It's not just the WAR that needs tweaking

[LunarRei]

To start off, no, I am not 50, obviously. This is an examination of PLD abilities and an argument for completely changing 3/5 of them and I don't think you need to be 50 to look at them logically. The PLD has some of the most lackluster job abilities in the game and it should change.

So think of this as a rallying cry for PLD's. I wouldn't want just the WAR's getting all the attention.

Sword Oath: Damn near if not the worst abilitiy in the game (second to Awareness, because we stack fail), it is given to us as our introduction to life as a PLD. I'm not sure why this ability even exists, let alone as our job defining ability. Basically an extra auto-attack for about 75% normal aa damage.

The BLM gets a bit of a shaft for their intro ability, but at least it is useful for their entire job lifespan.

Verdict: Replace with Shield Oath. As the class defining ability, this should come up first. Is it odd that it does a flat damage reduction though? I mean, shields don't even add to your defense. Maybe it should up parry/block rating by 300% or something. If there is a block cap, this should help get us there. But then it becomes unreliable. Oh my. Maybe add Block/Parry rating to defense as well? Just throwing stuff at the wall.

Perhaps waiting a few more levels before equipping the soul is a good idea so we don't lose good things like Second Wind. But the wait will be longer than expected because up next is...

Cover: As a true PLD ability, there are none that surpass it. It was the first thing Cecil learned while confronting himself.

As a game ability, I'm not even sure when this should be used. Every scenario that I can think of this being useful is the result of some sort of failure and even then I'd be reluctant to waste a GCD using this rather than trying piece a broken situation back together. This is not the first step toward that goal.

If there were ever a time when game mechanics require that I take the hit for someone standing next to me, or that I have to run to get to, then the WAR's will have even more to cry about. This is the chief micromanagement abilities for PuG members incapable of getting the hell out of the way.

Verdict: Remove it. As lore defining as the ability is, there are no situations where this should be the go to. At some point, somebody messed up or got an add or whatever, but there are better things to do with my GCD. Maybe auto-Cover that lasts for a minute or something instead? I dunno.

So hold onto that soul a little longer, ok?

Shield Oath: The job defining ability that should have been obtained at level 30. This is the reason GLA's have a job. To protect and serve.

This alone is what make WHM swoon and WAR's rage. Congratulation, you have a job.

Verdict: Moved to level 30. Maybe a spell that can damage and draw in all enemies? Holy is taken, but it should have something to do with our [pretend] holiness. There are times when stuff is going wild with adds and people are all over the place and this would allow the PLD to calm the situation down a little by pulling everything to himself. This also goes along with protecting his allies and whatnot.

Spirits Within: Ok, I can see a time and place for this, but does it really belong to a PLD? So, yes, it has it's place in a battle and is a boon to our [parties] MDef, but what about it says PLD?

The lack of enmity generation and large CD mean that it is standby when a magic user is immune to stun, I guess. Besides, don't we have enough CD's? Just because this one does damage, does that really make it any better?

Verdict: Remove. How about a passive that raises our MDef the more times we block. This would flow with the modified Shield Oath and that is always fun. Or throw that effect on a CD. Whatevs.

Speaking of CD's...

Hallowed Ground: Another "oh Shiitake!" button to join our entire bar of "oh Shiitake!" buttons. The ambiguity around the description has me nervous, but should make me immune long enough to pull a party through a rough spot. Isn't it boring though?

And I think that is what I'm getting at. The job is boring. There is no flow to it, though the abilities seem like they belong lore wise (CNJ's redundant and useless cross skills aside).

Verdict: Alter. Modified version: Judgement. You take cover behind your shield for 5 seconds becoming immune to all damage, but are immobile and cannot use other skills. After the 5 seconds has passed you lash out and deal Holy damage to all targets in the amount you absorbed.

What to do? I have no idea! [Edit: inserted some poor ones] The wisdom is in the masses, not in me. Some have talked about bringing Holy Succor (is that what it was called?) back. Meh.

I think I'm just jelly when I look at other jobs and there is excitement and flare. If not for the perceived holes, the WAR looks like a really fun job to use. There is purpose and a flow to each ability and it works perfectly with its core class. (Maybe I should stop now... the GLA isn't exactly the lifestyle I would expect PLD to recruit from, nor would I have ever suspected they would be protecting anyone but themselves. I think they need more leather straps and nets.)

Maybe the class was modified to this 2.0 version as a benchmark for balance. It is a very dumbed down class with little flow that does just what it is supposed to do and nothing more.

But I want something more.

I want to look forward to equipping this soul right away, not getting bummed that I have to wait 10 more levels for my job to be good while all my buddies are out Jumping and Singing and Tinkerbelling and whatnot.

Let's tell SE that we are not the benchmarks for content creation but rather the foundation that our friends and allies stand on. They want more tanks? Make the WAR's viable (popular opinion, not mine) and make the PLD's fun!

Edit: Looks ugly, needs formatting, too tired to care right now. Sorry!
Edit 2: Added some suggestions and "verdicts" so you can tell where I stand on each. Doing this caused inconsistencies on the whole so needs be modified. Still ugly to look at.