Let's share some Tanking Tips and Tricks!

[Tuskai]

As a healer, i'll offer some insight in good tanking.

Dodge attacks! Just because you can tank that hit that will wipe out 2/3rds your health and I can heal it back doesn't mean I should have to, latter boss battles get chaotic and I might have to be forced between keeping myself or you alive, and I know I can Quick-cast > Ressurect when you can't.

Don't be a douche! The most douchiest players i've seen happen to be tanks, you get players like NarssicistInChains who think they're amazing tanks because they know all their macros and the basics to tanking, and even if you're the best tank in the world, the entire party is going to grow to resent you if you act like a douche. Though personally, those kinds of tanks have always been the worst i've ever seen, rarely can they keep the hate of more than a single target off the healer, and when the DPS takes the hate to save the healer they throw a fit.

[NarcissitInChains]

you get players like NarssicistInChains who think they're amazing tanks .

Actually I don't see anywhere in my post where I claim to be amazing I simply shared my own experience thus far in groups as a tank. I have been playing MMOs for about 11 years + now and have always been a healer and tank only one other time besides this game. So I certainly agree with your own input in utilizing whatever abilities are available to mitigate damage, keep the group safe as possible and make it easier on the healer.

I am going to assume your animosity arose because of my word choice on my macros, which is totally understandable. Those are one's I use if, and only if, the group does not seem to be on the same page. As a tank, a new tank at that, I've noticed that some people are running ahead pulling mobs before the tank and then cry because they die. As a healer I always felt it was my job to keep my team members healed, there is little difference in tanking just in a different capacity, keeping the group alive. It is hard, especially at lower levels, to get and keep aggro when the DPS decides he wants to pull mobs then screams for it to be pulled off. So my take is, I'll ask nicely and explain my tanking style to ensure my group and I are on the same page. If a member of my group is a douche bag well then I will return in kind.

I am a careful tank, considerate tank, and I take the time to learn every fight before I go in. I take the time to learn what each classes role is in a fight so I know what would be the best positioning, movement and efficient way for my healer and dps to do their job. If you feel I am a douche bag because I expect at a minimum for my DPS members to hold their privates for a full 2 seconds and dps a marked mob to ensure their safety............well then I prefer to be a douche I guess

If your DPS runs off the cliff, they'll blame you for not warning them about the effects of gravity. Such is the way of being the natural party leader.

I have a stitch in my side from laughing this struck me as funny. Thank you for the humorous spin on a stressful point of tanking

[Samuraiking]

-snip-

As a healer as well, pretty much this.

Tanking tips:
Say at the start of a dungeon, mainly if it's a level 30 or under dungeon to attack the marked targets in order.
Ask them to only hit the target that you are and hope that they listen. I have a 1, 2 and 3 mark on my bar and always mark each target before we pull.
If it comes to it, let them know to let you pull. Luckily I have yet to run into a ARC or any ARC at all, really, that pulls.(Does no one play this class?)
If you are a GLD/PLD and expended all your mana, ask them to wait and let you refill it if you didn't manage to get it back up.

*If you see after the first pull that someone doesn't know their job, politely ask the group to stop pulling and explain their class role nicely.

But most importantly, if one person is messing up, please try and power through it.
If you leave or let them die, you are hurting yourself and 2 other people as well, not just him.

[Lokean]

I don't believe anyone has touched this subject, so I will.

As a tank, rely on your healer, but don't DEPEND on them. What I mean is, don't always expect a heal every god damn time. Some healers might be able, some, might not. For whatever reason, not every healer is the same. Keep track on your health and pop those self heals or potions. Don't be afraid to do so. Your healer isn't a god who can save you from everything. Do your best to relieve their stress as well. Sometimes aggro does get pulled, rare, but it happens. If you have been able to keep them in a great position by taking some of that stress away, they can help recover a stolen aggro, or from a terrible AOE that people couldn't dodge.