Tanks&Healers; please focus on Role first, then DPS

[Eidolon]

*sighs* forgive me if this is a rant-topic, I am afraid that I have seen this one too many times, and I finally just have to post my thoughts on it.

Right now, the current meta of Tanks and Healers is miserable. There is an unprecedented obsession with DPS that is getting to the point where it overtakes not only the mechanics of the class - but also the role of the class.

I have seen Warriors doing big pulls in Deliverance, not even starting in Defiance to make sure their aggro is secure out the gate (And subsequently, losing threat when overpower is not enough at the destination or they die to low-HP.)


I have seen Scholars who are so obsessed with DPS, they neglect to heal a tank entirely and it leads to wipes. I have seen them try to justify it as "I always DPS here." and try to pin it on the other healer.

I have seen tanks in DPS stance for Tank Busters, and when they get hit for more HP than they have, they just say "I am always in DPS stance for this, git gud."

This current meta of tanks and healers is growing to be miserable, day by day. There is an unhealthy obsession with these jobs needing to put out exception DPS that I am not sure where it comes from.


I am a Tank/DPS. When I'm tanking, I make sure to mitigate my tankbusters as hard as possible. This means having Defiance up, Inner Beast, and any other CD's I might find appropriate depending on my rotation. Do I push DPS? heck yea. But never at the expense of tanking.

When I DPS, I push my DPS hard. But I'm always considerate of my healers. Blood for blood and my HP is low? I will either click it off, or pop Bloodbath + second Wind. Keen Flurry. Mantra when the group's HP is struggling. Things like this to help the healers do their role - heal - and enable me to do my role, DPS.



I understand that a lot of this is due to the current meta - that SE's attempts to make Alexander Savage last longer has pushed a lot of people to push their DPS to limtis they might not have before, due to a mix of strict DPS checks as well as simply having the gear check so high that it's the only way to pass beyond the DPS our comps can provide.

But Please, please please please stop trying to DPS when it isn't necessary / safe to do so when with new people. Try to trust in the others a little more and work together more. Remember, a dead tank does 0 DPS and 0 tanking. A dead DPS does 0 DPS and 0 support. A dead healer does 0 DPS and 0 Healing.

[SonKevin]

Nah, brah. I didn't even read your post and I know you're wrong. We gotta DPS super hard. Like ALL THE TIME. I love it when someone tells me that I'm not a tank, but a DPS that can take a hit. Thank the lord the game was fixed from the superior way it was in 2.0. So, grandpa, get with the times. GET WITH THE TIMES!

[Eidolon]

Nah, brah. I didn't even read your post and I know you're wrong. We gotta DPS super hard. Like ALL THE TIME. I love it when someone tells me that I'm not a tank, but a DPS that can take a hit. Thank the lord the game was fixed from the superior way it was in 2.0. So, grandpa, get with the times. GET WITH THE TIMES!

I'll be honest, I can't tell if you're serious or not.

[Ashkendor]

I'll be over here in my blue-icon-dps and green-icon-dps corner. >:|

[Seryl199]

Sorry you've had such sour experiences lately, but the ones you're trying to reach won't hear you any more than the DPS that I routinely outperform as a healer. The folks that are attuned to their roles are the ones that can push those roles to the limits without endangering the group, and are already doing so. The bad ones aren't going to make a miraculous turnabout anytime soon, and they likely don't even care to. Good luck in your future groups.

[Saccharin]

dps; please focus on staying alive, then DPS

[Zojha]

I have a great idea how to solve the issue: Let DPS tank and heal similarly well as a tank or healer can deal damage.

Naturally, with similar tradeoffs to their ability to deal damage.

I'm sure it would be a great change in the meta and totally wouldn't marginalize any roles. And hey, it's only fair.

[missybee]

Honestly, I think people should push their DPS as much as they can.

That said, they shouldn't forget that their foremost duty is to either heal or tank. Healing or tanking shouldn't come at the cost of DPS.

Tank and healer DPS can speed things up immensely, but a lack of restraint can cause wipes...and wipes definitely don't speed things up.

[Derio]

I have not experienced this as tanking, nor have I ever had a healer let me die because they were too busy "dpsing".

Not to mention the crowd that the OP is refering to most likely doesnt even use the forums.

[MihaelB]

in new dungeons or places I can ascertain lack of survival, then yes spam healing is my job!