Worries about Evolved Warrior

[Cransoon]

One of my biggest issues is that if we're off tank, we're not holding boss aggro (most of the time). Positioning the boss and dealing with auto-attacks are a couple of my favorite parts of tanking in FFXIV. One of my favorite experiences tanking in this game was M12S P2 during week 1, because he was CHUNKING you for nearly 1/4 of your HP every auto. If you weren't INCREDIBLY on point with your mitigation plan, you just die, especially given the number and spacing of tankbusters in that phase. And healers couldn't just GCD heal you the whole time, they'd run out of mana. On top of that, positioning the boss throughout Re-Enactment had a huge impact on how my group resolved that mechanic (we didn't use current PF strats, so he needed to be moved). That amount of pressure and responsibility is incredibly fun to me. I did end up playing OT on the fight later and it was so much less engaging for the reasons I mentioned. Throw a nascent to the MT every now and then, but besides that it's just Blue DPS for most of the fight.

A good main tank can make a MASSIVE difference for your team, whether it's positioning the boss for a mechanic in a way that reduces movement for casters, or turning the boss so positionals are easier for melees to hit. Meanwhile, the description of OT sounds closer to a shield healer than a tank. Between Reborn jobs still existing, and how much overlap OT seemingly has with healers, I don't see a world where OT will feel anywhere close to impactful. If all content is clearable by all jobs in both systems, there's no way they can change fights in a way that REQUIRES an OT to lower enemy damage to survive, at which point, why even bother bringing OT? Just bring the 8.0 tank, then bring a Paladin to use Cover between new tank's counter on it so you can double up on counterattack damage. If that happens, you're gonna start seeing role locks to Evolved Paladin and 8.0 tank within the first savage tier (ala Pictomancer lock in FRU during 7.1)

But I think my ultimate gripe comes back to Warrior being THE priority main tank since well before I started playing in 6.1. DSR and TOP community mit sheets don't even have tank comps where Warrior isn't MT because it's just expected that if it's in a party, it's MT. Warrior is my favorite job, and main tanking is my favorite role. To suddenly have to choose between the two feels so punishing for no reason. And for the "Reborn mode Warrior is still there" argument, I don't view this as a valid counter. Evolve mode is the path forward, it's what they envision for the future of the game. It may be a while, but they WILL retire Reborn jobs eventually, they WILL start balancing high end content around Evolve jobs eventually. I want to give my feedback now while that future design is still malleable, rather than roll over and say "I'll just ignore what they're doing and play the old jobs".

[Terhix]

(...) One of my favorite experiences tanking in this game was M12S P2 during week 1, because he was CHUNKING you for nearly 1/4 of your HP every auto. If you weren't INCREDIBLY on point with your mitigation plan, you just die, especially given the number and spacing of tankbusters in that phase. (...)

Not week 1 but I also really liked that fight on DRK OT for the same reason - it's one of the few fights where I can toss a TBN on the MT for autos and not worry about it not breaking, there are couple moments like rep 2 and idyllic where that can really make a difference. The game currently severely under-utilizes sharing your short CD (counting Nascent/Intervention as one) with the co-tank.

Food for thought - WAR's kit cementing it to be a quasi-always MT is actually really annoying for PLDs, DRKs and GNBs who too would like to MT but WAR design currently hogs that greatly in various fights.

Funny thing is between PLD and WAR it's PLD that's currently the better MT - it heals almost as much as WAR and has the best personal mits: Guardian is goated, bulwark is a second rampart, sheltron effectively has 2 charges, and wings can double as a third rampart if you need it. PLD is also the best support tank which is why people think of it as OT, but you don't have to be the OT to press wings or toss a clemency on a scuffed pull.