... Nothing to be worried about at all. You gots this! :p
http://i.imgur.com/18OnjGQ.jpg
Just a light-hearted post to help ease my nerves for tanking 101 with my FC today. Felt like I was in college again with all the research I've done. Wish me luck!
Wanna try tanking, but have tank anxiety? Don't worry...
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09-20-2016, 09:16 AMGeminaWanna try tanking, but have tank anxiety? Don't worry...
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09-20-2016, 01:13 PMkoroko220
I still get bouts of this off and on despite the compliments I get occasionally, so you're not alone! Remember, we gots this! ^^
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09-20-2016, 01:21 PMSpookyGhost
XIV is actually (imo) the most comfortable MMO to tank in. All the dungeons are just long corridors so everything you need to pull is basically laid out in order. From there it's just about holding hate (30+~40+ this becomes a cakewalk) and popping defensive CDs. A common mistake for a lot of new tanks is that they sit on their defensive CDs waiting for just the right moment to pop them - while this is great in raids, in dungeons it's much better to try and keep CDs rolling. I tend to plan my CDs out so that I only use 1 or 2 per pack, and then ones I used early on will be back up for the boss. This same logic applies to big pulls, though you have to be a bit more thoughtful of your CD usage on those.
Anyway, good luck! Let us know how things go for you. If you have any questions I'm sure the tanks here (incl me) will be happy to answer them. -
09-20-2016, 07:33 PMBrannigan
Just don't forget to turn on a stance after job changing like SOMEONE I AM
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09-21-2016, 12:56 PMAlisa180
As someone who suffered from tanking anxiety herself (often quite literally, I have severe generalized anxiety disorder), I'd like to offer a few of my own tips.
1. Knowledge is power. These visual guides to tanking are the single most helpful resources I ever found. They essentially demystify how to tank well: https://i.imgur.com/smNx1ZX.jpg. https://i.imgur.com/PEnLMF9.jpg. Reading up on your class in general will help you confidence when you finally delve into your first dungeons.
2. Don't be afraid to tell people that you are new to tanking! Far more people then not are happy to cut you slack if you mess up.
3. Leveling GLD/PLD to 40 is a very special kind of hell. You are going to lose aggro. Period. So long as you hold it most of the time, many players won't give a pre-40 GLD/PLD grief over not holding a mob.
4. A good chunk of tanking anxiety comes from the fact many people believe the tank = leader. This isn't really true. You may be pulling mobs, holding them, and usually setting the pace for the dungeon, but that doesn't make you the 'leader'. That's just you doing your job. It's hard to put this into words, but trust me. I am very much a follower, and have learned to disassociate performing my job from a leadership role.
5. Practice, practice, practice! Being the one to pull and initiate encounters can be nerve-wracking, but the more you tank, the more used to it you'll get.
6. Also, observe! A good chunk of my tanking knowledge came from observing tanks, or being the off-tank. Truly bad tanks are rare, so observing and mimicking will get you a long way!
Other notes:
I can't speak for the other tanking jobs, but once you cap PLD, MTing as it is probably the easiest, least-stressful job in the game. No, that's not an oxymoron. As the MT, you don't have to worry about 90% of mechanics, including most AoEs. And thanks to your high HP, you can east most AoEs that do target you. As one who royally sucks at dodging, it's wonderful!
Along with our simplified rotation, it's really an easy job compared to other roles. DPS have to hit several buttons, most have timers they have to keep up. Healers have to juggle between keeping everyone alive, and DPSing when they can. All while handling mechanics. As someone who's done both DPS and healing, let me tell you, MTing is downright relaxing in comparison.
Also, embrace the instant queues! They're great! :D -
09-21-2016, 01:19 PMLisotte
I think it really comes down to just spending time as a tank and getting used to it. To anyone new to tanking, leveling 1-60: don't worry if you make mistakes, reasonable people can understand what it's like for a new tank, and try and not care what bad people think. Tanking gets easier the higher level you get, you're more survivable, you hold hate easier, and all the mechanics in dungeons start to feel similar to each other so you don't get surprised anymore.
I do think it's easier on a WAR than a PLD. As a WAR you often just feel like the main star of the show, practically soloing but with some additional DPS and healing thrown in there by your party. On the other hand, PLD you feel like you're exclusively there just to gather everything and get hit. DRK feels much like WAR but also trying to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time while doing trigonometry. -
09-21-2016, 02:58 PMKibby
I started tanking not too long ago and I still get nervous tanking dungeons that I've already done before, even if I don't think I've made too many mistakes. It doesn't help that I have anxiety in real life, too. :P I currently have drk at 46 and the highest dungeon I have in Dzemael, so I'm trying to avoid going there because I've seen too many wipes. <_< >_>
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.
Other than looking at guides, this has been one of the biggest helps. A lot of the stuff I've learned about tanking has been from watching others (and if there are bad tanks, I know what not do :P).Quote:
Originally Posted by Alisa180
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09-21-2016, 10:04 PMLambdafish
I think any new role causes anxiety, I know as a tank that I was anxious to heal or even DPS (having low numbers or tunnelvision was a constant factor), the best thing to do is practice the role and constantly be open to advice and communication. I know back in BCOB and SCOB when I was still getting to grips with learning to tank on a raid level, me and the OT would have constant communication about raid awareness, tank stats, and general improvements that can be made to my tanking knowledge, and this can be done on any level with anyone, not just on a raid level
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09-22-2016, 11:29 AMGemina
Tanking 101 for me was to involve the two level 10 guildhests, the two level 15 guildhests, all three of the first dungeons, and then wrap things up with Ifrit normal mode when I hit level 20. All with FC mates. Then it was on to DF tanking. Little did I know that my first tanking experience would come via PUG playing as my LNC in Halatali trying to obtain the Doctore's Chainmail for my GLA when she hits 20. Long story short: The tank got kicked, SMN using Titan egi to handle trash wasn't working at all. So I slotted in flash, foresight, conservalance, and bloodbath; and put ethers on my hotbar. I figured with this set up in the early levels, I have most things normal tanks do minus an enmity combo and said, "Hey guys, I think I gots this!" And I decided to pull until another tank arrived. Another tank did arrive.... about 10 seconds before we finished off the last boss :p The luls echoed on forever.
Fact of the matter is I wasn't feeling anxious in this situation because 1. I thrust'd myself into it, and 2. I had done so much research on tanking including video guides, written guides, reading posts here, observing the tanks in my group, and getting so many DD classes to 30. I am already a career healer and know what I need from tanks from this perspective, but getting the DD classes to 30 taught me so much about what tanks do to makes things harder, and what they do to smooth out wrinkles. And it paid off here.
Sure, I think this instance let me know, "Hey, you CAN tank casual content in this game." But I feel I need to do it with the classes that are meant to, and don't have to sacrifice cross skill slots when I innately possess those tanking skills. I still consider myself having 0 tanking experience. My biggest fear playing this role is not being able to sustain enmity. I even had dreams about struggling with it, but a big difference here is losing aggro is to be expected. I know about the whole 15-40 struggles GLA/PLD have, but I see this as a challenge. I want to actually frown at Shield Oath for taking away the challenge, instead of relieved that it made things easier.
Tanking 101 will still happen. I want and feel I need those experiences under my belt. I don't want to be a good tank. I want to be a great tank. -
09-22-2016, 11:44 AMGeminaThank 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 :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Alisa180
Right now I am feeling confident. It's because of the instance I just posted. I have felt this way as healer as well, only for it to all disappear when it's queue time. So right now I want to say that tanking does seem less stressful overall compared to healer and DPS because they have to concentrate on so much more. Something I did not realize the extent of for DD classes until actually playing them, and taking them VERY seriously when doing so. But ultimately, I can't say anything about tanking until I actually do some tanking. However, I do feel more confident about this confidence, if that makes sense!
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. -
09-22-2016, 12:01 PMGeminaI 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kibby
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. -
09-22-2016, 02:40 PMSkeltal-Bons
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 -
09-23-2016, 10:25 AMDoUrden
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. -
09-23-2016, 02:06 PMLambdafishIs 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).Quote:
Originally Posted by DoUrden
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09-23-2016, 03:50 PMAlisa180Glad I could be of some help!Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemina
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemina
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09-23-2016, 07:07 PMMartin_Arcainess
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! -
09-24-2016, 06:54 AMGeminaIt 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alisa180
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. -
09-24-2016, 07:07 AMDoUrden24 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lambdafish
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09-24-2016, 07:10 AMGeminaThis 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoUrden
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. -
09-24-2016, 07:36 AMKibby
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! -
09-24-2016, 12:37 PMLisotteI also really haven't seen this happen, and I played bard, dragoon, and scholar before moving on to warrior in 3.3. I saw people being idiots to others in groups earlier on in the game, but I feel a lot of the more immature people left and went back to WoW or whatever. At this point so many people know the dungeons so well that even if a tank messes up it's usually not a huge deal, even with a wipe. Usually if someone starts with that kind of thing the other 2 in the party shut him up.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoUrden
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09-24-2016, 01:05 PMSigmar_Heldenhammer
Been a tank since EQ, FFXI, AoC, WoW, WAR, etc, and now here.
This community seems by far to be the most forgiving for tanking hiccups.
In other games I've seen a lot of people get grief over the smallest mistakes, here if people see the green next to your name, they tend to be very helpful... At least that's my take from the 103hrs/45 levels on my warrior.
Can't speak for endgame community.