Paladin or Marauder?

[Gamemako]

Discussion

Yeah, I accounted for both Storm's Eye and Maim -- that's why I added them as part of normal DPS rotations. You're right that I didn't take crits into account, which are increased by Defiance. Inner Release is only usable 15 seconds per 60 seconds only boosts your damage by 2.5% of base damage when time-weighted, which is less than 2.5% relative after considering existing crit rates. The relative increase from the average 5% crit boost is another 2.5% of base. Adding in those bonus for WAR in Defiance is likely to add a small amount to the lead, but not very much, and I made other concessions like using an ability which would reduce the lead. Like I said, a few percentage points this way or that -- ballpark is what matters here, not exact numbers (else I'd have to start considering PLD's higher base strength, equipment for each, and potential builds, and we've got plenty of math in this thread already).

And yes, you're no better off as WAR when not using Defiance, but you can't enter a dungeon as WAR and take off the job stone mid-fight. As far as comparisons go, you have little choice but to consider WAR-as-DPS to be WAR without WAR abilities because that's what you'll do if you're hitting enemies in a dungeon. You could use Infuriate->Unchained for a very brief take on extra crit rate and one free use of a 300-potency attack, but you're recovering all of maybe 200 potency per 180s -- negligible again. You're right that WAR can set up very high peak damage output. Berserk is 50% compared to the 30% bonus on Fight or Flight, plus Inner Release for another small damage boost. However, over time, PLD is going to do just as well. Berserk is 50% for 20 seconds and a 5s pacification effect. It earns you 10 DPS-seconds, then costs you about 3.5 (the weaponskill portion of 5 seconds). Fight or Flight gives you 9 DPS seconds (30% for 30 seconds) and takes nothing, meaning it actually gives more over time. It's counterintuitive, probably, but Fight or Flight is now better than Berserk over time. Either way, in the end, the damage figures in DPS mode are pretty comparable and are more dependent on the build and gear. I certainly don't have any kind of data which would suggest WAR has any advantage here, but if you come across come phase 4 parses on some HP tank boss, let me know!

Junk4brains: Tests seem to show that self healing from abilities (bloodbath and such) do not produce enmity.

Gamemako: That was a test with a lvl 50 pally, from reports I've read it seems gladiators indeed are having a harder time holding multiple mob's agro, I'd expect to not overperform overpower when switching classes. Greatest reason I'd put flash on my bar isn't for pacification, but for using when ccing mobs because it doesn't break sleep.

Re: self-healing, yes, self-healing didn't increase enmity in Phase 3. Self-healing also was not affected by healing modifiers (Convalesce), so I suspect it's also not increased by Defiance.

Re: lower-level tanking, the modifiers were level-based in Phase 3. You got much less enmity early-game on all weaponskills, but by the time you hit 50, the modifiers were insane. Holding aggro early on was harder in Phase 3 as well, and doesn't seem to have changed in Phase 4. I've been wary of my assumptions of things working like they did in Phase 3 simply because of how massive those modifiers were. Still, if something changed, we'll know in a week or less.