think of that makes pld unique with shields lol.

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Originally Posted by Andrien

I don't know what new difficult content is ahead of us. I was thinking in the future and the survivability of the job. Cut me some slack this is all I can think of that makes pld unique with shields lol.

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I suggest shield bash giving a +30% damage taken effect to the mob.

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Originally Posted by DebbieGibson

I suggest shield bash giving a +30% damage taken effect to the mob.

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You know SE will never do something that nice. Especially when they don't want PLD to damage deal even a little bit.

Fun semi-broken sounding idea PLD gets a JA like Retaliation except it works on shield blocks and deals the damage absorbed back to the monster so if you block 100 damage and take 40 the 60 get dealt back to the monster. Keeps shield sizes from getting super broken and keeps Aegis/Ochain broken in comparison. Making it an ability with the duration of the recast allows it to be dispelled gimping PLD but allows them to full-time it otherwise. This gives PLD a way to deal damage while taking damage (discourages /NIN which SE seems to dislike). Also gives PLD a better shot of doing enough damage to warrant using a PLD over a DD as a tank.

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Originally Posted by Zagen

Fun semi-broken sounding idea PLD gets a JA like Retaliation except it works on shield blocks and deals the damage absorbed back to the monster so if you block 100 damage and take 40 the 60 get dealt back to the monster. Keeps shield sizes from getting super broken and keeps Aegis/Ochain broken in comparison. Making it an ability with the duration of the recast allows it to be dispelled gimping PLD but allows them to full-time it otherwise. This gives PLD a way to deal damage while taking damage (discourages /NIN which SE seems to dislike). Also gives PLD a better shot of doing enough damage to warrant using a PLD over a DD as a tank.

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I don't think that would be semi-broken at all. That's basically a gimpy counterstance mnk.

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Originally Posted by DebbieGibson

I don't think that would be semi-broken at all. That's basically a gimpy counterstance mnk.

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If they cap it maybe not but think about mobs that would hit for 600+ bring an Ochain PLD 2 WHMs and watch the mob kill itself :D

Edit: not that I wouldn't enjoy seeing that happen.

Revamp the enmity system, that should be the first and foremost action taken to fixing PLD's roles. There is no reason for the one system of the game that PLD's core hinges on inorder to perform properly is one of the largest thing's preventing us from being able to compete with competent and decently geared DD tank's. And please no more of this "give us provoke", the ability is crap, has always been crap end-game, and is only usefull initially or in the event of a hate-reset, and will do nothing to help us unless it redirects the mob's attention to us regardless of other player's CE and VE levels for a few seconds.

Enmity.
Is.
Not.
The.
Problem.

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Originally Posted by Ceicel

Revamp the enmity system, that should be the first and foremost action taken to fixing PLD's roles. There is no reason for the one system of the game that PLD's core hinges on inorder to perform properly is one of the largest thing's preventing us from being able to compete with competent and decently geared DD tank's. And please no more of this "give us provoke", the ability is crap, has always been crap end-game, and is only usefull initially or in the event of a hate-reset, and will do nothing to help us unless it redirects the mob's attention to us regardless of other player's CE and VE levels for a few seconds.

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How is this going to make pld valuable to a group who can simply tank with a DD and leave the PLD out completely?

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Originally Posted by DebbieGibson

How is this going to make pld valuable to a group who can simply tank with a DD and leave the PLD out completely?

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I've got it! we remove the cap on Enmity values from Cure 5/6 and make it work just like the other cures! That's perfect that way the WHMs will cap hate over the DDs and anyone else attempting to tank that takes damage! Then the PLD covers the WHM and bam PLD is fixed!

/sarcasm

The saddest thing is most PLDs think Enmity is the problem... Then again most PLDs have no clue how it actually works :(

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Originally Posted by Cursed

Your broken english aside, I see what you're saying.
However Paladin is not "Knight".

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Condescending posts about spelling and grammar are rad, especially when we consider that this is an informal location for discussion where people from all over the world (literally) congregate to talk about a job class in an online game. Further, "Go level another job" is old and tired, he wasn't asking for his job to be the best he just wanted to be able to use it occasionally in a legitimate manner. As it stands now, the job is completely shelved for any content that groups actually want to do and even if the PLD has Almace/Ochain/Mr. T is his fucking caddy, groups want another job instead. The problem here is that while a PLD is capable of damage output with those particular items, they are required to do passable damage, whereas any Perle wearing WAR with an AH bought Great Axe can outperform that PLD because Great Axe WS are just sick compared to even the best Sword WS. The grossly un-proportionate amount of effort and work required just to be on par with other jobs is stupid, I can understand dedication to your chosen job but the time/reward ratio just feels skewed against PLD in every way.

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Originally Posted by Caketime

Condescending posts about spelling and grammar are rad, especially when we consider that this is an informal location for discussion where people from all over the world (literally) congregate to talk about a job class in an online game. Further, "Go level another job" is old and tired, he wasn't asking for his job to be the best he just wanted to be able to use it occasionally in a legitimate manner. As it stands now, the job is completely shelved for any content that groups actually want to do and even if the PLD has Almace/Ochain/Mr. T is his fucking caddy, groups want another job instead. The problem here is that while a PLD is capable of damage output with those particular items, they are required to do passable damage, whereas any Perle wearing WAR with an AH bought Great Axe can outperform that PLD because Great Axe WS are just sick compared to even the best Sword WS. The grossly un-proportionate amount of effort and work required just to be on par with other jobs is stupid, I can understand dedication to your chosen job but the time/reward ratio just feels skewed against PLD in every way.

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Well SE doesn't want pld to do damage so they are useless when you don't need a real tank, end of story, job change.

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Originally Posted by DebbieGibson

Well SE doesn't want pld to do damage so they are useless when you don't need a real tank, end of story, job change.

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Exactly. I and many others have done so, I don't see the trend changing anytime soon. Trollfu +1, Debbie.

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Originally Posted by Caketime

Condescending posts about spelling and grammar are rad, especially when we consider that this is an informal location for discussion where people from all over the world (literally) congregate to talk about a job class in an online game. Further, "Go level another job" is old and tired, he wasn't asking for his job to be the best he just wanted to be able to use it occasionally in a legitimate manner. As it stands now, the job is completely shelved for any content that groups actually want to do and even if the PLD has Almace/Ochain/Mr. T is his fucking caddy, groups want another job instead. The problem here is that while a PLD is capable of damage output with those particular items, they are required to do passable damage, whereas any Perle wearing WAR with an AH bought Great Axe can outperform that PLD because Great Axe WS are just sick compared to even the best Sword WS. The grossly un-proportionate amount of effort and work required just to be on par with other jobs is stupid, I can understand dedication to your chosen job but the time/reward ratio just feels skewed against PLD in every way.

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you think an AH perle war/sam is going to outperform a decked out pld/war with almace/ochain?
That's what I am reading, am I wrong?
On what mob also?

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Originally Posted by Cursed

you think an AH perle war/sam is going to outperform a decked out pld/war with almace/ochain?
That's what I am reading, am I wrong?
On what mob also?

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You're either over estimating Almace/Ochain or under estimating WAR. Either way it doesn't matter because a realistic comparison would be Almace/Ochain PLD to a Ukko WAR and the WAR will destroy the PLD even if the PLD is using Ochain's block rate with a bunch of mobs. T4 Voidwatch excluded.

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Originally Posted by Cursed

you think an AH perle war/sam is going to outperform a decked out pld/war with almace/ochain?
That's what I am reading, am I wrong?
On what mob also?

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The ability to use JA on time and pressing the WS button after stacking your damage buffs goes a long way toward dishing out and maintaining large numbers as Warrior (or any job). Good gear is just icing on an already delicious cake. I'd be willing to wager I could at least par you with an AH Greataxe and my birthday suit vs. your multiple specialized gear sets and shiny sword.

Argument was an AH perle WAR will outperform a decked out PLD Almace/Ochain.
That depends on the player.
We've seen parses on Itzipapa, turul, Bukhis, Sobek, Amhuluk where a Ukon WAR came behind an Almace PLD.
Ukon WAR was a retarded Taru that full timed 28% haste and ws'd in Bullwhip. Almace PLD had the absolute ideal cdc and tp set. Being a WAR and having a Ukon doesn't compensate for being an idiot. That's my point.
Almace is a great weapon, and some Lv.90 Perle AH WARs CAN be outparsed by a PLD depending on a lot of things.

I'm not saying PLD is a great DD. I'm saying WAR isn't God Mode in FFXI.

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Originally Posted by Cursed

Argument was an AH perle WAR will outperform a decked out PLD Almace/Ochain.
That depends on the player.
We've seen parses on Itzipapa, turul, Bukhis, Sobek, Amhuluk where a Ukon WAR came behind an Almace PLD.
Ukon WAR was a retarded Taru that full timed 28% haste and ws'd in Bullwhip. Almace PLD had the absolute ideal cdc and tp set. Being a WAR and having a Ukon doesn't compensate for being an idiot. That's my point.
Almace is a great weapon, and some Lv.90 Perle AH WARs CAN be outparsed by a PLD depending on a lot of things.

I'm not saying PLD is a great DD. I'm saying WAR isn't God Mode in FFXI.

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The argument was about gear comparison not player skill. You know how a PLD requires 2 Emp items to compete with a non Emp wielding DD.

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Originally Posted by Zagen

The argument was about gear comparison not player skill. You know how a PLD requires 2 Emp items to compete with a non Emp wielding DD.

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Ochain does nothing for a PLD's dmg output if they're not tanking 10-20 mobs at the same time, which in all likelihood they won't be unless soloing or capping amber. So its really just 1 empyrean.

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Originally Posted by Cursed

Ochain does nothing for a PLD's dmg output if they're not tanking 10-20 mobs at the same time, which in all likelihood they won't be unless soloing or capping amber. So its really just 1 empyrean.

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Are you honestly arguing that a near 100% block rate shield won't increase a PLD's damage output in anyway against 1 mob? Sure it isn't the same as 10 trash mobs feeding you TP but it will do a lot more than a non-relic/emp shield. Also Ochain allows PLD to /WAR on a lot more monsters increasing damage potential from the DA, Berserk, and Fencer. So no it is 2 Emps vs. 1 because an Almace/Ochain PLD will be better than an Almace PLD.

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Originally Posted by Zagen

Are you honestly arguing that a near 100% block rate shield won't increase a PLD's damage output in anyway against 1 mob? Sure it isn't the same as 10 trash mobs feeding you TP but it will do a lot more than a non-relic/emp shield. Also Ochain allows PLD to /WAR on a lot more monsters increasing damage potential from the DA, Berserk, and Fencer. So no it is 2 Emps vs. 1 because an Almace/Ochain PLD will be better than an Almace PLD.

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First - you don't seem to get it. If a PLD is fighting a mob solo, there's no one to parse against.... If the PLD has any other melee in the pt with them, fighting a mob, it won't be 40-50 seconds before either or both of them are capped on hate, in which case the mob is just going to be twirling around, if it lives that long. In which case, the 5-10 extraTP the ochain PLD gets from blocking 1-2 attacks isn't worth mentioning.

Second - dunno why we're talking about subs. /WAR or gtfo if you're asked to come PLD. /DNC if you're soloing shit. This topic isnt about soloing.

Third- not worth it. never mind, carry on.

EDIT: If you waiting for an ochain to sub /war... i don't even ..

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Originally Posted by Cursed

First - you don't seem to get it. If a PLD is fighting a mob solo, there's no one to parse against.... If the PLD has any other melee in the pt with them, fighting a mob, it won't be 40-50 seconds before either or both of them are capped on hate, in which case the mob is just going to be twirling around, if it lives that long. In which case, the 5-10 extraTP the ochain PLD gets from blocking 1-2 attacks isn't worth mentioning.

Second - dunno why we're talking about subs. /WAR or gtfo if you're asked to come PLD. /DNC if you're soloing shit. This topic isnt about soloing.

Third- not worth it. never mind, carry on.

EDIT: If you waiting for an ochain to sub /war... i don't even ..

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First I didn't say I don't /WAR or that I'm waiting for Ochain to /WAR I said it makes it an option on some NMs that /NIN just favors due to En-effects (hi Adzaja). That said PLD isn't an option and won't be even after Ochain for the current events I do because I have other jobs that tank better. Maybe when we're bored I'll pull out PLD/WAR but even then that's a stretch.

You started by contesting that a WAR/SAM with AH gear wouldn't beat an Almace/Ochain PLD. You then go back on what you said and that it depends on the player. You then decide to argue a PLD benefits almost nothing from Ochain yet your initial argument was that Almace/Ochain would beat an AH WAR/SAM... You're all over the place with your arguments. Not sure where you'll go next honestly, but I don't care, you jump around too much to have a nice discussion with.

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Originally Posted by Zagen

First I didn't say I don't /WAR or that I'm waiting for Ochain to /WAR I said it makes it an option on some NMs that /NIN just favors due to En-effects (hi Adzaja). That said PLD isn't an option and won't be even after Ochain for the current events I do because I have other jobs that tank better. Maybe when we're bored I'll pull out PLD/WAR but even then that's a stretch.

You started by contesting that a WAR/SAM with AH gear wouldn't beat an Almace/Ochain PLD. You then go back on what you said and that it depends on the player. You then decide to argue a PLD benefits almost nothing from Ochain yet your initial argument was that Almace/Ochain would beat an AH WAR/SAM... You're all over the place with your arguments. Not sure where you'll go next honestly, but I don't care, you jump around too much to have a nice discussion with.

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I'm sorry its not a black and white world and the amount of scenarios where something might or might not be true are too numerous to sum up in a post. You can understand my posts to read that if you want, if that's how simple you need things to be. yes,no.
my responses covered several scenarios because you raised different scenarios.
An ochain can be useful or be useless for increasing dmg output.
to spell it out for you; when you're soloing and you are the only target with hate, it WILL increase your dmg output.
when you are in a party with a half decent lv90 melee on anything that will live longer than 40-50 seconds, ochain is useless in increasing dmg output because the pld won't be benefiting from the tp gain or lack of it due to not being in possession of hate long enough.

Do you understand engrish?

"Ochain does nothing for a PLD's dmg output if they're not tanking 10-20 mobs at the same time, which in all likelihood they won't be unless soloing or capping amber. So its really just 1 empyrean. "

Cursed is trolling. /blist and move on.

How about something as simple as a weaponskill?

Phantom Blade: Absorb (reset) your party's emnity and deliver a five-fold attack. Attack power varies with party emnity.

You're lowering everyone else's emnity, you're gaining that emnity and you're dealing damage based on that. It's perfect for when you have a heavy DD party.

You keep emnity down and your party just needs to "recharge" their emnity in order to get the best effect of this ability.

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Originally Posted by Alerith

How about something as simple as a weaponskill?

Phantom Blade: Absorb (reset) your party's emnity and deliver a five-fold attack. Attack power varies with party emnity.

You're lowering everyone else's emnity, you're gaining that emnity and you're dealing damage based on that. It's perfect for when you have a heavy DD party.

You keep emnity down and your party just needs to "recharge" their emnity in order to get the best effect of this ability.

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When it takes a DD 30-90 seconds to cap hate from melee/WS this won't actually do anything. Also completely screws up Co-Tank Situations as you'd reduce the other tanks Enmity.

A simple job trait that occasionally spikes enmity on normal melee hits. boom!

Make Sentinel area of effect, and increase aggression.

Tweak Rampart magic shield effect. Mitigate magical damage over time. Increase its enmity.

Shield Bash does Stun, occasionally Silence, and Amnesia.

Shell V

Cure V. Merit enmity on it

Weapon Skill: Lights Blade

Tweak Cover. Absorb MP on successful cover.

New Magic. Absorb HP on shield blocks.

Invincible: Lock enemies on Paladin for 30sec.

New Ability. sacrifice 100MP and TP to restore HP. Area of Effect. Cure IV potency or higher.

PS: I just woke up.

Goodness gracious.

Enmity is not the problem.

Enmity.

Is.

Not.

The.

Problem.

Enmity is not the problem.

Being unnecessary is the problem. Being purely defensive-oriented when that defense is not needed to win is the problem.

Comparing a stupid Ukon to a smart Almace is fallacious. Comparing a perle WAR to a decked Ochain is fallacious. These comparisons are only used so that people can feel justified in their inadequacy by ignoring opportunity cost and shifting the focus onto how gimp other people are.

Want the truth? Any good, intelligent Almace PLD will always do more damage if they were a good, intelligent Ukon WAR. The correct comparison is not to other people, but to oneself.

Want Paladin to be useful again? Petition for content that's hard enough that Paladin's pure defense orientation becomes necessary to survive consistently. Create monsters that one-shot Counterstanced Monks. Make an Aegis or an Ochain absolutely vital to tank the absolute strongest 99-Endgame monsters in the game.

Fifth-string Paladins who don't know how Enmity works think they should be necessary in full NQ AF3 and a PDT sword? Tough bloody luck. No matter how much they buff Paladin, any good DD will tank circles around a clueless Paladin. Always.

Stolen from the PUP thread:
An example of our ideas about adjusting attachments is changing the “Enhances Defense” of Armor Plate to “Reduce physical damage taken.”
Why can't PLD get rid of the useless Defense Bonus trait and gain PDT instead?

While also making us unkillable until the mob charms us, resets hate after amnesiaing us and raping our support, or casts Deathga, Terrorga and Bindga in one move, why can't we be given more support functions.
Change cover to a job trait, sphere like, that allows the PLD to absorb some set percentage of damage taken by party members in 5-8 yalms? Give the PLD half cost cures when cast on others that reduces the targets Enmity while enhancing the PLDs? Give the PLD some AoE cures.
Just give us some toys so we can pretend to be useful instead of the brick that survives until his support is raped and nothing remains.
Maybe a pianissimo-style JA with a short recast 10-12 seconds, that allows us to cast cures that alter enmity? Or a JA that uses TP to enhance Cures.
Something besides 5 minute JAs. Something that enhances our usability.
They're not going to adjust our offense, so lets focus on support and defense.
None of these ideas are as overpowered as a WAR with Ukon with Retaliation up. None are as overpowered as BLM with Enmity Douse and Mana Wall. It's okay to buff PLD to a usable level, even if it defends the DDs. It won't break the game!

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Originally Posted by Greatguardian

Want Paladin to be useful again? Petition for content that's hard enough that Paladin's pure defense orientation becomes necessary to survive consistently. Create monsters that one-shot Counterstanced Monks. Make an Aegis or an Ochain absolutely vital to tank the absolute strongest 99-Endgame monsters in the game.

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@Greatguardian
Your suggestion about Aegis and Ochain is little over board. If a PLD don't have those items they'll be unnecessary for all 99 content in your example. In this case it'll leave players seeking other jobs to fell that tanking role.

There is absolutely no reason to rant. Its good to leave suggestions and ideas. I believe SE wants to boost Paladin current defensive abilities and add new ones. Anymore enmity would make a fight boring.

With some jobs, there is little difference between the bare minimum and the potential maximum that can be reached via player skill and gear. With Paladin, there is a monumental difference between these two points. Ochain, and now Aegis as well, are positively game-breaking shields. Paladin as a whole has always been highly technical and the gap between the inept and adept has always been wide.

So long as this gap exists, and so long as good players exist, game balance will have to work keeping the maximum in mind throughout.

If something can be tanked without an Ochain, then any well geared DD can also tank it.

If something can one-shot a good Warrior, it can one-shot a non-Ochain/Aegis Paladin.

The Empyrean and Relic shields are what make Paladin stand out from the crowd. Any effort to make Paladin more naturally powerful will simply overpower those shields even further. Rather, the Devs have smartly chosen to simply make these shields [more] easily attainable.

Anyone who cares to can get an Ochain or an Aegis. Anyone who does not will always be outclassed by a DD who chooses to pursue the best that they have available to them. The logical solution is to simply tailor the absolute strongest 99-Endgame content around people who have Ochains and Aegis' to tank.

Contrary to popular belief, every bit of Endgame content does not need to be inclusive to everyone. Abyssea was that way, and people seem to hate the massive bone the Devs threw them regardless. If there is not some content challenging enough such that the best players in the game will have to bring Ochain/Aegis Paladins to it, Paladin will never see a resurgence as a "necessary" job.

SE recognize PLD is struggling with this, so if SE make more monsters with insane HP, unlimited hundred fist attack like speed, and can counter(there is one in sea). I can see a place where PLD is needed. I think its about time they make PLD go full defense and more efficient for the whole party.

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Originally Posted by Greatguardian

With some jobs, there is little difference between the bare minimum and the potential maximum that can be reached via player skill and gear. With Paladin, there is a monumental difference between these two points. Ochain, and now Aegis as well, are positively game-breaking shields. Paladin as a whole has always been highly technical and the gap between the inept and adept has always been wide.

So long as this gap exists, and so long as good players exist, game balance will have to work keeping the maximum in mind throughout.

If something can be tanked without an Ochain, then any well geared DD can also tank it.

If something can one-shot a good Warrior, it can one-shot a non-Ochain/Aegis Paladin.

The Empyrean and Relic shields are what make Paladin stand out from the crowd. Any effort to make Paladin more naturally powerful will simply overpower those shields even further. Rather, the Devs have smartly chosen to simply make these shields [more] easily attainable.

Anyone who cares to can get an Ochain or an Aegis. Anyone who does not will always be outclassed by a DD who chooses to pursue the best that they have available to them. The logical solution is to simply tailor the absolute strongest 99-Endgame content around people who have Ochains and Aegis' to tank.

Contrary to popular belief, every bit of Endgame content does not need to be inclusive to everyone. Abyssea was that way, and people seem to hate the massive bone the Devs threw them regardless. If there is not some content challenging enough such that the best players in the game will have to bring Ochain/Aegis Paladins to it, Paladin will never see a resurgence as a "necessary" job.

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Could not have said this any better.

Take Counterstance away from MNK.
Double Utsusemi recast timers for NIN.
Make SAM take TP damage instead of HP damage.
Reduce DRK accuracy....well I guess that isn't needed.

To hell with changing PLD! Change other jobs to make PLD work!

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Originally Posted by Andrien

SE recognize PLD is struggling with this, so if SE make more monsters with insane HP, unlimited hundred fist attack like speed, and can counter(there is one in sea). I can see a place where PLD is needed. I think its about time they make PLD go full defense and more efficient for the whole party.

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Those mobs would likely kill Paladin as quickly, or quicker, than most DD jobs. Especially MNK, NIN and SAM. Paladin's defensive tools are arguably worse than many DD jobs' (Counterstance, Third Eye, Utsusemi), barring Ochain. If Ochain is the solution to Paladin's uselessness, I'd best be getting one for free, or the trials for it had best become much easier/less time consuming (the Colorless Souls are obnoxious, regardless of how you go about it). Requiring something the game regards as an ultimate weapon just to reach the baseline for usability is not a solution. Paladin's survivability should be buffed, with or without Ochain/Aegis.

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Originally Posted by Andrien

A simple job trait that occasionally spikes enmity on normal melee hits. boom!

Make Sentinel area of effect, and increase aggression.

Tweak Rampart magic shield effect. Mitigate magical damage over time. Increase its enmity.

Shield Bash does Stun, occasionally Silence, and Amnesia.

Shell V

Cure V. Merit enmity on it

Weapon Skill: Lights Blade

Tweak Cover. Absorb MP on successful cover.

New Magic. Absorb HP on shield blocks.

Invincible: Lock enemies on Paladin for 30sec.

New Ability. sacrifice 100MP and TP to restore HP. Area of Effect. Cure IV potency or higher.

PS: I just woke up.

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bolded text is what i was thinking of this morning. but going even deeper into why its harder for pld to keep up show that the attack speed(or rate i should say) of other jobs constantly keeps their enmity high.

i propose either the job trait listed by Andrien, or either a job ability that reduces enmity generation by surrounding party members. or dare i say both.

now this job ability would bar weapon skill damage, but i figure those are spike enmity situations in which the enemy would shift attention to the dd as if it used an ability similar to provoke.

when it comes to melee speed, pld isnt too bad. its just other jobs have ways to augment their speed: double attack, triple attack, dual wield and even the new hasso zanshin. if we could have lower enmity gained while meleeing under the job ability i proposed, then i think that would be a step forward in pld holding hate better.