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Been lurking and reading feedback and it dawned on me that there's another glaring element here nagging at the back of my mind - How is it that a class focused on defensive capabilities and protecting others is just generally SO sub-par against magic? And while we're at it, how come he's *TERRIBLE* at noticing potential threats?!? A lot of his abilities require him be aware of the threat... and yet he's objectively bad at it compared to a fighter, who is one of the most canny "battlefield surveyor"s around?!
Physical threats are far from the only threats, and yet all the guardian's abilities seem geared towards only protecting against the physical. There's barely lip-service in the form of single-energy-type-resistance feats that take investment to achieve, and that leaves a huge gap in your so-called bodyguard's capabilities. It takes until extremely high level to make the class have anything unique at all in defending against mind affecting and compulsion effects.
The guardian pays a HEAVY price in offensive capability, it feels to me like they should be the best defensive unit in all categories, not just physical. And please correct the perceptiveness oversight, this seems objectively counter to the theming of the class and it makes ZERO sense that generic-fighter-lad is better at perceiving threats than the dedicated bodyguard.
To add another angle to this idea, I think the class was released in a general state similar to the Monk. By that I mean the class is way too focused into a very narrow niche.
For Monks, we have mobility and very little of everything else, very little options for damage and no upgrade for Flurry of Blows. For Guardians, the issue is that it has a whole lot of defense, but little to no offensive capabilities. I don't mean damage only, I mean more ways to debuff enemies.
I don't think the Guardian has to have damage boosters, but a few offensive feats thrown in the mix to improve action economy for maneuvers, demoralize, Aid and so on would give the class a little more variety. Granted, that variety won't matter if the core chassis of the class remains as shaky as it is.