How a Shapeshifter Could Work in FFXIV

[Kazrah]

I hear shapeshifter and I think druid to be honest. Sorcery and the title of Sorcerer is more along the lines of Black Mage, White Mage, and Red Mage, and maybe dealing with voidsent rather then anything in the realm of shapeshifting like a druid in touch with nature and the inner beast.

As for mage tanks, in general its a conflict of themes. Mages are always known to be thin brittle robe wearers, the polar opposite of tanks which are known for being bulky tough armor wearers. Sorcerer especially invokes the robe wearing bookish type that is not physically fit for the rigors tanking requires.

Funny, because when I think of a Druid, I think of the Celtic druids that served as one of the main influences behind White Mages as well as some of their sacrificial rituals that may have inspired some elements of Black Mage in FFXIV. Now when I think of a Sorcerer, I think of this painting. One of the many detrimental things WoW has done in terms of history and culture is skew the meaning of the word "druid", and your statement serves as a remarkable example of that. Your comment on Sorcerers, on the other hand, is a bit more understandable since Sorcery covers a wide variety of abilities (including transformation).

As for the "conflict of themes" bit, much like the reference to druid, is yet another perception drawn from a stereotype, and if the druid you refer to is in fact the druid of WoW (a spellcaster that could be a tank), that only makes it worse.

It's a good idea, but you could take ideas from WoW Druid for this as well.

Actually, I was trying REALLY hard not to because not everything has to be like WoW.

I wish square would just remove that 1000 character limit already.

My original post was 26,363 characters. How do you think I feel?

[TankHunter678]

-snip-

The WoW druid bear tank never felt like a true tank to me, then again most of my experience with them was chasing after them as they mulched through everything faster then I could keep up like a steamroller of death only slowed down by bosses due to them having more HP then typical mobs. Also them relying on pure bulk and evasion granted by their armor to survive. They just happened to be the most tanky thing Night Elves had back in WC3 due to said sheer HP bulk.

[Kazrah]

The WoW druid bear tank never felt like a true tank to me, then again most of my experience with them was chasing after them as they mulched through everything faster then I could keep up like a steamroller of death only slowed down by bosses due to them having more HP then typical mobs. Also them relying on pure bulk and evasion granted by their armor to survive. They just happened to be the most tanky thing Night Elves had back in WC3 due to said sheer HP bulk.

By that logic, WAR isn't a true tank--wait a minute....I see what you did there....

At the end of the day though, you still have to ask yourself "is it holding mobs like a tank, taking hits like tank, and griping and moaning at the DPS like a tank?"--okay, maybe not that last one as much, but if it's doing the other two, then it's still a tank regardless of whatever armor it's rocking.

And gameplay-wise their shields being punctured...now, this is hilarious. Go ahead, play a tank. Go to a boss and say "hey, I'm a tank, so you can't scratch me!"...And die five seconds later. OF COURSE the shields are being punctured.

RIP Haurchefant.....