The Problem(s) with Paladin

[SwordCoheir]

This. Tank DPS matters. It's always mattered, but people took a long time to figure it out. It wouldn't be a problem if you restricted all tanks to a one-handed weapon and a shield, but when you start tossing in two-handed tanking and so on, you realize that unless you even the playing field again someone is going to be left out. That's when developers realized tank DPS matters.

Aye, like I said in my post on the previous page that gap in base damage is growing. Part of PLD's hate gaining abilities are attributed to the damage it can deal on Spirits/Flat Blade combos, weak damage = weak returns no matter the modifier. Hate gaining JA's are static so they're gonna grow weaker against DPS's Damage as levels rise, and if FFXI has taught us anything about game mechanics is static values can't compete after a point in the game. So the only thing you can do without overhauling the system itself is boost the overall base damage of a weapon to a comparable level with other weapons so at least a job with no DD abilities can at least function at an appropriate level and allow GLA who has access to DD capabilities to become a somewhat competent DD.

This won't fix anything, and I say that as one of the ret paladins that massively benefitted from undead mobs in Naxxrammas and Icecrown Citadel. Being situationally better on a mob type only prolongs the innevitable.

Correct. Creating a single useful niche doesn't help the job it just pigeonholes it.