Tank mentality.

[DesuGenesis]

You learn as you go, and if you're doing something wrong (this will happen to all of us), hopefully someone will constructively correct you. For instance, I had no idea how the enmity on Regen worked until maybe five levels after I had gotten it... once it was explained to me, everything became clear and things became much smoother for everyone. For people willing to listen and learn, all it takes is a nudge in the right direction.

Will most people be pretty nice about corrections, or will it mostly be filled with rage?

[HaplessHermit]

Will most people be pretty nice about corrections, or will it mostly be filled with rage?

It's really a mixed bag, though I hope you don't get discouraged!

I play with a single Paladin, myself, and have grown used to working exclusively with him. We've worked together since Sastashahoweveritsspelled and I've learned to do what I can to ease the burden for him (Reposing, Fluid Aura if he isn't nearby for whatever reason and someone is getting beat on, etc), since tanking is pretty stressful. He's very knowledgeable and is the reason I've learned the things I have, since I really came into this game blind. When I'm not doing something correctly, he helps me out, and it creates a stronger group overall. I think communication between healer and tank is really important, is what I'm getting at.

Don't pay attention to the people who immediately flip into a rage, unless they made some sort of valid point in the process. Probably a kid.

[Mickadin]

Things change tremendously once you reach endgame. Healing isn't lazy and if you think it is, your party will wipe. Also if DPS are spamming 2-3 casts, their DPS will be horrible and will wipe. Just some thoughts

Simple tasks can be rather. Challenging for some.

[fancybandage]

I'm on a PS3 and I have a laptop next to me, everytime I'm about to run something new, I google it. I read up on the fights. This by no means makes me a pro, but I have some rough idea of what to expect and willingly share this information with other people. I don't say anything, but it's starting to become a needed MMO social norm, sort of like saying "please" and "thank you", that you take 5 minutes out of your day to skim the info on the dungeon/fight your about to do as a courtesy to other people.

The dungeons are timed, and I'm sick of failing Duty Finder pugs because we ran out of time explaining shit to people who clearly have access to the internet. We're not the dicks for getting frustrated, you're the dick for expecting a detailed explanation every time you run something. "Well you were that person, too, once". YEAH. TIL I REALIZED WHAT A DICK I WAS BEING AND STARTED USING GOOGLE

[Tigercub]

There really is a flip side to this. Truth is that tanking is a game of co-operation with your party. A fairly simple one in most cases, but it still requires some understanding on everyone's part. Unfortunately it sometimes falls on me to have to explain to some people how certain mechanics work, just out of inherently being in the best position to do so. Most people are cool about it, but reactions vary. Some people take friendly advice, filter it through some kind of insane thought process, and somehow arrive at "this guy is a major asshole". I don't really care to think too hard about the psychology behind it. To quote a very wise woman: "Ain't nobody got time for that".

TBH though, I really don't have many issues along these lines. I don't see it as a real issue in the FFXIV community.

[YunieAura]

It's really easy to see why the tank seems to be the most bitter/most dbaggy of us all and the least popular role. (︶ω︶)

1) Spotlight - stress, responsibility, the "god-complex"

2) Everything starts with tank - the fight and pivotal mechanics (interrupts), the blame, the congratulations

3) Perfection and Dealing with the rude majority of players - walking on eggshells to not seem like a dbag or a bad tank, but one crack and you're the worst player ever. Leads to tank snapping or rerolling. There is the Endgame rush to progress. Even if you're a nice guy, nobody "ain't got no time" to be teaching or waiting on a tank to learn to be better.

Wrote a whole wall of text but accidentally hit back on browser, but that is what my messaged boiled down to. (︶ω︶)

[Zikh]

2) Everything starts with tank - the fight and pivotal mechanics (interrupts), the blame, the congratulations

You must be playing a very different game than I am. Tanking is a thankless job above all, no matter how good you are.

[Delorean]

I'll repeat my original question. What is the expected mentality of the tank?

your jobs to hold aggro and not die

and not cleave the piss out of the melee

do that and you're golden, anyone who says otherwise is wrong for as much as i care

You must be playing a very different game than I am. Tanking is a thankless job above all, no matter how good you are.

almost every in progress queue i take, i am praised for how much better i was than the previous tank. not that i really care, but it is kind of nice to hear sometimes

[Plainview]

almost every in progress queue i take, i am praised for how much better i was than the previous tank. not that i really care, but it is kind of nice to hear sometimes

I've gotten the compliments as well, and to all those out there who gave them, it is appreciated. Sometimes a simple "thank you" is enough to know you helped folks out. What I cannot abide and will never tolerate is some of the downright hatefulness from folks who hide behind anonymity.