Just for fun: Tank archetypes!

[aisustrong]

something I do pretty often is toggle defiance
get a hefty lead in aggro at start, turn it off for extra dps (unless there's enough incoming damage, I can just leave it off the rest of the pull. having leveled both healers I know what to expect from them and what mobs just hit to hard)

[MXMoondoggie]

The main annoyance for Tanks in FFXIV i find are just the mad dog types who like to charge in pull a bunch of stuff and then just totally focus on a single target no matter what even when they lose aggro on everything else which then murders the Healer then DPS to which mad dog says "If you steal aggro then you deal with the mobs" They are also a pain in a Raid because no matter who the MT is they will mad dog on the boss pulling aggro away from the MT moving the boss all over the place so it cleaves the DPS standing behind it.

Annoyance #2. The Diva. This guy thinks he's something special and a lot of the time they are really not. They will start making tons of ridiculous demands about kicking somebody because they are the wrong class or they don't have the best gear or they'll pull a bunch of mobs they are not geared to be pulling then get ripped apart like paper, verbally abuse the Healer and talk about how trashy they are and demand they are kicked or they'll throw a tantrum and just leave. For added annoyance get the Diva with the DPS sidekick. The DPS is up their backside because they get fast queues so will agree with everything they say and try to force a majority for kicks.

Annoyance #3. Has been mentioned but the types who watched a guide and have to follow that guide to the letter even when experienced people suggest a better strat which will make their lives easier as well as the group. If something unexpected happens they run around like headless chickens. Had some really petty people get moody with me over this even down to really mundane things like on Shiva EX. "All Healers must go on B" Why? I'm far more comfortable on the one i want to go on and it means i can throw a group heal from a standing position that will hit the Tank without having to move. There was a bunch of other stuff too like they follow the Mr.Happy guide which is very good but following a list and not learning how to get the best out of a run is counterproductive.

The best Tank to run with by far is the guy who learns quickly who he is in a party with, what they can do and what they can't and adjusts to it. Can take care of themselves when DPS need help and won't put needless pressure on a group clearly not geared and/or ready for it. Met some Tanks with an incredible amount of patience with a group even when something goes wrong they just explain how people can do better and carry on. These guys are my heroes.

[ph03n1x13]

Annoyance #2. The Diva. This guy thinks he's something special and a lot of the time they are really not. They will start making tons of ridiculous demands about kicking somebody because they are the wrong class or they don't have the best gear or they'll pull a bunch of mobs they are not geared to be pulling then get ripped apart like paper, verbally abuse the Healer and talk about how trashy they are and demand they are kicked or they'll throw a tantrum and just leave. For added annoyance get the Diva with the DPS sidekick. The DPS is up their backside because they get fast queues so will agree with everything they say and try to force a majority for kicks..

I just had a tank like this. I may be sick, but I can still heal like a boss.

I'll add an annoyance to this: Tanks who refuse to use DCDs, but pull big. They will then blame the healer for not healing enough, even if you're chaincasting Cure/Physik. (pt.1)

[ph03n1x13]

(pt.2) ... Maybe I just have bad luck with tanks, but I've had too many try to do huge pulls, but won't use any of the DCDs. I can usually heal through 2, maybe 3 pulls without a cooldown. It's possible that I might not be that good a healer, but those cooldowns are there for a reason, right?

[Noira]

My favorite tank:

Coil Bro Tank: In mostly dreadwrym with a few augumented piece, he's cheerful and helpful, keeps his head on and enjoys the run, does pulls appropriate to the group set up, if mistakes occur he picks up laughs it off and keeps going. He's in a hurry sure but he makes the time effective for all. Stops when SS and adlo need applying for big or giant pulls, pops his cooldowns when needed.

Not so favorite:
Not so bro coil tank: The one in dreadwrym and augumented pieces who is a complete jerk to the party, impatient and runs off without letting me prep them for big pulls and rarely pops cooldowns because "LOL I'm ilv 130 this is nothing" As I have to panic heal to get them through the pulls.

The Whm Spoiled Tank: My most disliked tank. So used to whm that a sch will simply not do and whm has now been reduced to a crutch. They don't do big or giant pulls because "LOL We need holy for that" Never mind that a sch can dot and use shadow flare (further damage mitigation). Nevermind that if there are two blm in the party it means selene is coming out making the run that much faster. (two blm are quite common in this tank's set up).

The PLD pulling WAR: We've all ran into this guy, the War who pulls like a PLD, and then drop like flies.

[Risvertasashi]

(pt.2) ... Maybe I just have bad luck with tanks, but I've had too many try to do huge pulls, but won't use any of the DCDs. I can usually heal through 2, maybe 3 pulls without a cooldown. It's possible that I might not be that good a healer, but those cooldowns are there for a reason, right?

As mentioned, this is the most common problem I see as well. As a further extension... it doesn't seem too many tanks are really aware of just how much load they're putting on the healers, and by a second extension, the limits (<3 the ones that are, of course). Noira's "Not so bro coil tank" is a good example.

SCH I think has a bit more potential than most give it credit for. Lustrate mixed in with adlos works great while you've got stacks, after that... Illumination is basically Divine Seal (20% instead of 30% but it works for both Eos and you). Rouse+WD can be fired while still adlo'ing, and once fired Eos can then add her embrace's back to the mix as well.

Of course once all the CDs are burned, well, I hope at least some of the pack is dead xD

[Artair]

The PLD pulling WAR: We've all ran into this guy, the War who pulls like a PLD, and then drop like flies.

It's more efficient for a WAR to pull big in dungeons than it is for a PLD. Unchained + zerk + IR + maim + bloodbath + vengeance + overpower spam, and you can wave goodbye to most of that pack before zerk wears off regardless of the type of DPS you have, while self healing most of the incoming damage. The 50 potency retaliation from vengeance while fully buffed with bloodbath up is no joke.

Disclaimer: Does not apply to vit heroes.

[Azurr]

Lets Face Aoes at Party tank: why am I the only one dodging? everyone should dodge >

More common in low levels but sometimes crops in higher level instances.

Lets not dodge SHT tank: Tank that stands in one spot and never budges, no matter how many aoes light up under them, in any situation.

The tank that actually asks if people need EXP in lower levels when someone is not at 50: real MVPs :').

The DPS Tank in 4 mans: They wont leave sword oath no matter what, expecting the healer to shoulder all the damage being dealt to them with limited cooldowns if any and preventing healers from dpsing so they could 'fight or flight' all the things. Oh and aggro? Psh I got all the aggro with my glorious damage on a single target in a mob.

There is a time and place for tanks to dps, but its not in expert dungeons where stuff hits like trucks and you have nothing but str accs on. And not in DF with strangers.

[Lovemonster]

VIT for trash pulls, STR for bosses (+Sword Oath) I think is the best idea. You can change gear sets really easily anyway, and speccing STR is np, 30 VIT is so little now. Sword oath on big pulls is just retarded. You're only gonna flash anyway, your circle of scorn does garbage damage.

[elemental10]

The tank who won't shut up and keeps saying he's a better healer, but doesn't have one leveled.

Wut.