After reading that other thread for a "Ranged tank" (can't do range only, honestly it sounds... stupid to me lol, people say it's done in WoW or some shiz but seriously I can't imagine it being more than kiting and doting on NIN/DRK in XI lol) I thought it'd be somewhat possible to make SAM atleast similar to a "Magical" based tank, so here's my shot.
Samurai
The "Magic" Based Tank, Weapon skills + Buffs draws upon (channeling) the 4 elements: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire (Even though elemental aspects serves no use in this game, it becomes a more of a theme) but with this the weapon skills performed are Magic based instead of Physical.
While still keeping Halone Combo/Riot physical so you can switch between the two whenever
.
When performing weapon skills with certain elements channeling, your weapon will glow that color (SAM would have their own Nexus weapon in which case, the Nuetral glow that it has normally will be the blinding white yellow, under channeled element it changes to that corresponding color)
Base Class: LV30 Gladiator
Sub Class requirement: LV15 Monk
Town you begin quest in: Ul'Dah (cuz gld, mnk I guess I rather Gridania, but LNC/ARC would be a more DPS Focused SAM and not a dedicated Tank)
NPC for Job Skills located @Mor Dhona the center for "Aether flow" sounds acceptable.
Weapon: 1 OR 2 Hand Katana/Nodachi
'Offhand' where 'shield' normally is (which should be changed to offhand that ANY class can have a use for): Wakizashi (Let's make this tank dual wield too, but their Wakizashi's will have lower weapon DMG, higher secondary buffs: Det + Parry)
Armor choice: Obviously wear both heavy or the light leather
**WARNING ALL NUMBERS ARE KIND OF JUST THROWN AROUND, I JUST TRIED TO KEEP IT AS BALANCED LOOKING AS POSSIBLE!**
The Skills:
LV15: Throw Pebbles (Replaces Shield Lob, edited to throw this in after I made everything else, I ran out of ideas by now after writing everything down there sorry lol)
TP 50
Potency 50 inflicts DoT with potency of 10. Increased Enimity (nothing but a ranged pull, doesn't need to do anything special)
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LV30: Swift Strike (Replaces Shield Swipe, again out of ideas by now, was made AFTER everything else down there)
TP 100
Potency 210
Used after evading an attack (option will be available for 20 seconds), inflicts silence.
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LV30: Third Eye (your 'Foresight' + 'Bulwark' for PLD)
CD: 120 Sec - Lasts: 20 Seconds
Buff: Reduce Crit chance & Crit DMG taken by 10% + Increase Parry 10% (Max. #X)
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LV35: Flames of Destruction (Like Fists of fire huehuehuehue) does not effect GCD + when used a 'Red Aura' covers the user to indicate the element that is channeling through their body
Unlocks skills (You will have these skills already on hotbar but they will remain unusuable until these elements are channeled, like Monks and their stances)
*Inner Flames - Perma buff until a different stance is used
Increase potency on all weapon skills by 25, user suffers a small DoT while in this stance scaled to 2.5% of their total HP per tick.
*Crimson Lotus - 70 TP (Magic based attack) Animation would totally look lke Tachi: Kasha
Potency 100
Inflicts DoT with potency of 25 per tick, when tick crits it will damage all enemies 10 yalms around target for 75 potency (lasts even after stance is changed)
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LV40: Heart of Steel
Unlocks skllls:
*Unshakeable Resolve - Perma Buff until stance is changed (chains will encircle user to indicate that earth is being channeled)
Gives user a 'Lightning Rod' stack that absorbs 20% of dmg from enemies abilities/magic attacks, 30% of aoe damage taken from party members at a max of 20 yalms from user are transferred to user for a max of 10 stacks.
Upon reaching 10 stacks an AoE attack wave is released around the user that damages ALL characters within 10 yalms of user, regardless of friend or foe.
User movement is slowed (NOT AS BAD AS HEAVY THOUGH OMGGG, Maybe like when you equip Dusk Gear in FFXI)
*Split Asunder: 80 TP (animation like Circle of Scorn, but its a jump forward slash motion and shockwaves bursting fourth diminishing at the max range)
Inflicts potency 150 on enemies in a cone in front of you (max 15 yalms), targets at the end of the shockwave (max range) are hit with 100 potency and inflicted with heavy, duration 10 seconds.
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LV45: Breath of Life
Unlocks skills:
*Gentle Breeze - Perma buff until stance is changed (cherry blossom petals will encircle the user to show that wind is channeled, like garuda demi primal weapon)
User deflects 10% of damage taken back at enemies, Increased movement speed (only slightly faster than bard song)
* Gale Wings - 90 TP (Your super cool looking Multi Hit weapon skill! like using "Braver" but the first 2 hits have you on the ground, the third is an upward slash into the air followed by a downward slash smashing to the ground before an ecliptic sweep)
Potency: 150
Aoe 10 Yalms frontal cone. Removes 1 buff from enemies hit by skill.
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LV50: Fu Rin Ka Zan - 60 TP *Chains only after an elemental weapon skill (4 slashes, use your imagination cause I've ran out for this one lol)
Potency: 170
Single target.Increases Enminity.
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LV55: Elemental Convergence
single target buff
+100 TP all all party members
Next weapon skill can be of any element.
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LV60: Meditate (Have to put this in I just can't see Samurai without it)
CD: 300 Sec
Single target buff.
Resets Third Eye CD.
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The Traits:
LV32: Counter! 15% chance to counter attack when user parries an attack
LV36: Meikyo Shisui (Again gotta do it) 20% Chance that after casting a buff or channeling an element the next weapon skill you perform will cost 0TP
LV42: Crimson Explosion - increased potency for DoT ticks to 50 and AoE to 100
LV48: Fault Line - increase range to 20 yalms, heavy duration to 15 seconds.
LV54: Enhance Counter! increase 15% to 30%
LV60: Enhance "Third Eye" % increased to 20% for buffs.
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Some clarification:
Why Make Meditate the lv60 skill that resets third eye and not Meikyo Shisui?
Because it makes sense word to action wise.
This job will totally be hot bar heavy.
Thoughts, comments, feedback, etc. etc. if you'd totally play a job like this.
I enjoyed making this because I started it a little after I got to work, its almost time to go now though so thanks OP! :3