Dual weild

[Eeek]

@Arcon:

It's (obviously) true that THF has the edge over DNC in terms of evasion. I've soloed and low-manned many NMs on both THF and DNC, and to be honest, THF doesn't "feel" like it has the superior evasion while in the field (although I'm sure a parser could show the difference). In fact, I have not used my evasion set on either job in a long time. One or two AGI/Evasion Kilas +2 is all that's needed for evasion.

In my experience, THF's survivability doesn't even remotely compare to DNC. I can't eyeball any real difference between the evasion rates of my THF and DNC, but if shit hits the fan, I'd prefer to be on DNC.

DNC can self-cure in an instant for over 1000HP. DNC can activate Fan Dance for incredible damage reduction, and this is especially nice if problematic TP moves ignore shadows. DNC can provoke an NM when hate is too loose. Provoke will never hold hate, but that's not the important part. Provoke allows the DNC to melee/WS the mob a few times, and that will help stabilize the fight. DNC can act decisively to regain control of a bad situation.

In an 'Oh Shit!' situation, THF's abilities are just too passive for my tastes. Perfect Dodge is near useless in bad situations. It only benefits the THF, and against problematic NMs, it's usually not physical damage that causes the problems. Accomplice/Collaborator is very nice, but the THFhas only one chance to Accomplice/Collaborator someone in the party. If they choose....poorly, then hate is still loose. TA is largely worthless in an ohshit situation with an NM running loose. What else is left? Try to land SA, melee the NM, and pray you take hate before all the mages die. Or you can Flee and laugh as everyone dies but you (or make yourself useful by kiting).

@Karbuncle

Even though DNC's 'stances' are amazingly good, I really dislike the limitations imposed when using them. If THF ever got stances, I'm afraid they'd come with deal-breaker limitations.

If anything, I'd like to see SE embrace and really ramp up THF's potential for dealing critical hit damage. I like the hate control tools added over the past year or two, but a DD must deal decent damage to be worthwhile. SE also needs to stop pussyfooting around and giving critical hit enhancements to jobs stronger than THF in an attempt to be inclusive. No. Stop that. SE needs to go balls out in making THF the king of critical hit damage.

Now, I'm not calling for SE to break THF; just to make THF competitive because we will be leaving Abyssea some time soon. RR/GH/Apoc 'fixes' THF, and SE should take some of the benefits from these atmas (more DEX, more AGI, more critical hits, more critical hit bonus damage, another tier of the Triple Attack job trait) and roll them into THF on a permanent basis. That being said, I have no idea how to math out appropriate bonuses to strengthen THF, but at the same time, keep from breaking THF.