I have gone solo with my Stone Tanker for nearly everything except TF's and Respec missions... and now that I am level 37, those pesky AV missions. The funny thing is, I didn't have a single armor until level 32 and didn't really notice at all (I didn't see the point of having to choose between armors to wear, especially since fire and invul tankers could res everything at once, that and I want to see my character's overpriced costume).
I survived with pool power DEF and Stone Skin. Rooted I only used when I didn't have a pink insp to pop, or to heal myself AFTER a battle. The health recovery was a non-issue with me once I realized that is wasn't combat effective. I put one heal into it for after-battle healing only. Earth's Embrace is good before lowbie boss fights and for an OH-S*&T run-away heals. Mudpots I respeced off due to it's large endurance usage. I may take it back now that I have Stamina 6 slotted with SO.
I planned my character before I even knew about respec, with the intent of removing all the penalties of Granite Armor, while enjoying all of the bennys. Super Speed, Hasten, and even Assault from the Leadership tree (although I found out later that the -DAM is really +DAM.... shhhhh!). It paid off and I now I have all my RES and DEF at once. Stone Skin makes me happy still, but now I don't have to target those pesky fire-wielders first anymore when there is a perfectly good boss to whoop-up upon.
My attack pool is Super Strength, and OH did I hate it until some updates came out and I started doing Extreme damage with Knockout Blow (TG!) and Rage at 28 solves anyone's DAM problem. Killing minions with one hit is a good thing. Now that I don't have to wait for the woozy from Rage to wear off thanks to Granite and Super Speed, I can keep zooming and booming. The only problem I have had with teaming is those blasted multi-teired caves missions where you tend to fall through holes. I would get teleport, but I am one of those players who likes to stick to a character theme and such (yes SS, Hasten were in my theme, just worked out that it helped Granite Armor too).
Now, I do have a lowbie Stone/Fire tanker in the making. He actually has his armors and he stays healthy a lot longer than my level 37 one did at that level. I don't really care about seeing his costume all the time so I am leveling him to see what the other armors do. Ok, on to my comments about the post know that you know a little bit about my Stone buddy:
<ul type="square">[*]I don't think anything needs to be changed about the armors. If you take the time to learn what your powers do (including animation speeds and such) you can time them correctly for use and not have much trouble. If I can survive without armors, you can certainly pick and choose an armor to use and last even longer than I did. Stone Tankers would do well to be slow and ponderous about what they are about to plow into... you are afterall SLOW by nature. A little planning goes a long way.[*]If something mezzes you before you get Rooted off, oh well. You are a freaking TANK, your HP are the highest in the game and you can take a few hits before popping Rooted up and an armor- even more if you used your Earth's Embrace before the fight. Once you are awake or un-held/loved the healing from Rooted will do it's job if your armor's DEF stops people from hitting you like it should. Other methods for getting Rooted off are investing in the Concealment or Super Speed tree. +Stealth allow you to get spitting-distance close to the mezzers and set off Rooted (and even get an attack in) before they even see you. If you team with friends, Grant Invisibility from someone else can be your best friend (or Stimulant... thus negating the need, but I'll assume we are talking about solo tanking). [*]If you think Stone Armor sucks, go to Perez Park, throw on Mudpots, Rooted, and 1 DEF power and laugh as you leave the PC to get some snacks or whatever and come back to find all the minions that tried to attack you dead at your feet. [*]The one thing I WOULD like to see change about the armor is it's look. There is nothing I hate more than seeing a Devouring Earth Bedrock that looks cooler than me, not to mention the Sentry lieutenants. It is funny, however, when someone you are teamed with complains about not being able to attack an enemy Earth Thorn Caster... to only find out they have wasted their time on you LOL (hello turn your enemy names display back on).[/list]
