Please Do NOT Introduce Another Melee Tank

[Kitsu]

There are a lot of threads where people really want Samurai to be the next tank... Which leads me to this post.

Well, for one, it seems like the development team is already having issues balancing Paladins and Warriors, so I don't think it's wise to introduce another no-shield large-weapon tank into the same melee based system. I do think Paladins are in a really good place right now (since the dmg buff to Paladins). But.... It goes back and forth. Well, this thread explains it more clearly:

http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/commen...ps_what_gives/

[Removed incorrect statement about Paladin Buff.] Warriors are better than they were at Launch, but what to do with them? Their heals aren't very strong. Warrior Off-Tank DPS isn't great in comparison to Paladin's unless the Warrior is tanking multiple mobs. They have less useful defensive cooldowns than a Paladin and Holmgang just kinna ... yeah. It seems like Warriors are almost there just to buff the Paladins on a single-enemy fight (which occurs a lot).

Why not just balance the two primarily physical ability tanks that are already there, and then introduce something like a heavy magic ability tank that isn't going to deal with the same physical ability system that Warriors and Paladins fight within? My main point is that I think that the idea of a Samurai tank would be crazy close to what Warrior already is unless something completely outside the box is utilized. While I think this could happen, I am not sure that it will be. Hence, I'd like to see something utilizing magic abilities instead like debuffs, buffs, perhaps the occasional instant spell, wards, perhaps increased stoneskin (w/ longer duration if the tank has cloth armor?), etc. I don't think that the tank has to be 100% magic... but a little bit of sugar and spice that is far more potent than Paladin's current set of spells would be nice. ;D

P.S. Please also revamp Paladin and Warrior before another tank is added so people don't abandon ship.

Edit: Should have said Melee-Only. Did not say ranged. Did not say it has to be ENTIRELY magic. I just think it would add more variety to have a tank based on magic-usage for defensive cooldowns, debuffs, etc.

[Riepah]

Sounds like you think everything would be fine if Samurai dealt magic instead of physical damage?

[Caraway]

I'd like to hear your suggestions on how a non-melee tank would work and not be horribly, horribly broken.

An evasion tank would be nice to have (when I say evasion tank I mean like the Monk/Bruiser of EQ2 and not the Ninja of FFXI) as would a mage (damaging soaking barriers?) tank but I think they'd all still end up being melee range.

[Xephenon]

I'd like to hear your suggestions on how a non-melee tank would work and not be horribly, horribly broken.

An evasion tank would be nice to have (when I say evasion tank I mean like the Monk/Bruiser of EQ2 and not the Ninja of FFXI) as would a mage (damaging soaking barriers?) tank but I think they'd all still end up being melee range.

Wildstar has a ranged tank, Engineer, which isn't horribly broken. I'm not sure how that would translate across combat systems, but saying something is "horribly horribly broken" without the game ever having tried something close is straight up wrong.

[Asierid]

Wildstar has a ranged tank, Engineer, which isn't horribly broken. I'm not sure how that would translate across combat systems, but saying something is "horribly horribly broken" without the game ever having tried something close is straight up wrong.

As someone who mained a Engie tank in all content in Wildstar...

It isn't a ranged tank.

[Exstal]

"no-shield large-weapon"

Katana is only 60~73cm, I don't think that constitutes large weapon.

I do believe Warrior axe is 110cm+, which is what I believe Dark Knight's 2H (if it gets) will be.

[Kitsu]

"no-shield large-weapon"
Katana is only 60~73cm, I don't think that constitutes large weapon.

I do believe Warrior axe is 110cm+, which is what I believe Dark Knight's 2H (if it gets) will be.

This is slightly incorrect. You have two different types of measurements (total and blade length) that are not specified in your post. The average blade length of a katana is 60-75 cm, which does not include the handle of ~27-38cm. This would make the total katana length somewhere between ~87-113 cm. Also, given that the Samurai weapon before Tachi was also even larger (70– 80cm blade, not including handle).... I would say yes, Samurai's use large weapons. This is hardly my point, though. -_-

[Exstal]

This is slightly incorrect. You have two different types of measurements (total and blade length) that are not specified in your post. The average blade length of a katana is 60-75 cm, which does not include the handle of ~27-38cm. This would make the total katana length somewhere between ~87-113 cm. Also, given that the Samurai weapon before Tachi was also even larger (70– 80cm blade, not including handle).... I would say yes, Samurai's use large weapons. This is hardly my point, though. -_-

You're right. Although looking at WAR axe in-game, it's the same length as PLD sword. Which means there is no "large" weapon class. As for the topic, melee tank is the only thing that works properly.

[Empressia]

"no-shield large-weapon"

Katana is only 60~73cm, I don't think that constitutes large weapon.

I do believe Warrior axe is 110cm+, which is what I believe Dark Knight's 2H (if it gets) will be.

I guess u never heard of great 2h variant of katana called Odachi then eh?