Shortage of tanks a myth - thoughts?

[Aeyis]

Tanks will have higher standards, if you can't get over that then don't play one.

It is human nature for a person to hold a higher standard for a leader.

That's the thing tho:

Tanks are not leaders. Its not anywhere in their role description. Its the current days mindset that the groups tank is supposed to be the one in charge that is causing these issues. Not the tank role itself.
In fact its the group mentality of wanting to shift responsibility away.
Because many (most?) people do this, it causes a lot of tanks to shy away from df content (particularly the harder bits) because they dont like being forced to take responsibility for the groups success.



As far as tanking difficulty level, that depends on both the game and the content. Overall tanking tends to be fairly easygoing however.
-During bossfights youve always got the boss focused, so you can respond to boss abilities faster.
-You dont have to focus on pushing dps.
-You dont have to focus on others healthbars.

All of the ''expected from a tank'' points you list are in reality ''this is expected from our rolemodel/leader'', not the tank role.

[Sapphic]

I didn't say it was impossible, I said that the healing requirements are greater for two melee. If they aren't geared for speedpulls, they get squished. BRD/SMN overall don't have as many AOE tools, but they also don't stand in AOE's.

The opinion is that a healer who is not healing (eg DPS'ing, or just jumping around doing nothing productive) is abandoning their job, and a DPS who needs to heal themselves or others is a reflection of that job being abandoned, thus dragging down DPS because now the DPS has to stop DPS'ing.

I've seen it happen where a WoD instance will start, make it past the first trash room and then abandon at Angra Mainyu because NONE of the tanks came prepared to tank. Were they all wearing DPS gear?

In short, players should come prepared before they queue for the job they select.

Only bad melee stay in AE. Also there is AE that ranged have to avoid also in many fights. So you are saying all melee are herpderp stay in AE and get splatted, they are, to reiterate, bad players and deserve to face plant.

A healer doing nothing when no healing is required is being lazy and not utilizing the full range of their available tools.

Only heals DPS has worth mentioning on melee are instant off GCD abilities, so how would you stop DPSing to heal if it is off GCD and instant, aka second wind. If the healer isnt healing players through unavoidable damage then that is a bad healer.

If the tank is substantially overgeared for the content, switching to DPS gear is more beneficial to the run that goin in full 10k+ HP tanking gear for ilvl 90 content. When I tank I have 2 sets, full tank gear for large speed pulls. and DPS gear for bosses and switch between them. Or for certain content like HM primals, low ilvl lvl 50 dungeons ill do 100% in DPS gear. Depnding on the healer, in sword oath also. Which is prefectly doable with a good party and speeds up the clear substantially.

Players joining dungeons in crafting gear, thats one of the reasons there is a vote kick button, use it.

[Sapphic]

Because many (most?) people do this, it causes a lot of tanks to shy away from df content (particularly the harder bits) because they dont like being forced to take responsibility for the groups success.

This, the success of the party is down to the whole party. Albeit Tanks do have more control than the rest due to them being the ones who can dictate how large or small a pull is going to be. Outside of healers blackmailing tanks into, do this or I don't heal you, or DPS running off and grabbing more mobs.

[Twilite]

...I never had a reason to openly berate a tank. Sure I've seen some..strange ones, but not bad enough to make the whole run terrible. Speed runs are on the DPS anyway. Tank can grab 10 mobs, but it's not gonna matter if it takes 5 minutes to kill all.

[Risvertasashi]

Tanks are not leaders. Its not anywhere in their role description. Its the current days mindset that the groups tank is supposed to be the one in charge that is causing these issues. Not the tank role itself.
In fact its the group mentality of wanting to shift responsibility away.

It's the sort of natural thing to do though. Tanks, ultimately, control the pacing of the instance in the most direct way. They're the ones that start engagements, choose position, choose how much to pull, and so on. As another poster pointed out, healers (and DPS really) can only ask the tank to do certain things, or blackmail by refusing to fill their function (worst case).

[PenutButter]

I had no idea that the people in this game were such babies. Afraid to tank cuz of a little criticism? Now I see why so many people in this game are afraid to PvP. But I lie, I'm well aware that the people in this game are babies.

[Zykor]

As far as tanking difficulty level, that depends on both the game and the content. Overall tanking tends to be fairly easygoing however.
-You dont have to focus on pushing dps.
-You dont have to focus on others healthbars.

Right, most content does not push tanks. Whereas, without echo and without full 130, when you fail to kill Bahamut by a few seconds, you'll wish the tank would be better at stance dancing. And Paladins should also be watching HPs, or more specifically, weakness. A stoneskin on someone with weakness could save their life during the megaflare mechanics. This will be double true as they get more raid abilities in xpac.

Though echo makes that all irrevelant in current content.

[Ketch]

I had actually hung up my tank job and switch to bard because of the abuse tanks get, but recently my FC has had a need for my war. I had forgotten how much it was to tank without the snark or other players or the tank battles in the tower.

It's not about having a thick skin (Though I get a feeling that is said purely to up ones epeen) It's about how much sh*t you're willing to put up with for a game that is suppose to be for enjoyment.

[Ashkendor]

I had no idea that the people in this game were such babies. Afraid to tank cuz of a little criticism? Now I see why so many people in this game are afraid to PvP. But I lie, I'm well aware that the people in this game are babies.

This little gem totally inspired me to queue as a tank today. It should encourage every would-be tank to do the same.

Oh sorry, I think I dripped some sarcasm on your shoe there.