Why don't Tanks have attacks that can cleave multiple enemies?

[MagiusNecros]

With some attack animations you'd think attacks would hit an enemy and all those in the arc of your weapon at reduced potencies per enemy hit.

There are quite a few enemies and bosses that can cleave the party but as opposed to player controlled stuff it is practically nonexistent outside of concrete AoE only attack skills like Flash/Unleash/Overpower.

Attacks like Storm's Eye, Spinning Slash, Savage Blade should definitely hit multiple enemies based on the animation alone.

Many times I've noticed complaints about PLD's lack of AoE options, wouldn't the concept of attacks with a reduced splash damage effect help them out in that case?

Just something I've thought about.

[Anienai]

With some attack animations you'd think attacks would hit an enemy and all those in the arc of your weapon at reduced potencies per enemy hit.

There are quite a few enemies and bosses that can cleave the party but as opposed to player controlled stuff it is practically nonexistent outside of concrete AoE only attack skills like Flash/Unleash/Overpower.

Attacks like Storm's Eye, Spinning Slash, Savage Blade should definitely hit multiple enemies based on the animation alone.

Many times I've noticed complaints about PLD's lack of AoE options, wouldn't the concept of attacks with a reduced splash damage effect help them out in that case?

Just something I've thought about.

Maybe with the new xpac RDM (or w/e new tank class) could feature this ability. Something with a short duration, but almost enough to make it worthwhile.

[ADVSS]

Would be nice, but I doubt it. Maybe for the next tank to come around at whatever point they implement it, but like drk with a much asked for gap closer, it wiould be their "thing". Things like an aoe provoke, etc they will probably just give to a new tank and keep tanking....the way it is. "Not a DPS sorry" seems to be the acceptable stance that's being taken of the role.

[Xenosan]

For the Warrior to have physical AoE exclusively, considering the game life, is something I think is a bit overboard. I would like to see Steel Cyclone buff'd though now that WAR has Decimate. Some added tanking bonus. 1.0 Cyclone stunned enemies who were critical'd with it, and 100% of the damage delivered from that crit was absorbed as HP. Abyssal Drain for w/e reasons doesn't feel as satisfying as that old Cyclone did, I suppose it's due to the stun.

Hopefully PLD will get their fair reward, and if it isn't simple AoE attacks added to their kit, maybe something new like a stance or CD buff, similar to what the OP suggests, that turns some of the combo-Weapon Skills into AOEs. cone Savage Blade, cone Rage of Halone, radius Royal Authority, rectangle Goring. I'd enjoy that, won't happen though ; ;. Expect another dull 100 potency GCD AOE meant to be spammed ; ;

DRK's design of magical only AOE I think is a good definition for them. But if they did have a physical AOE, Spinning Slash would be a cool candidate - however it would work. Spinning Slash was a key component for DRK in early FFXI (they couldn't chain Light until learning Spinning Slash, which wasn't until lvl 66. During progression DRK 'BiS' never even touched Great Swords until 66 when that Weapon Skill was unlocked). So I like the idea of buffing XIV's Spinning Slash, in any way - aoe or something else, just for that nostalgia.

*inb4 the FFXI QQ, DRK would use Greatsword occasionally at low levels, like 30 an below,

[Awful]

For PLDs they could bring back War Drum to give them an AoE when you block you send shockwaves in a cone in front of you for X Potency would work well with Bulwark and Sheltron or even adding a burning DoT on flash (20 potency stacks 3 times for 60 potency).

For Drks they have amazing AoE (Unleash, Abyssal Drain, Dark Passenger, Salted Earth) but as stated they don't have a physical one which would be nice like a line attack (much like Praetorium Gaius X shaped slash) would be interesting.

Wars could just add a cleave in Butchers Block to keep it's synergy going or when using Steel Cyclone/Decimate it leaves a tornado eventually sucking things in and doing wind damage. I don't really know how to "improve" wars when their toolkit is the best in the game so any ideas would be great.

[Ragology]

In DC universe online, things like Gap closers, cleaves and single target attacks designed to build higher enmity than normal ( similar to provoke I guess?) became standard for all tanks. This game should be that way too.

Maybe next expansion they'll add in cleaves. Probably change the name of warriors fell cleave into "Fell strike" since I don't think its a multi target attack at the moment. Or maybe "fail cleave" since they failed to cleave and instead put all the force onto a single enemy.

[Anienai]

Fell Cleave in Defiance for frontal AoE threat?


AWWW YISS!

[Khalithar]

In DC universe online, things like Gap closers, cleaves and single target attacks designed to build higher enmity than normal ( similar to provoke I guess?) became standard for all tanks. This game should be that way too.

This is very true, it is basically the standard in MMO's however, I don't necessarily think these are necessary in the current tank design, hear me out.

Gap closers- There aren't really any situations that I can think of offhand where the added mobility is really that useful, not to say it isn't useful. But I don't really see much point with current encounter design. In my experience, I'm better off using an unmend/tomahawk/shield lob on a large add and when I use Plunge towards a group of little adds, usually most of them run away from me and I have to chase them down anyway. I'd rather run to the adds and aoe them to pick them up on the spot or if they're moving immediately I'd rather sit next to the healer as that's usually who they make a beeline for.

Cleaves- Dark Knight doesn't need more AoE in my opinion, it's aoe is good as is. Warrior has Overpower which is essentially a "cleave" style attack, i.e. a frontal cone that builds threat and hits multiple targets. Paladin on the other hand, they could definitely use another AoE damage move, I'm all for giving Pld a cleave style attack.

Single Target threat attack- The threat combos basically cover this, but some sort of on demand oGCD single target, low damage, and high threat move isn't a bad idea. It could be useful as well.

[MPNZ]

Maybe give WAR a wide cone cleave or two that does much less damage to non targeted enemies. PLD, I think just needs one, if any, but I would prefer lower TP costs (because that is why you have a shield, besides protection) and more skills focused on dealing with enmity generation or just passing off their aggro in sword oath to another character or pet. DRK... I would really like it to be less frantic with, skills to handle unexpected adds like a wide area ability that shifts all emnity toward itself and interrupt attacks, and a few skills that would change when certain conditions are met (like deactivating Darkside would unleash Darkness and restore the players MP at the cost of their HP while damaging and staggering enemies).

Edit: It would also be great if PLDs to have a wide area cover, and for sheltron to be able to completely block most attack's damages against other players within a cone.

[Shurrikhan]

Same reason Vorpal Thrust don't cleave or push aside enemies, Disembowel doesn't actually have a parry/counterattack component, and Full Thrust doesn't launch even light enemies into the air—animations are mostly irrelevant to their effects.