The Core Basics of Tanking

Cuffzter · 10-02-2007 12:06 AM

If you were to give 5 piece of advice to a new tanker, the things that you think are absolutely essential for successful (and fun) tanking, what would those be?
Remember, this is supposed to be basic advice, not "how to herd" or "take taunt"

1: You lead the way.
even if youre not the leader of the team, when it comes to initiating fights against a spawn of enemies, you are the one who should go in first in almost every case.
2: target the big guys.
3/5s of the other ATs dont have very good status protection, and thus can get troubles with Bosses. You should focus on these first
3: make sure youre supported.
when all is going well, its possible that you run ahead and takes on more enemies than you can handle, take a glance over your shoulder now and then to check to see if the team following you.
4: run all defences
Its your attacks that drains endurance, not your defences (well, most of it anyway) so use them all and as often as possible. Its better to run out of the blue bar than the green.
5: be flexible
dont rely on a single tactic, but try to learn how to deal with enemies in different ways, and find out what tactic is best against a given foe or with a specific team set-up.

UNION
Officer Cuffz lvl 50 Inv/Nrg Tank
Badge lvl 50 dwarf/human Peacebringer
Dark Air lvl 50 Ice/Cold Corruptor
Ayre lvl 50 Storm/Elec Defender

Total Cat: @Officer Cuffz

"When I say interview, I mean engage in combat and defeat..." -Laura Brunetti, on how to deal with Warriors.

SinergyX_EU · 10-02-2007 05:35 AM

i always start with another:
1. know your enemy. Nothing is worse then running in a group of mobs they actualy do damage you hardly resist or no defence against.. Alpha can be deadly. Wich mob does what, wich damage do they do, wich effect they cast (slow/recharge/perc/acc etc). A granite facing 1 group of Psi mobs is nothing more then a blaster with a trashload of HP, prepare yourself with purple and orange insperations. Numberous of examples, know your enemy.

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New Dawn · 10-05-2007 11:28 PM

1) Know your enemy. Sometimes the answers to problems are not in your build but lie in theirs and its always good to know what to expect or remember from previous times. On newer enemies be progressive.

2) Get to know the team. Sometimes the answers are not in your build but in theirs. In newer teams be progressive.

3) Make sure they get to know you. You have a method to keep people from being critically injured and defeated aka getting debt to non RPers but that means nothing if the team are acting against any game mechanic you and the team can work to or around.

4) Get to know the enemy before the enemy get to know the team. We tanking now

5) Make sure the enemy know you before they know the team. Just because they saw you and run with the crowd doesn't mean they are looking for you. They have to be definately taunted/gauntleted.

Number 1 is most important for AVs.

He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.

_Jack__EU · 10-06-2007 09:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]

2: target the big guys.
3/5s of the other ATs dont have very good status protection, and thus can get troubles with Bosses. You should focus on these first

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd actually say, where possible keep the bosses targeted on you but you target the minions first. Same goes if solo. Where possible take out the minions quickly then focus on the Boss. Bosses can be a grind if you have limited DPS and while you concentrate on them the minions and LTs are getting too many free shots on you.

JayLeonHart_EU · 10-06-2007 11:29 AM

The single most important thing for a Tanker - take your mez protection(s) as soon as possible and never, ever, ever turn it(them) off. Everything else is just gravy

@Jay Leon Hart
Kerensky: this has nothing to do with underwear
Zwillinger: I put on my robe and wizard hat...
Synapse: I had to resist starting my last post off with "Yo dawg!"

Alvan · 10-06-2007 02:18 PM

1) You set the pace. This means being in the next group before someone else. This can turn into a race if you have a good blaster in the team, but it's your job to win that race.

2) You may have no ranged attacks, but you are a ranged attack - be mobile if something out of your reach needs attention.

3) Expect everyone else to do their job. You do yours. If someone needs healing and you have Aid Other so that you can get Aid Self, don't drop everything and run to the other guy to Aid Other him if you're in middle of Aggro management.

4) Insp up. Inspirations don't hurt anyone.

5) You are not a unique beautiful snowflake - if you act like a jerk, you can be easilly replaced in a team. Be respectful to other people and their opinions.