Alternate tank type : Reflection tank?

[Kosmos992k]

Was just mulling over something I read and it sparked a thought about a type of tank we don't really have. I'm not 100% certain it's necessarily viable, but it would be interesting to find out. Pleas note this is a really rough first draft attempt, not a fully fleshed out idea. I am certain there are many things that would need to be clarified.

However I really like the idea of a non traditional tank, a Disciple of Magic tank, that doesn't inflict much direct damage, but stands in the face of attack projecting their shield to protect them, much like Louisoix in the original teaser video for ARR. So I would love to see something like this as a separate tank job based on magic, rather than physical armor and ability.

A reflection tank (DoM).

Uses minimal direct dps attacks to initiate pulls.
Skills are primarily reflecting incoming damage
Special skills absorb incoming damage, or redirect it to a target.

This tank would be lightly armored and use a light weapon and a shield as befits a Disciple of Magic. Differing from the Paladin by being more lightly armored and not doing much direct damage at all. They would combine non-traditional tank looks with a magic based tanking mechanic with skills for casting different types of shield focused on their physical shield as a point of focus, not as a physical shield..

Skils come in 3 types;
Damage Reflection
Damage Absorption
Damage redirection

Reflection skills will reflect and amplify damage based on skill potency, weapon and Intelligence. Traits to allow a greater % of damage to be reflected, or increase amplification of reflection.
Absorption skills allow the tank to absorb incoming damage based on skill potency, weapon and Mind. Different skills to absorb HP or MP.
Redirection acts as a stance change to switch back and forth from reflecting/absorbing to redirecting damage at targets to do damage, and channeling incoming damage to other party members as healing.

Even if a player max'd out their Mind, redirection healing would only be half as effective (at best ) as real healing, and lack the flexibility of real heals.

Even if a player max'd out their INT their offensive capability would only match the average tank damage output.

Tanks typically take a lot of continual punishment from auto attacks and attacks from multiple sources. The reflection skills are primarily single target with a small number of AoE skills. Since this tank is magic based and therefore more lightly armored, when their soul stone is equipped, reflection tanks gain a passive damage mitigation/reflection that mitigates damage approximately as effectively as typical tank armor, and reflects minimal damage to the attacker to provide a base enmity multiplier for this type of tank.

Gear selection would be from DoM gear. Although they carry a shield, it has no stats and is simply a point of focus for their skills to be cast upon.

[Raineer]

Instead of adding a tank, I would simply add most of this to PLD already - likely tied to Sheltron.

Paladin needs to stay the supreme mitigation tank, and being able to reflect some additional magic damage (either back to the mob or off into the aether) would go a long way.

[Kosmos992k]

Instead of adding a tank, I would simply add most of this to PLD already - likely tied to Sheltron.

Paladin needs to stay the supreme mitigation tank, and being able to reflect some additional magic damage (either back to the mob or off into the aether) would go a long way.

I see what you are saying, and I love playing Paladin. However, I was thinking a little more about this, and this Reflection tank would be almost a companion tank to Paladin, the concept of the job would come from a combination of Conjurer & Gladiator. Since they are no longer basing jobs off classes, this new tank would be a stand alone, but draw cross skills from CNJ & GLD. In essence it would be a DoM version of the low dps, high mitigation that PLD is meant to bring to the party, along with a bit more healing than PLD brings in exchange for much less directed DPS.

[Galgarion]

World of Warcraft Paladins were reflection tanks way back in the burning crusades xpac. Their AOE threat tools consisted of retribution aura (an aura that did damage to anyone who attacked you physically), consecration (turned the area they were standing on into fire, basically), and holy shield which increased your block chance and caused damage to anyone who forced you to block.

The results weren't bad, I guess. Paladins in that era were fantastic at AOE tanking, (The more mobs hitting them at once, the more damage they did) but were substandard when it came to controlling big, slow hitting bosses who didn't trigger their abilities as much. They were like Warriors without butcher's block. It wasn't very fun to raid with them since they never got to do be "the man." Just trash disposal in plate armor.

[Awful]

Nostalgia!

I remember those good ol days my friend paladins in burning crusade were indeed reflection tanks it was AWESOME I remember when they introduced Karazhan and being able to solo tank it as a paladin once I got T4 and those crazy engineer goggles. Man those were the days, back on topic for reflection they should just make Bulwark and Sheltron do dmg if you're going for a reflection tank or add an ability with a 12 sec CD that increases chance to block by 10% and deals 25 potency per reflect. It would almost be like BC paladin except without Consecration a holy AoE that was dropped on the paladin and ticked every 2 seconds or something.

Amazing memories back then I miss it but not enough to play on some private server or anything like that or even try regular WoW as it's garbage compared to FF 14.

[DBelmont]

For me, since tanks are about defense and offence, I would give PLD a reflection mechanic to add up to it's rather low dps especially during MT scenarios. Besides, no need to add more tanks at the moment.

[Kosmos992k]

For me, since tanks are about defense and offence, I would give PLD a reflection mechanic to add up to it's rather low dps especially during MT scenarios. Besides, no need to add more tanks at the moment.

Oh, I'd love to see PLD gain a damage reflection skill. However I was also thinking that it would be nice to see a tank that breaks free from the standard heavy armor, physical tank, and delves into something much more lightly armed and dependent on Magic. By the same token, I would really like to see a Magic user who is heavily armored, completely breaking the current convention in FFXIV that DoM must wear light armor only.

[Tanathya]

Oh, I'd love to see PLD gain a damage reflection skill. However I was also thinking that it would be nice to see a tank that breaks free from the standard heavy armor, physical tank, and delves into something much more lightly armed and dependent on Magic. By the same token, I would really like to see a Magic user who is heavily armored, completely breaking the current convention in FFXIV that DoM must wear light armor only.

This would be a nice one, even though I personally have got another certain tank focused on damage reflection in my mind. But, this would be nice for PLD indeed, changing the name of course.

[Morzy]

KOS-MOS!

I had to.