I just never was the DPS sort. I mean, I’ve played the class enough times, but a great amount of DPS’ers really just feel they bring one of two things to the table–either DoT hurting or burst hurting. You can color and cover it any way you want, but a Scrapper is a Ninja is a Thief is a Necromancer.
Tanking, however, feels different to me. More vital. More nuanced.
…well, as nuanced as one can be while being a giant monster dude with a huge spear.
Sure, one can certainly argue that tanking is even more one-note than DPS. You taunt things, you herd things and that’s sort of about it. Still, I enjoy doing that stuff…and it really is perhaps a lot more involved than most people think.
For one, you’re the leader of the group, for better or worse. Sure, you’ve got some DPS players who charge into enemy mobs, and you’re at the mercy of the healer’s skills to carry you to success or failure…but you still are the lynchpin for the whole run. Nobody should make a move unless you do. Nobody can really command how content operates like the tank…and tankers can adapt around what’s happening to meet pace with the group. I would be lying if I didn’t say I thrive in that sort of environment.
Secondly, I just feel more empowered when I’m in a tanker’s armor. DPS are without doubt empowering in the sort of damage they dish out, sure…but I have always been a fan of winning by attrition rather than winning because I cut things in to ribbons. I love that I can run face-first into the fist of a big ass rock golem, take the punch in the mouth, and smirk at him and say “I hope you’ve got better than that.”
Also, we have neater clothes.
In the age of the instant party finder, having to wait for a party run as a DPS is the sort of hell that reminds me too damned much of Final Fantasy Xi…which I just can’t bother myself with anymore with the way my life operates. Tankers are always in demand in MMOs…and while I hardly would consider myself to be a great tanker, I like to think that I’m worth the wait…or at the very least, I try to be.
I don’t particularly expect to be thanked. In fact, tanking is about as thankless as it gets in many MMOs, though arguably not as thankless as a DPS’er. All the same, I don’t really expect any grand praise or reward for my chosen digital vocation. I just really like being the sort that people need to depend on.
My favorite letters in MMO gaming are “LFM”
Obviously, like any job or class, we tankers are not without our faults. I sure as hell am not. For example, I have bitten off more than I can chew on a number of occasions. I also have something of a documented casual playstyle, and so if I fall behind on the greater progression meta, I can be left at a pretty serious disadvantage in holding threat. And then, of course, there are the moments when I just sort of forget my rotation or miss a skill. Sure, that’s sometimes not entirely my fault, but that doesn’t mean I don’t shoulder the blame.
Speaking on a more personal level, I tend to take my leadership role perhaps a bit too close to the vest. If something goes terribly wrong with an encounter and I’m the one to blame, I feel absolutely, honestly, physically ill. Especially if the failures happen multiple times. The Odin encounter in Final Fantasy XIV is a prime example–this instance requires a Paladin in specific to be successful, and demands that you are on point with activating cooldowns and avoiding the fire. It is probably one of the single hardest things I’ve done in the game…and while I’ve cleared it on more than a few times just thinking about the encounter gets my heartrate up. And not in the “Oh boy I get to eat chicken wings soon!” kinda way.
Despite those pitfalls, though, I adore being the tanker. I tend to gravitate to the classes that let me face the brunt of an enemy’s might and just slowly whittle them away. Not a whole lot of DPS classes made me feel a lot like I was able to weather a storm.
Where a DPS is the eye of the hurricane, the tanker is the palm tree swaying against the wind, letting itself feel the breeze.
While everyone else is dying around me, I’m enjoying the cool sound effect of that conal attack.
Through Wolfy's Eyes 
I usually play DPS rolls, but in FFXIV, however, I’m really interested in tanking. I have a level 51 Paladin, and I’m leveling Warrior on the side. I think, though, I get intimidated by the “leader of the group” thing. I don’t know everything about every dungeon out there, and certainly not from a tank perspective.
Tanks seem to need a certain amount of spacial and battle awareness, I feel. They need to always know where everything is (both creatures and hate) in relation to themselves and other folks during battle. I also feel like they need a good memory in knowing where pulls are, where surprises happen and which mobs die first. That doesn’t come naturally to everyone, so my props to good tanks!
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Indeed, watching a good tank in action is one of the most lovely experiences in MMO gaming I can think of. It’s always cool to see someone in your group step up ad shine.
I doubt I’m one of those folks, but if I’m not hearing complaints I call it a win, in my book. XD
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I think it’s great that you tank, because tanking is definitely one of the lesser played roles! Everyone always needs a good tank.
I’ve always wanted to play whatever is most “needed” for a group, which means I’ve played every role depending on the game and my group. FFXIV, I haven’t managed to start tanking regularly yet and for some reason I’m really nervous! I know I’m expected to lead the party somewhat, and I find that a bit intimidating!
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It is intimidating, no doubt…but I always suggest anyone to at least give it one swing and see how they feel about it. If you find being the head of the group a thrill, then enjoy! If not, then don’t touch the class ever again!
Gaming is gaming, and it should never feel like it’s work or a source of stress.
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I love tanking with friends, but hate it with strangers. Generally, I heal, though my real preference is the off-dps/support/jack-of-all-trades sort. I got that from playing a lot of hybrids back when MMOs were cool with players not being the best at much, but still useful.
I do still tank on occasion though. It’s mostly a matter of confidence for me.
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I miss the hell out of a good control class, that’s for sure…though those came with plenty of their own headaches. Can’t tell you how many times I set up a nice big pack of mobs to sleep peacefully in City of Heroes only o have the Scrapper dash in and AoE them all awake.
Tanking with friends–really, MMO ANYTHING with friends–is a wonderful experience. That’s why I kinda try to advocate for my favorite titles so that way I can play with buds. Failing that, I just try to make new ones in-game.
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I loved my Kinetic Defender. Buffing/debuffing/CCing was so nice!
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Hmm. Intresting point of view. It kind of is close to why i mostly heal.
All in all, both tanks and healers usually are on short supply and i generally tend to make sure that i can cover both. Also, leadership or guidance is not limited to the tank and actually when coordinating a group via TS, i find it easier to keep track of things happening as healer, than i do as tank. (When tanking i too often have the whole screen full of boss and can’t really see much of the rest. )
Due to role flexibility, i also very much appreciate classless games, where you are not tied into one role. (Classical example: SWG. Currently still running example: TSW. ) In the extreme i remember one dungeon run (through several dungeons in a row), where i served as tank, runner, healer and dps/interrupter within one evening and all on the same character. 🙂
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Being a “backline leader” has its benefits, to be sure…though most of the group actions I’ve taken had me steering the ship as well as tanking, so that’s where my experience lies in regards to this post. That’s not to say you’re a dirty, filthy liar of course. XD
I have not seen many classless games do it terribly well. TSW is close…but you still kinda hamstring yourself if you try to play to your own style or a jack-of-all-trades. GW2 is even worse for that sort of thing right now. Honestly, the closest I have seen a classless character work well is in the Freeform powerset in Champions Online. I was almost never able to make a build that was terrible, and that freedom of choice was damn liberating.
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Yea. Different experiences, but i’ll never really see the advantage of tank-leadership. In PvE the healer is the best option in my eyes, in Warhammer Online (PvP) i even found that leading was easiest as ranged DPS. [If the healer spent some time evaluating the situation, people died. If the DPS did so, it primarily meant that enemies didn’t die, but without proper coordination that didn’t happen, anyway. ]
On GW2, that’s just wild zerging. Everybody runs, rolls, tries to do damage and hopes not to die. And surprise, surprise, for the next expansion a hate mechanic is announced, so more traditional tanking will be possible.
On TSW: I wonder what you mean with hamstringing yourself. When playing solo, you can combine a lot into your character. My usual setup includes one interrupt, some active healing and enough damage to kill enemies, but other people run with different setups. In dungeons you still have to fullfill a role, so of course you have to build according to what you are expected to do. And while there are people who heal-tank, while i’ve been in a group who managed to do a dungeon without a designated tank and while i’ve already run interrupts as DD or healer, most people stick to the old tank/healer/dps formula. It’s not necessarily the best and in some nightmare dungeons it doesn’t even work, but it’s what most people can easily adjust to, without requiring the excessive preparation necessary when running a non-traditional distribution of duties.
The only limitation is that you have to have gear suitable for your task, but with a the exception of trying to run some special setups (like the heal-tank or the DPS-healer), looted equipment is sufficient for the task. Just make an extra bag to have one weapon of each type and a set of talismans for tanking, healing and damage and you are generally good to go.
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