[1.2.395] Demon Slayer (1)

The thing is, stance is very handy to have around at all times- take for example training, so you won't get knocked off a platform, or bossing, so you don't accidentally end up walking into the monster if you try to get back into attacking range again, etc. Getting stance early eliminates a lot of frustration caused by accidents. It makes nearly everything more efficient. Navigating maps is easier, you won't get knocked off a map and have to struggle to the top with minimal mobility. And warrior stance isn't even definite. It's a 94% success rate. In the odd instance you'll still get knocked off/blown back/annoyed. Dslayers and mechs get a definite, successful stance skill.

By contrast to what DSlayers get, the extra points you have to dump into stance and the monotony that that adds is just extra pomegranate on top of the steaming pile of annoyance that's already there. Sure, you might argue that several other classes don't have stance either, but most of those classes are either longranged classes or are classes which get mobility skills early on. Knockback doesn't tend to affect them as badly. In that sense, warriors get the shorter end of the stick.

I also don't see how the other fourth job DSlayer skills being less than amazing has anything to do with the frustration caused by getting a skill effect late.

I realize that. My point is that you're still overlooking what dslayers lack compared to warriors. Normal warriors still have crash. Normal warriors still have party buffs that are more effective than what Dslayers have to work with. (bind has a good effect, but a TERRIBLE duration/CD ratio) Normal warriors will still have stance by the mid game. Normal warriors aren't completely mob based. Normal warriors don't have to attack to achieve tanking status. Normal warriors might not get stance so early, they might not have the range, they might not have the mobility, but none of those things are everything that matters either.

Though it's also true that there hasn't even been any tespia balancing yet. They could be nerfed or buffed. I think MP charges for them faster than it should be.