Beast Skills and Usefulness

[Kinokokao]

Is anyone else using or has used the Beast class?

I recently added one and so far I'm thinking it looks like a Protector-like tank and, since I have a Protector, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I really like my Protector, but swapping back in my Landsknecht might make more sense... anyway.
I haven't heard anything about the skills and how useful they are.

Beast: Panda
Greta
lv 10
HP Up 3
Autocure 6
Howl 3

Goals: Autocure max, HP and Vit max, En garde? Roar? ultimately Rampage and Growl

[Zaraf]

Beast is only really good as a solo class. OR if you don't bother leveling up Loyalty (but then you don't have too many good skills). Loyalty really screws up the beast in a party and they end up dying super fast.

[eytanz]

[Dan Smith]

I am usually more inclined to think along the lines of Zaraf due to the low survivability. But if you're willing to test out different builds and equip them with really high end stuff, then you can have a tank that is able to dish out more punishment than a protector, barring the smite ability that is. I've been raising a beast to use almost as an escort for my miners, as someone point out in a different thread, because they can complement the item gathering but also bolster the party's ability to deal damage.

[Kinokokao]

[Zaraf]

[Illisaurus]

[Teclo]

[Kinokokao]

[eytanz]

[Kinokokao]

[I.T.P]

[Kinokokao]

[PapillonReel]

[Teklanika]

loyalty stacks right? if I have him using en guard to help negate damage that will protect him from absorbing 1 attack? or will it only trigger if the attack targetted him, since he doesnt take damage with his own defense (that cant be propper design!) thenIm asuming somehting like en guard wont trigger unless the attack is aimed at him....