SE it's time for A new Job Please. (Tank)

[Genesis88]

If they add one, prob going to be Runefencer

[Reyno]

It really doesn't matter what the class can be, the Tank role is highly unappealing to a large portion of players, hence the lack of tanks. If they make a Tank just to add to the role, that really won't add any more appeal, its just a fill in the gap class.

And then there's me. I main heal, but I mainly don't play a tank class because the current two don't interest me. There are tank concepts they could implement that would encourage me to tank, however.

Not adding a tank role isn't going to increase the number of tanks, but adding one -will- because there -will- be people drawn to it, whether you and these "many others" are included in that number or not.

[Lord_Zlatan]

snip

ofcourse personal preference is everything. I pretty much said the same thing as you but with less limitations. I play classes because I like the class, not necessarily the role. Your saying that people dislike the role in general which is understandable. In the middle somewhere, people would play the class because it appeals to them regardless of role. If they made a more glass-cannon type tank, or an evasion based higher dps tank, people would play.

Also, why level a class to not play the fun content? you would solo (fate grind?) to 50 and not do any true multiplayer content with it? To each his/her own, but that doesn't make much sense to me, esp that the tank is the most group centric role.

[Marxam]

I don't understand why people want such op jobs. So you're saying you want a tank job that can take big hits and have high dps? (sounds like a DRK to me)

I think people are taking the term "tank" to literally and associating it with face value. A tank is only meant to keep the damage off your party. The only reason people don't want to play tanks is because they can't handle the responsibility of keeping the team alive.

A team can survive with bad dps (usually means longer fights) but a team can't survive with bad tanks.

[Aicasia]

I don't understand why people want such op jobs. So you're saying you want a tank job that can take big hits and have high dps? (sounds like a DRK to me)

I think people are taking the term "tank" to literally and associating it with face value. A tank is only meant to keep the damage off your party. The only reason people don't want to play tanks is because they can't handle the responsibility of keeping the team alive.

A team can survive with bad dps (usually means longer fights) but a team can't survive with bad tanks.

Sorry, what were you saying about tanks not doing damage? What you're thinking of is a guardian type character, not a tank. Berserkers can be tanks. They aren't actually all big damage low HP. Think Minotaur. Your view is very narrow and incorrect outside of the guardian archetype. I also never understood how paladins came to be predominantly healers either.

[XanderOlivieri]

Also, why level a class to not play the fun content? you would solo (fate grind?) to 50 and not do any true multiplayer content with it? To each his/her own, but that doesn't make much sense to me, esp that the tank is the most group centric role.

My general play style doesn't fit the overall concept of a Tank. I'm a player who prefers being in the back, supporting the team, either through heals, buffs or debuffs. I typically play tamer class characters, so I usually always have a Minion to fall on for my damage while I throw out full support. Being right there in the middle of fight is too much for me, which is why I prefer Mage and Magic based classes since they always support my play style. Tank in general is something I would not enjoy playing so only reason I'd have one is if it were a Disciple of Magic, but I wouldn't use him outside of self gratification.

[Zakalwe]

There was a very similar thread from way back in November in the Tanking Roles forums. Folks might find lots in there worthwhile.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ming-new-tanks

Informed by that thread and by my own views, I suggest the following:

1. The main reason for a tank shortage in this game (and indeed all mmos) is not that there is a shortage of tanking classes but that not all players enjoy tanking. Yes, the imbalance might be lessened by group sizes of 5/10 rather than 4/8, and maybe more interesting tank types and a less toxic community would make a difference too, but only around the edges. There's a certain visceral joy in the killing stuff role, plus one is less exposed to group angst.
2. That said, the imbalance is likely to be made worse if new dps classes come out without bringing out a new tanking class as well. Without a new tanking class we would see lots of players playing up new dps and no tanks being played up at the same time. Now, granted (see #1), those playing up the tanks are more likely than not players who already play tanks, but still...
3. In the end, only mitigation tanks work. Pure evasion tanks are either ghods if they can evade everything or they are broken if they almost evade everything. That is, they are ghod-like until the RNG wins, and then they are just dead. In the same way, a pure self-healing tank doesn't work. If a tank can't take the big hit it doesn't matter how fast it can heal itself up afterwards if it's already dead.
4. Nevertheless, there are tons of different class mechanics that can be used to mitigate. There is plenty of room for SE to bring out a new tank that does the same job (holds aggro and takes a licking but keeps on ticking) but in different ways.

And frankly, that's all I remember as bottom line conclusions (at least my take-away conclusions) from that long-ago thread.

[Hyrist]

I'm all for Lancer Gaining Templar as a tank Job from the class.

It has a good number of defensive abilities that can be modified to be more effective for the Job itself, including a stun, a dedicated slow, a Parry Buff, and a Self-Heal skill.

[SpookyGhost]

I also never understood how paladins came to be predominantly healers either.

Because this is Final Fantasy. And Paladins have always used white magic in Final Fantasy.

[Aicasia]

Because this is Final Fantasy. And Paladins have always used white magic in Final Fantasy.

I wasn't talking about this game, and they clearly aren't healers in this game regardless so I'm not sure why you felt the need to respond to me with it.