The Problem with Paladin

[Phobos]

If you want to be more self sufficient, try getting ahold of some potions. I was discussing with my PLD friend and it seems like getting into the habit of using Maddening potions (+100 enmity for 1 minute with a 5 minute medicine restriction) is a nice way to start off the fight.

Looking at the abilities, it seems like with a Paladin in a group they are meant to heal the rest of the group either directly with Holy Succor or indirectly with Divine Veil, while the WHM mainly focuses on the PLD and heals anyone that requires any emergency healing. This is even backed up with the AF body seemingly making Cover last its full duration instead of one hit, and especially now that you don't have to get in front of the target for Cover to work you can pop it as its needed.

As far as maintaining your MP, get a competent BRD. WHMs are required for Parties so I think it's fine if BRD is required for tougher fights.

Aside from that, once again, look into new medicines. Mega-Ethers recover 600 MP over time and restrict medicines for 4 minutes. That should be enough for some Holy Succor'ing in the mean time and should go a long way especially with a BRD. And if BRD is enough to keep your MP going just grab some more Maddening potions. You could even have the rest of the group use Nerve Drops at the start of the fight for the -80 Enmity it gives.

Edit: Also, if you have a PLD you can go nuts with MNKs in a group since you can help heal them with your abilities and it justifies having a BRD give the Melee Ballad of Magi. MNK can keep up its ludicrous damage with constant MP recovery so it's win-win for your group.

As far as the enmity meds, no issues with enmity for me right now but I'll keep it in mind, seems like a decent boost.

The whole BRD thing, I just find it odd that we're now requiring another job in the mix. Yes it's nice to have diversity but when you need a BRD for mp recovery, and BRD is the only job that gives others MP recovery, you run into issues with setting up parties.

To me, PLD has gained nothing in terms of enmity generation or survivability over GLA. GLA can do everything PLD can and more, aside from Holy Succor, which is a bit of an MP sink regardless. PLD actually seems to have gained more healing and damage dealing potential than tanking potential.

Edit: I realize you're likely responding to my first post, oh which my opinion has changed a bit due to some of these responses. At this point I'm leaning more towards they just need to buff PLD's damage taken compared to GLA. I still think Outmaneuver should be fixed, and adding an MP recovery effect to Spirits Within instead of damage boost would be nice, but the lack of any gains in terms of damage mitigation for PLD just puts GLA and WAR ahead of it right now.

Also, just on the whole BRD thing - people keep saying use a BRD etc, but the fact still remains.

Even with a BRD GLA can recover more MP and use it more often than PLD, thus resulting in a more effective tank even in the case of having a BRD.