Concept: Heavy Machinist Tank

[rxnin]

I'm very intrigued with this idea. Sounds like it will be fun to play if executed correctly. Animations should have various types of cannon attacks etc. Maybe this tank can be a specialist in AOEs. We'll call it...WAR MACHINE.

[The_NPC]

As much as a "gun" based tank would be for this game anytime I think about it I just fuse PLD with MCH in my mind, Bacily (shield & handgum) with no turret's or Gauss stance (thou it could be its "DPS" stance respecivly) & that its "tank stance" added an "energy blade" to the gun (would be the same skill in eather stance just diff animation per stance with diff abilities)

Idea of 2 classes fused came from the fact that I saw a clearly CNJ Y'stola use the dome move of AST... just like o.O wait you used what, I mean sure you're trained in magic by ppl of the country who made AST but you're using a CNJ weapon... damn it why can't I do that with 2 classes (hence PLD/MCH fusion was born in my mind, this help little in giving sujestion on you're idea OP srry)

AS for sujestions on OP's class idea maybe Magitek Barrior bit's when in "Tank stance" to block arrgo'd mobs? like mini-protect's that float around avi but snap to attack side if hit (min 4, 1 per side) would allow use of semi-flashy gun animation without it being smacked about like a ragdoll

[Dreggit]

Ultimately the game will have us enter Garlean homeland right? Would it be so crazy for a gun based tank, perhaps something so simple as a gunblade (as corny and stupid in my opinion I've never liked the idea) job to be taught to the WoL?

When thinking about it. The gunblade is not anecessarily effective at long range but excels in close ranged bursts.

[Shippuu]

I just don't understand how the minigun, in the hands of a tank of all roles, isn't going to be knocked aside from even the most mild attacks or weight put against it. It's clearly too large to be handled manageably in CQB. It makes about as much sense as a parry-tank running on a toothpick (or even a rapier, given the size of boss weapons).

Aside from ignoring the fact this is a fantasy game, you seem to be oblivious to the existence of Dark Knight in this game. Large unwieldly weapons? There are DRK swords in the game that would weigh over 600lbs (272kg). Those swords wouldn't even be able to be carried around by normal people, let alone swung at the speeds they are. A minigun of that size would be comparitively lighter, with other examples in media/games, such as the Heavy's "Sasha" stated to weigh 231 lbs (105kg). On top of the Heavy in the role of a tank as well in it's respective game gives it a prime example of a tanky archetype in that style (i.e. using a big gatling gun).
Countless video games have a Heavy Gunner type enemy/archetype that almost always takes the form of a very heavy armored juggernaut. There are even MMO's that have the same archetype, such as SWTOR's Trooper class, who did just fine fighting in close quarters with their big guns against people with lightsabers.

I also have to ask, why a tank at all, especially given that XIV's latency prevents most melee from reliably attacking moving targets? Why put this kind of armor or role on a ranged heavy weaponry class?

How is that statement in any way any kind of reason to prevent such a job in that role? BRD/MCH have no problems hitting targets while moving when their casting stance isn't on, this job would be no different albeit likely have a reduce ranged in comparison (10-15y range perhaps).

leading to yet more unrealistic animations and weapon usage.

Welcome to pretty much every animation in the entire game then. BRD jumping in the air, doing a backflip while raining down arrows? So realistic! How about MNK's shoulder tackle, where they cover 20yards in half a second, accelerating to speeds upwards of 80 mph instantly.

[Rufalus]

I think your drawing and idea is awesome. I love thinking outside of the box. I feel that a new tank should be wildly different because you've got two with swords and one with an axe; any more slashing type tanks would be so boring and redundant.

[Mysticdraggon]

-snip-

that was a major part in my mindset when creating this concept.

the thing about creating tanks now a days in FFXIV is that its hard to be original, especially if the gameplay is limited to close range melee and large two-handed weapons (and i do count paladins and gladiators for their shields).

sure, it would be easy to make a "club/warhammer wielding tank" but how can the devs create mechanics that would be completely different from Warrior or Darkknight and make it stand out? why not just give the WAR blunt based weapons of the same stats?

the only two concepts that i feel would be original is this one and a duel-wielding "barbarian".

basically, the devs options are limited in terms of originality. that is one major reason why i believe Stormblood does not feature tanks and the SAM was not a tank class due to the mechanics and animation being too similar to Darkknight (why not just give the Darkknight samurai-themed gear instead of spending long development time creating an entirely different class?).

[Mysticdraggon]

(why not just give the Darkknight samurai-themed gear instead of spending long development time creating an entirely different class?).

with that said, i do hope they make samurai-themed gear for the Darkknight in order to satisfy players that really wanted the Samurai to be a tank. i feel as if this is the best solution.

[Shurrikhan]

with that said, i do hope they make samurai-themed gear for the Darkknight in order to satisfy players that really wanted the Samurai to be a tank. i feel as if this is the best solution.

With the expansion so largely taking place in the East, hopefully we'll see some decent samurai-like outfits (in the armorered Samurai sense of the job) for most mail/plate jobs. Definitely looking forward to it.

Edit: Just need them not to give great katanas exclusively to Samurai after that...

[Mysticdraggon]

added a new and more detailed image of the fan art.

hope you like it!

[manamoppet]

For the most part I like your concept, as for feedback, I have some points you could maybe think about? I realise that you are very attached to the mini-gun with suppression fire, so I'd suggest putting the mini-gun on a turret that walks away and burrow itself into the ground. Then you could maybe have a pile-driver (with a riot shield attached?) as a close- to mid-range weapon to attack with blunt/pierce damage and quakes (for aggro?). When looking at the amount of protection the concept have, I can't help but think of explosives (which the shield on the pile-driver could protect you from as well). For AOE I'd suggest mines with fire/ice/acid/slime/electricity to damage/dot/slow. Gob hand-grenades to stun and blind? Fly up and do short-duration aerial bombing with gob-Illuminati-engineer-like wings, then use pile-driver when landing for extra damage? In my opinion part of a tanks job is to keep aggro on themselves and keep the enemies in place so that healers and melee dps don't have to run around too much. One could not do that, but it wouldn't be very fun for them.

Sorry if none of these suggestion was any welcome or helpful.

PS, maybe tangentially on-topic for help on mini-gun design: http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Rock_Eater