Should Dark Knight get a Rework?

[BaconBits]

If we're talking stances, I kinda like Balthier and Basch's Greatsword stance and animations in 12.

This is actually Balthier's animation when he's walking around an enemy, but his neutral stance is actually similar to XIV's Dark Knight, except his feet aren't spread a country mile apart.

[Soge01]

Pretty much. It's an ox guard relaxed nearly to the point of merging into a couple others, but it still requires only a mere tightening/straightening of the arms to safely defend oneself from there or move into a rising or lateral strike (while still being able to power a downward cut as quickly as from roof because with a lighter/realistic greatsword so much is rotational and with a buster-sword or other ridiculously heavy weapon, it's all in the momentum and vantage/extension point anyways), whereas a resting rook would only guard your head, and from only one side, while taking longer to transfer to any real guard or any strike outside of a zornhau (downward, at least somewhat diagonal).

Against beasts and the like it makes even more sense than it would against humanoids (against whom it's already the go-to), as you can plant against an incoming rush with that massive span of blade between you and it.

That's so cool! : D Man, I wish Sidurgu or Fray would have explained how the stance functioned in game like you just did. I've always felt awkward with the way the greatsword looked on my character, but this actually makes me feel more comfortable with the stance. Thank you for the lesson Shurrikhan! : D

[Shurrikhan]

If we're talking stances, I kinda like Balthier and Basch's Greatsword stance and animations in 12.

I really like these too, both more so than using a lazy rook as a resting stance/point (resting the cross-guard on top curve of the pec / near shoulder) or resting the flat atop one's pauldron (especially since, unlike GNB blades, most greatswords are double-edged and therefore offer additional issues there... not that we're otherwise concerned about not wrecking our blades' edges).

(Granted, Balthier's stance looks a bit awkward from that angle, as he's sacrificing so much reach by tucking the left hand so near his lower right ribs and is keeping the point so skewed far right(?) instead of significantly crossing center [hard to tell, honestly, at that angle and in that flat lighting], but I'm assuming that's just a trick of the photo's timing?)

I guess I just feel like they're a bit less... edgy? They seem more Soldier/Templar/Ark Knight to me. (Admittedly, they overlap in the magically self-empowering, vaguely Jedi-like aspect, but... pretty opposite in vibe despite that.)

That said, I would love a Warden/Dervish/Watcher/Templar/(Witcher-like) Bastard sword class as a maiming dps -- ideally in such a way that it has multiple idle animations based on one's last action. (I know, I know; there are too many sword jobs as is for now, but... eventually.)

[Rithy255]

I believe It generally should be reworked...

I think the job generally is powerful defensively, but it deserves a bit more sustain generally, it feels odd how much sustain the tank lacks in comparison to other tanks, I also think generally it's "core rotation" isn't fun at all, it's generally just a copy and pasted version of warrior, which doesn't feel inspired really.

Having lots of OGCD's is fine, but I feel like gunbreaker just does that better and more often, If I wanna play a "busy tank" I feel like I'd get more enjoyment out of gunbreaker personally.

I really don't see much appeal in dark knight personally, maybe if the job felt like a cool edgy dark magic tank like I thought it would be I'd enjoy it more.

[BaconBits]

I really like these too, both more so than using a lazy rook as a resting stance/point (resting the cross-guard on top curve of the pec / near shoulder) or resting the flat atop one's pauldron (especially since, unlike GNB blades, most greatswords are double-edged and therefore offer additional issues there... not that we're otherwise concerned about not wrecking our blades' edges).

(Granted, Balthier's stance looks a bit awkward from that angle, as he's sacrificing so much reach by tucking the left hand so near his lower right ribs and is keeping the point so skewed far right(?) instead of significantly crossing center [hard to tell, honestly, at that angle and in that flat lighting], but I'm assuming that's just a trick of the photo's timing?)

I guess I just feel like they're a bit less... edgy? They seem more Soldier/Templar/Ark Knight to me. (Admittedly, they overlap in the magically self-empowering, vaguely Jedi-like aspect, but... pretty opposite in vibe despite that.)

That said, I would love a Warden/Dervish/Watcher/Templar/(Witcher-like) Bastard sword class as a maiming dps -- ideally in such a way that it has multiple idle animations based on one's last action. (I know, I know; there are too many sword jobs as is for now, but... eventually.)

If that ever comes to fruition I hope it's Rune Fencer.

[Oizen]

I feel bad for the PLD players after 6.3 drop.

[Renalt]

I feel bad for the PLD players after 6.3 drop.

I don't really keep track of patch notes. What happens to PLDs?

[Aurikai]

Why would the top tank in the game need reworked? I think other tanks or jobs would be more deserving of SE's attention, some people have it all and still want more. Like melee crying over abilities when they're top DPS. How about fixing all ranged (healers included) first?

https://www.fflogs.com/zone/rankings/49

[BaconBits]

I don't really keep track of patch notes. What happens to PLDs?

Something something full rotational rework to fit into the 2 minute meta something something.

[OdinelStarrei]

I really like these too, both more so than using a lazy rook as a resting stance/point (resting the cross-guard on top curve of the pec / near shoulder) or resting the flat atop one's pauldron (especially since, unlike GNB blades, most greatswords are double-edged and therefore offer additional issues there... not that we're otherwise concerned about not wrecking our blades' edges).

(Granted, Balthier's stance looks a bit awkward from that angle, as he's sacrificing so much reach by tucking the left hand so near his lower right ribs and is keeping the point so skewed far right(?) instead of significantly crossing center [hard to tell, honestly, at that angle and in that flat lighting], but I'm assuming that's just a trick of the photo's timing?)

I guess I just feel like they're a bit less... edgy? They seem more Soldier/Templar/Ark Knight to me. (Admittedly, they overlap in the magically self-empowering, vaguely Jedi-like aspect, but... pretty opposite in vibe despite that.)

That said, I would love a Warden/Dervish/Watcher/Templar/(Witcher-like) Bastard sword class as a maiming dps -- ideally in such a way that it has multiple idle animations based on one's last action. (I know, I know; there are too many sword jobs as is for now, but... eventually.)

This is why you're always my favorite, Shurrikhan.

You can't see a lot of benefits to the way a DRK holds the exaggerated stance on the surface, but take a look at the animations for auto attacks and parries specifically, not the GCDs, and it's really evident there's a deliberate intention behind holding it that way. Really, the hugeness of the sword is the biggest conflict, but I wouldn't have my Beserk analogue if it was a more traditional weapon.
Aesthetic wise, I also like to mention how surprisingly consistent the rune-magic on DRK is. And not just for the runic language, the red sword lines or the theme of hexagons, but also how many spells and effects share a similar design language when summoned. I particularly point out similarities in the out-reaching thorns of Grit, Oblation, Dark Missionary and TBN on a level plane under the player pointing outwards, with Living Dead having two sets of thorns rotating around the player, something that doesn't happen on the other skills, with ground sigils from Salted Earth, Shadow Wall, and a more intense effect of OG Darkside. Even the light that appears when you grasp a Blood Weapon is similar to the lights that appear on the activation at the tip of the blade for Oblation and TBN. And even further, despite Dark Knight being a chaos themed job by nature, almost every one of the skills, whether on the sigil itself or the effect are perfectly symmetrical, and some cases, perfect spheres. Dark Force is the perfect capstone as an LB3, because you are creating complete, total order out of what is traditionally a "very unsettling" skill, per the Encyclopedia V1, and even has sigils that imply it's drawing from similar, aetheric roots as Ishgard's magic wards, or the Heavensward/clergy, altered in appearance, but noticeably, not corrupted. I guess Oblation's naming makes more sense from that angle. Take a look. I like little things like that, even if it's rambling headcanon, and dressing up asset reuse at best. Really reinforces the job identity and internal logic.

I don't really keep track of patch notes. What happens to PLDs?

Allow me.



When you combine this with the information and confirmation from recent live letters, it means PLD is primed for a 6.3 rework.

PLD needs to have it's skeleton broken to fit into the 2 minutes.
Based on current job design, and previous rework incidents on support roles in particular, that's probably not going to turn out too well for the PLDs already playing the game. We'll get more details soon, but a lot of PLD's I know are either living in fear or have already given up. Like, it hasn't worked out for almost anyone else, why would they be any different?