Tank population drop after Stormblood?

[bswpayton]

Anyone else worried there won't be enough tanks for heavenward and below content when Stormblood launches? With the introduction of new DPS jobs I'm worried the 50-60 instances will suffer from long queue times, as many main tanks will either be pushing new content or testing out the new jobs. Perhaps duty roulette will help out with tanks leveling from 60-70, but who knows.

Im not giving up my instant que to main a dps haha

[KuruSeed]

I was hoping for a new tank class. None of the ones we have now interest me that much.

[Jandor]

Sure, tank population stayed roughly the same when we got something new. Big unanswered question is whether it will stay the same when we don't.

Personally, I expect both healer and tank population will drop at least a little bit.

[gumas]

Or maybe just up the tank dps while they doing story/solo session? Aside from war, pally and DK could use some dps upgrade to not make their outside dungeon activity a chore

Everyone love big damage

[NovaLevossida]

Sure, tank population stayed roughly the same when we got something new. Big unanswered question is whether it will stay the same when we don't.

I know my queue times were astronomical on DPS when NIN was added. The common counter argument is "well, that was mid-expansion." I don't really buy it. I expect DPS queues to become long again. I've just leveled a tank in case of that.

Or maybe just up the tank dps while they doing story/solo session? Aside from war, pally and DK could use some dps upgrade to not make their outside dungeon activity a chore

DRK isn't really that far behind WAR, but sure, I'll take free buffs.

[ToasterMan]

They'll drop. Just one example is one of the healers in our raid team switching to SAM from SCH.

How much they'll drop is uncertain, but there's no doubt that there will be a drop. Be prepared for it.

If you were interested in trying out tanking or healing, now is a great time because you will be in high demand for SB.

[Jim_Berry]

I main PLD > DRK > WAR. I'll be one of the tanks that will probably get abused

Long live the Shield!

[Pireco]

And theres the new mount(s) for tanks, wich i bet will be one more reason for people thinking to tank, also with the bs towards healers + two highly demanded jobs , i think the main drop will be from healers, but i think tanks still will be instant queue.
Im hoping we will get some info on healing changes, personally hoping more instakill (if not shielded/healed fast and cd mitigated) and incoming damage so healers will be more challenged.

[LalafellDown]

Yes they will loose tanks, this one for sure. Since real life stuff is coming up I hope to not return. Based on the 3.0 launch there was a much longer queue than usual as a tank waiting for DPS. It only lasted a few days, but it seemed like a lot of DPS players switched to DRK or AST. So I believe there will be a bit longer queue waiting for tanks. I mean it's already long for DPS what makes you thing it won't be longer?

[Acidblood]

Short term I'm expecting the DPS queues to suck (though for anyone that does play a Tank, or Healer, during this time it's going to be great) ...

Longer term it depends what they do to actually fix the various Tank and Healer class issues (which for me personally means Paladin and White Mage). If they do fix the issues (and no, I don't think low DPS / Cleric Stance is one of them), then I'll probably end up playing these roles even more... but if they've just been paying lip service, or somehow manage to miss the point and screw it up (which is not unprecedented), then yeah, BLM, SAM and maybe RDM all the way.

Edit:

Sure, tank population stayed roughly the same when we got something new. Big unanswered question is whether it will stay the same when we don't.

Personally, I expect both healer and tank population will drop at least a little bit.

True, Machinist isn't exactly that exciting, especially once you get saddled with Gauss Barrel , so if you weren't already into ranged support classes, you aren't likely to give up Tanking / Healing to play MCH as a main; especially with the extra options that DRK and AST present.

With Stormblood however, and two highly anticipated new DPS jobs, but no new Healer or Tank jobs, it is going to rest squarely on the battle system, and individual classes changes, to keep the more causal Tanks and Healers playing those roles on a regular basis. i.e. While the hardcore my mostly enjoy the role, I for one mostly enjoy the class, and it is yet to be seen if that will remain the case.