Why aren't there more tanks in FFXIV?

[coldreactive]

I don't like to speed run, (I also have a macro made if I do tank to tell the party at the start of every run that I won't speed run. If they don't speak English, then tough luck. I'd rather speak english than try to use google translate to make stupid sentences that make no sense in their native tongue) so I choose to not tank as much as I can. Also, I hate EX Battles and Coils.

[Tyrious]

"But I've always enjoyed doing roulettes, grouping up with random people and having fun, exploring dungeons, and so forth."

Makes me wish you were on Famfrit. I'd run with you and enjoy every relaxing, fun minute of it. People need to stop treating MMO's like their full time job and just enjoy the ride.

[Charisma]

Because i think the most people dont want to be a 2handed axe wearing tank which can tank on any lvl facerolling,
While Paladin starts being cool at 28, just to suck at 32 again untill 40..

[Warlyx]

More interesting feedback on the tank shortage. So I am seeing a "tanking is boring" response a bit more. What makes it boring to tank versus DPS or healing? Is the positioning requirements of DPS that much more exciting? Is watching and managing health and status bars more interesting?.

is easy to see how tank is boring

1- is the rotation

paladin: 1,2,3 , 1,2,3 .....circle for more dmg ....yawn

warrior : 123 for agro 145 for debuff 146 for slashing....and using wrath stacks , more involved

Pld isnt flashy enough, pld need a 3 skill for riot chain >.> , and Warrior is ok....steel cyclone is awesome too bad is rarely used

2- Bosses

50% of the bosses is stand there and look pretty , the other half is go there take adds

Tanks usually arent doing the mechanics , only some bosses treat tanks as another party member (leviathan , ramuh are perfect examples )

Coil :
turn 1-2 stand there , 4 pull adds , 5 is the only 1 u have some "fun" , but is still stand there or get adds
Turn 6 (LOS/Super stand there T7 Stand there or take adds if OT , turn 8 stand there and eat mines. , turn 9 is a bit more fun i guess.

solutions : more bosses like leviathan and ramuh , make tanks involved on the main boss mechanic.


On top of that as Dps u can always do better, more gear = better dmg , easy time farming or clearing dungeons ect

[Kydi]

is easy to see how tank is boring...

This. I play TOR as my other MMOs and tanking in that is generally quite interesting. I'll have some of the dps mechanics to deal with, some tank specific positioning or big hit so use cd at the right time mechanics and an interesting rotation to go with it to maintain buffs on myself and debunks on the boss. Whoever designed the paladin combat system needs to be spoken to. 7 attacks to use on a regular basis is not enough. Especially when 1 is situational (AoE with marginal single target use) and 2 are only every 25 seconds (I'm not counting stun here).

[DishSoap]

I see tanks all the time, that said most of them are decked out in i100+. I feel the reason people don't tank in lower level stuff when they already have a decked out character is very simple, they don't need to.

It all stems from Low Level Roulette.
-Low Level Roulette is the only way to get massive exp. bonuses for unleveled classes.
-If all jobs are at level 50 the myth from it can easily be substituted or done with another job because...
-Low level tanking sucks and...
-Low level healing gives just as fast queue times with literally less than half the effort you have to put into it.

It's probably also why you hear so many "tank horror stories". Since most of the tanks you're getting in low level dungeons will probably be new players most of the time.

[Whiteprincess]

I'm not a tank main, but tank sometimes. For me coming from WoW. I miss the mobile style tank where you can aoe/even if it doesn't do much dmg without a care in the world, feeling.

Sure I can do flash, but it just doesn't feel the same. That and in this game you have to "Plant" yourself to a spot.... which takes away some fun. Since certain classes have to hit flank or from behind. That's basically the reason why I don't tank much. Having to plant myself takes away the fun for me. That and not having another aoe for fun. I don't need it for threat purpose..... Its just what i enjoyed when tanking in wow. pld had some linking flash move, dk had howling something that aoe .. it just made it feel more fun being able to move freely and/or with aoe. Tank in this game feels a bit stiff.

[Zoeila]

the reason for the lack of tanks is quite simple...the world is full of sheep and only a select few of us have what it takes to shepherd them as well as protect them from the wolves. though admittedly i hate tanking fights that i feel ask too much such as ramuh/garuda ex. also all those people that say dps greif you.....guess what? your the tank with the instant queue you have the power. i actually find that as long as you can hold aggro most players tend to be pretty forgiving of any other shortcomings you may have. if someone wants to be a dick to me or any other tank then it's vote dissmiss time.

[Aaramis]

I've seen numerous posts in this article suggesting they use CoS for AoE only - am I the only one that uses it frequently, even on a single target? It's a free off-global cooldown DoT... why not use it? I also weave in Spirits on a regular basis unless it's a mob I know I'll have to silence - otherwise, again, free dps.

Anyways, back to the original topic - tanking *can* be boring. It can also be frustrating (I've done dungeon runs where I shield lob, and before I can gather the 3+ mobs for a flash, the BLMs in the group are already AoEing - sometimes even starting with a Flare. Yeah, try keeping aggro down on THAT). It can also be stressful, as already mentioned that you tend to be viewed as "the leader", even if you're a newb to the dungeon.

And the rewards for this kind of gameplay? An ugly-arse lion or bear that you need to run high level dungeons 9235190357097 times for.

Yay?

[Haprimac]

I used to like tanking, but after gear item level got increased to 100 (and later 110), it got impossible to me as a paladin to keep aggro from any fully geared dps class. I can manage as a warrior, but as a paladin I'm completely screwed. I don't main tank, it's my 4th alt class at best.

These days I do only guildhest and trial roulette as a tank, if I'm feeling bold. Might even do low level roulette, but haven't really been doing that for a long time. Normally I'll just cower behind a healer class and feel pity for the fresh ilvl55 tank who pops up in a lvl 50 dungeon roulette.