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Any offensive benefit to not using a shield?Follow

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#1 Aug 26 2010 at 9:20 PM Rating: Decent
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^topic title^ SEs description of Gladiators suggests that this may be the case.

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Gladiators specialize in the handling of all manner of one–handed blades, from daggers to longswords, be they single– or double–edged, straight or curved. A defining characteristic of the guild is its emphasis on diverse combat tactics, training its members to bring their martial skills to bear in any situation.
As such, there are practitioners who marry sword with shield, seeking to defend their fellow companions. Others opt for an empty off hand, choosing instead to focus entirely on their sword arm.


Also, from this description, does this mean daggers will also be a gladiator weapon?
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#2 Aug 27 2010 at 3:15 PM Rating: Good
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JonnyWolf wrote:
^topic title^ SEs description of Gladiators suggests that this may be the case.

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Gladiators specialize in the handling of all manner of one–handed blades, from daggers to longswords, be they single– or double–edged, straight or curved. A defining characteristic of the guild is its emphasis on diverse combat tactics, training its members to bring their martial skills to bear in any situation.
As such, there are practitioners who marry sword with shield, seeking to defend their fellow companions. Others opt for an empty off hand, choosing instead to focus entirely on their sword arm.


Also, from this description, does this mean daggers will also be a gladiator weapon?

I haven't yet found a benefit to not using a shield. Conversely, there are at least two benefits to using one:

1. Fully blocked attacks mean you take zero damage.
2. The Gladiator skill Phalanx cannot be used without a shield. You will want this for tanking, as it increases enmity, plus you get Phalanx two ranks before Provoke.

Also, yes, Gladiators do use daggers. The one I saw in someones bazaar had an optimal rank of 8.
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#3 Aug 27 2010 at 9:06 PM Rating: Decent
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Just a correction.

Blocking does not reduce damage to 0. It does significantly reduce damage taken though.

It's also possible to partially block. It's pretty much how it sounds. The damage reduction is less than if you fully block.

Phalanx can be used whether you block or partially block.
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#4 Aug 28 2010 at 12:44 AM Rating: Good
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mbub wrote:
Just a correction.

Blocking does not reduce damage to 0.

It did for me. I did not have Stoneskin on, and it was not a partial block.
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#5 Aug 28 2010 at 1:18 AM Rating: Decent
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Then please state what level you were and what mob you were fighting. If you were blocking attacks from rats, then yes, it can be reduced to 0 because they have very low attack power.

I got to Gladiator Rank 22 in both Beta 2 and Beta 3. If blocking always reduced damage down to 0, soloing the level 30 leves in Cassiopeia Hollow and Cedarwood would've been much easier.
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#6 Aug 28 2010 at 1:30 AM Rating: Decent
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Obviously, in any case, you'd want to use a shield when tanking, if possible.

I was just wondering if the class was meant to be able to be played offensively, if someone wanted to play it as a DD and not as a tank.
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#7 Aug 28 2010 at 1:41 AM Rating: Default
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JonnyWolf wrote:
Obviously, in any case, you'd want to use a shield when tanking, if possible.

I was just wondering if the class was meant to be able to be played offensively, if someone wanted to play it as a DD and not as a tank.


Yes, it can, although you will want to obtain damage enhancing skills/buffs from other jobs since half of the skills that Gladiator get are defensive in nature.

I made write up of my experience with Gladiator here if you want to read it: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/960613-final-fantasy-xiv-online/56121371
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#8 Aug 28 2010 at 7:27 AM Rating: Good
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mbub wrote:
Then please state what level you were and what mob you were fighting. If you were blocking attacks from rats, then yes, it can be reduced to 0 because they have very low attack power.

I got to Gladiator Rank 22 in both Beta 2 and Beta 3. If blocking always reduced damage down to 0, soloing the level 30 leves in Cassiopeia Hollow and Cedarwood would've been much easier.

I only got it to rank 10, and I did have alot more partial blocks than full ones.

I'll take up Gladiator again for open beta and work on taking screenshots showing my blocks, particularly a full one.
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#9 Aug 30 2010 at 2:29 PM Rating: Decent
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"Offensive benefit" to NOT using a shield: You won't need to use stamina to cast guard so you can spam more basic attack? lol.
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#10 Sep 09 2010 at 7:26 PM Rating: Decent
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Yes daggers are gladiator weapons.

An interesting note, as gladiator you can attempt to equip daggers in the offhand (shield) slot. The game will give you an error saying "You don't have the proper trait or are not on the appropriate class" So i would imagine at some point gladiators will be able to dual wield.

Right now, though, gladiator without a shield is only half a gladiator.
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#11 Sep 24 2010 at 5:51 PM Rating: Decent
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I believe you will be able to eventually use 2-handed weapons preventing shields.. However, I don't believe there is any benefit to not using a shield with a 1-handed weapons.

-Brentmeister
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