Wanna try tanking, but have tank anxiety? Don't worry...

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Originally Posted by Kibby

It's weird, though, but I have no problem being a healer even though lives are literally in your hands as a healer, but tanking seems so much more intimidating to me.

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I have a feeling I am going to be saying the opposite when I get my tanks to 50 and beyond. Despite the many DF queues I have done as healer, I am as nervous as day one when I do. I have saved instances as healer, and received all commendations. Yet, I still get nervous. And it's for the very reason you stated. Everyone's lives are in my hand, and heavy are the hands that hold the heals.

I am really hoping that I can develop more confidence through tanking that carries over into healing. My lack of confidence as healer holds me back, and sometimes I feel like I'm just a keyboard kitty. When I'm confident though, I feel like I own the instance.

When I first started tanking, I had a little anxiety, as I had only recently got my Monk to 60, but since hall of the novice was out, and it gave that tasty XP boost ring, I decided to try it with my Marauder , the challenges, if you could even call them that, helped to ease me into it and I went into DF without much anxiety.

I now have a Level 60 Warrior with an average Item Level of 230, higher than my Monk

I play the game for enjoyment. I see how if a tank does a mistake or is still learning a fight other aspect they get ripped.
No wonder there is a lack of tanks.
I have thought about tanking, and did so in another MMO, but frankly if I'm not with a group of friends, no thanks.

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Originally Posted by DoUrden

I play the game for enjoyment. I see how if a tank does a mistake or is still learning a fight other aspect they get ripped.
No wonder there is a lack of tanks.
I have thought about tanking, and did so in another MMO, but frankly if I'm not with a group of friends, no thanks.

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Is it strange that I have never seen this happen? Or is it just primal? I've seen tanks and healers get anxiety, but I've never seen a new player get "ripped" for it (with exception of 24mans, but those are trollfests regardless so I won't count them).

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Originally Posted by Gemina

Thank you so much for putting together all those helpful tips. I suffer from GAD as well, along with panic disorder so I can relate. It's a big reason why I put so much research into something before getting my feet wet as it really helps alleviate some of that anxiety. Not all of it though :p

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Glad I could be of some help!

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Originally Posted by Gemina

Um... actually afraid of the insta-queues. This is is a benefit how? I need time for my nerves to settle for even placing myself in the queue lol.

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Huh, I actually think this is a difference in how anxiety manifests for us. I get anxious if a queue takes too long, and have dropped out while waiting who knows how many times.

Tanking is a simple art and is quite often overthough as you hear Tanks not keeping aggro but I've seen tanks just use there none Aggro combo or don't even flash. We've got the skills there to help us it's just that people don't use them.

Or my personel fav. Pop everything before pulling!

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Originally Posted by Alisa180

Huh, I actually think this is a difference in how anxiety manifests for us. I get anxious if a queue takes too long, and have dropped out while waiting who knows how many times.

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It sure sounds like it does. I don't even know what happens if you decide to withdraw after registering :p But yeah, as soon as I register, my heart rate skyrockets to exercise levels (I know, I checked), and then it gradually slows down. Then when the prompt to commence with the duty pops up, it rises again. This time though, it doesn't start to slow down until after a couple trash pulls.

It's important to acknowledge the source of your anxiety to understand how it manifests. For me, the actual popping of the duty I queued for gives me anxiety. Not knowing when it will actually pop, the sound effect it makes when it does, and the ticking of the countdown clock... my brain just doesn't like it. It's a trigger, and I just have to push through it, or I would never group.

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Originally Posted by Lambdafish

Is it strange that I have never seen this happen? Or is it just primal? I've seen tanks and healers get anxiety, but I've never seen a new player get "ripped" for it (with exception of 24mans, but those are trollfests regardless so I won't count them).

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24 mans it happens for sure. Seen it to in some of the 8 man stuff. Four mans on occasion, but in that case it is more people just abandon the duty.

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Originally Posted by DoUrden

I play the game for enjoyment. I see how if a tank does a mistake or is still learning a fight other aspect they get ripped.
No wonder there is a lack of tanks.
I have thought about tanking, and did so in another MMO, but frankly if I'm not with a group of friends, no thanks.

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This has only happened one time that I can recall during my grouping. And I was the one ripping the tank apart. This also wasn't a DF tank, it was my RL friend and FC mate. Don't know if that makes it better or worse. Long story short, I'm a jerk, and he is a true tank being able to take what I dished out.

Anywho. Other than that, I have not seen this happen. I've had jerk tanks get kicked from the group, but that is not quite the same thing. Most people understand that mistakes will be made, even more so if you announce you are new to the role and/or instance. Most people also understand that mistakes need to be made to learn from them. It's practically what DF is all about, and it is important to group with randoms to improve your reaction time to the game's intangibles. I'm sure it has happened, but these are those rare instances when you get a toxic player in your group. They are usually swiftly kicked from my experience.

However, I haven't done any real endgame content, so I cannot speak for how often it happens here. But knowing it can be a more common occurrence is intimidating.

I haven't seen it happen a lot, either, actually. The one time I remember it happening was during Weeping City - the tank was new and a few mistakes on his part led to a wipe. The bard in our group ripped him apart for it, although a few of us did stand up for the tank. (We eventually kicked the bard) Thinking about it, the only times I've seen it are in Weeping City, and of course they make sure to say it in alliance chat so everyone can see.

In other news, I tanked Dzemael for the first time with an fc mate as the healer and she said I did a good job, so woo!