Trying to understand the complaints about DRK

[Aluja89]

That part is very subjective. Current DRK might be boring for you, it might not be boring for everybody. Also, what would feel like a Dark Knight for you ? I'm pretty sure that will differ if you ask several people.

Is it really though? It plays more like a DPS class than a tank. And instead of a mana chugger it'd fit better if it could sacrifice its own HP for defensive benefits.

[Megguido]

Is it really though? It plays more like a DPS class than a tank. And instead of a mana chugger it'd fit better if it could sacrifice its own HP for defensive benefits.

It would probably be hard to balance a tank job that sacrifices its own HP (more HP are a defensive boost after all). From other FF games, Dark Knight is usually a damage dealing job with higher defense than average but sacrifices HP for very powerful attacks.

There's two problems with this fantasy:
1) You don't want a tank that burns its own HP pool. And if you do, your healers probably don't.
2) Very hard hitting attacks on a tank. WAR has something like that, and they hit like wet noodle 80% of the time as a counterpart.

In FFXIV (imo), DRK's fantasy is they drain MP from enemies ("Blood" from Blood weapon, Syphon strike for example) and sacrifice it for more damage or more mitigation (TBN).