Paladin: Possibilities

[Zyeriis]

Disclaimer: I would put this in the paladin sub forum. The problem is that the problem and solutions I am going to present apply to every job and game/party mechanics in general. Thus, it is going in general discussion.

If it isn't obvious: This thread is about Paladin, and how broken (the bad kind) it currently is in the game. Yes, Paladin can still mitigate damage extremely well but the problem lay in it's inability to out-enmity gain (and maintain) DDs and other jobs, which can do it just as well, if not better.

There have been a number of solutions thought up on how to address this issue from a DD buff to More Spells to More Job abilities for Paladin. So, I figured it time to think up some ways Paladin could be "fixed" for myself and to add to the list based on other ideas presented, much like I did in my thread about Campaign and how it could be improved.

Disclaimer #2: Not all ideas posted below may be original ideas of my own. I will give credit where credit is due, if and when possible. The starter ideas will have no citation as they will only come from my own thoughts on the matter. Any additional ideas brought up in this thread will be the ones that get credit for ideas when I add them to the list.

I will bold individual idea's headers to separate them. This way, people can focus on a specific idea. I will also number them so that they can be refered to as idea #1, idea #2, etc. Original solutions will be categorized with upper case letters and italicized headers. Additional solutions under one such bolded idea will be categorized with lower case letters and underlined headers with a double indent (--). Examples: Original Solution 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B or Additional Solution 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, etc.

1) Cover

-1A) Make it a Job Trait
Cover is likely one of the most under used job abilities that a Paladin has access to. It is simply impractical to use. Yes, there are other job abilities that Paladin has that are likely used even less but Cover stands out as an actual potentially useful ability with an insane recast timer. The best solution for this? Turn it into a job trait that only works if you are wielding a shield with a high proc rate.

Detailed Explanation: Cover as Job Trait would only require the Paladin be between the person with hate and the enemy (just like the job ability) except this job trait would be active at all times (but not necessarily with a 100% proc rate, I leave that up to the dev team, it could be like Zanshin in respect to not always procing). This solution fixes a lot of problems with paladin AND makes cover itself extremely useful. Paladin itself would no longer need to beat the DDs for hate. Paladin would be able to use their hate to the advantage of the party by simply shielding the person with hate from the enemy.

-1B) Remove "Be between enemy and target party member" restriction
This solution does not involve changing Cover into a job trait. Instead, simply make cover no longer require re-positioning on anyone's part. All damage directed at the target party member would be transfered (or directly dealt) to the Paladin instead without having to be between the monster and the party member.

-1C) Make it AoE
Monsters these days in Abyssea get auras that are constantly in affect, such as Sedna's silence aura. Why can't player's get such abilities? Cover seems like it would be a good choice for this type of upgrade (much like avatar's favor). Make it self-target and create an enmity drawing aura. Any player in the party within the field of the Cover aura who is targeted due to enmity would have the enemy attack the Paladin instead.

2) Combat Roles

-2A) Commander-type Class
This idea is relatively simple. Start crafting Paladin into a "Leader" type of class. Giving spells like Bravery/Valor and Faith to Paladin. This ties in a bit with the Cover AoE idea (1C) by giving an enmity priority type of effect to Paladin by singling it out as the "Leader" or "Commander" of the party (Enemy's would want to 'take out the Leader to lower morale). These leads me to the next part of this idea. Some form of a "Morale" ability for Paladin. An ability like War Cry but with a very mild (1%) boost to multiple things such as: Haste, Fast Cast, Attack, Defense, etc. that doesn't last a long time (like War Cry).

Modifications #1
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...3337#post83337

Modifications #2
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...7994#post87994

Modifications #3
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...0691#post90691

Modifications #4
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...1091#post91091

Modifications #5
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...3383#post93383

[Andylynn]

Disclaimer: Until the hate cap is messed with for pld, or removed for pld only, it will more than likely never tank again with the advent of DDs who can safely survive while maintaining capped enmity. Ideas otherwise are henceforth, not much needed, because it is the mechanic that is broken, not the job. Not to be rude, just FYI.

[Fiarlia]

I like the idea of making Cover a Job Trait. Granted, it won't go very far towards fixing PLD, but I still like it nonetheless.

[Urteil]

PLD and DRK still need serious help, I hope that Dev's look into this thoroughly.

[svengalis]

PLD and DRK still need serious help, I hope that Dev's look into this thoroughly.

What about RNGs?

[Tamarsamar]

1) Cover

-1A) Make it a Job Trait
Cover is likely one of the most under used job abilities that a Paladin has access to. It is simply impractical to use. Yes, there are other job abilities that Paladin has that are likely used even less but Cover stands out as an actual potentially useful ability with an insane recast timer. The best solution for this? Turn it into a job trait that only works if you are wielding a shield with a high proc rate.

Detailed Explanation: Cover as Job Trait would only require the Paladin be between the person with hate and the enemy (just like the job ability) except this job trait would be active at all times (but not necessarily with a 100% proc rate, I leave that up to the dev team, it could be like Zanshin in respect to not always procing). This solution fixes a lot of problems with paladin AND makes cover itself extremely useful. Paladin itself would no longer need to beat the DDs for hate. Paladin would be able to use their hate to the advantage of the party by simply shielding the person with hate from the enemy.

As a RDM/PLD that likes tanking, this would make me JIMP (in other words, I highly approve). However, this could similarly be exploited with other job combinations--NIN/PLD would immediately come to mind. A way to counterbalance against this would be to allow Cover to cover an area of effect upon being face-to-face with an opponent only when used by a Paladin main job--otherwise, it covers a significantly more limited area behind the player (though hopefully, slightly more forgiving than Cover is now).

Please make this happen, devs!

[Zyeriis]

Modifications #1

1) Cover

-1D) Make it reverse-conal and self-target (Partly Inspired by Tamarsamar)
By this, I mean remove the requirement for it to be cast on some one and make it a self-buff. On top of this, make it so, every one behind you, in a cone-based radius (like a Damselfly's Venom attack) be protected by the Paladin (PLD takes damage for everyone in the conal radius behind him).

3) Enmity

-3A) Raise it or Remove it for PLD specifically
This one is relatively self-explanatory. To make Paladin able to hold hate over the other jobs, enmity in general needs to be tweaked in some manner.

-3B) Provoke Style Ability and Enmity Control
Yes, Paladin has Flash. Is that enough? No. Yes, Paladin can get Provoke from subbing WAR. Is that enough/fair? No. This particular point has been the cry of many a Paladin for years. Why doesn't Paladin get its own form of Provoke? At the very least it would prove interesting to give Paladin more ways to control the enmity of the party. Thief gets some tools for this but, ultimately, Paladin itself does not. So, with this solution, a wider array of sub jobs could very well be opened to Paladin. THF for starters. Rather than having PLD being "Hit me! Hit me!", we could expand it's role, upon other sub jobs, to enable the ability to set hate on other players or upon itself.

What about PLD/DRK? Abilities such as Last Resort, through the sheer use of it, can gain a hefty amount of enmity. Top that with PLD having it's own form of Provoke, and we would also be able to DD a bit better to maintain enmity, whilst curing ourselves, furthering that cause. Altering the enmity cap for PLD (3A) would also support this. There are also other subs that could become potentially more useful in party situations such as /BLU and /RDM. Overall, giving PLD it's own form of Provoke would increase it's versatility greatly.

-3C) Enmity Reset Ability
This is perhaps the most insane idea I've had about adding something to Paladin. A Hate Reset Job ability that affects the whole party (people within the AoE). Using this, and then popping a Provoke or Flash, would re-establish hate on the Paladin, with a clean slate. There would naturally be a risk involved but, ultimately, I believe the benefits would outweigh such a risk and open up Paladin to being more fun, and adding another tactical level to using Paladin as a tank.

I still have more ideas to post but I've decided to dole them out in smaller portions and link them to the primary post (the OP). I'll be back again later to add more.

[Lexin]

PLD will be broken till (I hope) endgame is out of Abyssea.

[Arcon]

Raising/removing enmity cap is no solution at all. The other ideas are not bad. My idea about enmity.

[Yukichibi]

Cover is the most useless ability for a tank, you take damage instead of someone, so your enmity goes down and the enmity of the people you protect still goes up.
Tossing a cure 4 is better than cover.

An aoe around a PLD which grant pax effect to party members around him sounds a good idea (like avatar favor).
I had already suggested on another thread to make paladin immune to hate reset.
But all those tweaks will be irrevelant in abyssea, and almost irrevelant outside.