PLD 4.0

[Reynhart]

In the very next sentence I said that was terrible design and a garbage solution to the current tank imbalance.

Which this is not. Allowing PLD to solo tank doesn't mean that it'd be the only solution or even the best.

If you bring another DRG, NIN, MNK, etc. you don't gain just the added DPS. You gain their additional utility.

It's still a matter of raidwide DPS, which is the decidibng factor of what solution is the best.
Yes, tanks do less damage than DPS, but it wouldn't be that difficult to adjust PLD so that 1-focused-on-mitigation-PLD+1DPS do the same average damage of any-tank-duo (that doesn't use a focused-on-mitigaiton-PLD).

[Brian_]

Which this is not. Allowing PLD to solo tank doesn't mean that it'd be the only solution or even the best.

As Shurrikhan details to some extent, your fix misses the main issue with PLD almost entirely.

The reason why WAR is good is pretty obvious. They're good. Period. It doesn't matter what situation you throw them into, they're equipped to deal with it. This applies to their class and essentially all their skills. They're all good skills in any situation. Outside of some QoL issues, they're flawless.

Why is DRK the other preferred tank atm? Because within the current content, they fit that same mold. They're good. Period. Because of the way fights are designed, DRK's strengths are very apparent and align in a synergistic way with the encounters. At the same time, those fights make much of PLD's kit much less effective.

PLD can still be a strong job. They're better than DRK in content where their strengths are utilized like Thordan EX. The entire problem with PLD is that they're forced into a niche due to how situational a lot of their skill-set is. Your suggestion does not fix that, it only makes it worse and is only going to restrict overall design space.

There are two solutions but one singular direction in addressing the issues PLD has. Design content to balance the three tanks or design all three tanks so that they're balanced regardless of content. The singular direction is that all three tanks need to be equally viable in all current content in any mixed pairing.

To prove a point, let's just be stupid for a second and give PLDs the same stack mechanic that WARs have. Bulwark now generates a stack. Tempered Will now generates a stack. Using Clemency now generates a stack. Cover now generates a stack. Hell, we're not even done with all the situational garbage PLD has but let's just stop there for now. Give PLDs weapon skills equivalent to Fell Cleave, Decimate, IB, Unchained, Steel Cyclone, etc. Instantly, Bulwark is now usable in any fight and in any situation. Tempered Will and Cover just went from relevant in 1 fight in all of Gordias to being an ability you use on CD just for the stack. Clemency is now no longer such an intolerable DPS loss because you get a stack. Now, you can throw PLD into A1S or any other fight that is predominantly magic damage and their skill-kit would still be usable and relevant. Now you can design any fight you want to and bring any tank you want to (though DRK would obviously need some love, too).

The idea is not to separate the tanks so that if you want to be the best tank player possible you need to level and gear all three. Or, if you want top progression, that you need to bring the class instead of the player. Pushing tank design into niches is a horrible, horrible idea that is both stupid and unhealthy for the game.

[Link594]

Kay, heres a more updated list of my Wish list after discussing with ya and hopefully to elicit some more responses on it. Underlined are changes. Again I reiterate that none of this will ever happen and I realize that lol

More AoEs!!

Savage Blade should hit 2 additional targets for 50 potency. Main target potency reduced by 25 and RoH and RA increased by 25 to compensate. IMO all cleave looking animations should cleave. Still standing by my preference to not encourage combo breaking, don't want to have a stronger Savage Blade then a 3rd ability. RA combo will generate a bit less emnity, but both combos will do more AoE damage.

Circle of Scorn CD reduced to 15 sec. Lets you refresh DOT and press something more frequently. An increase in single target damage to be sure, but PLD can use single target DPS increase.

Maybe Flash doing minor damage? (would rather have the above 2 options so you don't spam 1 ability for aoe and run out of MP for next pull) Also breaks CCs, didn't like this change anyways

More Emphasis on Shields Blocking

Magic Attacks being blockable (only targeted obvious projected blockable ones like Fire and Blizzard, not non-projected magics like Banish, Paralysis or AoE magics from bosses) Still want this, PLD to be middle of the road tank is my dream lol

Bulwark reduced to 90 sec cd, Rampart increased to 120 sec to compensate and reduce Bulwark's block from 60% to 40%

Shield Slam purging enemy debuffs like Haste. Prob overpowered in PVP and not really that neccesary.

Shield Oath increases Block chance by 20% instead of just flatly reducing damage taken. With magic blocking, (and correct tuning, maybe 20% isn't the right number, this changes nothing except make the class more focused on blocking.

Cover effect extended to magic (since we would be able to block them)

More/Better Options on Cross Class Skills

Raise being cast in combat

Esuna being cross skilled (would be nice)

Don't mind losing Stoneskin, stone doesn't really fit the fantasy of PLD anyways. Stone element doesn't fit, the absorb fits but would rather have Esuna

Fracture being longer, maybe it still won't be used, but at least make it a viable option Fracture should be better and viable, doesn't matter how.

Can you imagine having to choose between Protect, Raise, Esuna, Cure, Foresight, Bloodbath, Fracture, and Mercy Stroke with these changes? What would you choose?

TP Management

Shield Swipe or Riot Blade(in addition to MP) regenerating some TP (20 TP?) Weaponskills regenerating TP doesn't make sense, but I think something should be done

Other Stuff

Tempered Will having a Surecast effect

Sword Oath and Shield Oath not breaking combos

Shield Oath not having such a penalty on DPS (15 or 10%) Want to increase MT dps, not OT

Rage of Halone reducing int and dex in addition to str by 10% ALL damage dealt by 10%. This would reinforce PLD being middle of the road and it wouldn't be OP