First off I want everybody to take this post with a grain of salt, while I am making a serous post I will be adding some liberal doses of levity to the best of my ability.
So, what is tanking and where do I get off posting this? I'm sure your all thinking that about this point. Truth is that I've been playing MMOs for a while, truthfully starting back at Ultima Online. Though most my experience started with WoW Closed Beta and moving forward. So yes, I'm old, live with it. LOL.
Here we are at the basis of my whole post, Tanking and attitude. I have seen (literally) thousands of tanks, and started tanking myself because I got tired of a mix of 75% bad tanks, 15% ok tanks, 7.5% decent tanks, and 2.5% good tanks. So I first had to figure out what chaffed me so much about tanks, and to be honest 90% of bad tanks have good builds, and seriously bad attitudes. We've all been there ourselves from time to time. In tOR I have 5 tanks, Jedi Guardian, Sith Juggernaut, Sith Assassin, Jedi Shadow, and Mando Powertech. (Cant get into the vanguard, even though the mechanics are just the same as the powertech. I just get more a thrill from spraying my opponents down with plasma propelled flames ). I latterly have run each type of tank to 55, and have a good feel of the pros and cons for them.
There is always more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak. There isn't just one HOLY uber tank out there, each tank has its strengths and weaknesses. So before you even decide to tank take that into account, Powertechs/Vanguards have several AE options to maintain threat over groups. Guardians/Juggernauts are excellent single target tanks, though they have some AE functionality they really don't do well with mob groups until they get saber reflect at 51(or the juggernaut equivalent). Assassin/Shadow tanks are hard to start with at first, as the primary defensive power (kinetic ward) is vary necessary. Force pull and Slow Time are also paramount for your rotation.
So what goes into making a good tank?
1 - Attitude: Having a good mental attitude helps get return groupers, as a tank we are held more responsible than any other role. Yes its true that without a tank there isn't really a group, but the same goes for heals and yes even DPS. So while your tanking don't get a god complex and go running ahead of your heals (seen it happen a lot in my time) or ***** and moan about "DPS isn't pulling their weight". Its not fair to the other players, be open to new ideas, courteous, and most importantly relax and have fun.
2 - Gear: Another way that can make for a bad tank is the wrong stats for your gear, or a bad build. Its pretty simple, NO MATTER WHAT as a tank, be you tech based or force, you need to stack Endurance. Without HPs your useless after that first "Alpha Strike" if it knocks you on your back. For force tanks (correct me if you found a better way) Bulking up on defense rating is important, but you need accuracy too, every miss is lost threat. For tech tanks its Shield chance and shield absorb that you need to stack instead of defense rating. Try to get your melee hit rate up to at least 98% if not 100%. If you feel your stats are not all they can be add in some Accuracy and Redoubt Augments at 55.
3 - Knowledge: The biggest complaint about tanks I see more often than any other is that the tank doesn't know the fights in this FP or that OP. I do my best as a tank to know the fights and do my research, that said for you non tanks reading this, you can only learn so much watching vids, reading forum posts, and the like. When you as a tank are conferrable in taking a shot at some new FP, hard mode, or OP find a group that is willing to (gear depending) take you as an off tank or even a main tank so you can apply all your studies in a practical medium.
4 - Build: So were to build, and there are a lot out there for each type. While I don't PVP myself, and the idea of a PVP tank kind of boggles me, I know its possible. Builds are vary basic, focus on the things that boost your defense, the key powers in your tree, and any debuffs to armor that is available. Its not our job as tanks to deal damage, but to absorb damage so the rest of the group does not have to, therefore damage is a afterthought for tanks.
So that is my 2 cents on that, take it as you will. Oh and one last thought, I'm sharing the knowledge I have gained though experience, I'm open to new ideas but keep your insults, and opinions to yourself. "Opinions are like noses, everybody has one and they all smell." And Insults are just rude.
