the need for 3rd tank class

[XNihili]

If they made a new tanking class called Soldier who wields a large Cloud-style Buster sword and gave the class all of Cloud's limit breaks as abilities....there would be an explosion of tanks in this game.

Not to be mean but I don't really want my tank to be this guy. Like I don't want my tank to be someone called DarkNarutoCloudSephirothXX UchihaIchigoWhatever. People like being cool but the fad is going down fast and what is left is tanking. They'll ask for their tanky to be able to specialize in DPS. Like some people want to turn their Warrior into DPS because Warriors look awesome and wild but tanking is so "boring" dude.

Paladins and Warriors just aren't very "cool" as compared to other classes like Dragoons, Summoners, and Black Mages.

Lol ... Did you ever read the Summoners' topic ? Many are complaining they don't feel cool at all. They want their big awesome summons like in FFXI.

[Hairo]

just going to say I have a lvl50 healer and lvl50 dps.

If they released a dark knight/shadow knight type of tank I would level it

[Gamemako]

Not to be mean but I don't really want my tank to be this guy.

I wonder what portion of Warriors usually play tanks. It was an issue, at least back in beta, where players would be MRD and not realize that they were playing a tank until people yelled at them in dungeons.

TBH, I think there's some truth to the idea that different tanks would attract some more players, but I think many of the approaches are wrongheaded. Dark Knight wouldn't do much -- some people would try it, but many would just turn away and not care about more of the same. WAR already scratches that itch. Instead, try a Mystic Knight, give it an AoE where it flashes in a circle with a flaming blade to generate aggro on nearby targets, see if you don't get a few new faces showing up to try their hand. Or maybe an Evoker who calls the spirits of beasts on enemies or a Dimensional Mage or a Berserker or any number of other ideas which attract players who just aren't interested in more of the same.

[Valendore]

If they made a new tanking class called Soldier who wields a large Cloud-style Buster sword and gave the class all of Cloud's limit breaks as abilities....there would be an explosion of tanks in this game.

It's not the role. It's the way the player feels about the character archetype.

Paladins and Warriors just aren't very "cool" as compared to other classes like Dragoons, Summoners, and Black Mages.

I completely disagree. I don't care how cool they could make a tank class. It won't change that fact that many players do not like the responsibility, demands, or criticism that goes along with playing a tank. You must be one of those thick skinned people that are not bothered when people yell at you.

[Nyremis]

I completely disagree. I don't care how cool they could make a tank class. It won't change that fact that many players do not like the responsibility, demands, or criticism that goes along with playing a tank. You must be one of those thick skinned people that are not bothered when people yell at you.

I agree to a certain extent, but also disagree. Yeah, currently you either need thick skin or don't play the Tank role due to how disrespectful people tend to be towards that role.

To say a new tank class/job would not be incentive enough for more people to opt to play the role, I disagree with that. I personally would be more inclined to do so with a fresh, creative tank class/job, and my biggest reason for not wanting to play a Tank class/job currently is because of how other people treat you while being the Tank regardless if you do everything right or not. I enjoy tanking and all the responsibility that it entails.

[Nanamix]

I suppose it may depends. But a gunblade tanking class would be exceptional.

[Quiz]

I suppose it may depends. But a gunblade tanking class would be exceptional.

We have that, it's GLD13

[Valendore]

I didn't read the whole thread, so I don't know what all has been covered, but in order to improve que times for DPS, the group sizes need to be increased to allow more DPS into each group. This would increase how quickly DPS get into groups. All that then needs to be done is increase the HPs of the mobs/bosses to accommodate the additional DPS in the groups.

4 player -> 6 players: 1 tank, 1 healer, 4 DPS
8 player -> 12 players: 2 tanks, 2 healers, 8 DPS

The 12 player groups will be a bit more hectic, and maybe too many DPS for 2 healers to manage. Would need experimentation. Would need good AoE heals. Main tank healer and AoE healer.

Adding a new tank class or two won't help. People who are already playing a tank as a main will prob try the new tank class. People who do not like tanking will not play the new tank classes. There will be some players who dabble in tanking who might play with them for a bit, but they would never become their main.

As said a 1000x, its not the classes, its the responsibility, demands, and criticism that keeps people from playing tanks. I don't have numbers, but its my personal opinion that most people are thin skinned like me, and don't want to be yelled at by some punk in a dungeon when trying to play a tank. It ruins my desire to do it again. Sure, some see that as a challenge to get better, most won't. This is a concept that those of you with thick skins or are just oblivious to criticism just cannot grasp.

[Gardes]

Speaking of feeling weak as a tank (damage dealing wise), why not have a drk tank that...steals the dps party members' attack strength (regardless of physical and magical)?

Quick example:
A party where pld has 150 dps, and 2 dps with 300dps versus (totalling 700 dps not counting healer)
With a drk tank constantly absorbing energy from other dps: drk 300 dps, the other 2 dps will have 225 dps (totalling 700 dps not counting healer)

-Drk tank gets to have big numbers and feel like a dps while still tanking
-Drk as a tank wont have to rely on enmity multiplier as much for aggro
-Actual dps members might get to get into df dungeons faster, they just have lower numbers with a drk tank around
-Total party damage capability will still be similar to a standard pld/war tanking group

Can even have an overload mechanic where the drk has to control his leeching intake or he will explode. Or find another name for it if people really dont like drk tanks.

[ExperienceLoader]

There's also plenty of space for a 3rd tanking class even if they do share some overlap. Hell WoW had 4 of em and they all managed well enough. Just looking at the game's mechanics that are already in place they could make a Tank with the Pugilist stance system. Maybe go a Samurai route that shifts between blade stances, one stance for damage, one stance for enmity, and one stance for mitigation. You can even give him a high level OH-SH!T skill that combines all three stances for a short period of time. While in theory it's that same thing that all of the other tanks do, in practice it's a faster paced play style that may attract some more people.