Is Tanking Boring?

[TheMightyMollusk]

I like it when tanking is boring. It means nobody has run off and done something stupid to get us all killed.

[Ilan]

Tanking isn't boring except you only want to keep hate.

I started playing DRK when HW came out and i loved it but after SB came out i just stopped tanking because DRK is simply no fun for me anymore.

[blindtaleteller]

I think it depends on the content you're doing, and skill level too; though I personally am seriously considering just plain not doing raids any more on any class with current loot rules blocking a raise in ilvl and therefor progress in content to boot with requirements as they are. There is simply no point in doing raids with current loot drops and ilvl requirements, as your tank gear is more likely to go to the healer/dps turning it in for seals than to those of us returning or new who may actually need it for their main class towards queing to new content. It's less wasteful on your time and effort to just forever dungeon. Not only do you actually get gear you need; but the currency is better. I wouldn't mention that, expect that.. with raids all but removed from the ques for those of us who can't que with a full party? That really does affect how you can end up feeling about playing a tank class.

Dungeon wise.. it can be very boring at times once you get used to timing, position, and mechanics. Otherwise the job -is- to stand there and take hits and keep things' attention after all, no matter what you're queing for. That's pretty much it, so if you're not prepared for that or don't like that idea.. my suggestion dumbed down and simplified is this: you're playing the wrong class.

Tanking is often much more chill than other classes because our classes are designed to do exactly that. Unless you're playing through high end raids. XD That stuff can get hectic.. last section of Alex was freakin great for tanks at drop in that respect; and I hope they keep that bar high again as Omega progresses.. because I freakin loved timing my LB for a change, and having to deal with transformer jet kid's targeted tankbuster when off-tanking.


Anyroad. We are meant to be front line, first aggro to hold junk still and turn it the right direction (hopefully) so the rest don't get hit in the face with cleaves and crap on the aggro table that can be avoided by doing our job: the (hopefully) sometimes provided high/impatient dps (yes that needed a / as any tank who's done pugs with pulling spellcasters and other derps while trying to make a quick bathroom run before pull or grinding out an ilvl can tell you) also remember the part of theirs where they control their own aggro levels according to the group and tank on hand.

The problem with comparing any wow class with FF classes is that definition between them, and the (hopefully) continuing backlash of trying to deviate too far outside the class' intended duty. I played wow for 10 years and left because of the lack of those definitions, where a holy pally could and often still can tank, dps, and heal the content because hey.. classes didn't matter in that game at all when I stopped maining that game. Because who needs to learn their role when they can just derp through everything, right? It's gotten a little better in wow? But not by much. There are few if any consequences for trying to tank as a hunter, heal as a prot pally or leave your partymates in the dirt as a healer to DPS. While the aggro and damage rules in FF aren't as stringent as they were when I started and honestly could use some serious work in the way of healers dpsing their parties to death since HW days between community harassment I've seen and mechanic slide? I still prefer the fine line between the classes. When I choose a tank class, I want to tank. When I dps, I don't expect (nor should I) to have the boss in my face. If I ever choose a healing class, it won't be to deal damage; it'll be to restore damage taken.

Basically, I expect to be able to do the job as advertised. There are over a dozen to choose from for this reason, with different modes of play; and expecting otherwise makes those roles/classes pointless and useless.

Otherwise, what's the point of choosing a specific job class type if you aren't going to play that job class out?


So .. yeah. If you can't stand the standing around as a tank.. try another class; cause that's 75% of what we do; and what we're supposed to do, for the most part.

[ExpiredLabel]

Recent player, so far going on two months. I started out as a Lala BLM and was very interested in RDM. However, shortly upon unlocking and playing I simply wasn't digging it's play style (I was wishing they could jump into and remain in combat per use of skills more than they do) I switched to NIN. Better challenge and more to do/lookout for. However, being the type of person i am I kept looking around to see if there was another class that could catch my attention as well. Enter a new char ROE DK. What set this apart for me was the challenge, reading over the forums on all the classes, DK seemed to be the one people couldn't wrap their minds around one way or another and I was looking to challenge myself further. Having reached 70 about a week and a half ago, it's only now I can say I feel confident as my role as Tank and when to use grit (when the situation calls and no it doesn't always call for it), to be fair there was a level of anxiety in the beginning because of those special people who don't understand we ALL started somewhere and would rather bash then teach/help. Water off my back though, having experienced the DK before this recent hotfix I can only say i'm happier given what they've done and their willingness to bring it to par with the communities expectations. Tanking itself is fun and rewarding with the right group and combat at least from the point of view of DK is engaging enough like the NIN was before. One cool story I would like to share in my small time playing and tanking is one that happened quite recently this past Saturday. Me and a friend decided to do a roulette, well we got World of Darkness. Everything is fine and the duty is going by fast, until we get to the last boss. Again, beginning of fight starts out fine (I instantly get to its very side and start letting it rip). Smooth sailing until the boss reaches around 10%. As I'm bashing away on the very side, by the edge. I hear my partner say "damn I died....oh nooo It's extending the wipe" I look up and everyone was wiped out.......I look at my health, pop my last rampart for the fight (hit, hit, my health drops below 1/4, tagged again) pop walking dead and keep firing off......that day....I was the symbol of Clutch, and deservingly earned my puff of darkness. This after just being shown the wonderful mash up of Boku no hero academia and Final Fantasy 14 lmao. My night was made and I've main DK since.

[Malkria]

My biggest reason I don't tank is honestly because I do find it boring. I don't like the combo system as it both feels constrictive and it feels to slow. I like the NIN and MNK combat styles since their speed buffs to actions makes the actions feel more flowing, much like the casters where usually you can cast one spell after another as each one finishes casting. You don't have this awkward pause between actions like you do with the three current tanks due to the instant attacks being limited by the GCD.

[DBelmont]

My biggest reason I don't tank is honestly because I do find it boring. I don't like the combo system as it both feels constrictive and it feels to slow. I like the NIN and MNK combat styles since their speed buffs to actions makes the actions feel more flowing, much like the casters where usually you can cast one spell after another as each one finishes casting. You don't have this awkward pause between actions like you do with the three current tanks due to the instant attacks being limited by the GCD.

DRK is very fast paced, especially after the 4.3 fixes. Maybe not as fast as MNK and NIN, but faster than many other jobs.

[Malkria]

DRK is very fast paced, especially after the 4.3 fixes. Maybe not as fast as MNK and NIN, but faster than many other jobs.

I dunno, I still felt the same kind of 'pause' from it as I got from the other two between attacks. It's not about keeping track of stuff it's that the attacks and animations don't line up with the GCD which leaves this noticeable pause between attacks. Which is why I like the NIN and MNK so much as melee jobs and not the others. I don't know if it's lag or not, but every tank job has it and it's one of the reasons tanking feels awkward to me; well that and how much my character grunts during attacks and how that makes her sound...awkward to play.

[Tex_Mex]

well that and how much my character grunts during attacks and how that makes her sound...awkward to play.

LOL. It's NOT what you think honey!! But seriously, tanks are purposely designed to have much simpler rotations than DPS classes. This is just because tanks have a bit more to pay attention to than just their own damage. Tankbusters, enemy positioning, enmity control, add pickup, tankswaps, etc. They get to do all that stuff on top of their simplified rotations. All that being said, the speed of the DRK playstyle is significantly faster than PLD or WAR, which makes it preferable for those players who like that kind of thing. But the rotation will never be as nuanced or complex as any of the DPS classes (except maybe BRD lol)

[Jaggerjack]

he iv been gladiator at level 50 perhaps 48......... in 1.0 before they even released paladin i had more fun tanking in that version of a game, So sad, everytime i try to play another job i feel dissatisfied because of how the world is built spam dungeons.... maybe am getting very old for mmo's. FFXIV feels like destiny 2 for now i miss 1.0 and 2.0, but meh...

[Ramzakristos]

hello Kavrick,

I understand why you questioning the role of tank,however,there are a few things that you can do to improve your overall experience.the way you run a dungeon,raid or trial can affect wildly you experience in said instance.the DRK has a set of utility,albeit reduced compared to the other two,that will help your party overcome certain obstacles.i can think of The Blackest Night,in your case,Creates a barrier around self that absorbs damage totaling 20% of your maximum HP, or around a party member that absorbs damage totaling 10% of your maximum HP..now you can use this on you as your CD rotation.
when on a party member that's in need you might have very well just helped out your healer,this can even apply to trials when there is a tank swap before a tank buster,you can shield your fellow tank and therefore mitigating some of that damage ensuring his survivability for the rest of the fight.now the healer only needs to top him off with the rest of the party,instead of having to use single target heals to bring him back up.

this is just and example of what tanks can and should do.after a point in the game you are really required to use your utility. and that makes things interesting.one last advice would be to level your other tanks as well, so you can learn the broader spectrum of tanking for this game.and of course they have their own utility that brings so much to a group

i hope this answer your question and will help you in the future,tanking is not boring but you can make it so,it's up to you to do your research and find ways,that fight your style,to improve your tanking and the experience of the party you take with you.