Tanking is already viable for NIN. The loss of shadows regularly is the annoying part. I just think any path you take towards giving NIN the ability to have un-wipable shadows consistently pretty much makes them pretty broken, no? Hard to walk on that thin line.
Not arguing theory, just trying to be reasonable.
I agree with this take. Realistically, I just can't see SE being willing to take the risk of significantly modifying Utsusemi just due to the high potential for making it broken. Would be hard to figure out how to do it right.
However, perhaps there's another way... One stroke of semi-genius in the days where they made conscious decisions to start designing content to cripple blink tanking was to add Migawari as a bit of an extra security blanket that can still save your *** on the next big hit
after losing shadows (or from a big AoE). Now, that doesn't always work as a reliable tanking tool due to several reasons: HP thresholds affecting how often Migawari kicks in, Miga not working on everything, and just the fact that it only protects from a single hit.
But perhaps instead of modifying Utsusemi,
tweaks to Migawari could improve NIN tanking with lower risk of inadvertently breaking the game.
Maybe modify Migawari to buff it when Yonin is up. Something like a large DT- effect on the next hit (whether shadows were lost entirely, or on the AoE that takes your shadows out). IDK whether it could be too powerful, but maybe even add the ability to mitigate damage for multiple hits (to help against stuff like the frequently encountered mobs with a lot of multi-attack). Perhaps you add more hits based on Ninjutsu skill (say, next 3 hits at highest tier), or a :Ni version of the spell, etc.
A few hypothetical examples:
(1) With Yonin up, Migawari: Ichi adds DT II-25% (i.e., exceeds 50% cap if you pair it with gear) and Migawari effect is consumed upon taking (a) 2 hits of any kind - physical, magical, AoE, single target, etc., OR (b) one "severely damaging" attack (just like it currently does). Migawari:Ni adds DT II-30% effect and the Migawari effect is consumed upon taking 3 hits or one "severely damaging" attack.
(2) With Yonin up, Migawari: Ichi adds DT II -20%/25%/30%/35% based on Ninjutsu skill tier. Lasts until NIN takes 2 hits.
(3) With Yonin up, Migawari: Ichi adds DT II -25%. Lasts for 1-3 hits, dependent upon Ninjutsu skill tier.
That gives you a realistic additional defensive reason to use Yonin, and helps a tanking NIN survive via reduced damage on those next couple hits after shadows get wiped by AoE. But it doesn't make Utsusemi any stronger, and doesn't impact offensive-focused NIN (or /NIN as subjob). Maybe, as Sechs mentioned earlier, if this is seen as a big enough defensive buff, give Yonin some additional offensive downside - or even better, give Innin a more significant offensive buff (WSD+, Crit Dmg+, etc.) that you have to forego in order to get Yonin-enhanced Migawari.
As for comparison to other tanks, RUN and PLD can both walk around with significant amounts of PDT II -x% with high end weapons, and insane magic mitigation (via Aegis, or runes/JAs). PUP gets a stupid amount of native automaton DT-. I find it fair to give NIN a more limited DTII- effect, but on the flip side I also find it fair to have that effect wiped out after a fairly small number of hits since NIN has the substantial tool of Utsusemi to fall back on. It would make Yonin NIN a lot sturdier when shadows DO get wiped though, and it wouldn't require a total shift in game design philosophy (that probably isn't ever going back to slow easily blinkable fights ever again, outside of rare situations) for future stuff and even today's content that isn't so NIN-friendly right now.
