(EDIT - this was typed out on a horrible laptop keyboard, so forgive the poor typing)
The thing is, tanking in FFXIV is objectively more challenging than in most other games I have played.
Rift? I loved my Reaver-Tank build (which is pretty much what DRK is sounding like). It worked and was fun to play.
LOTRO? I didn't raid with my hobbit Guardian, but again, it was a fun role and it worked.
AoC? I had a Dark Templar, and enjoyed playing it as far as I did. I never had trouble holding aggro; I quit playing the class for RP reasons only.
SWTOR? I tanked Hard Mode Flashpoints routinely with my Shieldtech Bounty Hunter. The RAIDS were a major challenge for tanks, with lots of tank-swapping, but outside of those? No problem.
FFXIV seems to make tanking much harder than any of those games did. I have had much more trouble holding aggro tanking in this one than in any other.
But I don't think it's strictly the fault of the tanks, since FFXIV, in my experience, is designed to pull aggro OFF of tanks more so than any of those other games, as far as I've gotten.
FFXIV's dps classes strongly lack an Aggro Dump, for one problem. Quelling Strikes, for example, reduces GENERATION of Aggro, but does not seem to reduce the existing level. DRG and MNK do not have a good aggro dump, nor do the healing classes, compared to many other mmos, in which many classes do have something more to help reduce aggro, even if it is a panic button.
The result is that at least 90% of aggro management in FFXIV, in my limited experience, rests on the shoulders of the tanks, so much so that they have to fight not just healer and dps, but very often each other.
If we want to see more people be comfortable playing TANKS, perhaps SE ought to give more hate management skills to EVERY OTHER CLASS so that dungeons become more a cooperative effort than wondering "can the tank hold hate?"
And yes, I consider this very much on topic, related to the posts above. I can't blame anyone for not wanting to be a tank, hence not a DRK, until the FFXIV hate system stops demanding so much of the role and spreads the active ability to manage hate to other classes.
So, yes, I respect people who enjoy tanking and can do it well. SE admits openly that tanking IS more of a challenge by the tacit addition of extra xp and seals for Tanks in duty finder. A more balanced system wouldn't need so much extra enticement. We all want more tanks because holding hate in FFXIV is a challenge, and I agree with others that a lot of DRKs are going to get ditched at 50 unless roles find more balancing in Heavenward.
So, what do we need? Maybe a hate-reducing song for bards (Quelling strikes is NOT a panic button and can't be used that way), a quick aggro-dump for healers (long recharge is ok), and a bodyguard sort of skill, like other games have, that allow Tanks to pick a troublesome party-mate and absorb more hate from them.
Give us these, you'll see more people willing to take up the Greatsword and KEEP it. But otherwise, I can't see Heavensward affecting the overall tank population percentage past, oh, two months. Because shotguns are just as cool as swords.
The thing is, tanking in FFXIV is objectively more challenging than in most other games I have played.
Rift? I loved my Reaver-Tank build (which is pretty much what DRK is sounding like). It worked and was fun to play.
LOTRO? I didn't raid with my hobbit Guardian, but again, it was a fun role and it worked.
AoC? I had a Dark Templar, and enjoyed playing it as far as I did. I never had trouble holding aggro; I quit playing the class for RP reasons only.
SWTOR? I tanked Hard Mode Flashpoints routinely with my Shieldtech Bounty Hunter. The RAIDS were a major challenge for tanks, with lots of tank-swapping, but outside of those? No problem.
FFXIV seems to make tanking much harder than any of those games did. I have had much more trouble holding aggro tanking in this one than in any other.
But I don't think it's strictly the fault of the tanks, since FFXIV, in my experience, is designed to pull aggro OFF of tanks more so than any of those other games, as far as I've gotten.
FFXIV's dps classes strongly lack an Aggro Dump, for one problem. Quelling Strikes, for example, reduces GENERATION of Aggro, but does not seem to reduce the existing level. DRG and MNK do not have a good aggro dump, nor do the healing classes, compared to many other mmos, in which many classes do have something more to help reduce aggro, even if it is a panic button.
The result is that at least 90% of aggro management in FFXIV, in my limited experience, rests on the shoulders of the tanks, so much so that they have to fight not just healer and dps, but very often each other.
If we want to see more people be comfortable playing TANKS, perhaps SE ought to give more hate management skills to EVERY OTHER CLASS so that dungeons become more a cooperative effort than wondering "can the tank hold hate?"
And yes, I consider this very much on topic, related to the posts above. I can't blame anyone for not wanting to be a tank, hence not a DRK, until the FFXIV hate system stops demanding so much of the role and spreads the active ability to manage hate to other classes.
So, yes, I respect people who enjoy tanking and can do it well. SE admits openly that tanking IS more of a challenge by the tacit addition of extra xp and seals for Tanks in duty finder. A more balanced system wouldn't need so much extra enticement. We all want more tanks because holding hate in FFXIV is a challenge, and I agree with others that a lot of DRKs are going to get ditched at 50 unless roles find more balancing in Heavenward.
So, what do we need? Maybe a hate-reducing song for bards (Quelling strikes is NOT a panic button and can't be used that way), a quick aggro-dump for healers (long recharge is ok), and a bodyguard sort of skill, like other games have, that allow Tanks to pick a troublesome party-mate and absorb more hate from them.
Give us these, you'll see more people willing to take up the Greatsword and KEEP it. But otherwise, I can't see Heavensward affecting the overall tank population percentage past, oh, two months. Because shotguns are just as cool as swords.
"But in the laugh there was another voice. A clearer laugh, an ironic laugh. A laugh which laughs because it chooses not to weep."
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