Quote Originally Posted by Shiggysonson View Post
I do agree that bards shouldn't be required for everything, but I don't think giving them the best mp recovery skill is making them required. There are other ways of getting MP back to the paladin without a bard like using one thm instead of a black mage or using ethers. If they do give paladins a way to manage their MP better, they may have to give bards a new song as well.
I think you're right about the balancing act between PLD and WAR in terms of effectiveness in situations. PLD can't be god-mode in EXP parties by any means, so I think you're right about somehow balancing it. I think this would come into play with a shield more often. Perhaps either PLD or WAR is better at blocking/parrying attacks from multiple lower mobs, whereas the other one is better at focusing on a singular mob to defend against. PLD should still be better than WAR at tanking, though WAR should be able to tank in some situations. I think WAR has too much HP combined with damage mitigation where PLD seems to have less of both for some reason. I think making a shield more effective could be that solution.

I get what you're saying about other ways of getting MP back, but as another poster mentioned on the previous page, this can be difficult for certain fights as you're bringing yourself into harms way to put a buff on the PLD. Also, in the case of the BLM they need to be on THM to do this as you mentioned. I can understand maybe 1 out of a few BLM being on THM, but more to give the other BLM AoE Stoneskin, so it might be tough for them to support the PLD as well. I'm not sure about how close BRD needs to get, and if they'd be in danger giving PLD songs. Perhaps the AoE vs Single Target system should be re-introduced specifically for BRD songs, giving them a similar mechanic as was in FFXI (so the BRD does not have to risk death to buff the PLD).

Again though, even with the ability to give the PLD MP recovery buffs, I still feel as though GLA with those same buffs would surpass PLD as it stands now. If, as the intention was, PLD actually had greater defense than GLA, I could understand using PLD.