Beastmaster: A proposal at utilizing a pet system for the Tank role

[Lucia_Ridell]

Beastmaster is a class which has come up from time to time as a player most wanted. Typically, it is requested as a tank, mostly due to the fact that Healers have Scholar and DPS have Summoner. For the most part, these proposals are short or flawed because no one has quite figured out how to utilize a pet class for tanking and making it unique. The purpose of this proposal is to flesh out the details on how a unique and fun Beastmaster class can be utilized under the constrains of the FFXIV system.

The role of a Tank: The purpose of a Tank must cohere to these three rules.

1. Must be able to hold aggro.
2. Sustainable damage mitigation for heavy hitting attacks
3. Ability to actively move the enemies across the arena.

Due to the nature of these three rules, all three Tank classes currently in the game are melee ranged classes. Enemies stand close to the tank, therefore making a ranged Tank difficult. So, why not make Beastmaster have a pet like Titan-egi?

The problems with Titan: If Titan, or a pet like Titan, was able to effectively hold aggro for an extended period of time it would break the “Endgame.” The difficulty of Trials and Raids comes from memorizing fight mechanics and having each role carry out their respective duties.

When Titan dies the Tank is still essentially not dead. The other Tank will provoke the boss, while the Beastmaster re-summons their tank pet. Then the tank pet provokes once again, soaking up any damage and ignoring all mechanics that any “normal” tank would need to pay attention to. Adding a longer cooldown to the summon action would not fix the problem, because one mistake on the Beastmaster's part would result in a most likely party wipe. Having a healer be able to rez the pet will only trivialize the class and fight further.

Having a pet actively tank a boss will lead to sloppy movements around the field. Imagine having to tell your pet to rotate the boss, or move it across the field multiple times. It sounds pretty tedious doesn't it? Of course, the player could personally take control of the boss for a time, but if the Player is able to hold aggro for a length of time that essentially means we have three tanks in an endgame raid.

The Beastmaster must adhere to the three rules of tanking, while being both unique and viable.

The role of Beastmaster: A Beastmaster is one who works in unison with their beast. Player control is divided evenly between character and beast. They must essentially be one unit as to adhere to the mechanics of the game.

1. Use pets as Tank Stances. This would work more like PLD/WAR as opposed to DRK, as having two pets out at once would be troublesome. The “Tank” pet would grant benefits such as additional enmity, a permanent boost to defensive stats like def/hp, and a strength penalty so long as the pet is out. The “Off Tank Pet” grants a boost to offensive stats like atk/crit, and could have the downside of more TP usage per attack/slower TP regen.

2. All pet actions are executed off the global cooldown, or as weaves. The “Tank” pet will have actions (let's call them beast actions) that grant debuffs on the enemy to help with the Beastmaster's strength penalty, as well as defensive cooldowns and HP recovery for the Beastmaster. These cooldowns could have downsides such as 5% defense down on the pet and 20% up on the Beastmaster, and sacrifice 10% of the pet's HP for a 1200 potency cure on the Beastmaster. This adds a level of management outside of the “rotation” based system, and makes Tanking a bit more hands-on.

The “Off Tank Pet” will have weaves that directly do more damage, add DoTs onto the enemies, and have abilities to aid in TP management.

Both Pets will have a signature attack. (Wind Blade/Crimson Cyclone.)

3. The new Meter System will be used to add diversity to the Beastmaster and really make it stand out from SMN/SCH. The “Feral Meter” will build up every time a beast action or non-aggro combo action is used. (Storm's Eye/Soul Eater).

Once the Feral Meter is at least 50%, the Beastmaster can unleash the pet for a devastatingly strong attack. Secondary effects could include AoE damage, buffs/debuffs, and boosted aggro.

When the Feral Meter hits 100% the Pet will become Feral and assume control. Essentially, the Player Character is directly replaced with their pet. They can move it around the arena, and the pet's signature move will become powered up. During the Feral phase, the Feral Meter will constantly be draining, so be quick and get out all those powerful hits! Any Role Actions that the Beastmaster had equipped will be accessible by the pet in this phase. Therefore provoke will be ready. Feral can be canceled at any time to regain control of the Beastmaster.

- Both of these actions are in reference to how Beastmaster was played in Final Fantasy V

Equipment and additional actions: On top of being a completely unique and hands-on tank, Beastmaster can also bring some party utility.

1. Using it's unique Giant War Horn, it clobbers it enemies into submission, essentially using it as a club. Being a blunt weapon, any blunt debuffs put onto an enemy will directly aid Monk with their DPS.

2. Like bard with their harps, the Beastmaster rallies their pets by blowing on their horn. This leaves room for adding any additional party utility should the horn also be able to rally another adventurer.

[Legion88]

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[Anienai]

So no pick hearts and furry white armor?

Can you tame a pet with a bonus against magic and one against physical? I'd like the axe/shield combo from F11.

[Lurea]

I would so l love to see beastmaster in game, as a tank especially.

[Lucia_Ridell]

Ah, I never played XI, but the axe and shield sounds pretty sweet. In the end the amount of pets would be totally up to the developers, but I feel like giving one pet class more pets then the other classes would be unfair. (Still waiting on those Pheonix and Sephirot Egis, please.)

[Derio]

Would be difficult to develop.

For one, healers would be expected to heal the pet, otherwise the system would be broken, therefore the pet would have to show up in the party list.


I think it would be better if the pets were supplemental to the beastmaster. Meaning they would provide shielding, mitigation buffs to the beastmaster.
One of the most difficult thing to do in this game is balance tank jobs. Also how strong will the beastmaster be? If his pet dies how long can he take a punch before the pet comes back to take the damage.

[Lucia_Ridell]

Would be difficult to develop.

For one, healers would be expected to heal the pet, otherwise the system would be broken, therefore the pet would have to show up in the party list.


I think it would be better if the pets were supplemental to the beastmaster. Meaning they would provide shielding, mitigation buffs to the beastmaster.
One of the most difficult thing to do in this game is balance tank jobs. Also how strong will the beastmaster be? If his pet dies how long can he take a punch before the pet comes back to take the damage.

That is exactly what they're doing until you hit the transformation phase. The tank will last exactly how long any other tank will last if they took off shield oath/grit/deliverance. During the transformation phase, the PC is just replaced with the pet. Healing works exactly the same as healing any other pet, unless they're in transformation phase, in which case just scroll down the party list.

[Argyle_Darkheart]

Thanks, but no thanks; pet classes are cancer. Not trying to be a dick, but SE has not handled them well.

[Vladmiere]

Thanks, but no thanks; pet classes are cancer. Not trying to be a dick, but SE has not handled them well.

Does not give you a reason to just shoot down the idea. There are only so many ways to keep new tank/healer/dd's fresh til they have to come up with new concepts that are not going to feel like a rehash.

[Argyle_Darkheart]

Does not give you a reason to just shoot down the idea.

Um, what? I can shoot down an idea for whatever reason I please (not that I have any authority, mind), and the reason I provided is of critical importance. If SE can't make pet classes well, then they shouldn't make pet classes. If you think I'm wrong, then say so.

There are only so many ways to keep new tank/healer/dd's fresh til they have to come up with new concepts that are not going to feel like a rehash.

Variety is not a good excuse for bad design. I would much rather not see Beastmaster at all than to see it done poorly.