I never really solo'd, so this may seem to kinda crap on some people's faces, but the only thing I've ever used shield skill was war drum for was to pull mobs, nuke em, and chain. maybe an occasional aegis boon, but it was never that useful, it was more "in this situation, or when the mob does this maybe I'll need this ability", if those abilities survive class reform you level up gladiator to get them, just as gladiator levels up thm to get emulate, or cnj/thm to get sac/cure III, whether or not you like it , it's fair, thm/cnj isn't going to be needing tanking abilities, you'll have stoneskin and firm conviction to help you, they might even give you more traits or abilities which cancel damage in a more mage-y way lol. So pessimistic so fast. I could be biased because I've always had my boyfriend be the tank, but I have faith in tanks to pull hate, all I should need to do is sit there and cast magic in an appropriate manner to not pull hate, just saying.