No Guard Thank Guard!

No more guard ^^ are you more tempted to try out gladiator now? Or did you like guard?

make a huge different there but i dont really mind thou.. ppl can still tank goody good with it.

Will def be leveling gladiator now, that whole guard thing was crap, this is a much better idea imo and follows most other MMO's out there.

So extremely glad that it will be gone!

Never bothered me much. But hey - it's another action slot opened up!

I may start levelling gladiator myself again now.

I got used to it while I was leveling CON and THM (have a shield on most of the time when solo), but... I'm glad I won't have to keep pressing it every 15s or whatever now. =)

i disliked the action bar space REQUIREMENT anyways lol and i do like the automated block it simplifies play imo, but i know some of you liked the lifting of the shield. some will probably claim the "I" word on this change.

Yeah, that was the only thing keeping me from playing GLA

I detested the need to use the ability "Guard". I would have liked to have seen "Guard" turn into a mode of some sort - something like how "Defender" is now:

e.g. "Guard" - allows the chance to block incoming attacks. Attack power is reduced while guarding.

However, I'm happy with the shield/blocking changes announced in the patch notes. Maybe the Palading job will have more buffs/actions that are geared more towards shields.

I thought it was dumb because why wouldn't I want to guard if I had a shield to guard with?

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Originally Posted by Reaujien

I detested the need to use the ability "Guard". I would have liked to have seen "Guard" turn into a mode of some sort - something like how "Defender" is now:

e.g. "Guard" - allows the chance to block incoming attacks. Attack power is reduced while guarding.

However, I'm happy with the shield/blocking changes announced in the patch notes. Maybe the Palading job will have more buffs/actions that are geared more towards shields.

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Yea, I was definitely hoping for that. Exactly actually.

To build on that idea a little, I think it would be cool if all classes had 'stances' that would affect their play style. For example, PUG could have a counterstance in which they counter more but do less damage on ws and auto-attack. Alternatively they could have an 'attack' stance in which they do more damage but counter/evade less. Lancer could influence their enmity or tp generation, so that generate tp quicker but generate more enmity, or something. Just speculating. Could be cool.

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Originally Posted by Gidonoidon_Sur

I thought it was dumb because why wouldn't I want to guard if I had a shield to guard with?

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Right - my thoughts exactly lol

No Difference, I've never got why people have trouble with it lol, ah well easier is easier for easy people. :p

yea, like stances, that would have been nice.

the stance like marauder had would be displeasing imo only for the fact that a tank should be moving to repostion and not stand in fire lol so i am for the way its been implemented in 1.19. unless it was like a buff you got like marauder that wasnt effected by standing still (then again why even have the buff)

My issue with Guard was the lack of visual cues for both it's up/down state and if Phalanx was available. Sure, you lift your shield when you punch the skill the first time, but the animations (for Midlander at least) would reset to the normal stance after my next ws/auto-attack. Also, you had to guesstimate from damage or constantly read your combat log to see if you triggered Phalanx after that last attack.

Most of my time in Gladiator was spent reading my Combat Log. I want to look at the pretty battle on my screen, not play a MUD.

Honestly, at rank 14 my Gladiator battles reduced to mashing my WS's, and during cool downs randomly mashing Guard/Phalanx just in case. I think if they had put more thought and debugging into the visual cues so it could be done w/out the combat log, it would've been an awesome mechanic.

At least now I just mash Phalanx after every enemy attack. :-P

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Also, you had to guesstimate from damage or constantly read your combat log to see if you triggered Phalanx after that last attack.

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This is the real question - will the animation/message for guard be obvious enough to let me know when Phalanx can be triggered, and when it can't?

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Originally Posted by Cycloptichorn

This is the real question - will the animation/message for guard be obvious enough to let me know when Phalanx can be triggered, and when it can't?

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From the release notes, I feel a resounding "No". But it's still an improvement that I only have one mystery skill, as opposed to two. :-P

BTW, Gladiator gets about 50 times as awesome here in a few ranks, when you start to get more of your advanced skills and more cross-class skills to use. And when you get higher than that, and in groups more, it switches to hate management and damage mitigation.

Surprised there hasn't been more commentary about this:

Aegis Boon ・Effect duration raised from 15 to 30 seconds.
Outmaneuver ・Effect duration raised from 15 to 30 seconds.
Deflection ・Effect duration raised from 15 to 30 seconds.

!!!!!!!~!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

30 sec Aegis boon with no change to cooldown = super happy Cyclops

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Originally Posted by Cycloptichorn

This is the real question - will the animation/message for guard be obvious enough to let me know when Phalanx can be triggered, and when it can't?

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I remember seeing a post from one of the community reps quoting whoever the guy in charge of this is that they plan on adjusting how abilities light up - specifically taking into consideration that TP isn't the only requirement to use the ability (such as Phalanx). Though it's not listed in this patch notes it would be nice if its omission was an "oops" lol.

To be honest, I kinda liked having to actively use the shield. But the way it was implemented was more trouble than it was worth.

I'm excited about the passive chance to block rather than continually holding up Guard to get the most out of damage mitigation.

Now I can focus on reading for those partially blocked and blocked messages rather than looking for a clear indication that my shield arm has fallen or the shield arm has fallen text.

Small things that add up :-)

Now the question is this, is block rate remaining unchanged or are they going to more of XI's system when a 50-60% block rate without a relic was very very good.

Because with the new durations of shield buffs that would be incredibly broken (Basically 100% immunity to physical dmg) if the block rate is still 90+% at all times.

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Originally Posted by Cycloptichorn

BTW, Gladiator gets about 50 times as awesome here in a few ranks, when you start to get more of your advanced skills and more cross-class skills to use. And when you get higher than that, and in groups more, it switches to hate management and damage mitigation.

Surprised there hasn't been more commentary about this:

Aegis Boon ・Effect duration raised from 15 to 30 seconds.
Outmaneuver ・Effect duration raised from 15 to 30 seconds.
Deflection ・Effect duration raised from 15 to 30 seconds.

!!!!!!!~!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

30 sec Aegis boon with no change to cooldown = super happy Cyclops

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I was happy to read about those too; however, I'm guessing that AB, Otm, and Defl won't give us 100% chance to block like they currently do now (which, essentially puts "Guard" up while under the effect of one of the three). Either way, all of this overall is nice because now I can focus on getting block rate gear, materia, etc. to help with damage mitigating.

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Originally Posted by Fiosha_Maureiba

Now I can focus on reading for those partially blocked and blocked messages rather than looking for a clear indication that my shield arm has fallen or the shield arm has fallen text.

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I recall the same as an earlier poster that they were putting work into fixing the "light-up" of skills in your action bar to reflect all skill requirements, not just TP and Cooldown. If that comes in 1.19 or 1.19a I will be a very happy panda.

My only regret is that the usefulness of Phalanx will be diminished slightly, as you'll have to pay attention to the log more.

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Originally Posted by Reaujien

I was happy to read about those too; however, I'm guessing that AB, Otm, and Defl won't give us 100% chance to block like they currently do now (which, essentially puts "Guard" up while under the effect of one of the three). Either way, all of this overall is nice because now I can focus on getting block rate gear, materia, etc. to help with damage mitigating.

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Deflection was never a 100% chance to block to begin with...

I'm glad they're finally automating block now overall.

This is an excellent change

I’m just glad I got it finished; I remember what a pain Shield & Guard were to level in FFXI. So will there be some type of hidden Guard Skill? Will it only proc when you successfully block?

Now I just wonder if shield 'Block rate' will be a number between 1 and 100, or if they are going to be silly like they are with parry and have some number you cant really determine a %rate with... or with they change parry to have a number between 1 and 100 on gear,,,

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Originally Posted by Slatfatf

I’m just glad I got it finished; I remember what a pain Shield & Guard were to level in FFXI. So will there be some type of hidden Guard Skill? Will it only proc when you successfully block?

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I hope it is similar. I mean, it makes sense that a Gladiator will gain skill over time as they fight more battles. So something similar would be good, however, hopefully the rate at which the 'skill' increases will be a little more forgiving.

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Originally Posted by Reika

Deflection was never a 100% chance to block to begin with...

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Deflection and the other shield abilities put your "Guard" up, which gives you 100% chance to block - full or partial.

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Originally Posted by Reaujien

Deflection and the other shield abilities put your "Guard" up, which gives you 100% chance to block - full or partial.

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I didn't know this was true. I've never been able to get Phalanx to work while having Aegis boon on, but without my shield up...

you realise that your guard rate will probably drop dramatically now right? the advantage of having a manual guard was that it had a much higher rate of blocking. It was a prolly a little to hax/unbalanced with the stamina cost gone so they had to do this but ehhh.

Thats why they extend the durations of skills that proc on guard, it will be way more random now. Personally i think its overall a loss to the job as far as control goes, but kinda knew it was coming once guard had no cost (no stamina associated with it)

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Originally Posted by Cycloptichorn

I didn't know this was true. I've never been able to get Phalanx to work while having Aegis boon on, but without my shield up...

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Unless it's a bug (which could very well be possible), whenever I use either 3 shield abilities I can sit and spam Phalanx II provided that a) the mob is physically attacking me without TP moves, and b) I have TP. Also, I've never had to use "Guard" prior to using any ability either - in fact, I can never use "Guard" while either ability is still in effect (once the buff timer with 0:00 disappears).

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Originally Posted by Physic

you realise that your guard rate will probably drop dramatically now right? the advantage of having a manual guard was that it had a much higher rate of blocking. It was a prolly a little to hax/unbalanced with the stamina cost gone so they had to do this but ehhh.

Thats why they extend the durations of skills that proc on guard, it will be way more random now. Personally i think its overall a loss to the job as far as control goes, but kinda knew it was coming once guard had no cost (no stamina associated with it)

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Aye, I'm sure it will. However, this will introduce the opportunity for us [tanks] to pursue gear/drops/materia that'll boost chances to block - I'm excited to see what's in store for that.

Plus, I'd sure be surprised if the Paladin job didn't have any shield block-rate boosting traits/abilities/whatever when it comes out; not to mention the "AF" gear too.

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Originally Posted by Reaujien

I was happy to read about those too; however, I'm guessing that AB, Otm, and Defl won't give us 100% chance to block like they currently do now (which, essentially puts "Guard" up while under the effect of one of the three). Either way, all of this overall is nice because now I can focus on getting block rate gear, materia, etc. to help with damage mitigating.

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Yeah, I'm assuming that your block rate stays the same as what it is normally, and if you have one of those skills active, you get the effect from that skill, should you happen to block an attack.

So now it will be a proc chance vs. guaranteed blocking correct? Basically, somehow I manage to not be able to block with a piece of metal half the height of my body glued to my arm?

For those of you who couldn't get past level 14 with your three weaponskills because guard was too much, seriously... wtf?

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Originally Posted by Physic

you realise that your guard rate will probably drop dramatically now right? the advantage of having a manual guard was that it had a much higher rate of blocking. It was a prolly a little to hax/unbalanced with the stamina cost gone so they had to do this but ehhh.

Thats why they extend the durations of skills that proc on guard, it will be way more random now. Personally i think its overall a loss to the job as far as control goes, but kinda knew it was coming once guard had no cost (no stamina associated with it)

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This was what I felt too, I was kind of hoping that they would enhance the control over your def/atk boons/penalties rather then, YET AGAIN, removing systems and content.