Blood Weapon / other DRK suggestions:

[ArikDimas]

@Magius
I didn't put much thought into how it would work with other shields, though I suppose it would stack with those 2, but not with Pld's Divine Veil

@Cabalabob
I figured a 1:1 conversion would be a good starting point to work with the idea, and mainly had the thought of it being something to help with an incoming tank buster.

[Cabalabob]

@Cabalabob
I figured a 1:1 conversion would be a good starting point to work with the idea, and mainly had the thought of it being something to help with an incoming tank buster.

But at a 1:1 it doesn't help with a buster, you give up 2k to get 2k in a different form, unless you have healing it does nothing, meaning you'd have to time it so it doesn't get immediately removed by an auto attack while also leaving enough time for a heal/souleater and your other cooldowns which would require a lot of co-ordination and timing for very little reward.

[Kotemon]

DRK right now is a magic paladin so...?

Its also alot more functional than what I remember of Rune Fencer in XI a year+ ago.

[MPNZ]

Personally, I find DRK to just be a real mess, there is a ton of stuff going on, and that dark arts should be removed with more done or added to darkside's management elements. It really irks me to use it for anything other than C&S, IMO.

Edit: Just to clarify some things: the way dark arts affect certain skill isn't really interesting, and instead makes it feel like the job had been nerfed before its release to make users waste more of there MP. Or something. This would be different if it had interesting effects like making salted earth inflict Paralysis/stone for as long as enemies are in its field of effect. Or, shifting all of the part's emnity onto yourself when using unleash. Or, making dark passenger fire in all directions, and give the stun technique knock-back and paralyze effects. Not that status effects work anymore. Or, are as useful.

[Yuni_Queen]

Dark Arts were buffed from 5 to 3 sec. That is actually making playing class easier.
There is no need to remove it, there are players that are somehow playing this class and are fine with DA.

DRK is a harder tanking class, but is more rewarding in satisfaction.
Removing DA will make it dull.

And then forum will be full of threats stating how to make DRK less boring.
This won't lead anywhere like that.

[Rinion]

Personally, I don't think that dark knight needs changing. I've got pal @ 50, war @ 35-ish and dark @52. Dark knight is the one hat I've enjoyed the most (whilst also the most challenging). I know I'm still not good at it (or maybe tanking I in general either) but I'm enjoying learning to manage my mp properly and working in as many uses of dark arts as I can as well as trying to improve my tanking. Someone in my FC just told me recently that I should be trying to go out of grit sometimes which'll add another layer of complexity...but I might leave that til later, when I can make proper use of my CDs. XD I like stance dancing as a healer specifically because it keeps everything a bit more fast paced (except in current exp roulette). So a tank job that doesn't do 123 24/7 is a good thing to me *cough*paladin*cough*.

[Nektulos-Tuor]

If Dark Knight had a significant advantage over the other tanks I wouldn't be here complaining. However right now..
- Manage your Mana.
- Manage your Dark Arts.
- Manage your Stances.
- Also, your a tank, so all the management and stress that comes with that as well.

Sounds like a fun class, but they named it wrong: Babysitter should of been the proper name of the class.

I don't like World of Warcraft, but at least they could make a class with an interesting mechanic that didn't require full babysitter.

I do like the "Fast Paced"-ness of the class, and I would love it if the skills reflected that more instead of relying on so many gimmicks. No other class in the game has such high requirements for their abilities or straight up penalties for using them.

Imagine if they went to Paladin and made them only be able to use Clemency in Shield Oath and only use their DPS moves in Sword Oath? How about having to use a skill before using other skills?

Complexity is good, but when its meaningless there isn't a need for it.

For example, why have Dark Mind Dark Arts, NOBODY is going to use a defensive ability that is half as good. Just put a high mana cost on it. Nobody is going to waste a Dark Arts on X, when Y is MUCH better.

I would rather a mechanic like Greased Lightning.

For example, damage reduction and attack speed instead of just having a BORING stance like the other two tanks?

BUILDING that up to release more powerful moves?

[MagiusNecros]

Only thing I'll agree with you on Nek is as a Dark Knight my main Tank class that I do feel over PLD/WAR I have to have a vocal channel open with a healer. Otherwise I hope nothing goes wrong. A Dark Knight honestly does not want to be in Grit at all if they can help it. And outside of it sometimes you'll just need that healer supporting you 24/7. While in HW content with all my tools I can play well...in 2.0 content I feel pretty gimped especially since HW basically skyrocketed all stats. I feel the same way with Machinist. It's weird honestly.

[Yuni_Queen]

For example, why have [...] Dark Arts on X, when Y is MUCH better.
I would rather a mechanic like Greased Lightning.

First line - sorry for cut. You mean, the mechanic of using DA on a defensive skill is stupid, because it forces us to spend sick amount of mana for a good cooldown?
then yes, i may sign under that, but i woudnt discard the mechanic itself, since it's more fun that way.

More, using some mana for 30% in 60 sec is good deal.
If i were to change that deal, i would rather change DA effect on Dark Mind:
Dark Mind - 30% - 180 sec
DA + DM - 30% - 60 sec
That would make solve most of tanking problems i believe.

The idea about building up buff like greased won't be rather implemented to any tank.
You can loose stacks/buff and you may not be efficient enough to survive, in example, Seph EX.

Such mechanic would be too much unforgiving. Playing tank, that has to maintain buff would be a stress twice as much you described.

[shao32]

i go to tell you a little secret nektulos, a little one, DRK like the other clases are built for manage end game, and you know what? GREAT NEWS dark knight is one of the tanks how kill brute justice in AS8 with the top raiders, now you say some japanese threads complaing about DRK, give the link if you don't mind, because i don't see it.

a yes i forgeth, ejem, yes dark knight need a little more skill compared to the other 2 tanks but whe have other clases more hard to play compared with dark knigth, in fact drk is pretty easy, use all you ogc and keep darkside up all the time the rest of the time is spam dark arts in souleater and leave 3-4k of mp if you need drop or put grit on.

and dark mind is so powerfull and short cd so have some mechanic in the skill never was a problem for mitigate, more when the ******* dark arts are off globlal countdown¡¡¡... ejem sorry, like i say is spam dark arts, when you mp go 3-4k then spam delirium combo for recover and end of the story, no babysitter for anyone but i know you only have rage and hate for the drk or something because you are the only one in the forum how complaing about everithing of the drk, and whe are a lot of ppl how say why you are wrong in all you post and you still here posting, be water my friend devs know what are they doing in the past when desing the drk and now.