Good Tanks or Bad Tanks

[bridgetmobyvixen]

That is a good idea too. I found a configuration option (hopefully also on PS4) to enlarge the buff/debuff icons too and that might make it easier to recognize since I am playing on a TV that is about 8 or 9 feet away from me and sometimes the icons and text is hard to read.

I try to get a peek at gear sometimes but it seems many like to speed run and even leave me behind at times. this is one reason I clearly announce when I have never been into a dungeon but still I have had them run ahead and off my mini map. This prevents me from dilly dallying...that is for sure...sigh

I have had some awesome tanks too...I even had one tell me to turn on cleric and let it rip since they would probably need minimal healing in one dungeon. That was very cool since I am practicing the on/off with cleric stance and moved it on my hotbar to make it very easy to flip on and off.

Thanks for the tip Seryl!

-Bridget

[Makeda]

According to my healers there is a MASSIVE difference between equally geared tanks, depending on the player. One MAJOR problem is back strikes. Some mobs seem to have backstab-style attacks, and when you get hit from behind, mobs hit more, harder, and/or you cant block/parry it. Lots of tanks in AOE situations dont really make sure they face their front to all mobs (as its easy to lose track), or when repositioning they run with their back turned, instead of backstepping, leading to one massive spike of backstabs. Not all mobs do it (some are casters who dont care obviously), but along with decent stuns, good CD usage and good timing on dodges, the difference in healing required can be huge.

This.

I'm primarily a tank in every MMO, and sometimes a healer.

When I heal poor positioning by the tank is the bane of my existence - and being mostly a tank, I can often spot the what/why right away. Its very frustrating watching someone else do your role wrong. Of course by the same token, as a primary tank, its very handy to be healing some times and see what other tanks are up to - and learn from it.

Its not that I'm better, but that by playing both roles I am able to see when others do things right or wrong - often easier to see it on someone else than on yourself.

Almost all mobs can take advantage of having your back to them in some manner or another in almost every MMO. It is usually the odd mob that doesn't have this programmed in, or perhaps a tank class that is 360-directionally-crit-immune. I just always presume that all of them can one-shot me if they get behind me, and when I tank I will do anything I can to keep them off my back.

That said, I do run through and spin around - mouse and keybind users (people who don't click buttons, and don't keyboard turn) can do this - I've yet to encounter an MMO that doesn't give me an instant spin. And if done right you will at most risk a side hit (if something is worrysome, you can do it in a circle-strafing spin - turning as you kite around in a tight circle so that they are running as you go from side to front facing). I run through and spin around because this puts the back of the mobs to the entire group except for me - and many DPS classes benefit from being behind. I think FFXIV might have a DPSer that wants to be on the side, and that dude... is on his own and will have to work with me putting their back to the rest of the group.

Lots of MMOs have issues with mobs and latency causing them to shift behind you. Some even do this on purpose. And this is where unexperienced tanks mess up - not keeping an eye on that and continuing to move to keep them in front.

[AlexanderThorolund]

If I get placed with a horrible tank, I refuse to quit, it's not fair on the DPS, they que for ages to get into dungeons and I won't see them hard done by just because the tank is bad. Even going as far as having to tank and heal myself just to get them through to the end.

[Galadrium]

Another thing I'm seeing right now is an issue with DRKs--not the job itself, but the fact that it's a fun/attractive job means that there's a lot of people playing it who have never tanked before or may not even have interest in learning the role. At your level, the biggest noticeable difference between a good and bad PLD is their ability to manage aggro, but for DRK the difference is squishiness

I noticed this somewhat before but just had the hardest time at the first boss in the Fractal Continuim. We wiped 2 times and only beat the boss finally thanks to an monk that lasted to the end by himself.

I have never had this problem before in this instance. I'm low i170 AST. The DRK had grit active. Is there another damage buff they should have active. I can't figure out why we had so much problem. I even had an extended bole on him the first try and an enhanced bole the second. Including Time Dilation and Celetial Opposition.

[Erim-Nelhah]

I noticed this somewhat before but just had the hardest time at the first boss in the Fractal Continuim. We wiped 2 times and only beat the boss finally thanks to an monk that lasted to the end by himself.

I have never had this problem before in this instance. I'm low i170 AST. The DRK had grit active. Is there another damage buff they should have active. I can't figure out why we had so much problem. I even had an extended bole on him the first try and an enhanced bole the second. Including Time Dilation and Celetial Opposition.

Grit is our tanking stance. For damage output and access to certain defensive CDs, your DRK should have had Darkside running as well. For damage-reducing CDs, we get the following:

• Shadowskin - this is our default CD, giving 20% damage reduction for 20s on a 90s CD.
• Shadow Wall - This is our biggest general-purpose CD, giving 30% damage reduction for 10s on a 3m CD.
• Dark Mind - This gives us a 30% reduction in magical damage taken for 10s if buffed with Dark Arts (which it should be), with a 60s CD. Without Dark Arts it's 15% (same CD).
• Dark Dance - This gives us a 30% boost in parry rate. If used with Dark Arts it also gives a 20% evasion bonus. I'll be honest, this is garbage as a damage-reduction CD on a boss. I use it to try to get Reprisal up if it comes off CD and I don't have a proc already. Otherwise, it stays unused except in mass AoE situations (where I usually pop it with Dark Arts after Blood Price drops - the evasion is actually nice on a trash pack).

Also of note are the following, which are debuffs that should be up on the boss:

• Delirium - reduces INT by 10% (combo finisher, so available every 3 GCDs, or somewhere between 6 and 7.5 seconds). This boss has magical attacks (I'm reasonably sure its cleave is magical, tho not 100% certain), so this should be up at all times unless there's a MNK in the party (even then, it should be up if Dragon Kick isn't - and adds usually keep DK from being up 100%).
• Reprisal - Reduces damage dealt by 10% for 20s (30s CD). This becomes available every 30 seconds, but is only usable after a parry, so it won't always be up every 30 seconds. A good DRK will generally keep this up most of the time tho.

Finally, here are our cross-class defensive CDs:

• Convalescence - should be popped if the DRK sees his/her HP dropping below about 50-60% to help the healer out. Not worth popping at higher health, tho, unless you're expecting multiple big hits that will need to be healed between (A4).
• Bloodbath - Self-healing from damage. Should be popped right after Convalescence to help stabilize.
• Foresight - minor physical CD - better than Dark Dance as a straight CD, tho.
• Awareness - worthless on most bosses, but a godsend on big pulls. I don't use this as often as I should, but for a boss fight it should probably be traded out for Mercy Stroke (which I don't have yet) anyway.

I hope this helps you understand what went wrong.

--Erim Nelhah

[GeekMatt]

Snip

Idk that it's directly related, but a DRK who blows his MP is a squishy DRK in my experience. The ones that maintain their MP are the easiest to heal, and this can either be because MP plays a vital role in their survival (?) or it can just be a sign of player competence, Idk the job firsthand to say.

Today I ran fractal about 5 times and they went smoothly, but the last one was tough. I got in it as an in-progress run, people seemed nice, we did the first pull and I immediately found myself working unusually heavily to keep up the tank. I checked his gear and he was in ilvl170/180 which is plenty, and in tanking gear rather than DPS which is probably the only reason I got any DPSing in. His MP ran out several times, and if I could I'd throw an Ewer on him once I saw Darkside fall off. The last boss went like this; things are messy, MNK not helping with adds so I'm DPSing them on my AST to help the SMN, managing MP pretty well and keeping up the DRK. I get to 3/4 MP, Luminous Aether is gone and I Draw Ewer, "it's a messy run so I should probably use this on myself--but wait, the DRK lost Darkside and is out of MP" So I cast it on the DRK, DPSing less, healing, MP is pretty steady but going down.

Next thing I know crap hits the fan, people taking damage, MNK stands in something, I rez him, then I notice my MP is super low (whups). /panic Everyone's taking heavy damage, 3 of us are near death I can't afford a single heal, boss is at maybe 1/5th HP. Healer 2bar LB, party's back up, Luminiferous Aether is up, got my MP back. I used so many Essential Dignities, sometimes for clutch heals and sometimes just for the MP management. These are my favourite runs.