Darkhelmet said:
If you get a group of overzealous idiot melees, it doesn't matter what job is supposed to be the tank. The melees will die from their own stupidity. A PLD is going to lose hate to a jackass melee just as fast as a NIN would.
True; as a Paladin, I deeply appreciated the thoughtful DDs that actually considered the party environment rather than Spamurai enhancing their in-game epeens. There's definitely something to be said about dealing massive amounts of damage, but--really? You COULDN'T save that for the last 5% of the mob's HP??
Depending on the level, a PLD has more hate-gain moves than a NIN tank, even if both are /WAR. Provoke is only one means by which any /WAR can grab hate, but Paladins can use Cures, Flash, Shield Bash, Sentinel, and even Rampart in a party situation when hate seems to slip from their hands. a NIN has only Elemental Ninjutsu damage and Enfeebling Ninjutsu to keep up their hate. Not to mention Paladins get MUCH more enmity gear than Ninjas do.
I'm positive a NIN CAN tank very well in the right party environments, but when there are 3 SAMs, 1 DRG with a Maat's Cap, and one RDM in party, it's a shitton of fun holding hate. :3 I only needed to Flash/Provoke once, and the rest of the time just backup healed if the imp EVER landed a hit on any of the DDs. ^^b