The Vent Tent - Poor PuGs and Other Terrible Tales

[Kurt S.]

Hah whenever I enter a PUG as a tank, there's always that little disclaimer that I'm horribad and we'll all die horribly. 

 

Then we finish Fractal in 20mins without dying. 

 

Sometimes people don't get the Dark Humor and leave or kick me but that's okay.

 

Still though, when you're left Machinist Tanking...it makes you realize...anything can be a tank if you're brave/smart enough. I mean it's totally not because the DRK not only did not have Darkside on but also Grit. And I'm a MACHINIST. A MACHINIST. HOW THE HELL DID I MANAGE TO SURPASS A NIN AND BECOME TANK FOR HALF THE RUN?!

 

Then there's my recent dusk vigil episode as a DRG wherein I learned that bloodbath and foresight and poledancing can keep me alive since the healer's on auto-pilot and barely paying attention while the PLD was busy using Sword Oath. WHY?!

 

Why is it that when I tank everything goes smoothly but when I don't tank...I still have to tank?!

[I'nhalki]

After a few weeks of off-tanking Ravana and being super judgy of the healers who couldn't stay out of the way of the rotation I healed it last night and am never ever ever going to judge a healer in my head during the rotation phase. >_>;

 

Reposted from tumblr (couldn't find artist!)

 

[Dat Oni]

so I try to aggro the bastard over to the first boulder so we can burn his ass, right?

 

This was your mistake. You don't need to move that boss anywhere to start, he'll do it on his own. The way threat works especially early game, if the tank doesn't establish agro early you -will- lose threat.

 

As DPS, If I manage to get the 1st couple of strikes on a mob before you do as the tank, your job just became that much more difficult. You'll spend the rest of your time fighting for hate or just scraping by.

 

Don't ever -expect- DPS to stop doing their thing just because you've lost hate, because they won't. Especially in a pugged group.

 

It's a mistake by merit of not judging a pugged dps group properly. Because, by all means, these guys were giving me shit the whole instance. They couldn't even do the 2nd boss properly.

 

The thing is, before that, I was doing MRD because I had flash/overpower to keep hate with. I could have probably gained a massive amount of hate in that situation as MRD.

 

It's only now that I try and level PLD to get provoke afterwards and going through this shit that I understand that GLD is gated as fuck and pugs will make me their bitch.

 

Lesson learned.

 

I'm standing by this quote, though, as all Tanks can relate.

 

...My apparent deal with the devil to get short queues requires I shepherd Hell's flock of raving psychos and idiots through a field of landmines and get whipped for it the whole time by the thankless morons.

[rainichan]

And that's pretty much why I refuse to pug as a tank. Someone else I follow on tumblr had issues in AV earlier while he ran as a tank.

 

Still, sorry to hear that. :\ That's the absolute worst.

[Dravus]

My experiences as a tank have generally been positive, even in random groups. I get the occasional bad group, yes, but it's not a constant issue. Though anybody considering a career as a tank - or a healer - needs to develop a thick skin if only to shield them whenever they do get a bad group.

[Kage]

My experiences as a tank have generally been positive, even in random groups. I get the occasional bad group, yes, but it's not a constant issue. Though anybody considering a career as a tank - or a healer - needs to develop a thick skin if only to shield them whenever they do get a bad group.

I might have had a few gripes here and there but I am much happier doing dungeons as a tank than I do with healing. Pretty happy with my tanking experience.

[Ashe]

1. When I get into  SoF on trial roulette and people just leave. I did that shit when it was still hard. Get over you damn PTSD and just do it! That shit can be finished without dragonkillers now >.< (but I'm always on DKs...don't you dare try to take it from me. I DON'T TRUST YOU!!!)

 

2.  People who can't finish Chrysalis. Just give up on everything. Please.

 

3.  MCHs. I see a MCH in the party and the second they use that knockback move when it's not needed I leave. YOU DON'T HAVE AGGRO. YOU DON'T NEED TO MESS UP THE MELEE DPS BECAUSE YOU'RE STUPID.

 

4. When I do Leveling roulette as my Black Mage, get library, everyone else is 59 and I'm 60, no item level sync and just wrecking shit and pulling aggro and people wonder why. I'm i185 and you're i140 at best. Do the math!

 

5. MCHs.

 

6. Ninjas who a) don't use DoTs and b) complain about their rotation. You don't know the struggle until you're a black mage and nothing makes sense anymore >.< I finished HW twice because I was avoiding youuuuu /cry

 

7. In Alex normal when people pretend they know the mechanics when they don't. "Oh, I'll take .5 too!" adds spawn, I'm BLM tanking shit at this point, you let me die because you aren't paying attention...we wipe. We explain mechanics to you. Repeat this five times and then you go "Why is no one explaining the mechanics to me boo hoo"...shut up omg >.<

 

8. DRGs and MCHs.

 

9. MCHs.

 

Sorry, I know there are good MCHs out there but you never end up in my PUG groups.

[Korin]

 

7. In Alex normal when people pretend they know the mechanics when they don't. "Oh, I'll take .5 too!" adds spawn, I'm BLM tanking shit at this point, you let me die because you aren't paying attention...we wipe. We explain mechanics to you. Repeat this five times and then you go "Why is no one explaining the mechanics to me boo hoo"...shut up omg >.<

 

Alex Normal when you're tanking and the DPS aren't doing their job, but all you can do is watch them flail about and kill all four alarums in the wrong places.

 

You'd think the first part would be the easiest, wouldn't you...? *sobs*

[mongi291]

1. When I get into  SoF on trial roulette and people just leave. I did that shit when it was still hard. Get over you damn PTSD and just do it! That shit can be finished without dragonkillers now >.< (but I'm always on DKs...don't you dare try to take it from me. I DON'T TRUST YOU!!!)

 

2.  People who can't finish Chrysalis. Just give up on everything. Please.

 

3.  MCHs. I see a MCH in the party and the second they use that knockback move when it's not needed I leave. YOU DON'T HAVE AGGRO. YOU DON'T NEED TO MESS UP THE MELEE DPS BECAUSE YOU'RE STUPID.

 

4. When I do Leveling roulette as my Black Mage, get library, everyone else is 59 and I'm 60, no item level sync and just wrecking shit and pulling aggro and people wonder why. I'm i185 and you're i140 at best. Do the math!

 

5. MCHs.

 

6. Ninjas who a) don't use DoTs and b) complain about their rotation. You don't know the struggle until you're a black mage and nothing makes sense anymore >.< I finished HW twice because I was avoiding youuuuu /cry

 

7. In Alex normal when people pretend they know the mechanics when they don't. "Oh, I'll take .5 too!" adds spawn, I'm BLM tanking shit at this point, you let me die because you aren't paying attention...we wipe. We explain mechanics to you. Repeat this five times and then you go "Why is no one explaining the mechanics to me boo hoo"...shut up omg >.<

 

8. DRGs and MCHs.

 

9. MCHs.

 

Sorry, I know there are good MCHs out there but you never end up in my PUG groups.

Keep in mind it's not only a knockback, but a damaging oGCD, too, so it's DPS increase for them. So a Machinist hellbent on their rotation WILL use it on CD.

I would have preferred something like Repelling Shot anyway, but we're stuck with that.

(I picked MCH up today please don't hate me >_<)

[Ashe]

 

Alex Normal when you're tanking and the DPS aren't doing their job, but all you can do is watch them flail about and kill all four alarums in the wrong places.

 

You'd think the first part would be the easiest, wouldn't you...? *sobs*

Can "Alex Normal" just be a thing in general haha? 

Trust me, it's bad for DPS who do know what their doing and then it's those one or two people who don't and then just conveniently don't say anything like "oh, it'll work out" that screw over the ones who do and then everyone gets mad and then it all goes to hell then vote abandon and then.../lies down

[Korin]

 

Alex Normal when you're tanking and the DPS aren't doing their job, but all you can do is watch them flail about and kill all four alarums in the wrong places.

 

You'd think the first part would be the easiest, wouldn't you...? *sobs*

Can "Alex Normal" just be a thing in general haha? 

Trust me, it's bad for DPS who do know what their doing and then it's those one or two people who don't and then just conveniently don't say anything like "oh, it'll work out" that screw over the ones who do and then everyone gets mad and then it all goes to hell then vote abandon and then.../lies down

 

I have to admit...I've never really encountered any problems aside from my awful rolls in the rest of Alexander. I lost count of how many gordian shaft rolls I failed to win this week before I finally rolled a 99 and managed to win one! Hooray! At least it'll save me a daily EX or two, I suppose! *twitch*

 

But I CAN understand the DPS feeling. I play MCH on Korin (don't hate meee) and it's just cringey to see your fellow DPS failing to pick up mechanics. In one of my A4 runs I had the most vile bard...Who kept dancing around while the lasers were targetting him, getting himself killed, complaining that no one helped him, and then proceeding to whine at me for promoting my bishop instead of my rook because he needed TP - And shouting at the healers for running out of MP too fast...

[Ashe]

 

Alex Normal when you're tanking and the DPS aren't doing their job, but all you can do is watch them flail about and kill all four alarums in the wrong places.

 

You'd think the first part would be the easiest, wouldn't you...? *sobs*

Can "Alex Normal" just be a thing in general haha? 

Trust me, it's bad for DPS who do know what their doing and then it's those one or two people who don't and then just conveniently don't say anything like "oh, it'll work out" that screw over the ones who do and then everyone gets mad and then it all goes to hell then vote abandon and then.../lies down

 

I have to admit...I've never really encountered any problems aside from my awful rolls in the rest of Alexander. I lost count of how many gordian shaft rolls I failed to win this week before I finally rolled a 99 and managed to win one! Hooray! At least it'll save me a daily EX or two, I suppose! *twitch*

 

But I CAN understand the DPS feeling. I play MCH on Korin (don't hate meee) and it's just cringey to see your fellow DPS failing to pick up mechanics. In one of my A4 runs I had the most vile bard...Who kept dancing around while the lasers were targetting him, getting himself killed, complaining that no one helped him, and then proceeding to whine at me for promoting my bishop instead of my rook because he needed TP - And shouting at the healers for running out of MP too fast...

 

Pfffffft...Gee, I wonder how the healers could gain their MP back... /sarcasm 

Bards are funny too. Many don't know how to use their songs. I am one of those bards hence why I don't actually use it EVER. I know I suck at Bard and I leveled it to 50 for the fancy gear for RP...and after that I was like "Man, I suck." and stopped. But hey, at least I had the common sense to know I sucked....

 

My rolls this week for the springs >.< ARGH. Got 1, 2, and 4 drops first day and took all week for floor 3. I did the asshole thing by taking people I knew who didn't need the drops to sit out the rolls and pressure people to leave >> Yup. I was an ass. But I was an a desperate ass .><

[Korin]

I don't blame you. It's awful, even after the extra loot was added - Just reminds you how unlucky your rolls can be...I'm pretty sure my first win, though, was a complete and utter joke - I rolled a 7, and...four other people rolled lower than that.

 

Levelling classes for fancy RP gear is an awful thing...It's why I end up blasting out so much gil onto my alts. Those crafting sets are adorable and they need them! They do!

 

...Honest! ;;

[Ashe]

That time I rolled a 1...

I was just...nope. 

Plus for the springs in floor 3, it's like, 1-2 lenses/cranks and then only one spring >.<

 

That Au Ra....I invested so much gil into her for the 110 NIN/ROG top plus all of the gear 1-60. She's also 50 on SMN/SCH and I leveled Ninja AFTER the SMN/SCH was 50.

Like...she's no normal.

So much gil.

So much gear.

So many bad groups >.<

[Glacirus]

My experiences as a tank have generally been positive, even in random groups. I get the occasional bad group, yes, but it's not a constant issue. Though anybody considering a career as a tank - or a healer - needs to develop a thick skin if only to shield them whenever they do get a bad group.

 

I can say, as a healer, tanks get it worse than healers in my own experience. Maybe it's because I'm a half-decent healer that can keep everyone alive 95% of the time, or because I actually own up when it's my fuck-up that wipes us, but for every bit of hate/badmouthing I get from PUGs, I get 3-4 PUGs where the tank gets all the hate.

[Desu Nee]

I'm a terrible Machinist so I just want to apologize to whoever had to deal with me.

[SunTzu7]

Alex has been terrible in general this week, especially today where I ran Floor 3 seven times, each time rolling for the Spring in the high nineties and losing in every instance, but here's some general lessons to be learned.

 

1. If I or someone else does a Ready Check before the boss, do not decide you're going to be Main Tank by running in and pulling before the Ready Check is over.

 

2. If I go to pull Faust and you go to pull Faust at the same time, and I end up with more aggro than you when the first add appears, do not solidify your claim to Main Tank status by refusing to go pick up the adds.

 

3. If a bomb drops in Floor Two on one side of the party, it does not need to be dragged to the other side of the party. It especially does not need to be dragged through the middle of the party.

 

4. If you have a i160 weapon, and I have a i200 weapon, I am very likely to keep aggro despite your efforts to take it off me. Standing in the cleaves isn't helping your case.

 

5. Do not pull every single trash mob on Floor 3, then spam Unleash to hold them, if you can't then survive the resulting assault. 

 

5b. Burning all your MP doing Dark Arts Power Slash to pull Living Liquid off me is a great way to lose your Darkside.

 

5c. Doing that, then refusing to turn the hand on the party, expecting me to run up and save you by soaking with you, is immensely presumptuous.

 

5d. I'm sure that on some planet, doing Dark Arts Power Slash during my attempt at a tank swap while you have 8 stacks, and continuing to do that, is a wise strategy. This is Earth however, your death shouldn't really have surprised you.

 

5e. Doing it all again the next time we get partnered in DF did not prove you any more of a badass than the first time.

 

I suppose the overall lesson is, if you want to be the Main Tank, ask me if you can be the Main Tank before the pull. If you're a Dark Knight/Warrior and I'm a Paladin, I assume I'm the main because you will deal more damage than I will as an OT. But I will totally turn Sword Oath on if you ask first.

[Laike]

Was doing a lower level dungeon today. And someone said I should overpower more. Which I didn't really agree with but wasn't technically wrong either.

 

So I just responded, "Righto Guvnah!"

 

He didn't talk again and I'm pretty sure he commended me at the end of the instance.

 

I think people might be worried about offending a British guy.

 

Just a tip for all you tanks out there.

[Eses Fafa]

Well..today, I've been through a few dungeons to level myself to 59 as a DRG. ALL of my tanks failed to hold threat on the mobs they've been focusing. I'm not using any abilities that generate threat, and I'm not THAT good, so why is it that I can't find a good tank?!

[Korin]

Well..today, I've been through a few dungeons to level myself to 59 as a DRG. ALL of my tanks failed to hold threat on the mobs they've been focusing. I'm not using any abilities that generate threat, and I'm not THAT good, so why is it that I can't find a good tank?!

 

I'm starting to suspect some pugtanks have a mindset of "If I use defiance/grit/shield oath, I can spam my DPS combo" these days. It's terrifying...

[Eses Fafa]

Well..today, I've been through a few dungeons to level myself to 59 as a DRG. ALL of my tanks failed to hold threat on the mobs they've been focusing. I'm not using any abilities that generate threat, and I'm not THAT good, so why is it that I can't find a good tank?!

 

I'm starting to suspect some pugtanks have a mindset of "If I use defiance/grit/shield oath, I can spam my DPS combo" these days. It's terrifying...

First Vault, then Ravana..our main tank struggled to hold threat focus on a boss with no adds against a Dragoon!

[Korin]

Well..today, I've been through a few dungeons to level myself to 59 as a DRG. ALL of my tanks failed to hold threat on the mobs they've been focusing. I'm not using any abilities that generate threat, and I'm not THAT good, so why is it that I can't find a good tank?!

 

I'm starting to suspect some pugtanks have a mindset of "If I use defiance/grit/shield oath, I can spam my DPS combo" these days. It's terrifying...

First Vault, then Ravana..our main tank struggled to hold threat focus on a boss with no adds against a Dragoon!

 

Perhaps you're a better dragoon than you're giving yourself credit for, and the tanks just can't handle it no matter how hard they try!

[Kellach Woods]

if you're being out threated as a tank here's a few easy solutions

 

- Upgrade your weapon

- Let it happen, provoke, immediately use your ranged if out of range, threat combo if not.

- If that doesn't work insert flashes in-between

- If that doesn't work re-evaluate class choice

[mongi291]

if you're being out threated as a tank here's a few easy solutions

 

- Upgrade your weapon

- Let it happen, provoke, immediately use your ranged if out of range, threat combo if not.

- If that doesn't work insert flashes in-between

- If that doesn't work re-evaluate class choice

I'd add another point between 3 and 4.

- If that doesn't work, look at the party: if you have a Ninja, tell him to stop using Smoke Screen on you while you're pulling.

... It awfully happens a lot.

[Kage]

if you're being out threated as a tank here's a few easy solutions

 

- Upgrade your weapon

- Let it happen, provoke, immediately use your ranged if out of range, threat combo if not.

- If that doesn't work insert flashes in-between

- If that doesn't work re-evaluate class choice

I'd add another point between 3 and 4.

- If that doesn't work, look at the party: if you have a Ninja, tell him to stop using Smoke Screen on you while you're pulling.

... It awfully happens a lot.

Is smoke screen the one that is the Ninja aggro-dump? Shouldn't it actually put the threat on you?

 

I ask, because I actually had a Ninja tell me that they will happily pull more mobs than I wanted and just place aggro on me so I can't -actually just let them die.- I don't mind big pulls but pull something without asking me to is just rude. Let me know, ask, etc. Don't just do it.