Quote Originally Posted by Kabooa View Post
If Tank stance was -sane-, something like 1.7x or 2.0x, I'd have agreed wholeheartedly with you. It would then require a tank that is -just as good- as your DPS, and then damage concerns might be valid. It would require far more threat management with your off tank.
I agree that the hand-holding of tank stance is pretty ridiculous. That said, who did it punish to take away what little agency tanks had when it comes to managing enmity and give less damage in return? Because in my opinion it only punishes those tanks who DO perform just as well or better than the dps. SE decided no one likes tanking so felt it would be good to make it super accessible and remove some of what little non-damage engagement the role had in the process.

SE: "Ohhh hey we're going to have to change up tank stance so that you never really have to worry about enmity anymore"

Player: "Ah okay, well I guess I did just use tank stance to establish enmity and turn it off as soon as possible, so it's not a uh... bad thing I guess? Any actual tank-oriented engagement we're getting in return?"

SE: "Nah."

Player: "I see. Well, the enmity is one thing, but what about the defense?"

SE: "It's passive! "

Player: "Oh uh-okay... well I guess I can at least I can focus on doing good damage and feel rewarded for that"

SE: "Yeahhhhh we're also going to have to take some of your damage too"

Player: "...allllright. So what ARE we getting?"

SE: "Here's a couple more damage attacks you can use to feel better!"

Player: "....I'm getting more damage attacks to deal comparatively less damage?"

SE: "What was that? Btw healers are getting more actual heals, and they get to match or even exceed your damage at the same time!"

Player: "..."

SE: "Please look forward to it!"

The only tank that even gets a defensive ability past level 70 is WAR with Nascent Flash. Well, I guess we could count DRK's Dark Missionary if we really want, which is hardly as useful or necessary as healer role's heals. The role is simply not designed in the same way as healers. It's a watered down dps that just tries its best to deal damage only to be matched in damage by a role that has far more to do which doesn't include dealing damage.

So if nothing else it seems many agree that something needs to change, and it boils down to two ideas. The first is that current gameplay is fine but the damage needs to be higher. The second is that the current damage is fine but the gameplay needs to be adjusted to give tanks less damage skills and more non-damage role abilities.

I'm obviously in the first camp and think that it is the best solution, and that even if SE were to decide to change tanks it's still the best solution until that happens. Because there's no way a complete redesign of the role along with and adjustment to all of the game's content is happening anytime soon.