[Tank Concept] Heavy Machinist [WIP and Art]

http://i.imgur.com/VcraaV4.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/sGbRKXa.jpg?1

i would really appreciate some feedback specifically for the concept itself.

i know that a ranged tank is an odd concept, but that is what i feel is great about it in the first place.

Basic design:

the basic design is to obviously make a ranged tank, but only to do minor DPS upon one target or multiple targets with accuracy drop depending on the range of basic attacks. additionally, the tank would have suppression-based abilities that would force back or slow down enemies while the play remains stationary. i would also like it if the class could reduce enemy damage so long as he is attacking said enemies.

basic kit:

the job will have three basic abilities: fire, ceasefire, and reload. yes, this class would have ammunition management actions. there would be an ammunition meter, and various types of ammunition. for example, blunt rounds will not be able to pierce armor, but it will force back enemies, normal rounds will do average damage and only slow down targets, and piercing rounds will do maximum damage, but have no other effects: all while the player is stationary.

the job's kit will consist of explosive type attacks as well as various ammunition types via mortar secondary (sentry mode). the job may also draw attention to his mortar, as it would have its own flare ammunition, but only to certain enemies, of course.

Conclusion:

overall, i like this design, and i would really appreciate some help. specifically, what else should be added, and what precautions should we make before acknowledging its balance. PVE-focused perspective, please.

Firstly, cool art! I think my favorite is the idea of rocket launcher as the off-hand.

Well, if you give the class a Garlean lore edge, you could easily fit a heavy artillery based job in the game with players flocking to it.

While I do like the idea of a tank that's more about hindrance and debuffs, the issue it brings is that a tank that can hinder enemies verses buffing themselves may become too overpowered, or more accurately, over-desired, in group play.

Also, please elaborate on "stationary." As a healer main, the very concept of a tank that functions best without moving, i.e. not able to comfortably dodge AOEs, sounds like a nightmare.

If anything, give us that dual wielding shield cannon thing from Cape Westwind.
0 - 10y medium range tank. Would make a fantastic add tank while being able to relentlessly pound a boss even when the boss is doing a pbAoE or something that restricts melee interactions.

Would absolutely love your Heavy Machinist Minigun as a ranged Damage Dealer though. Minigun just screams death and destruction more than tank to me.
The concept as you're describing wouldn't make for a good tank, as melee DPS would hate your guts for knocking the mobs back constantly, And I'd imagine some ranged DDs would also take exception to it for ground based AoEs.
Tanks also don't deal well with being stationary, Gotta dance out of pbAoEs, reposition etc etc.
Also, if your knockbacks and slows worked on boss', It'd be the go-to Tank for everything Savage, as you'd be able to go long periods without ever getting hit by auto attacks and interrupt key abilities by knocking away and slowing the boss.

Awesome concept, Wrong role, In my opinion.

so a lot of concerns about the stationary system i mentioned. to explain, i thought it would only be fair if the tank only did debuff damage while only stationary; if an enemy is slowed, then it would take forever for enemies to reach a Heavy Machinist.

as for the concerns of the debuffs themselves, specifically moving the target, i was just imagining that without debuff affects like this, a ranged tank would be consistently moving instead, which could be equally as annoying to DPS. however, that is not to say that i cant be cautious, because i would imagine "blunt rounds" being on a fairly long CD than regular default rounds. of course, there is always the option to remove the ability to do so, or change it so that it requires risk taking actions that would not benefit a party.

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Originally Posted by Ametrine

Firstly, cool art! I think my favorite is the idea of rocket launcher as the off-hand.

Well, if you give the class a Garlean lore edge, you could easily fit a heavy artillery based job in the game with players flocking to it.

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thanks for the art feedback. even though our journey will eventually lead us to the Garlean empire, i didnt want the origin of this tank to be that theme. rather, i wanted to focus on a Lucis industrial theme.

basically, im imagining the kingdom of Lucis in its industrial age and the regions around it as a western theme.

it sounds interesting enough to explore besides the Garlean empire.

Cool art and cool idea, that's kinda remembers me of Vanguard tank class from Swtor. A heavy gunner tank is really cool concept

http://i.imgur.com/BWE5u6r.gif

thats more like the Pimp tank bro, with attacks like pimp cup flash and slap-a-hoe stun.

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Originally Posted by Mysticdraggon

thanks for the art feedback. even though our journey will eventually lead us to the Garlean empire, i didnt want the origin of this tank to be that theme. rather, i wanted to focus on a Lucis industrial theme.

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I get you completely. I just recall players expressing disappointment that the Machinist job didn't draw anything from the established Magitek lore.

Although, Nero using the same unique stance as Fordola in Omega with the shiny gunblade may mean we get a proper Garlean job, opening up the possibility that another society is hittimg an industrial revolution just like Ishgard is.

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Originally Posted by Ametrine

I get you completely. I just recall players expressing disappointment that the Machinist job didn't draw anything from the established Magitek lore.

Although, Nero using the same unique stance as Fordola in Omega with the shiny gunblade may mean we get a proper Garlean job, opening up the possibility that another society is hittimg an industrial revolution just like Ishgard is.

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that is what i thought. lucis was by far the most probable in my head, along with the idea of a western theme. lucis in FFXV has a lot of industrial background, including engine-based technology as opposed to the Garlean's Magitek.

overall, there would be a lot of opportunity for the theme, including "mounts" with engines and wheels. enough said.

As a tank it should not be displacing enemies or trying to stay at a distance. Also as a tank it should not be restricted to being stationary to do a fair chunk of its abilities for any long length of time, as it will need to dodge aoes like everyone else.

As a ranged tank it should have the ability to easily grab aggro of enemies from most distances and keep up pressure in the face of needing to relocate for aoes. Unlike most tanks where they have low aggro ranged attacks to use while relocating to avoid aoes. Perhaps consider him doing less damage the farther off the target is while doing more the closer they are like Heavy from TF2. So the class wants to stay close to enemies which means less moving enemies and happier melee DPS.

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Originally Posted by TankHunter678

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i agree. the last thing i want is for this tank to do an insane amount of damage, nor do i want this particular damage to be consistent at any range. if possible, the class should either have accuracy drop or damage drop depending on the attack range.

however, i do want the tank to specialize in range aggro-wise.

as for the limitation of the job's abilities, ive already mentioned that a number of the job's abilities should not apply while the tank is moving.

In swtor there is a tank ability that pulls a mob towards him. Imagine How usefull this ability would be in FFXIV? Like pulling an add right away to your face?

So it's definitely an interesting approach for a tank, I'll give it that. Best thing I could offer for help is this older-than-dirt thread.

Also, maybe a new name. Machinist feels inferior enough without another job coming in and sharing its name while looking way cooler in the process. I'd personally go with Cannoneer, but maybe something like Balistician or Grenadier would work too.

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Originally Posted by Kazrah

So it's definitely an interesting approach for a tank, I'll give it that. Best thing I could offer for help is this older-than-dirt thread.

Also, maybe a new name. Machinist feels inferior enough without another job coming in and sharing its name while looking way cooler in the process. I'd personally go with Cannoneer, but maybe something like Balistician or Grenadier would work too.

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different names are definitely something to think about. i only called it the Heavy Machinist because the job usually involves heavy firearms combined with tech. so far, i dare say that it fits perfectly, but again that's only because of the job's playstyle.

i don't like it.

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Originally Posted by Inuk9

Cool art and cool idea, that's kinda remembers me of Vanguard tank class from Swtor. A heavy gunner tank is really cool concept

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That's the first thing that came to mind when I saw the artwork. The idea has a lot of potential.

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Originally Posted by Mysticdraggon

i agree. the last thing i want is for this tank to do an insane amount of damage, nor do i want this particular damage to be consistent at any range. if possible, the class should either have accuracy drop or damage drop depending on the attack range.

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This makes sense. Other games with ranged tanks (SWTOR comes to mind) enjoy the benefit of most mobs using ranged weapons like blasters, so Vanguards and Powertechs had a notable advantage in the earlier builds of the game since they didn't need to get right in the mob's face like a melee tank could.

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as for the limitation of the job's abilities, ive already mentioned that a number of the job's abilities should not apply while the tank is moving.

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You might want to consider a type of ammo or stance that makes it easier to apply debuffs. A sort of ammo that acts as a stationary stance would work. Something else to consider is a mode/stance where you combine your main and secondary weapons into a BFG, incurring a movement penalty in exchange for the utility you want to give your suggested class (you'd have to hit Sprint in order to move at normal speed).

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Originally Posted by Duelle

You might want to consider a type of ammo or stance that makes it easier to apply debuffs.

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i have actually. the secondary weapon has two modes that convert it into either a shoulder mounted launcher that is quickly drawn upon use, and a sentry mode that opens a larger variety of ammunition types.

so maybe it would be fair to remove "blunt" ammunition from a basic fire via primary, and simply add knock-back to a quickly drawn secondary attack. the tank would need to have his secondary tool on person for this attack, but cannot do so if the secondary weapon is in its sentry mode. knock back is not a debuff, but this is simply an example of how the use of these abilities could have certain conditions.

with this said, it would also be fair to add an ability that would instantly "teleport" the secondary tool to the tank's person when out of combat, so that the player does not have to pick it up and place it down again through every enemy encounter.

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Originally Posted by Inuk9

In swtor there is a tank ability that pulls a mob towards him. Imagine How usefull this ability would be in FFXIV? Like pulling an add right away to your face?

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a grappling hook could have a lot of potential as an ability with maximum aggro potential.