Ok just read through this. I read every post except for the Whm who was in the group cause damn, use some sentence structure please!
Someone stated that a "Safe" Pld party can be as effective as a Cannon party. Straight up BS. Never, I repeat, NEVER will you match a Cannon party for efficiency. A Cannon party can look like this. Nin, Sam, Rng, Blm, Blm, Rdm. This was my party a while back and talk about killing shit. When you throw a Pld into the mix, you waste potentially two slots. Pld, Whm, Blm, Rng, Rdm, Sam. You could have 2 Rdm but the point is, that the damage output from the above party was much much higher. Ok one point down.
Secondly, someone claimed that a Pld was the best tank. This has obviously been contested enough so I will not go into it. The issue I have a problem with is the loss of hate. The ONLY time I have pulled hate from a good Ninja tank was when I spammed arrows. I have a nasty habit of that. Immedietly the backup voker will provoke and I will lose maybe one shadow. Ninja gets hate back soon and start over again. I presume you are speaking of bad or moderate Nin tanks. Find one who throws a few shurikens and uses a wide variety of Ninjitsu other than Utsusemi and you have yourself an awesome tank that will rarely lose hate unless you TRY to pull it off. War/Nin will have a little more trouble, but they have more +Enmity gear on their AF than Pld does if my info is correct. They have warcry, provoke, defender, damage output, etc. Give me damage over healing anyday. I prefer not getting hit in parties to having plenty of healing power. Not to mention I have NEVER seen a Pld using a crossbow with acid bolts or something to weaken the mob and yet that is almost a staple in many War/Nin I have played with.
Mithe sounds like s/he knows what s/he is talking about. Though it is possible to get Utsusemi off if you time it perfectly (have to be getting hit when its in the early stages), having slow makes it that much easier. I dont need a Whm giving my tank half power etudes (how is that an issue).
When I look for a party, my order goes Ninja and then War or Pld. When I have a Ninja or a War/Nin I can count on, I dont have to waste time with a Whm which I do not like having. Sure Cannon parties can be riskier, but they are a helluva lot more fun. I like living on the verge and getting 200--250--260--263--260 rather than playing it "safe" and getting 150-160-170-130.
Lastly, it must be admitted by all that a Pld is more likely to be one of those War/Whm in the early game. I trust a Ninja or War/Nin to have more ability as it does you must admit, take more skill to play the jobs. I am not bashing Pld in any way, but unless I know you, if I see a Ninja at 40+ or a Pld at 40+, I'm going to assume that Ninja knows what he is about. Well that is long enough so lates.
