NIN -- how does everyone else feel we're doing?

[ShanaShirayuki]

NIN is still far-less positionally based than the other two melee, and significantly so. Almost all of a NIN's time can be spent on the rear, with an occasional swap to the flank every 30 seconds or so for Armor Crush. Honestly, the positional addition was so minor, I'm not even sure why they bothered, but they probably feared MNKs especially ultimately resenting how much they have to move in the long run.

Indeed, still doesn't make much sense to add positionals to a class they're gearing more towards utility, regardless of the reasoning.

[Allyrion]

I personally would be fine if NIN became strong on the utility side than the DPS side. I mean, BRD can be Support-DPS while NIN can be Utility-DPS. It adds something different to the group instead of have three jobs act the same (NIN, DRG, MNK).

I feel like they want NIN to be DoW utility, particularly Tank support with Goad, Shadewalker and Smoke Screen.
It would be more apparent if Hate wasn't trivial in most cases.

[Alahra]

I feel like they want NIN to be DoW utility, particularly Tank support with Goad, Shadewalker and Smoke Screen.
It would be more apparent if Hate wasn't trivial in most cases.

Shadewalker is decent enough, though I can't for the life of me figure out why they felt we needed two enmity toys. Shadewalker used at the beginning of a fight should cement enmity on the tank enough that it shouldn't be an issue beyond the opener. Even in the case of a tank death, Shadewalker can help to steady things again just fine.

[Allyrion]

Shadewalker is decent enough, though I can't for the life of me figure out why they felt we needed two enmity toys. Shadewalker used at the beginning of a fight should cement enmity on the tank enough that it shouldn't be an issue beyond the opener. Even in the case of a tank death, Shadewalker can help to steady things again just fine.

Shadewalker is great, I'm not underselling it.
PLDs could really use it to cement hate since they have more issues with that.
DRK and presumably WAR can use it to skip into putting up their debuffs on the target as opposed to building at the start.

Even Smoke Screen is good for a solo-ing whm when the SCH is mostly dpsing.
Though 2 abilities is overkill, it does highlight us as a Tank's best friend in addition to tanks being the Goad targets and sharing slashing damage with them (plus WAR synergy).

Just the way the content is designed makes the hate abilities ignorable.
Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. They are helpful but I don't think it would be good if they made it so that Tanks needed a NIN to hold Hate.

As it stands, it's okay. NIN's are pretty good Tank support, kind of like BRD-MCH to healers.
Even if most don't like to admit it.

[Alahra]

Shadewalker is great, I'm not underselling it.
-snip-
As it stands, it's okay. NIN's are pretty good Tank support, kind of like BRD-MCH to healers.
Even if most don't like to admit it.

Definitely. I honestly like it. I liked the way Trick Attack worked in FFXI, and Shadewalker fills a similar role. Smoke Screen would probably be more useful if it were an instant enmity drop, though I do suppose it would have been useful for Medica II-happy WHMs back in the days of Titan EX's relevance. (If I had a dollar for everytime he turned around and used Mountain Buster on the whole party...)

[Jim_Berry]

I feel like they want NIN to be DoW utility, particularly Tank support with Goad, Shadewalker and Smoke Screen.
It would be more apparent if Hate wasn't trivial in most cases.

I can do that. Since I still play NIN (many NINs I know went DRG), if this mean that groups WANT/NEED me there for this reason, I'm happy.

[Ziral]

So- I'm not super experienced in all the new content yet.

I just find the general lack of cool attacks pretty unsatisfying. My boyfriend plays DRG and all his cool dragons flying around and how much he gets to move around for his skills makes me feel SUPER lame.

After learning more about how useful my new ninja skills are for parties I cut them some slack but overall I feel like the story line for our job and the skills given just aren't up to the same standard as DRG.

Our kit is just so calm vs others atm. Too much utility for my taste, it adds helpful things but if I wanted to be helpful I wouldn't be a murdering Ninja! :P

[SuzakuCMX]

*snip*

If it makes you feel any better, NIN are wanted in endgame because they give a slashing debuff that the tanks will benefit from and Trick Attack is a great DPS boost.

[Pluvia]

If it makes you feel any better, NIN are wanted in endgame because they give a slashing debuff that the tanks will benefit from and Trick Attack is a great DPS boost.

Meh more like trick attack and goad is why we're wanted Warriors are even wanted more so they cover the slashing debuff.

[Jim_Berry]

Meh more like trick attack and goad is why we're wanted Warriors are even wanted more so they cover the slashing debuff.

Why is it that WAR has priority over NIN for the debuff? They both do 100 potency. Many enemies don't heal themselves. Is it so NIN can focus on other combos for greater damage?