Minor Complaint/Mini Rant

[Alahra]

Actually, it's no different than how WoW & Rift currently work.

I never played Rift, but has WoW's tank meta changed significantly? I haven't played since Mists (and never hit cap there), but I don't recall a significant focus on tank DPS when I did play. They did quite a lot of damage (it was pretty easy for tanks to top Recount in dungeons because of how good their AoE was and Vengeance), but they didn't really have to give up a lot to do that. It was part of how they functioned.

[Sekdatend]

As someone who very recently stopped FFXIV due to these focus's on tank DPS and went to go tank in WoW. I can say that I feel very that WoW has tanking & healing in a better spot than FFXIV. It may be due to WoW's age or SE just as very little idea what they want to do with these two roles. The fact that my secondary stats play a large role in my ability to deal damage and protect myself makes me feel that I am not sacrificing tankiness for damage and makes it a much more enjoyable tanking experience. I don't tank to see large numbers. I tank to keep control over a fight.

[Dante_V]

I actually like the way the meta is setup. It actually makes tanking and gearing interesting and raises the skill ceiling for both tanking and healing.

[Alahra]

I actually like the way the meta is setup.

I think the meta is largely fine (even if it's not particularly to my taste)--the problem is that the meta runs counter to most of the game's design, though. A tank leveling up from 1-60 learns that he's supposed to Need on VIT gear. Tank stances give bonus enmity, so he'll assume that's what he's supposed to use for tanking, and so on. It's natural for him to gather Fending gear when he hits the cap and starts gathering tomestones. Either the game needs to be retooled to work in accordance with the meta or SE needs to change the game so that the meta doesn't work. The first is preferable, as I think options for playstyles are a good thing.

[RapBreon]

I never played Rift, but has WoW's tank meta changed significantly? I haven't played since Mists (and never hit cap there), but I don't recall a significant focus on tank DPS when I did play. They did quite a lot of damage (it was pretty easy for tanks to top Recount in dungeons because of how good their AoE was and Vengeance), but they didn't really have to give up a lot to do that. It was part of how they functioned.

Which IMO was downright silly. I have zero problems with tanks doing crazy good damage (even beating DPS); but doing that much damage without giving up survivability is just...poopy pants.

[Ralvenom]

As someone who very recently stopped FFXIV due to these focus's on tank DPS and went to go tank in WoW. I can say that I feel very that WoW has tanking & healing in a better spot than FFXIV.

WoW has it such that tanking is DOWNRIGHT BORING without tanks working to maximize dps. And, btw, if you haven't raided in heroic or higher (WoW's intermediate raid level)...then you have no business even discussing how tanks "top" the dps meters.

Also, if you're tanking solely to CONTROL a fight, you're doing the BARE MINIMUM. Git gud.

I actually like the way the meta is setup. It actually makes tanking and gearing interesting and raises the skill ceiling for both tanking and healing.

Exactly. WoW tanking in raids was basically, "Stand here, then move. Now move again. Are you bored?! THEN DPS!". In FF14, your tank damage actually matters.

[Sekdatend]

Don't get me wrong. I will dps as much as I can while still being a tank but expecting me to drop my tank stance and be more likely to die to random crits and shit isn't right. I like being able to survive huge hits. I was soooo happy when I survived 2 hyper-compressed plasmas in A1S (without living dead) when my OT died in Deliverance shortly before the tankbuster. That gave me more happiness than any souleater crit. Give me stuff to interrupt. Faust would have been SOOOO fun if instead of it being in that square room we did it in the steam maze. There are ways to raise the skill ceiling without it being "dps or gtfo" either by making more mechanics have something more than, pop this CD ok you're fine or give the tanks fun mechanics in their kits. Procs are fun, I may not get extremely happy when Low Blow procs but its still fun. Not saying it has to be procs but maybe something similar.

[Duelle]

Agree with the OP. It saddens me that this is no longer something to laugh at, and instead became the way some people expect tanks to play.

[Wizhard]

WoW has it such that tanking is DOWNRIGHT BORING without tanks working to maximize dps. And, btw, if you haven't raided in heroic or higher (WoW's intermediate raid level)...then you have no business even discussing how tanks "top" the dps meters.

Also, if you're tanking solely to CONTROL a fight, you're doing the BARE MINIMUM. Git gud.

Exactly. WoW tanking in raids was basically, "Stand here, then move. Now move again. Are you bored?! THEN DPS!". In FF14, your tank damage actually matters.

Dropping your tank stance when you are getting murdered by a boss in savage to do more dps does not feel right. Think what you want of it but did not roll a paladin to be sacrificing my mitigation for dps.

[Ralvenom]

Dropping your tank stance when you are getting murdered by a boss in savage to do more dps does not feel right. Think what you want of it but did not roll a paladin to be sacrificing my mitigation for dps.

If you're actually getting murdered by the boss and dropping tank stance, you have more issues than "DO MOAR DEEPS". Part of tanking is knowing/planning when to do certain things, including (but hardly limited to) changing stances or using CDs.