chicken1013

ZOMG! Steel rat!!! Thats makes thigns Tsoo much clearer - thank you

and on a more serious note - ok ok; I have to agree with Ratty's point (1). we've all played with players like that. On the flip side though is the argument that poo players will still be poo players whether they are PL'd or proper levelled.

[ QUOTE ]
using market prices as a means to justify why you farm, or bash those that do is a little short sighted

[/ QUOTE ] - totally agree; and I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave before.

furthermore - "I'm not saying it's wrong on that basis, just wrong for me."

can respect that - which I think probably condenses wot I feel regarding this whole farm or not to farm debate - its fine to have views pro- or against; but to try to impose those views on others is plain wrong.

Farminng is gonna be part of any MMORPGs with an internal market. You have to modify your own behaviour with it - whether pro or con; I certainly do.

[ QUOTE ]
I do wonder one thing... Is EU short for what?
English United?(subtle hint... It's not)
Perhaps some parts of this "EU" does not have english as the main language... Now what could this mean.
Hmm... Oh right. Perhaps that english is my second language and sometimes I mess up where words are supposed to be(I can't see the difference between to and too).

[/ QUOTE ]

awww did I hurt your feelings - soz mate didnt mean to. to and too? theres a difference - I get mixed up between to, too and tsoo. And thx for clarification.

And yeah - agree with antibiotical with regard to price variation and the things that do it.

[ QUOTE ]
Farming in general keeps supply up and costs at the market down.

[/ QUOTE ]

not sure abt this - as certainly as there will always be people farming, there will also always be marketeers - something will always be found to profiteer (soz no link for defination)from.

HOwever, as far as IOs, BM/WW, prices are concerned - if I cant afford em, I dont buy em. The game used to run just fine with slotting DOs and SOs - and amazingly - it still can!!

fun for all - including the farmers.

Once again - not saying farming is good or bad. some people do it - thats fine. Wot I am sure is the BM/WW prices is certainly not a good way to judge if farming has a good or bad influence on the game as a whole

i know the 2 company are completely different argument - so US/Eu merger unlikely.

Would I like it - oh yeah. But would liek to see Def, Union, Zig and Zu and all the US servers under1 umbrella, 1 log-on, and 1 sub. I would probably always call defiant home - but just think of the ALTITIS!!!!!

BWHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAA

*goes mad with all the voices of 12 alts on 8 different servers swirling round his little head*

[ QUOTE ]
Yah... I kinda have this odd habit of expression my own opinions and not the opinions of others.

[/ QUOTE ]

that i can respect. But changing the meaning of a word or the english language isnt the same as expressing an opinion - but hey ho; at least I got that now.

but yes thank you for clarifying your special use of the word "profit". And yes that kinda of clears up things about you opinion. Got it.

[ QUOTE ]
That 600k compared to 6mill is not a profit. (now someone will reply and say yes it is.)
Sure it is a profit but compared to what the older price was it's not a major profit. (is this better?)

[/ QUOTE ]

hang on 1st its "not a profit", then "its not a major profit" - wow 2 contradicting "opinions" in 1 post

oh never mind. Tuarus - i think he's finally got wot we were saying is "profit"

hmmm dare I dive into this argument?
well maybe
agree with lots been said abt HEAT so far:

(1) advanced AT, not epic - cos they need some gettin used to to play
(2) need to be in right mood to play - definately. when I dont; its a real pain to play one right. the triform WS has got to be fav though.
(3) adaptability - no point comparing kheldian to any1 hero AT - cos its meant to the a jack of all trades. thats wot i like abt the AT; that ur tactics modify with team u are in (maybe not a def - although I did take heal self/other on mine)
(4) does HEAT need re-working - yes. Would prefer to have access to pool powers in all forms and better mez protect.
(5) are they epic - once played on a newbie team in hollowsw with my WS - half way thorugh 1st mish, leader said; "i thought u would be able to kill everything with a single shot - u arent really EPIC are you?" - refer to point 1

My VEATS are only mid 20's late teens atm - so not really got much experience with em - except high level teaming. And yes they do look very impressive in terms of survivability. But they also look a little more str8 forward to play. But on the whole - that seems to be the way with Villainous ATs - more attacks, faster game, more hybrid ATs rather than super specialists.

as for sitting through levelling a HEAT - i took a long time to play through mine. Mainly cos I have mentality to play trollers and tanks mostly - but it was well worth it in the end. And the journey, though slower, was truly EPIC.

zomg chatarsis I am honestly tryin to see the point u are making, but cant - as bright eyes and Tuarus has said :

(1) he got items as drops ie FREE
(2) he sold em on the market for a price ie for MONEY
(3) hence before sale - 0 (zero influence); and after sale he had more influence (ie NOT zero). Therefore profit was made. Okay 6 months ago - he had a few million profit; and now 6 mths on he has only a few thousand profit - but its all profit.

this statement just doesnt make sense:

[ QUOTE ]
But as you said. Compared to a few months ago you did not make a profit if you compare the prices.

[/ QUOTE ]

6mth ago -
Mu vestment - 6 million influence => 6 mill profit

now-
Mu vestment - 600 000 influence => 600 000 profit


its not like tuarus bought stuff 6mths ago for a few million and was only able to sell em now for a few thousand. He got them as DROPS ie Free

back to the point though - I too have no pros/cons re: farming. Not bothered by it. Think arguments regarding the effect on the market once again do not favour or disapprove farming - all it proves is (as has already been said) that markets are fluid.

my 2 pence.

I am bad with new IOs - old f*rt that I am - just some general questions/points and thinking ahead for my own earth/psi - all IMHO only ofc:

1. drain psyche, power sink AND stamina seems a little over kill to me. Think any 2 of them should suffice; perferable droppin stamina to get u more power picks!

2. Would slot psychic Shockwave
(A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage
(39) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
(39) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge
(39) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge
(40) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
(40) Scirocco's Dervish - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
if only I could

3. of the potential 3 powers picks saved form 1. - consider tactics and vengence from Leadership and Mu Guardian for the 3rd

4. I would 6-slot stalgmites like this
(A)Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(A)
(13)Rope-Acc/Stun/Rchg
(13)RzDz-Acc/Stun/Rchg
(15)Stgr-Acc/Stun/Rchg
(15)Stpfy-Acc/Rchg
(17)Posi-Dam%

- i frankenslot cos I is poor

5. In addition to hover/fly - consider CJ instead of SS. It provides immob protect, and with KB protect proc - KB as well!! 2 powers for the price of one (infamy permitting ofc)
Also, although i like fly - hate hover as a power. With CJ providing immob/KD protect - consider Air Supe for more knockdown-ilkity and damage

and Gz on L38 mate - hope it was a fun ride !

just to conclude
[ QUOTE ]
..you are using the (US) Hero colour scheme..

[/ QUOTE ]

thats a bit miserable - considering there was no other advice on the build either -ho hum, dont u just love the forums!

I have quite a few trollers and dom's so far and Have been thinking of a fun combo to try. Heres wot I got so far -

trollers - ill/kin, fire/kin, ice/rad, earth/storm
doms - plt/nrg, earth/kin, mind/psi

heres wot I plan to do with it. Ideally PvE team; but then again i recognise problems with CoV today - esp.ly on defiant; so must be able to solo too. I play slow - ie few hrs per week; so something which wont kill brain cells with boredom.

I am a troller at heart and love AoE controls - even on the doms; hence some of my choices thus far - but thinking I need to try somethink new. I really like the look of fire/psi BUT i do realise its a farmer-favourite and I do have far to many fire toons on other ATs.

I've been through the usual guides on wots-wot with indiv power ie highest damager, AOE vs ST, etc - wot I am interested in is peeps ideas on combos. Oh and I have never seemed to get the hang of wormhole - so have tended to avoid Grav - although being one of the only sets I dont play on a regular basis; I am really tempted to give it a go again - even if its just to watch Propels animation

I kind alike ice/psi or earth/elect......

kinda of an open question i know - any opinions welcomed.

or perhaps - wait for new Dom primary?

2! 2 influence - wa haha ha ha ha
*lightning and thunder flashes*

soz were we not all imitating the Count from Sesame Street?

IMO no good or bad ness to taking taunt

personally i like it - but I only take it when I feel I can handle the aggro that comes with it - ie usually teens or early 20s

does it make u a bad tank if u dont take it? hell no. But before I can afford to get taunt on a toon - I make sure that I am aware abt wot is happening to team - think wot shannon said abt intention is very good. Nobody said that every tank has to be a team tank. I like team tanking. so i make sure I can pull of aggro off a squishy when needed - be it with taunt or a punchvoke.

think of it this way is a tank who has taunt but never uses it any better than a tank w/o taunt who grabs aggro of you when needed?

its aint abt the power selection, its abt the player and how he wants to play and how he sees his role in the team (replace he/his/him where ever appropriate )

nothing personal Phantom - but with the number of .... erm... ill conceived guides that you do put out - do u not read some of the good ones listed in the forum guides?

for you kind perusal sir :
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showf...art=1&vc=1

in addition to a nice guide to the fire/kin troller, its also a nicely laid out guide.

some of my personal opinions answer to ur questions:

1. IMO yes. Some say u can make do with transference at L35; but i couldnt. Also if u plan on using hot feet early - u will need it.
2. Yes. Considering FS is one of the jewels of the Kin set; most definately yes.
3. Almost always in my trollers and tanks i go for CJ/SJ. acrobatics is kinda optional with proc IOs now IMHO. I do agree with mega jamie though - you can easily skip a travel power with kinetics.
4. Link above has some good builds - but I have yet to go with a build 100% cos of personal variance
5. Now u see - from someone who has yet to ding 50 with my fire/kin whose been around since I6 (or 7? lol damn altitis) - i think fire/kins get a hard time. Yes i admit they are good farmers - but they are also rather fun toons to play - both solo or teamed. SO enjoy - really loved levelling my fire/kin; who is currently sitting at L40 I think - damn you power proliferation!

Good luck with your fire/kin and with your guide writing mate

hey colonel lookin for a nice fire concept?
how about this one - its a concept that I came up with ages ago, but then promised myself that I should stop picking fire as a power choice (that is after a fire blaster, fire tank, fire brute, fire troller... sigh and now they've come up with a fire scrapper - damn you Developers!!!!!! *shakes fist in air*)

Flaming Monkee
for years, he was treated like a slave to a supposed "hero" of Paragon City. Summoned and dismissed on a whim. Sent to his death repeatedly. Wot was is abt Monkee One? no other fire imp had gained sentience, but HE did. What the trollers never new that it was and un-ending cycle of birth and ressurection for a fire imp. With the pain of each death as traumatic as the 1st one. It also builds resentment. Builds anger. Builds HATE. Murderous hate..... death by flames was all that ran through his head as he repeatedly bashed the charred head of this former Controller master off the piers of Inpendence Port. He was not content with control, he wanted DOMINATION!

back to the OP - Doms were rare, but u will find a hard corp of Domi Lovers Welcome my friend to Domination Heaven

lol golden phoenix - i have both a fire/fire tank and brute. And I know exactly how you feel; took me a while to get into CoV too, mostly cos I played the ATs wrong. The powers work basically the same way, but u have to change ur play style slightly.
also a few basic facts abt me 1st:
1. Only played fire tank post ED
2. I team and PVE mostly - so builds are always team orientated
3. yes - i have taunt my brute as well
4. cos I am poor and cheap; my builds are mostly slotted with L30 SO's with only a few pick-up sets

as already said - very similiar when choosing your shields. I tried with and w/o tough - I would take tough if u like the feeling of being tank-like.

a big difference I felt with a brute is that u take the small attack powers and use em; including brawl. This is a concept that didnt dawn on me till the mid 20s (yes yes - i'm not that bright). As a tank (team build) I took the high damaging attacks over low dam - but due to fury building in brutes; u shoudl choose your attacks based on recharge rather than damage.

my fire/fire brute is not L38; and I must say she plays pretty well. Shes resilient enough to take the aggro and build fury. And yes, she can herd effectively too! Shes always punching healing flames, then consume, then running off to kill yet more. Shes fast. Much faster than my fire tank ever was.

As a tank, I never really thought abt damage output as a major concern, even with fire. However, unlike a fire tank - Burn isnt your only major damaging power. My brute routinely has damage bonuses into the 200%++ with build up, making things even like fire sword a good single target attack. As yet I havent got burn yet, but do plan to in the 40s.

remember as a tank - trollers are ur friends. Unfortunately, dominators are less so; their hold powers actually reduce my fury building ability. I do like corruptors and MMs for their buffs though.

SOme of my build quirks:

took tough early, skipped weave
left aura till later - as couldnt manage the aggro w/o tough
I still have acrobatics (like I said - very poor!)
low dam fast rechargin attacks over slow high dam ones
taking Burn in 40s
taking Mu mastery

have fun mate. dont be discouraged by team being mroe fluid on CoV, think its just cos the ATs are less dependent on each other. But this game wouldnt be the same for me solo.

i love doms
its just that kinda AT i think. Either u love em or hate em.
as already said - hard to play cos of ur squishinest, but low damage output (comnpared to other ATs).
Have found the AT fun in teams or solo; but i must say, least appreciated
I love AoE control so have picked plants and earth to play.

One good thing though, there seem to be more peeps trying doms out with I12 :d

i went with earth/psi. spirit of the earth kinda concept called Pyseismic Shock

Gonna have end issues with Psi as secondary.
Loving the the set so far, very survivable and effective.
Although Psi's have drain psyche - I may still be heading down route of stamina (old habits and all that)

a note abt quicksand - even without hasten, not only is the power up before the end of the last usage, it can also be used before end of last usage - ie 2 areas of quicksand!

The grp immob is confusing - cos the gfx, looking so impressive, makes it look like it meant to hold.

i can already imagine an attack chain of :
quicksand, stalagmites, grp immob OR quicksand, stalagmites, earthquake being quite uesful

cant make up my mind abt a travel though. love fly in CoV cos of all the dangerous vertical distance to cover with a squishy little dom; but the inner troller in me screams for CJ with a KB protect.

I also tend to team alot; so thinking leadership pool, esp.ly with ++acc boost

patron - defo thining of Mu mastery - mostly for power sink and the healing pet. but then again I am paranoid abt end issues.

Would love to try fire or elect secondaries - think both would be fab, synergy wise and thematically.

another counter point to blinds and pet peev -

(1) people who dont answer my tells when I am building a team
(2) when someone obviously looking to me for more xp with level diff eg L40s asking my L45 brute to join my team.

ok enough tangents - back to main topic!

blinds are a personal preference imho. Depending on my mood, I do at times take em up (after checkin up search ofc). I also take the view that its an MMORPG. Emphasis on the MM bit - so I do like to randomly team up with peeps I have never met b4.

Some of the best PUgs I have had have started out as blinds. Having said that some of the most atrocious and rude teams have been PuGs too lol. Also, there are lots of new players, and always and opportunity to teach em established etiquette.

1 thing I have realised though - many people DO NOT read the manual abt the search tool. ie the colour codes, the different symbols etc. And its not a newbie thing either, once got a invite from a L42 whislt I was greyed out (ie already in a team). When I declined as said that I already on one, i got abuse hurled at me for saying "always LFT" on my serach comment whislt being on a team *sigh*
I then (very patiently) explained abt the colour coding, and the reply was - too complicated, stop puttin always LFT on search comment. At which point i /ignored

ok viper - gonna try and give u my experience (and condense wot has been said here) of WSing.

I am an experienced player (only CoH mind), and I tend to play more defensive tank/troller types.

Finally decided to persist at a WS and started on over a year ago. He is now only L35, but its been a long and hard road. Taken this long - cos for the longest time I, like u, tried to go by guides and peoples opinion. And to condense wot PRAF has been sayin - u cant.

Unlike other builds - there isnt ONE good, uber build for WS. A WS can be tailored for ur play style. If u are lookin for and easy,idiot proof 100% guranteed way to build and play a WS, then this AT is NOT for you. As even when u are slotted the way YOU like it, u will have to modify ur playstyle to the team - eg do u hav to tank more? cos u can substitue for a tank, but arent as good as pure tank OR do u have to blast more? u can really have oodles more damage than a blaster, but none of the damage amelioration.

Therefore it is gonna be useless to ask "should I take power 1 or power 2?" cos everyone is gonna have an rationale for taking either.

I looked at builds, tried em and then modified em. And my build (as i am sure any1 with a WS) is kinda of a mixture of a number of builds to suit me. after abt 10 levels - i spent a bit more time in Test server, jsut seeing if i liked the power.

Unfortunately, unlike other ATs - WSing is very time consuming to find a way you like to play.

As for guides - u said u have read loads - so i take it u have read both american and UK player guides. Pick any1 as a guide - cos I can gurantee that u will make one up urself within 20 levels or so.

Wont bother posting mine either cos - as I am sure it isnt "the best" build, but its a way I play.

I chose tri-form, and I am constantly jumping forms, swappin tactics.

Guess bottom line is - if u are lookin for an easy to follow build and AT that can be built to be UBER by mid 20s, this really isnt the AT for you. In fact, although its taken me over a year to realise this.... the fun from WSIng is abt the flexibility and utilisation of the different powers/skills of the diff forms.

My advice regarding a build would be to pick anyone build, follow it, and modify it as u go. U wont get one off the forums that is not gonna be dissected and criticised by OTHER forumites; cos there are just SO many ways to play and build em.

personally i didnt get stamina - u get and PBAoE health and end absorb thing in Human form, and I personally have never got any end problems. In fact there are so many fun powers to play in WS and wanted to try, that I only recently respecced to get heal other. but thats my personal opinion only

And lastly - persist with em, they may seem hard work, but once u get the hang of em, incredibly good fun.

i think it was just an unfortunate seelction of words - think he meant "power game" - very different from power LEVEL.

Most of it has already been said. just s few more bits of advice.

(1)gain expereince at tanking
(2)learn good tanking strategies - not all tanks play the same, and not all enemy grps respond the same
(3)earn a good reputation as a tank - u will find that on ur level 50 journey; u often gravitate to a core grp of regular players that have started the journey around the same time as u did. And if are r good - u will often end up having to refuse team invites?!
(4) remember - u are a tank; the safety of ur team is paramount. I often let the team I am leading know that I will be 1st one in and last one out; even if its via the hospital! When I say run - u guys run, I will fall b4 I let team die!
(5)survey ur battle field and use ur team status menu. DOnt just concentrate on the enemy in front of u. U need to know where every enemy is from the mob u just pulled. I often find myself turning round mid fight to look at whose where, and use the team status menu to target whom to taunt off a vulnerable squishy

the only other piece of advice i have is abt leading a team:
(1)build a team of ur own. nice balance is always good. U are a tank - u already have a good core for a team. Dont just pick the 1st 4 peeps u see; always try to get a nice balance. Tank (meat shield), defender/troller - damage mitigators, scrappers/blasters - damage dealers. yes yes - u can play with virtually any combo, but this is UR team; build it in a way u like.
(2)learn to use defenders to ur advantage - Empaths are NOT the only useful defender. I am happy to work with any defender worth his salt.
(3)u have to be ruthless when it comes to team management. I often give peeps several chances when on a team - but after some kindly advice and a few opportunities to learn, never be reluctant to kick someone from team who isnt pulling their weight.
(4)communicate - if u like herding, and team is ok with it - give clear instructions eg wait here - hearding, shout ready, all pile in.
If u want something done - look at ur members power list b4 aimlessly asking some1 to use a power they dont have. And again - if u want something done - be firm, eg Hero X21 - can u ghost to end and tp team in pls.
Another delay point - choosing mishes, u are the leader, be decisive, pick mishes - its not just the level, but difficulty ratings. Politely decline the lowbies on team who constantly whine - do my mish pls do my mish pls - unless its been like 2 hrs and u are feelin charitable!
(5) be flexible - some idiots sometimes never get wot herding is abt - u can still tank effectively in a charge strategy. but again, if it isnt fitting into ur plan - kick em if they arent listening.
(4)listen to advice from seniors/vets on team

1st off - i would always be 1st in line to defend someones right to play how the want to play. Always. Be it playin badly or good.

That said - I have often encountered "bad" healers. Well, play enough CoX, and we all end up playing with bad something or rather.

emp/Dark defender was my 1st L50. I always Cm'd every1 (except those ultralong SS TFs at 4.30am and every was falling asleep). Never had heal aura on auto (w*t*f* for?), and loved absorb pain. No, I wasnt a dedicated buff bot, but I knew my AT, and how to maximise my AT for the team. But I guess not every1 plays like that.
I must say - i was the same for my kin troller - constant SB for those who wanted it. Although I did hate "SB plz" requests as often, I had a system of buffing, so if some1 didnt have a buff on - it was cos I was truly busy.
I agree with wot u said aat start as a good way to play the AT. Buuutttt.......

Having patiently explained to peeps abt how to best play an AT, persisted and tried my best - I would do wot u did, give my apolgies to leader, explain why I am leaving in a non-confrontational way (eg I am leaving cos healers is as a$$hole just doesnt help any1), and quit - cos theres just no helping some peeps.

You cant force people to play one way, and no doubt despite their obvious pants-ness, they will too reach L50 one day. But hey - its all in the game man!

honestly neither is best per se. admit that both are difficult to play... possibly the tri-form WS being the more complicated of the 2.
i agree Judge Dave - roll em both, the one good thing abt kheldians - u can build em to how u like to play eg more tankng, more blasting. BUt i tend to think of em as a hydribd set
I personall chose WS cos I like having pets, and I like purple.

[ QUOTE ]
i never took stamina with my ill/kin troller till respec at level 50

[/ QUOTE ]

I did the opposite. once transference came along - didnt need it (respecced at L35). Occasionally do realise I dont hav it - nothing 1 or 2 CABs doesnt fix; definately not a prob.

Can only comment on /kin troller though, my /kin corruptors is currently only L10 lol.

plus hate SJ/IR in CoV - too dangerous a place i feel. Went with Stealth/SSpd mostly at low levels; with hover for vertical problems.

I am currently levelling a fire/fire brute and a fire/ice tank (both late 20s) - and all i can say is VERY different power selects and slottin.
As yet - my brute has yet to get taunt, whilst my tank took it mid teens.

Expecting a brute to hold aggro? Used to think so, but now ..... no. I hav a taunt-aura; but think of it more as a fury generating-aura. I see my role as more kill as many and as quickly as possible rather than alpha-taking or holding aggro.

Can I tank as a brute? Certainly, but would need corruptor support ie one who buffs rather than blasts eg in ur example; then for u to stop using ur AoE attacks, concentrate on buffing and single target attacks. But hey the game is abt having fun; so leaving team is completely justifyable.

Guess the problem then boils down to us old timer CoHers tryin to play CoV like CoH, which u can, but most people dont. This, in my personal experience has been a hard lesson to learn.

Brutes as earlier mentioned, are a VERY versatile AT. Problem only arises when theres miscommunication abt wot ur "job" is meant to be. Its also something COHers probably suffer more form, as the ATs in heroes are a little more specific in their roles.

Oh heres another option for alpha taking - Carrior Creepers.
Effective. No debt. Cant be kiled. Only problem - only on 1 set, and available only at L28.

*sigh* i suffer from major alt-itits and play slow....
made my fire/kin more than 2 issues ago now; and suddenyl now they are a FoTM, and I am labelled a sheep.

nvm - still fidn em loads of fun! in fact love trollers and doms all kinds of ways!

I am not the best tank ever by far, but heres my 2 pences worth.
love playing a TEAM tank (ie 5 and above)
so far have a 50 stone/fire (Heatshock), a 26 fire/ice (Burns Knight) and just started a 12 ice/ice (Cold Cut).
must admit - as a team orientated player - i find tanking really difficult at pre-stam, pre-SO level.
Like ur comments on "how u herd" shannon - but unfortunately; most peeps dont like advice (well meaning or otherwise). Think a thread like this is prob best way to "educate peeps"; and may even consider sticky-ing some of experienced tankers post eg shannons, golden golem, Blazing Inf etc.

The main thing however, is that peeps will play how they want to play. As will I. I just learn to adapt to wot happens on a team.

I guess - it also matters wot ur tanker is thinking. My fundamental philosophy abt tanking revolves around protecting squishies wot ever the cost (the only one I dont protect is the offending teammate(s) - u know the, the blaster who rusn in to take alpha, the scrapper who splits ur nicely formed tight mob etc). BUt for some - this may not apply; and therefore, they shouldnt be labelled "bad tanks" either

If i find a team that doesnt like a herder; i then spend the majority of my time running around trying to pick up stragglers with my aura whilst (like shannon) targeting a team mate to taunt.

If team understands herds - then all well and good.

to help clarify matters - i often see how the team works, or i just blatantly ask how they wanna play it. Alot of internal "aggro" has arisen in past PUGs cos every else thought that every else was goign play their AT in a particular style.

Think bad tanking has possibly arisen out of Brutes AT on V (the same way i initially played brutes too much like a tanker) - and although they may look similiar; both ATs actaully play quite differently.
Further to that - there seem to be more solo-orientated players around nowadays; and the game is comepletely diff solo vs team tanker IMHO

so my 2 tips for tanker school

(1) adapt to how ur team plays - instead of alwasy insisting on ur way (irrevelant if its the right way or not!).
(2) ask how ur team wants to play to avoid confusion