the need for 3rd tank class

[Delorean]

There isn't a need for another tank class. There's a need for less DPS classes.

I don't usually play a tank. My forte is playing the role of melee DPS. But I always play an unstoppable heavily armored unit in every game I play, because that's the kind of class that I like the most.

Like me, I believe people choose to play the class that they do because there is something that they like about it that is not relevant to the role that it serves in a group environment.

Melee DPS are pretty popular in games like these, yet the incentive to not stack them is generally to just have them die instantly when they mess up or make an encounter more difficult if you have too many of them. Sometimes I just wonder why all melee DPS aren't just tanks.

[Nash20]

If the player base had an option of 8 different tanks and only 2 dps...the ratio of dps to tanks would still be the same.

Most people don't like tanking or the responsibility that comes with it.

In DF, I have to almost psych myself up to tank a dungeon.

Things that go through my head are - Will the healer want to heal...or just DPS? Will that lvl 46 archer (not bard b/c he's only deeps yo!) run ahead and pull packs of mobs cause that's his job? Will the Boss do a mechanic that randomly targets a party member (2nd boss WP) and the party freaks out "keep hate tank WTF!!!1!" Will someone say, hey...this tank doesn't even use Rampart...what a noob when I am clearly a Warrior.

Now when I queue for dungeons as a BRD...I can sit back and watch tv and not deal with ... not the stress...but the ignorance of many many players.

[Renik]

As most of you say, it's responsibility, i'm the kind of guy who will take the lead on a dungeon, or make an strategy, most ppl don't like this, i really enjoy it, i like this pressure, but when it comes to primals or bosses it's very different, ifrit was the first obstacle, PLDs had to stun him (this doesn't work anymore) well it was easy. after that came garuda, a battle where the tank have all the responsibility, a wrong step and the whole pty is dead, i considered this battle a pain, now i can do it with np.
with 2.1 came ultima HM, EX primals, pharos, there you have ultima, the tanks have to switch tank, an overused mechanic in new content, we had to make the balls explode and use LB, it was a pain, but easy. then there is siren, we tanks have to take some adds because the DPSs cant kill them asap, we have to stun siren, even when there are dragoons or bards in the party, we're the ones stunning, this battle was also a pain, but well we are tanks we are supposed to have take more pressure than the rest of the party. then i tried Garuda ex, to garuda, titan and ifrit EX i just can say **** IT!

I mean seriously? all the pressure we tanks have to take in these battles is so overwhelming, every mechanic SE adds to new content is designed to stress the tanks, these battles are drastically reducing the number of tanks in the game, even if we get another tank class, most will give up in garuda HM, the ones who can pass her will the hit garuda EX who is 100 times worse, in the end of the (made up numbers) 1000 players trying the new tank only 5 will keep playing it to the very end. and SE is still wondering why is there a tank shortage.

In my case i only use my PLD with friends, because they will forgive my mistakes, and even if the pressure is the same, i have their support, i'm a tank but i will rarely use DF.
In terms of wait times, i'm another lost tank.

I want another tank class, just for the fun of playing it, but this won't fix anything.

[JemC]

I think more tank and healer classes would be fine. Make them over powered. Give them some exciting dps traits. Dress them and sell them as dps but with tank and heal abilities (obvious they have to fit in the heal and tank slots in parties). But make the requirements for getting these new classes hard so not everyone and their neighbor can pick them up. Not selective tho. Like I wouldn't say, "requirement you must be in an FC" (solo players screwed) or "you must have your chocobo's fighting tree maxed out" (annoyingly to hard) or "all crafting at level 50" (not everyone's cup of tea). That just seems to invade people's right to do as they please with what's been given. So I'd make requirements something new never yet done.

[joshsecret]

tbh i only read a few posts.

but we do NOT need a new tank!
we need the party formula to reflect the players.
make 8 mans w 1 tank

or better off, do away with this draconian idea of the holy trinity. it is dated and only serves to gate that which does not need gated.

[ObeiKinstar]

Make a magical tank class

and make non magical healing class like a chemist

[ReplicaX]

I feel the game and the community isn't ready for another Tank Class. It's a niche role with a community and game that gives it little breathing room or development in general. Another Tank Class isn't going to fix anything with the Role having core issues as it is. My post isn't referring to player skill at all or the hardest piece of content in the game currently.

[Assirra]

tbh i only read a few posts.

but we do NOT need a new tank!
we need the party formula to reflect the players.
make 8 mans w 1 tank

or better off, do away with this draconian idea of the holy trinity. it is dated and only serves to gate that which does not need gated.

There are games that do away with the holy trininty and well, its a bloody zergfest without a group feeling.

[Reinthir]

A hybrid tanking class may help.

[Acala]

...every mechanic SE adds to new content is designed to stress the tanks, these battles are drastically reducing the number of tanks in the game.

In my case i only use my PLD with friends, because they will forgive my mistakes, and even if the pressure is the same, i have their support, i'm a tank but i will rarely use DF.
In terms of wait times, i'm another lost tank.

I want another tank class, just for the fun of playing it, but this won't fix anything.

Basically what this guys said. I pretty much play a tank in most games. This is the first game where I dont want to tank anything but T5. And there is no incentive for me to tank anything else in this game. Dungeon gear is basically trash, and there is no other reward from it that would make it worth doing. And i think many of the other tanks here will also agree that they only tank for there small group. Which is severely crippling the amount of tanks in the duty finder. The ilvl jump from dungeon to lower lvl tomb to zerg raid, ct, to top content, coil, is ridiculous. SE has essentially made a few core design features that are terrible for the community.

Those being that SE has actively worked to dissuade ppl from playing alts. I mean in wow i enjoyed tanking on my dk, war, pld. I mean tanking same content but the classes provided the difference that made it enjoyable.

So if SE wants more tanks in circulation they have to start by making the tanks they have want to play non-raid content. Simple as that. Adding new classes or dumbing down the responsibility will just result in a short spike but then return to the status quo after fotm wears off.