"Changing Tank Damage Calculation"

[Jpec07]

So a lot of people have taken this phrase and run with it. They've interpreted it to mean that the developers are changing which stats contribute to tank DPS, and the prevailing player theory is that tanks will be deriving their damage output calculations from Vitality and/or Parry, instead of Strength. I've seen people basing entire arguments on this premise, based on an interpretation of a phrase. And for a community so focused on maximizing tank DPS, it absolutely makes sense. What else could "tank damage" mean outside of the damage tanks do?

Well, frankly, that's not how I read it. "Tank damage" in my mind has always meant incoming damage. So what if instead of something so drastic as changing which stats affect our DPS, this phrase in the interview meant that they were changing the combat table for tanks, in an effort to make Parry and/or Vitality more valuable?

Critical strikes currently cannot be parried or blocked. But what if block or parry were calculated first?

Currently, a hit can only be blocked or parried, making parry less valuable with a high-block-rate shield. But what if an attack could be both blocked and parried?

The same interview said that magic attacks will never be able to be blocked. What if they're allowing tanks to parry magic attacks?

Parry currently has an abysmal scaling rate, with full 210 parry gear offering something like 30% parry in current content. What if they're making it so that number would go as high as 50% or 75%?

Parry is also one of the poorest-performing stats, because it is a linear conversion rate, versus an exponential rate like we see with Crit (Parry only counts once when calculating mitigation returns, while Crit counts twice when calculating DPS returns). What if they're making Parry amount scale with the stat?

Ultimately, the point I wanted to bring to the fore is that we don't know what this phrase means, or what will happen in 3.2. And especially given that nothing on the matter was spoken of in the latest letter from the developers, it suggests to me that the change will be comparatively minor.

[Ashelia_Ferron]

"We’ll be bringing tank’s damage calculations up to a more appropriate state, and this includes the issues with enmity. "

The key part is the "including issues with enmity".

Changing damage calculations on what a tank RECEIVES would not simultaneously change anything about enmity

[Jpec07]

"We’ll be bringing tank’s damage calculations up to a more appropriate state, and this includes the issues with enmity. "

The key part is the "including issues with enmity".

Changing damage calculations on what a tank RECEIVES would not simultaneously change anything about enmity

Wouldn't this suggest, though, that they're going to be re-evaluating the potency of attacks and their enmity modifiers? I'm just not sure I buy the whole Vit-to-ATK that I've seen so many people subscribing to. And so many of them act as though it is fact.

[Ashelia_Ferron]

Well they did say "but I believe those of you who are tanks and raiding at the moment can roughly imagine what we will be doing. "

Plus considering the context of the whole "tanks using pentamelds" thing to increase their DPS as well as addressing the fact that Fending is basically undesirable, I don't see how "more defense" would help.

The best mitigation in this game is to kill the enemy faster

[Ashelia_Ferron]

Also consider this: if the changes are indeed reduction to damage taken, then here are a few things that could happen:

1. The reduction is not significant enough to make a difference so people will still run full slaying to kill things faster.

2. The reduction is so much that tanks receive overheals.

3. The reduction is great enough to make tanks not utilize tank stance at all, since the community will still push for more total damage

4. The community just won't care because doing More damage > taking less damage

[SpookyGhost]

Well, frankly, that's not how I read it. "Tank damage" in my mind has always meant incoming damage. So what if instead of something so drastic as changing which stats affect our DPS, this phrase in the interview meant that they were changing the combat table for tanks, in an effort to make Parry and/or Vitality more valuable?

I don't think this will be the case, but I do wish that bosses would stop hitting like fluffy pillows.

[IskarJarak]

I heard from 100% reliable sources that they was going to change stats specific to the tank class. WAR = Strength, DRK = Intelligence, and PLD = Piety

[whiskeybravo]

I heard from 100% reliable sources that they was going to change stats specific to the tank class. WAR = Strength, DRK = Intelligence, and PLD = Piety

That sounds pretty whack lol

[Februs]

Many of those attempting instanced raids in the early stages tend to use advanced materia melding on accessories, which lead to tanks being required to meld STR or VIT. Due to this there were times where the melded accessories were better than the accessories which dropped from clearing the instance. In order to resolve this issue, in Patch 3.2 we will be making adjustments that will change the damage calculations of tanks into a more appropriate state.

As an overall plan moving forward, we will be making adjustments so that a burden is not placed on any particular role in order to challenge a high-difficulty raid.

Figured I'd put this here for reference.

In any case, the fact that the entire adjustment is being done to address a deficiency in dropped Tank accessories over melded ones is the main reason that people have assumed that the "change" will in the way we relate to our stats. The fact that they also singled out Vit and Str are pretty telling. In the end, they just wanted to make dropped accessories relevant to progression raiders instead of having them shell out billions of gill on melded stuff.

Whatever they do, I don't think it will really matter. The change will mostly likely be very small. People seem to forget that SE has to work within a pre-existing framework. They can't just go making dramatic changes to the way we relate to our stats without also dramatically changing previous gear sets or encounters in the game. They have to stay considerate of new players and old content.

[Februs]

The best mitigation in this game is to kill the enemy faster

I really wish people would stop saying this, because it's not true. The best mitigation in this game is actually mitigating damage. Plain and simple.

The only time killing things faster is the "best mitigation" is if you so dramatically out-gear the Raid/Trial that you are skipping phases left right and centre, which would mean the content is old. Otherwise, High Dps does not improve mitigation at all. Tank busters are still going to hit you. Raid AoE's are still going to go off. The dmg of those Tank busters and AoE's are not effected by the Boss's remaining HP in most cases. So, in current content, High Dps does jack all for mitigation. The only thing high Dps "mitigates" is wipes due to one-shot mechanics, which isn't really a mitigation because it's an all or nothing thing (with very rare exceptions llike Sacred Cross).

The best mitigation is done by using CD's effectively and following Raid Mechanics, not by hitting the boss a little harder and hoping he doesn't hit you back.