PLD is a very boring class compared to WAR.

[Edellis]

So, you're saying PLD needs a fun mechanic?

He's a defensive class with a lot of mitigation abilities. Being a defensive class, OF COURSE he gets a lot of defensive buffs, while only one offensive buff.

Regardless, I can't really see the point of this thread except for you to state your opinion. Maybe include in some discussion or thoughts on how to improve PLD to be your level of "fun" class?

Sure! Simply based off the way other classes work

1) Change Flash to something else, maybe some kind of magical circle blast wave or spinning slash or something that feels deserving of enmity and MP usage. Give it crappy on-hit damage, like 25 potency, idk.

2) Shield Bash > Can now automatically toggle Shield Swipe

3) Sword Oath > Adds traits to sword skills when active:

Flash > Now deals DoT damage, like 50 potency. Somewhat low duration.
Riot Blade > Now applies bleed DoT to enemy.
Halone > Nothing really needs to change here?
Scorn > Now adds full tick damage on-hit as well as DoT. (like thundercloud)
Spirits Within > further increases base damage, by amount of Gladiator DoTs on target. (now Flash, Riot, and Scorn)

4) Shield Oath > Increases block rate by 60%, Receive 10% less damage, output 20% less damage, enmity increase, adds traits to shield skills:

Shield Swipe > also reduces incoming damage by 10% for a duration.
Bulwark > increases block rate by 40%
Shield Lob > Pacification

I dunno. Just add some synergy to the stances, give paladin OTs a burst combo and some DPS to play around with, and give Shield Oath PLD something to manage other than pop all their CDs when their HP starts falling too fast. I don't necessarily think this is "better", just more...engaging.


Again, i dont think there's anything wrong with PLD being a mitigation tank, or that it's bad at its job, other than its current design being boring. It's very efficient at its job. My issue with the class is that it has no mechanics built into it. Paladin has Sword Oath and Shield Oath, but unlike other classes, using those stances don't change anything about the way you play the class, it just passively makes what you're already doing more efficient, and you're only ever doing one thing. Even with Sword/Shield, Paladin is literally the same class from level 26 to level 50, and then to endgame. There are no abilities you acquire on Paladin that change your rotation, or allow you access to different ones.