Are FFXIV tanks just players who "couldn't hack it as a DPS"?

[Claire_Pendragon]

It's hard to say atm. in HW DPS roles were pretty harsh.
But now, I tend to feel 10 times more relaxed as a DPS than as a tank. (also nice that most mechanics are targeting tanks/healers instead, making DPSing easier again.)
So to me DPSing feels fine, unless I actually panic, which is less likely, as the spot light isnt on me anymore.
But when I jump on a tank, the panic makes me feel like its harder, even if im doing fine, or content ive already cleared as a DPS.
(granted im super rusty at tanking now, since ive been sticking to DPS this patch, as DRK isnt as fun anymore, and Im too lazy to get PLD and WAR up to see if they feel any better)

[Aana]

Its a different set of skills.

DPS in this game is primarily performing your rotation, and adjust the nuances of the rotation for the fight at hand while dealing with mechanics.
Tanks do the same, but their rotation is less complex. To replace that complexity they have enmity, mob positioning and cooldown management. Greater pressure as errors have greater impact.
Healers do the same, but have the least complex dps system. To replace that complexity they have to manage all the HP bars. Greatest pressure as errors essentially kill anyone.

Is managing a more complex rotation 'easier' than managing HP bars? Are both of those 'easier' than mob positioning, CD management, enmity? Depends on what you find easy.

Im a tank (and geographer). I find mob positioning to be incredibly easy, but I also find position based mechanics extremely easy. I find reactive twitchy things very challenging thus I find healers very challenging and DPS with lots of OGCDs and speed buffs harder than the 'slower' ones. But I don't find the 'length' of a rotation challenging. My own raid group has people the opposite. They cant do spatial things to save their life (literally) but are far better at quick execution.

Example: I have a very hard time using my charge to ignore the knockback in delta savage 4 with precise timing. But I waltz through the black hole doom field without ever killing myself or others. Others in my group never miss the knockback, but struggle to 'find space' in the black holes to do their stuff that I see very easily. People are different.

Please don't try to make some fight thread about what job is EZ mode. They focus on different aspects of play. Some people excel at specific aspects and less at others. Playing a job that aligns with your personal strengths makes a class 'EZ'. Playing one that trends away from your personal strengths is makes it harder. They are just different.

[ManuelBravo]

I tank out of boredom and be well rounded for any situation. I personally prefer to DPS yet sometimes if I want to get things done right I need to tank. -.- I think it's the opposite Tanks that can't make the cut become DPS. Out of desperation of queue go back to tanking at times.

[Shadotterdan]

Not in the slightest, DPS have to worry about how to maximize their damage, but tanks do that on top of dodging more aoe, cooldown management for tankbusters and the like, proper placement of the enemy, enmity management when dealing with crowds, and taking responsiblity for how large the pulls should be.

It's no coincidence that drunk tanking is such a thing.

[Felorr]

I think a lot of the DPS jobs are very different. For example, I think playing the tanks at the highest level possible in Omega Savage is more difficult than playing easier DPS jobs like Monk or Bard. But the more punishing DPS jobs like Summoner are more difficult to play at the same top tier level of performance.

Tank "dps rotations" are simpler than any DPS job, yet still require a lot of skill and nuance to be at that top 5%.

[Llus]

Tanking is neither easier nor more difficult than being a DPS (or healer). In both cases it is not all that difficult to do an "okay" job, while performing at the top requires considerable skill. This is no different in FFXIV compared to most other MMOs.

Difference is that when a tank performs badly or makes a mistake it is immediately obvious to everyone else in the party. When a DPS performs badly, usually nobody notices.

I would have to disagree with the statement that tanking or healing is no more difficult than DPS. If you're a tank stance tenacity tank, then sure; you're in easy mode and feels super simple to tank. When you're in DPS stance in savage content with everyone pushing DPS and pushing the limits on healer CD's and tank mitigation CDs while handling the same mechanics as DPS, not missing a GCD during those mechanics; hitting your tank swaps (thank god for shirk!) and moving/positioning the boss for the upcoming mechanics while still keeping it in range for your mele (eg not sprinting across the room with the boss leaving your mele to miss a GCD) you're now pushing the limits on tanking. When a tank or healer mess up, count on a wipe. When a DPS messes up, pick 'em up in a minute (as long as they didn't kill a healer or tank when they messed up). If you're talking about tanking in light party, then bring a SMN with titan and have titan tank the run.... Tanking in LP dungeons is only as hard as someone holding aggro while sprinting through collecting mobs and hitting their CDs appropriately.

[Atreides]

Tanking used to be a Joke way back then when almost everything was tank and spank and just blowing a cooldown here and there. Nowdays it's like playing a DPS that has way more mechanics to deal with on top of it.

[Fate_Testarossa]

If we take current content into consideration then Healers/Tanks have a much harder job than dps right now. Do note, I'm talking about the current endgame.

Just take a look at all the stuff tanks and healers have to look out for in O4S, especially tanks. You have several different types of tankbusters, constant aggro resets and on top of that a lot of raid damage going out. There is a lot of aggro and cooldown management going on, so no, you can't just yolo it in dps stance unless you know what you're doing.

A lot of people are under the assumption that every tank can just run around in dps stance all the time. That's not how it works at all. If you're in dps stance and you're not pressing the right cooldowns at the right time O4S will wreck your shit.

[Anienai]

DPS be boring.

[Rawrz]

Please don't be a dps oriented tank that AVOIDS popping cds while in dps stance. Please don't just pop a cd for tank busters. You can use them between tank busters. If youre a good tank you will do high damage with high mitigation. Please support the party with your tool kit. Popping ogcds between weapon skills, will not lower your dps.

Thank you.