Thread: Idea for 4.0 Tank Class

As we all know Yoshi P has stated he doesn't want to add classes mid x-pac again, and wants to use classic jobs in new and interesting ways. So here is my idea for the next tanking class

Red Mage :O

Yup a red mage would fit the bill (as Yoshi already did this for DRK and reserved former tank Samarai for a dps role). They would have dragoon type light plate armor (with a trait increasing their def to equal the other tank classes), use dual longsword as weapons, ensorc for stances (fire for dps and water for tanking/self healing <others could be added: ice for status effects, with thunder for dot effects>).

Their class effect would rely on the parry trait (much like the paladin's block actives a shield pacification attack with a small CD). This effect would active an attack or heal based off of the elements in play (and possibly which stance they are in). By elements in play I mean each other class effects (dots, buffs, effects) would have an element assigned to them (ex: slow = earth, ninja dancing edge <red in color> = fire, mut = wind, shadow fang = water, aero = wind, black mage umbral ice = ice, astral fire = fire). So an attack activate could be called Pyroclastic Flow if enough fire, earth, and wind are in play

Alternatively a healing effect could be cast (aoe healing, aoe status removal, aoe minor regen/shield based off of the number of air/water/earth in play)

Their CC would be lancer (for parry skill) and gladiator (def and attack boost skills). Their ranged pull could be a magical energy wave/blast from a sword swing <i know classic used alot ability, but hey it fits with both hands holding a sword unless turning a sword to point the ground and extending their hand to do a small white/elemental spell would fit better>

Personally I have been hoping for a light plate, dual wielding finesse type tank for ages and that just screams red mage

Thoughts? Comments? Please be sure to check out my other two ideas. The new healing class TIME MAGE and the first moving world primal boss.... DOOMTRAIN!!!

<and this 1000 character limit to a post is KILLING me... thanks anova I didnt know there was away around the 1000 limit>

Minus the dual wielding, this is the basic way I assume they'll be doing RDM. The tank role, as codified, is the easiest way to cover all of the RDM's normal kit, which includes 1) melee, 2) white/defensive magic (which takes the form of defensive cooldowns with spell names like Phalanx, drawn from FFXI and healing cooldowns and/or spells, not unlike Clemency), and 3) black/offensive magic.

While DPS or healer could work in theory for RDM, DPS loses some of the "hybrid" feel, and healer would end up strange in melee. (While other games have had melee healers, FFXIV has a history of mechanics that only target healers, requiring them to separate from the rest of the group, so a melee healer would either mean that healer was undesirable for fights with those sorts of mechanics or they could no longer include such mechanics, which would limit raid design).

Edit: To expand and counterpoint myself a little, the only reason they might not go tank is more of an aesthetic one. While RDM has usually worn "light" melee armor, including chainmail, they usually haven't worn the really heavy stuff (like the Wolfram tank set or the Noct set, for example). Most tank gear in the game isn't all that heavy anymore and wouldn't be a huge thematic stretch for RDM, but if they ever move back to an art style with larger pieces of tank gear being common, that might steer them away from making RDM a tank class (unless they did something weird with their gearing, anyway).

Despite the need for heavy armor, I also think Tank is the best role for RDM. It's the only role in the current meta that can effectively combine dps, healing, and at least some tankiness. It's the same way they designed DRK in a lot of ways. But the best example is probably warrior. It is the only job able to do all 3 roles in a solo fight against TEX. The alternative is a support dps like Bard but only melee.

Anyway, I like the idea but I would like to know how it fits in to the current meta. Warrior is a tank with huge hp buffers and burst dps. Dark knight is our token magic tank also with burst dps. Paladin is our physical tank with a smattering of healing. How would Red Mage fit? Is it a magic tank with healing? Or do you imagine it some combination of the 3 (able to switch roles depending on stances, like AST for healers)?

Originally Posted by Anova

Despite the need for heavy armor, I also think Tank is the best role for RDM. It's the only role in the current meta that can effectively combine dps, healing, and at least some tankiness. It's the same way they designed DRK in a lot of ways. But the best example is probably warrior. It is the only job able to do all 3 roles in a solo fight against TEX. The alternative is a support dps like Bard but only melee.

Anyway, I like the idea but I would like to know how it fits in to the current meta. Warrior is a tank with huge hp buffers and burst dps. Dark knight is our token magic tank also with burst dps. Paladin is our physical tank with a smattering of healing. How would Red Mage fit? Is it a magic tank with healing? Or do you imagine it some combination of the 3 (able to switch roles depending on stances, like AST for healers)?

Their parry mechanic with element could also be altered to lay down AoE buff zones to help out party members. Instead of Flaming Arrow or all the AoE damage persistant zones, how about a healing is buffed zone (could augment regen from white mages, or boost shield effects from scholars), or a damage buff zone (ensorc for ALL in that zone, aka your mages fire(s) now have a hint of lightning, or greater fire, or a blue hint/augmented symbols, or bard arrows are on fire <shown by leaving a small contrail>)

So basically a tank that augments the party around them as they tank away. Current tanks only apply a debuff, a dot (or three), boost defense, and heal some. Why not have a tank that uses their power to boost the party much like the original ff14 cinematic where a white mage? buffed an archers arrow with fire, just on a field/aoe scale

Originally Posted by Alahra

Minus the dual wielding, this is the basic way I assume they'll be doing RDM. The tank role, as codified, is the easiest way to cover all of the RDM's normal kit, which includes 1) melee, 2) white/defensive magic (which takes the form of defensive cooldowns with spell names like Phalanx, drawn from FFXI and healing cooldowns and/or spells, not unlike Clemency), and 3) black/offensive magic.

While DPS or healer could work in theory for RDM, DPS loses some of the "hybrid" feel, and healer would end up strange in melee. (While other games have had melee healers, FFXIV has a history of mechanics that only target healers, requiring them to separate from the rest of the group, so a melee healer would either mean that healer was undesirable for fights with those sorts of mechanics or they could no longer include such mechanics, which would limit raid design).

Edit: To expand and counterpoint myself a little, the only reason they might not go tank is more of an aesthetic one. While RDM has usually worn "light" melee armor, including chainmail, they usually haven't worn the really heavy stuff (like the Wolfram tank set or the Noct set, for example). Most tank gear in the game isn't all that heavy anymore and wouldn't be a huge thematic stretch for RDM, but if they ever move back to an art style with larger pieces of tank gear being common, that might steer them away from making RDM a tank class (unless they did something weird with their gearing, anyway).

the dual wielding would be graphical, not two actual weapons. and to parry more graphically two weapons could parry more giving a more satisfying realism to that mechanic. and while cheap a built in mechanic to reduce damage or buff the light plate would equal out the defend missing from said plate.

just a new and interesting role for a classic class (that and for over a decade Ive wanted to play a light plate dual wield parry/deflect/finesse tank and red mage is my new hope )