Stone Armor vs. Willpower

So I've read some very mixed views on comparing the two defensive sets. Some have said Stone is clearly better as you can softcap defense and cap S/L resistance as well as getting your other resistances mighty close. Your only weakness is Psionics. Others have said that Granite is far too crippling to be considered better than WP. Willpower, after all, gives more endurance recovery, an auto-boost to max HP and very well-rounded defenses (including the achilles' heel of Stone, Psionics).

So what I'm asking is which set is better, and why? I don't expect to get a definite answer, as opinions will vary, but I want to know what people think.

To clarify, I'm talking end-game, all-round effectiveness. So don't go saying "WP is better off in the beginning" or something similar. I want Granite's obvious weaknesses accounted for. Also, I'm not seeking "which is better in extreme situations" answers. Because when it comes down to tanking a horde of monsters in Tempest Quay, Granite clearly gets the nod.

The correct answer is........

Invuln, or DA, or.......

Seriously, you are comparing apples to Oranges. Willpower is sexy, it's new, it sucks against Alpha Strikes, the regen is badass.

Stone is a pita without a kin around unless you blow a huge amount of cash to make it self sufficient.

But at the end of the day, they are very different types of tanks in their mechanics and playstyle.

Invuln, for considerably less, can be made essentially as strong as stone, without the negatives of stone, but still lacking in psi resist/def.

My DA, which is my personal favorite tank, and I have a high level tank of every primary except shield(my next project tank). Almost fully IO'd, when i finish, which will be soon, I will have softcapped defense and 70%s/l resistance, not too shabby for end game. Also, I will have 70-80% (I cant remember exactly off the top of my head) resistance to psi.

Then again, my fire will be pretty solid when I finish with him too, not quite granite, and a ton more damage. just under softcap on def, and 70% resist.

Then there is Ice, and SD, and well, you get the idea. Making a specific tank for endgame is fine, but if you hate the sets, why bother, find a set you like, and make it work.

Contrary to what some will tell you, there is no "best". They all have their strengths and weaknesses. But, with a bit of planning and a little research, EVERY type of tank can be a force to be wreckoned with.

In truth? Willpower has the advantage for 99% of content in the game. It's that one percent that people roll Granites for, and even in those situation Willpower has a chance.

But that still leaves out Shields and Invulnerability. Both of which are very sexy with IOs. Shield especially.

All Tankers can be up to the task of a tower buffed Recluse. All tankers are up to entire STF or even a MoSTF for practically any mix of powersets. No certain powersets need to be a requirement. Some people have a tendency to go "Granite, so need a Kin, oh and its an AV so we will need a Rad, GW has soul storm and LR hurts alot so an Empath is ideal" and it goes on from there. Truth is, that's living to a law that people have given themselves and others can be led to think that it happens to be the only way. Its not, it generally doesn't matter what powerset combos or choices that are made, what matters can be down to power choices within those powersets and the slotting decisions of those powers and then everyone playing to eachothers strengths as well as their own.

I think the game is kind of cool for still having barely exposed secrets but at the sametime I begrudge people being picked on their powersets. I like to value peoples concepts rather than their efficiency.

Granite takes it, even with SO's.

Mkay, my first post I had little playtime with a WP, most was mid level, and my build was borked. Was working from what I had seen, and should have known better.

Now that I have a solid build, no IOs yet, but a solid build none the less, I have to say that I like WP a HELLUVA lot more than stone. My only regret on my WP tank is that it is EM. If they fix ET I may never play another toon again.

I have to agree with Kruunch, most of the stoners I see are terrible tanks. My stoner was my 3rd tank, I only got him to 50 because i was tired of lookin at him at level 42 for 2 years, as I quit playing him after ED hit and it became a sloth. Yeah, keybound teleport helps, but I still hate the lack of full mobility, and I always will. Am considering trying out a non Granite build to see if I can make him fun again. That or when all my other toons are fully IO'd MAYBE I will throw a ton of cash at him to make him more livable. My DA can hang with pretty much every Stoner I have run into lately.

On the other hand, my WP tank, man, I didn't realize how friggin tough they were. Before respec, walked into level 53 mob and got faceplanted instantly. After respec, in a solid group with another tank, I was running 3 groups ahead and herding em into the group while the other tank and trollers kept em locked down. We were half way up the map on the way back to the front and everything was dead. I hate to say it, but I think I actually like WP more than DA. Plan on making another one with a different secondary, as I hate, and I mean HATE, EM now.