It'd be nice if status effects in general would actually work on anything worthwhile. They could even keep the diminishing returns shit they have now but Slow would be extremely useful even if you could only keep it up for like 15 seconds max before it would resist until reset. I'm sure we'll see a revamp of the enfeebling system in 4.0 with the introduction of RDM and Immunobreak though.
The fact everything resists shit is the reason why a Utility tank won't work (and mostly why I believe Red Mage won't be an enfeebling mage). If they want Utility to work, they have to actually allow it to work. Pacification would be amazing in a lot of these boss fights.
If they really wanted they could make specific skills that bosses use bypass Pacification to make it not overpowered. Just classify the big moves you want people to have to work around as "Abilities" instead of skills. Given that it would still be restricted by resistance timers blocking some spam skills bosses use wouldn't be too broken.
If they're worried about it being overpowered / blocking out boss scripted attack then they should just change it to block auto-attacks for X seconds instead if the boss has pacification resistance. At least that way it isn't completely useless.
They've done a little something like this in A4. It's stun immune as usual but has a specific mechanic that you generally don't want to miss a stun on. Such strict timing might not work so well with Shield Swipes RNG but assuming it was scripted you could Sheltron to guarantee a pacification on something. Obviously with only PLD having it available it can't ever really be a key component to a fight though. I'd love to see it just disable boss auto-attacks though and that would definitely give PLD a nice edge as MT, even if they cut the duration in half or something.
A simpler solution I think is to have all status effects effect bosses but to a lesser degree.
Blind: Only affects auto attacks. Abilities are unaffected.
Pacification: Lowers ability damage by 10%
Slow: Increases casting time of abilities by 10%. Bosses reduce slow duration by 1/2 and double the time period for diminishing returns.
Stun: Pauses Auto Attacks during Time Period. Bosses reduce stun duration by 1/2 and double the time period for diminishing returns.
Even if Blind did affect bosses, it would be useless. You could blind Titan EX and he still never, ever missed.
I think PLD need a trait to give = Spell speed from skill speed. I would give Shield Swipe as ability with a recast but only in Shield Oath. It is how I would see it.
Make Clemency a GCD ability. Not a spell.
Negates spell interrupt.
Negates need for spell speed.
Triggers faster, but still eats up 2.5 seconds.
If they just made the cast 2s like every other single target cure it wouldn't matter.
It could still be a spell with a cast time and it would be perfectly functional.
Or it could not be a spell and rather be an ability like Equilibrium. That would help.
Then you go back to every tank being the same again.
People have wanted a PLD cure since 2.0 and now they have one, it just needs to cast fast enough to actually be useful.
Or not be interruptable. Or make blocks prevent interruption so you can maybe Sheltron for it.
If its a spell then
1) Does not prevent parry and block. Honestly--we are tanks. We take damage.
2) Cannot be interrupted from damage. Honestly--we are tanks. We take damage.
Having it be a 2.5 gcd ability with the same animation sped up==best solution though.
Skill Speed will matter.
Its still mana locked.
You still take the same amount of time.
It lands a little faster.
Vwualla? Giving a discipline of war class a spell I think was silly to begin with.
Clemency is a spell because Paladins haven't been a Final Fantasy Paladin until now. Spells has always been part of Paladin's toolkit and it was awkward that this iteration of the job is more or less just a pure physical fighter. Nevermind the painful lack of weaponskills pre-HW. I once again have to reiterate that SE doesn't really know how to make a Utility tank work given how sloppy PLD's utility is at the moment.
Also, for future reference it's "voila".