Tanked a few VD runs, didn't really need dirge for dd, the big aoe is hate reset all i needed to do was foil.
Last time round I was joining groups that were mostly using RUN but this time people are using and shouting for PLD. What changed?
No clue, ran into a couple of groups that tried using PLD, the PLDs themselves were actually very well geared, full DT/Enmity, Burtgang. But Hate reset was a major problem. It also didnt help that the WHM would always stand out of physical AoE range so every time boss did the move, it RAN over and turned into a wacky mess those couple of times we used PLD.
Not saying PLD cant do it, it should be fine, just saying that PLD might have a rough go at this with Reset spam unless he subs BLU and alternates his hate tags to try and compensate.
Edit:
about 100,000 points in on this already and some observations.
For some reason, shouts like to use Tank, WHM, BRD, COR-Melee, DDx2-SAM usually requested.
The best success I've had (3minute fights, around 4-5min total in zone) was Tank, WHM, BRD, COR-Melee, GEO, DD(WAR, SAM, MNK, Anything strong will work)
The groups that bring only COR and BRD, you'll only get your pDIF to somewhere around Half? of cap? vs using a GEO which will typically guarantee capped or near-capped.
COR stays on boss's back and holds TP til it starts glowing then WSs it, actual WS doesn't matter it just has to hit.
DD pulls and picks apart the lesser mobs. Usually Warlock > Duelist > Reaver > Tamer > Pugilist > Pet > Boss.
Warlock engage freely, kill without mercy. With GEO, should die in as little as 2 WS + Skillchain or 3 WS/Chain tops. 3-4 if no GEO, actually really easy if SAM/MNK/WAR and you get the mob to yourself so you can 4-Step.
Duelist LOVES Shock Spikes, and it will stun you almost every time even in full Kenda so I recommend engaging the boss or one of the other Lessers to use as a TP battery while you Multi-Step or Spam to kill Duelist.
Reaver Loves Dread Spikes so do the exact same thing as Duelist, TP feed on something else and WS this. Simple solution to an annoying spike problem instead of waiting for the BRD to finale.
Tamer is a joke as long as the pet is out and asleep. Just kill it.
Pugilist same as Tamer BUT it hits hard so put on Hybrid or DT set as soon as you notice you've pulled hate. MANY DDs have been eating dirt because they forget their basic survival instincts here.
Pet should die in 1 WS, it only has like 12-15,000 HP in VD.
Boss, just stay on it's back as much as possible but be ready to move into a Cross-Formation when it starts trying to spam hate reset or you just flat out pull hate that way you dont accidentally mpk your partners through a split second counter. Hybrid sets advised for this reason unless your HP is completely topped off.
all the TP attacks of the orcs hit harder than one might expect in this Ambusc so if your HP is low, put on DT. Lest you get taken by surprise and killed by a simple Battle Dance for 600 Damage lol