Tanking looks Intimidating.

[AlrikRouge]

In retrospect, not sure I would have taken a tank job as my first ever MMO role. Maybe I would have. But in the end, so far I'm really happy about it.

It can be intimidating. However, I always made it known I hadn't done the dungeon before, or if there was a way I had been running the dungeon, did they want it run another way. Etc. Rarely did I ever run into a bunch of criticism at the outset. And when I did, I really did ignore it, and continued to ask questions. Either the hotheads jumped from the run, or shut up, while the helpfuls continued to help.

I think in all the times I was new at a dungeon, I bailed twice - each time was with a group of pre-mades that were just selohssa and were relentless in showing it. I think it was good to run with both fresh DPS and healers, and pros. I learned a lot more, faster that way. AND THEN I came to the forum and started reading up. Because I could understand the strategies everyone was talking about, using the skills they mentioned.

And when in doubt.....blame the tank.

[Ed_N_Ants]

And when in doubt.....blame the tank.

This is the best statement ever because it's totally true... If there not blaming the tank there blaming the healer... What they don't realize is dps needs to down things quickly tanks need to hold agro and healer needs to keep all of them alive... It's a group effort and when you fail you failed as a group...

[JonBigwood]

Hi, you are only level 26 in your first class. If you start leveling PLD when you are already BLM level 50, you will have a long way already done. It will be much easier than if you started PLD from zero. You will tank knowing what are the tank duties from the start and will be much better tank than a complete new to it. You will also know the dungeons, from other point of view, but you will know them. You are on this forum. There is a lot of useful information here.
I started as PLD (bad PLD I was .) Then leveled WHM to 50, a walk on the park up to Brayflox, then you start to find challenges, healing needs get higher sometimes, there are AOE to avoid too... Tanks don't get one shot killed that frequently! All in all well, I still have much to learn for hard content. Now I am leveling THM (for swifcast), let's see, I am only level 22, up to now the biggest problem is waiting times at Duty Finder.
I think the more different classes you play, the better you get on your main one as you understand others points of view and needs.