Wait, so brutes are supposed to be tanks now!?

So, I was playing with a random group on my brute the other day, and, somehow or another, it came up that I wasn't using taunt. "Brute, taunt more, keep these enemies off of me". I don't have taunt. At this point, I haven't optimized my brutes defenses, and as such, I've just been focusing on dealing damage. I thought that was the main points of brutes, deal damage, while surviving.

Sure, I like to keep as much aggro on me as I can (helps build up rage) but controlling mobs isn't exactly my top priority. I told the person complaining all of this, and, shortly after, he angrily quits (commenting on my incompetence). So now I'm wondering... is my understanding of the brutes role totally wrong? Are they supposed to be tankers for villains? I honestly thought the point of villains were they were more self reliant >_>.

That person was ... a dummy, in my opinion.

Yes, a Brute can be played that way. No, they don't have to be played that way, and honestly, not all of them are good at it. Some of the Brute secondary powersets aren't actually that hot at taking the heat for an 8-man team, and even those which can be good at it aren't necessarily so at all levels.

Regardless of whether Brutes can be played that way, I don't think they should be automatically expected to be played that way. It seems likely to me that player came in with hero-side expectations of team composition, which just doesn't hold up terribly well for villain teams.

If you can soak aggro for your teammates, I think it's good team play to do so, particularly if they're taking a lot of heat and not dealing with it well. Required by your AT icon? Not so much.

I find on red side that come down to the player, but most good players know that it down to themself managing their own aggro, and their only so much aggro a tank can handle, never mind a brute.

Sound like your playing it right, and that player was drawing too much aggro on himself, then blaming you for his own mistake. Sadly it happens, don't blame yourself, just know their always going to be that own extra keen player in your team.

I not a big brute player myself, as i like my doms too much, but my toons usually draw just as much aggro if not more, and face plant often. I never blame the brute, or tank, as i know it was my own silly fault :P

I'm going to bet that he/she was a curr or dom, that AoE heavy :P

I will tank on my Brute, but only if I know other people are going to support me while I do it. I think that's the main difference between a Brute tank and a Tanker tank. The Tanker doesn't really *need* you, but the Brute really does.

Otherwise, yeah, if you'll support me, I'll gladly jump in and have an instantly maxed fury bar. I don't have taunt or anything, but I'll punch **** dead no problem.

Ummm Yeah. Don't know about the other guy. But I myself do have a brute or two with cap resistance & semi capped hit points. They tank pretty well TY. & Keep in mind that a tank is not going to kill a 4x8 mob w/o help either, altho it my survive easier. Teamwork is the best policy in any situation. Tho shall love thy brother or the enemy of my enemy is my friend or some dumb junk like that 8)

At 50, unless u have a secondary that isnt built for holding aggro i.e dark armor, nrg a brute is at least in a sf/tf looked at for some sort of tanking.

way around it is, to either place something in ur bio saying. " i dont tank" unless ur a RP or mention it before u start a team or sf/tf so people know. well maybe not a team cos that would get somewhat annoying everytime. but at least on a sf/tf cos people do look at a brute to help witht he aggroing.

Brutes generally do one of two things: either take the initial alpha and enjoy the fury boost it gives, but have to be saved by the rest of the team since they can't solo the spawn; or, they let someone else take the alpha and then immediately jump in and save their butt.

Only certain Brutes built in certain ways can take the roll of a hero-side Tanker. Expecting any old PuG Brute to do that is stupid.

He was a something/kin corrupter, and he wasn't even doing a bad job at the kinetics part, but I guess he was drawing off my aggro than he could handle with the attacking part. The funny thing is... the team wasn't even dying. We were doing really well. Then he died once (and was the only one who died) and threw his little fit. Still, I was a bit surprised to have someone just assume I was going to tank (when I hadn't been for the last 2 or 3 missions).

Typically, players that demand brutes "tank" are usually newish to the redside and/or haven't played a brute to any significant level.

I can only wonder what the mindset of teams on blue side will be when some of us bring our brutes over during Going Rogue. Will they expect my pimped out brute to play as a tank?

Playing a certain Archetype isn't a 'chore' or 'responsibility'.

It's not set in stone what each AT should do. It is hinted what the AT is capable of, but it's up to you on how to utilize it, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Do what's fun for you!

If you want to, and can make a Brute that is a part-time Tanker, then do it! If you want to, and can make a Brute that is a part-time Stalker, then do it! If you want to, and can make a Brute that is a part-time Controller...do it!

It's not absolutely necessary for a brute to take Taunt or try to deal with aggro issues (outside of, perhaps, some Strike Force situations).

However, if you want your Speed Boost dealer alive and handing out the crazy pills instead of face-down on the floor, it's nice to be able to make people stop shooting him.

Once a few redside players see real Tanks redside, this nonsense that Brutes are "villain tanks" will forever be put to rest, and then Brutes will be able to just unleash the hurt like they were always intended to.

Everybody wins!