Anyone REAL nervous about tanking?

[jamesrandal]

especially paladin with very little AoE at lower levels and not knowing the dungeons inside and out :/

I swear, I get so excited and wanna log on and go for it.. But then I remember people not following marks, running ahead, or just plain rude.(and yes sometimes I make mistakes and they aren't received well from party members. this is also a problem the rudeness) then I just talk myself out of it. And then the primals oh man titian and garuda..

[Erendis]

I am, and I only tried out guildhests. Good thing is, I am less scared to heal in dutes after that

[Cherie]

It's not very scary really.

You get Flash at level 8. That is all the AoE you are ever going to get that is going to be actually helpful.

Sadly, AoE tanking as a paladin can be summed up very easily. Flash, Flash, Flash

If people are attacking multiple targets, you do the same. You'll get some moves that combo together, use that on one mob, then move to next and do it again.

If you lose something, Provoke, then Shield Lob it. Then do your combo on it. Still don't have threat on it? Use Shield bash, then do your combo again...etc

Not so scary. You'll get it!

[Nayto]

Beleive in your smelf.

[Nyremis]

Well, I can suggest playing the dungeons as something else and figuring out where to go and what to do. Regardless of very little AoE at lower levels you have Flash and if used properly you shouldn't have to worry about anything. Most new tanks that I see focus on flashing maybe 1-2 mobs pulled and focusing on 1 target. In my experience you can't do that with random groups. I can't count the number of times that random DPS decided to hit whatever they want regardless of the numbers marked on the targets. Flash and focus on rotating your enmity combo when you get a solid lead on your healer/dps. You want to rotate to using the combo on all of the mobs, while making sure you hold enmity on the targets DPS are focusing on. I recommend flashing before you start your next combo and when you are down to your last mob in the group you should be able to focus on using Fast Blade into Riot Blade 1-3 times at least to build back your MP for the next group.

[jamesrandal]

The problem with hitting all the mobs is, if someone is trying to sleep one, and I don't notice, they get angry. lol

[MStowastiqVahlshdeh]

The problem with hitting all the mobs is, if someone is trying to sleep one, and I don't notice, they get angry. lol

Let people know at the start to be extra obvious in a way you are certain to notice [pick something you like or they like]when it comes to you missing sleeps on mobs. Polite communication and patience go a long way. If someone is going to be rude for the sake of rude, that is not something you can change. Good luck!

As for me, I don't tank but because I am still new to partying, all partying makes me insanely nervous to the point where I avoid it like pulling teeth. I eventually will have to do it though.

[Alazier]

I main as tank.. and yes people are rude at times. But you just have to roll with it. Remember that you as a tank will always have the upper hand and if they dont like how you do things then they can leave. You will get people who are rude, its guaranteed. But you will learn how to deal with them. Tanking is great, good benefits and you control the field. Many people just assume whats involved with tanking without ever trying it. Thats where the rudeness comes in.

[AyaneKiwara]

The problem with hitting all the mobs is, if someone is trying to sleep one, and I don't notice, they get angry. lol

As long as you can hold everything and arent taking so much damage the healer cant keep you alive, it shouldnt matter if you, as the tank, break a sleep. I'm bad about it. Out of habit I'll use circle of scorn and there go all the sleeps!

As far as tanking itself goes, it's not hard, but it will take a little time to get into the role. Start at lower levels and ease into it (assuming you already have a high level tank, as Scott above does). Tell your groups that you're learning, if it makes you feel better. Often they will be patient with you, and if nothing else, they'll be more likely to understand and forgive your mistakes. You will run into the difficult people from time to time, but that cant be helped.Try to ignore them, if you can or ask them to stop. if they are being insufferable, just leave(I dont condone the idea of "my way or I leave", but you dont have to deal with harassment). If it makes it any easier, just remember they will generally be waiting longer than you for another go.

Most importantly, you just need to do it. You'll never be able to overcome that anxiety if you dont do it. You'll get better at it with time.

[Delorean]

nope, it's just you

alright so this anxiety thing you're having, it's like farting. If you have to fart, do you hold it in? if you said "Yes", go back to step 1 and keep going back to step 1 until you say "No". If you said "depends on whether or not im with my gf or at a nice place", that works too. So then, since you aren't with your gf or at a nice place....

Fart. Right meow. As in, queue up for a duty and commence. If people whine at you for not being great at tanking, well, that's just the smell of your zesty breakfast burrito gas. Yeah, it smells really awful, but it's not like it's gonna kill you.