Making WAR More Diverse/Fun Again

[Gwaeron]

That doesn't matter. Consider this:

DKN: Deals 300 DPS, durable, can tank
DRG: Deals 300 DPS, squishy, can't tank

ACN: Deals 9000 DPS, can heal.
THM: Deals 9000 DPS, can't heal.

WHM: Heals 9000 eHP per second, can use Cleric Stance and spam holy.
SCH: Heals 9000 eHP per second, can not (natively) use Cleric Stance.

I do not need to consider that, because I have seen it in practice, and it worked. A WAR could not deal as much damage as the DD jobs, but they didn't have to be dead weight for the parts that required only one healer. This is not the case now (I'm looking at you, Titan). They would need specialised gear to do the DD job well (and still not be as good as DRGs, MNKs, BRDs, BLMs). But the option was there, and it is not anymore.

[whiskeybravo]

ACN: Deals 9000 DPS, can heal.
THM: Deals 9000 DPS, can't heal.

WHM: Heals 9000 eHP per second, can use Cleric Stance and spam holy.
SCH: Heals 9000 eHP per second, can not (natively) use Cleric Stance.

Except that SCH can natively use Cleric Stance, being as how they need at least lv15 Conj, and CS is unlocked at lv6. (yes I realize your example is hypothetical)

The only difference (currently) between melee DPS and WAR (or PLD for that matter) is the Class/Job stat allocations. All tank gear has STR, same as melee DPS. All tanks can wear STR accessories. Weapons have the same physical damage. Tanks will never do as much damage due to the attribute points, but they can get close for periods of burst damage. (I'm thinking WAR with Maim and Berserk up, SE debuff, and popping a mega STR potion). The ceiling for tank damage seems just about even to normal DPS damage (obviously DPS has a higher damage ceiling for burst situations)

[Gwaeron]

The only difference (currently) between melee DPS and WAR (or PLD for that matter) is the Class/Job stat allocations. All tank gear has STR, same as melee DPS. All tanks can wear STR accessories.

And I do carry DD accessories on me! It can be handy when you're fighting Atomos for example.

In 1.23, there were two stances, each of them had a bit of their own mechanics going, which made it fun and diverse to play. We could use either of the stances "Tanking" and "Damage Dealing", each played slightly differently. This is the "fun" and "diversity" I think OP is missing (and I am, too). Now we have the two stances "Tanking" and "Not Tanking", the latter removing EVERY warrior ability from our arsenal, while adding absolutely nothing.

[whiskeybravo]

And I do carry DD accessories on me! It can be handy when you're fighting Atomos for example.

In 1.23, there were two stances, each of them had a bit of their own mechanics going, which made it fun and diverse to play. We could use either of the stances "Tanking" and "Damage Dealing", each played slightly differently. This is the "fun" and "diversity" I think OP is missing (and I am, too). Now we have the two stances "Tanking" and "Not Tanking", the latter removing EVERY warrior ability from our arsenal, while adding absolutely nothing.

Unfortunately, I didn't ever play early versions of the game. I've seen people mentioning the old abilities and some of them do sound quite fun. But I can't compare

I've been playing War a lot differently recently, I think due to a combination of content and just being more comfortable knowing the role. Like switching in and out of Defiance on CT, I see a lot of Wars just keep it up the whole time even if they aren't tanking. I've been using Unchained and Berserk more frequently, and of course keeping up the SP and SE combos. I love the Ultima HM fight because I can switch off to do extra damage or switch on to Infuriate and IB and eat an orb.

I think there could be more Infuriated moves, and maybe one or two more off-GCD moves (maybe ones you can only use when not in Defiance). Maybe an actual Berserk that would make you attack like a mad man for 10 seconds (double or triple attack speed, auto-attack potency increase or damage modifier, can still move character out of danger but can't control attacks), or a something like a party Bloodbath/Bloodshower where the whole group gets heals based on damage (individual damage or group damage, healers could throw out some attacks while everyone gets little self heals).

PLD so boring lol