Some PLD changes I'd like to see

[Fefi_D]

So I know there is a lot of talk right now about where WAR/DRK is but I'd like to suggest some changes to PLD. Right now, they are in a very good place, arguably too good. So before anyone jumps on me for suggesting PLD buffs, not everything I want to see is a buff.

1) Flash

I'd like to see the enmity generated on this reduced a tad. The recent buff to it was incredibly heavy handed and as the primary source of aoe agro generation, I feel this skill is too strong.

2) Total Eclipse

I'd like to see a small enmity generation added to this to complement my suggested reduced enmity gains on Flash. Why? Because it adds a little variety. While the grand scheme of things won't change on holding agro on aoe packs, I find this particular skill quite boring to use right now. I also never use it outside of dungeons, and Goring Blade combo will still be the chain of choice on 3 enemies.

3) Cover

Might just be me but I never use this skill ... ever. Actually I took it off my bar again. Even enhanced cover just does nothing for me personally. I'd like to see cover changed to the current10% Intervention effect with Enhanced Cover adding the ability to transfer 50% of Rampart / Sentinel Effects.

4) Intervention

Another fairly lackluster skill. Right now tank busters aren't dealing enough damage to need more mitigation and PLD really lacks both a gap closer and gauge dump skill.
I, personally, would like to see this changed entirely to:

Cast: Instant, Recast: 15s
Range: 15y, Radius 0y
Effect: Creates a beam of light to draw the Paladin to their target and damages with a potency of 100.
Shield Oath effect: Increased enmity.
Sword Oath effect: Restores MP.
Oath Gauge cost: 50
Can only be executed while under the effect of Sword Oath or Shield Oath.
Cannot be executed while bound.

[Lyth]

I'm actually kind of surprised that they didn't change Cover to "Rush to target's party member side and take all physical damage intended for target for the next five seconds," to make it more distinct from Intervention and give it some classic FF flair. They might as well just give everyone a gap closer at this point, due to the popularity of the mechanic.

The issue with Oath gauge is that because both abilities that use it are defensive, losing gauge is kind of meaningless outside of ensuring that you have enough to Sheltron the next big hit. That's part of the reason why you can't find anything useful to dump gauge on prior to switching. They really should have just moved all of PLD's resource costs to gauge instead of MP, including Clemency (Shield Oath only) and Holy Spirit (Sword Oath only). That way you'll always have a way to burn off excess gauge, but losing gauge also becomes more meaningful. You could also have Divine Veil and Passage of Arms drain gauge while active. They could balance this out by making RA generate gauge, which would help out with the slower gauge generation in Shield Oath.

As a side point, I think that Hallowed's invincibility effect should only negate damage that would drop you below 1 HP, like the other two tanks, and that blocks should occur in Shield Oath only.

[Lambdafish]

I completely agree with the enmity changes, I had fun with the initial enmity values because enmity generation felt meaningful and the RoH combo felt like it still had a purpose despite losing the strength debuff. Now we can just spam royal authority again.

The other changes though... I would definately wait until savage to comment on their usefulness

[Dzian]

I'm actually having a lot of fun with the new cover now it does magic, and intervention is also pretty fun. I only wish it had a slightly longer duration. maybe 10 seconds. sometimes I find I put it on at the beginning of a cast bar and it's dropped off before the cast finishes. or if I put it on half way it doesn't seem to take effect in time.. (kind of like you can pop hallowed and still die a second later...)

perhaps a little lack lustre in current content but to fair everything thus far is easy mode... and if intervention was stronger / the extra mitigation more necessary you'd end up making paladin an absolute mandatory choice.

the enhanced cover though is like an additional rampart. I actually like it.

Side note. also ok with both uses of oath guage being defensive.. because you can bet your bottom dollar that if there was any offensive action to use it with. no one would ever touch shelltron / intervention ever cus mahhhhh deeps.

[Xenosan]

I think back to later ARR before they nerfed Zodiark dungeon drops, going crosseyed trying to speed run through dungeons as best a PLD could. Never shield oath, cover/voke before a wasted Flash GCD.

Total Eclipse hasn't changed that method, so I got a nostalgic love and hate feel with it. Still, how any times do Flash: as few as possible. Cover is an occasional 'one less Flash'. PLD still focuses on teetering right on the enmity line. PLD doesn't need to hold hate indefinitely, just long enough for the next CoS to come off cooldown.

Intervention is the skill I'm still getting familiar with. My preference goes to cover, as the tether gives a nice visual to the party member who thinks I'm not aware I lost hate. Tether helps them realize 'nah man i got you covered.'

I don't know what Intervention adjustment would need, or if its necessary, since I'm still trying to get familiar with it, seems mostly raid specific. Not a whole lot of value in 4man.

And Goring > Eclipse assuming the DoT will tick for it's close to full duration as you 3-GCD each mob. Which is too long, they should be dead by then. If I DoT a target, it's for TP sustain as much as any other reason.

I think PLD has the most interesting AOE game for 4player now. I didn't really understand the enmity complaints that's been happening in 4.0.

Enmity struggle is not something new for PLD. If you're not flirting with losing hate, that means you overused Flash.

[Gravton]

Holy Spirit: I don't think it needs to be changed, it just confuses me. Why did they give a frontline fighter a ranged attack before giving him a gap closer? I rarely use this ability outside of mele range. (Except for PvP) It's not like I can use it on the move while closing the gap. I just don't understand the design choice.

Our job bar: it looks like it was just slapped together at the last minute.

[Poison_Rose]

Holy Spirit: I don't think it needs to be changed, it just confuses me. Why did they give a frontline fighter a ranged attack before giving him a gap closer? I rarely use this ability outside of mele range. (Except for PvP) It's not like I can use it on the move while closing the gap. I just don't understand the design choice.

I have one word for you my friend - slidecast.

Seriously I've lost count of the number of gaps I've closed while using this ability.

[Gravton]

I have one word for you my friend - slidecast.

Seriously I've lost count of the number of gaps I've closed while using this ability.

LOL, I know that =) I play smn from time to time. I'm just saying it feels weird. I understand there are times where we are out of mele range but 99.9% of the rest of the time? Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for its removal, I just thought it odd that we got it instead of a gap closer.

[Poison_Rose]

LOL, I know that =) I play smn from time to time. I'm just saying it feels weird. I understand there are times where we are out of mele range but 99.9% of the rest of the time? Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for its removal, I just thought it odd that we got it instead of a gap closer.

Hah! Fair enough.

I think they're going with a 2/3 overlap on some abilities - like how PLD / DRK got a "shield other" ability (or two in PLD's case) and WAR / DRK have the gap closer.

Something something, Tank Identity.

4) Intervention

Another fairly lackluster skill. Right now tank busters aren't dealing enough damage to need more mitigation and PLD really lacks both a gap closer and gauge dump skill.
I, personally, would like to see this changed entirely to:

I don't know if I agree with Intervention being lackluster. I personally think it's great fun to pop rampart / sentinel and then intervention the MT right before a tank buster and watch them take a ton less damage. My only gripe is that it's difficult / irritating to get the correct timing for intervention on abilities that don't have a castbar with them. (I'm looking at you, Lakshmi)

[Xenosan]

There are pros and cons to Holy Spirit. Being ranged is an advantage when there's a lot of seperation from the boss, being a cast there is a disadvantage if there's a lot of player movement.

Really this is as it should be. All primary DPS abilities should have their caveats, which make them excel or slightly-hinder based on raid. I love the fact that during stack mechanics and raid mechanics, while DRK/WAR/Melee DPS just stand their with idle, my PLD can add 2-4 ranged Fell Cleave GCDs that the other melee jobs are just dropping from the encounter entirely.

It is kind of annoying though that Holy Spirit has such range but Requiscant doesn't, Requiscant having the same range as Holy Spirit would be swell.


Tempered Will needs to be on this list. All this talk of Shake It Off.. the other day I did Shishui and Temper'd the boss's Kick aoe and still got knocked back.