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Guardian vs paladin and commander vs bard. (piefed.social)

submitted 2 weeks ago by HubertManne@piefed.social to c/pathfinder@ttrpg.network

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Man the guadian seems awesome and a better tank than a paladin. Commander to but im up in the air of its support vs a bard.

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[–] ProfessorOwl_PhD@hexbear.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

Guardian is a better classic tank than a Champion, because Champions get a lot more offensive and ally buffing abilities, while Guardian has more defensive and enemy debuffing abilities. A Champion can heal their allies after the battle, while a Guardian will just take the hits for them in the first place.
Similarly, Commander vs Bard are more of a different style than one being better. Bard is the best casting buffer because of its spell list, but Commanders are martial buffers, so they can quickly change buffs and react to changes on the battlefield a lot more easily, while still having the actions to engage with the frontline.

With both it's like asking if Sorcerers or Kineticists are better blasters. There isn't really an answer, they do different things with the role.

[–] kichae@wanderingadventure.party 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I don't know if Guardian is a better tank than a Paladin, but it's definitely a better brute-force damage-sponge than one (or 'classic tank', as [ProfessorOwl_PhD [any]](https://wanderingadventure.party/user/professorowl_phd%40hexbear.net) said). Since tanking is really about managing party damage, not just taking it, there are a fairly wide variety of potential tank builds in the game.

Guardian is just the WoW Warrior version of that, right down to the taunt function.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I feel that since taunt is an action rather than a reaction it allows more options especially once they can get reactive strike and then so many of the feats let them take more hits and can protect party members so well. I mean giving an adjacent party member cover. wow.

[–] kichae@wanderingadventure.party 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sure, but the Champion gives resistances, and even the ability to just move for free. Plus, it has a significantly higher offensive output, which means it can both protect their ally and punish the attacker.

The Guardian inserts itself between the ally and the attacker and says "you're wasting your time attacking them". The Champion sees the attacker targeting the ally and says "I'm going to make you wish you didn't do that".

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 2 weeks ago

There are a lot of tradeoffs there. I agree with the resitances but its not like they get the strike and the move. Its resistances plus an extra effect and the guardian can get reactive strike. Granted that means the champions reaction is essentially two things were as the guardian has to use an action and a reaction to get a similar level of effect. I will have to mull this but its starting to make me thing guardian with champion archetype.