Tanking looks Intimidating.

[LaylaTsarra]

Tanking is stressful as is healing. I've got my Paladin leveled and am practicing at the moment. I'd like to get a relic for my role although my main roles are petty much dps. I've got my Bard, Dragoon, Monk and Black Mage all leveled and with relics and now the hard part of having to play a tank or healer has arrived.

I hope to do some dungeons with friends at first. My experience with random players are that some of them can be very rude and seriously can take the fun out of the game.

I'm trying to better gear my character at the moment and build not only iLv but HP.

[JonBigwood]

Hi, you are only level 26 in your first class. If you start leveling PLD when you are already BLM level 50, you will have a long way already done. It will be much easier than if you started PLD from zero. You will tank knowing what are the tank duties from the start and will be much better tank than a complete new to it. You will also know the dungeons, from other point of view, but you will know them. You are on this forum. There is a lot of useful information here.
I started as PLD (bad PLD I was .) Then leveled WHM to 50, a walk on the park up to Brayflox, then you start to find challenges, healing needs get higher sometimes, there are AOE to avoid too... Tanks don't get one shot killed that frequently! All in all well, I still have much to learn for hard content. Now I am leveling THM (for swifcast), let's see, I am only level 22, up to now the biggest problem is waiting times at Duty Finder.
I think the more different classes you play, the better you get on your main one as you understand others points of view and needs.

[Odd]

I can only speak for myself, but whenever I encounter a tank who is obviously new, I gently offer whatever advice I can. I'm no tank, so everything I advise is hearsay, but most seem grateful. To the OP, don't let others intimidate you! Do what you want and have fun above all else.

I would suggest taking your BLM through any dungeons/trials you're not completely confident in running, and pay close attention to what the tanks are doing. Since tanks are the defacto leaders in the party, a lot of times it will fall to you to decide where to go or what to do next.

[waka_swag]

I feel like the hardest part about tanking is not knowing where to tank adds or bosses in higher level raids, especially since everyone has a different way of doing things. Garuda EX mode comes to mind, some tank Chirada in different parts of the field (some SW some SE,) and if you're unaware of the different techniques it can cause problems. I usually try to make sure where I'm supposed to be beforehand.

[Langureion]

Besids all the game play techniques, knowing the fight and role.
You also need to be mentally strong by taking blames from the ignorants, not matter if it's your fault or not.
DBs will not show mercy nor use their brains when they blame others.

I find pld more fun than other jobs, sometimes I fell asleep while playing dps, not kidding. lol
Tank is definitely more intense, sometimes wrong move can lead to instant wipe.
But, hey, it's fun and challenging at end game.

And remember, healers are the ONLY reason tanks will last, so try to ease their job by using tank abilities to help them help you.

[Asdamine]

There are two stages of learning curve for a tank imo:

1 - Early levels - Use flash, a lot.

2 - Endgame levels - Keep everything on cooldown and have a sense of humor. If you screwed up, just say "Sorry, cookies for everyone" and move on.

I find that lalafell tanks have an easier time in dealing with people when it comes to endgame nerd-rage. Mostly because people reaction would be like... "Roast him!" rather than calling you a "f**king noob!"

[Sagittarian]

Tanking IS intimidating.

1. All eyes are on you
2. Expected to know the dungeon/run/role
3. Setting the pace/keeping everyone else on task
4. Pulling/marking
5. Keeping an eye on the entire battlefield for adds/changes
6. Being the target for most of the boss AOEs
7. Moving as little as possible for melee dps (while still avoiding those AOEs)
8. Positioning so everyone else is as safe as possible while allowing melee dps access and staying close enough to the healer
9. Being the general catspaw when things go awry

But that's no reason to NOT do it! You'll never know until you try.

[Synestra]

For new tanks Ultima HM is probably best encounter to train, it pretty much has all mechanics you encounter as a tank(except spawning adds that requires tanking). Need to avoid stuff, tank swapping, DPS:ing as OT/popping SS for MT, first place where you actually can use LB \o/, rotate some CD's for that big-hitting laser to make healers life more easier etc. Another good one is T2 done proper way while you are in interrupt duty, Garuda HM is also good alternative compared to Ifrit an Titan HM's. Titan actually being easiest of them all, when you position yourself correctly so you dont take any damage from bombs while standing in one spot trought whole fight( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KrW2ppJ3_0 ).

[Anienai]

Tanking is not for the weak!! Curious George will weed out all non-hackers who do not pack the gear to serve in my beloved Corps. Do you understand that?

Warrior chant.

This is my Great Axe. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. My Great Axe is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my Great Axe is useless. Without my Great Axe, I am useless. I must fire Tomahawk true. I must swing straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must Overpower him before he shoots me. I will. Before God I swear this creed: my Great Axe and myself are defenders of my healer, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of our raid. So be it, until there is no enemy, but loot. Amen.

Oorah!!

[Axlle10]

Protip: do not FATE grind! At least not for main exp

not really a protip as fate grinding has 0 to do with someone learning their class. i fated with my pld to 50, ran a 50 dungeon with my fc and only lost aggro to boss once (because our bard popped all cd's without quelling strikes just to piss me off) but other than that fates CAN teach you how to play your class if your willing to see that they are not just a pew pew pew event.