is it okay to not enjoy big pulls?

[Zojha]

Is it okay? Why certainly. Against common belief, it is perfectly acceptable to not like and even not engage in a certain playstyle, whether that be big pulls, small pulls, whether it's DPSing as healer or not, whether it's using fire spells as Black Mage or not, whether it's using Mudras as ninja or not, whether it's using AoE or not... whatever.

The keypoint is always to ensure that your group will be fine with your playstyle before you queue up.
If you fail to do that and play with randoms in duty finder, please adjust your playstyle to the group. Whatever that playstyle may be.

That said, of course there's limitations, the most notable one for big pulls being gear. You can't pull more than you and the healer can take. Gauging that will come with experience. Likewise, you'll become better as you practice - they're not actually that hard, though they did get somewhat more complex for DRK with Stormblood. The gist is always the same, though: Gather up the mobs with AoE enmity moves and rotate your CDs for mitigation. Keep using AoE afterward insofar resources allow.

It's not rocket science, the hard part is gauging just how much you can take and there's no good way to learn that other than practice. And if you simply categorically refuse to learn and do it ever -> PF is that way. No harm done.

[Kuzonoha]

I'm sorry about your past experience

Yeah, it's perfectly fine. The most important thing is to communicate that at the start of dungeons. I'm positive most people will be fine with it.

I can say for myself at least, that I grew into enjoying bigger pulls when I had the gear and the knowledge to handle it. Before I learned to gauge mobs I would pull as small as possible. I'm saying you have to love big pulls but don't deny yourself the possibility of enjoying it in the future when you grow more accustomed to the job and the dungeons you go through.

[Zfz]

It certainly is okay. I switched from tank to DPS (specifically RDM) and I have absolutely no problem enjoying---yes, enjoying---small pulls and a leisurely pace through a dungeon, sometimes with some small talk. In my opinion, those "slow" chatty runs are the most memorable and enjoyable ones. As long as we're not standing around to chat, the pace will be okay.

[bswpayton]

So I've been practicing drk and decided to start trying out bigger pulls. The first try was a disaster. My healer couldn't keep up and became hostile and left along with the rest of my group shattering my confidence. I tried again and did better the second time and got a nice pep talk from my second group.

However despite getting better at bigger pulls I just can't say I enjoy them. Their honestly stressful and not fun at all. I know the a big part of tanking is setting the pace of the dungeon and every dps and their mother wants to rush a dungeon but honestly I don't.

I guess I'm looking for some advice from the more veteran tanks.

the extra ten mins u take to finish a dungeon aka the easiest content in the game isnt fun either, just something that just kinda happens you always have the power to do whhat you like but, by doing smaller pulls just be aware that you are slowing the run down

[Astral145]

It's fine to not enjoy them, it's not fine to stop doing them because of that. Big pulls are the default in all level 50, 60 and 70 dungeons, and a bunch of dungeons like Dzemael Darkhold, The Vault, and the 61-67 dungeons. You should consider a different role if you don't like that.

Its not the default.. and because of this attitude we have a shortage of tanks.

Do what ever feels comfortable but if ever feeling froggy go for a bigger pull you never know

[bswpayton]

Its not the default.. and because of this attitude we have a shortage of tanks.

Do what ever feels comfortable but if ever feeling froggy go for a bigger pull you never know

Its more to it than that because dungeons are actually the easiest form of content in the game, so i doubt thats why we have a shortage of tanks, but yea he should do as he pleases but also be aware that while he is doing that he is taken more time that he has to

[ChameleonMS]

It is fine to be cautious while you are learning and/or undergeared. Just communicate that at the beginning.

In a perfect world a sub 18 minute dungeon run is common place. All of the following need to be true for such a run:
1. Your whole team has iLVL max gear. Not talking about top raid gear; just at or above the maximum sync level for that dungeon. e.g. i310 or higher right now.
2. The tank is comfortable rotating their defensive cool downs.
3. The tank trusts the healer to keep him/her alive, so, no panicking when HP drops below 20%.
4. The healer is comfortable interweaving DPS while healing.
5. The DPS, especially melee, actually use AoE when there 4+ mobs.
6. The team sprints during the mass pull to minimize damage to the tank and shortens run time.
7. The non-tank members do not pull aggro from the tank during the pull.

The more these which are not done, the longer the dungeon run will be.
When first got my PLD to 70 and started running Ex roulette, I was still i285ish and just said at the beginning of the run.
"Hey, I am squishy. So, smaller pulls."
Healer's response: "Understood"
We still cleared the run in under 25 minutes because the smaller pulls increased the Healer's DPS uptime.

[Ilan]

It certainly is okay. I switched from tank to DPS (specifically RDM) and I have absolutely no problem enjoying---yes, enjoying---small pulls and a leisurely pace through a dungeon, sometimes with some small talk. In my opinion, those "slow" chatty runs are the most memorable and enjoyable ones. As long as we're not standing around to chat, the pace will be okay.

While i agree with you when i'm on a caster, i hate it when tanks pull little when i'm on melee because the tp costs for aoeing are just atrocious.

But overall its ok if the tank pulls smaller if he is not confident enough. Its just a thing of practice and once he is used to it, he will dislike pulling small ever again.

[winsock]

I'd consider continuing to pull big.

These pulls cause you stress now, but that stress will go away in time as the pulls become routine. Sprint, tag mobs, defensive, repeat. Zzzzzz....

So if stress is the main thing discouraging you, consider working through the stress until it subsides. Being able to adjust your pace for a group in either direction is a positive thing.

[MPNZ]

Yes. And, it will be that way for as long as the dungeon design and encounters are linearly designed. Also, when they finally allow players to climb everything, and the zone maps become something other than a giant with invisible walls that direct players along set paths that controls everyone's player experiences.