Why is DRK so squishy and how do I stop it?

[Krissey]

I have a level 38 DRK, and I have full Calvary Set with HQ crafted Weapon, Pants, and all right side VIT accessories - yet I still seem to be quite squishy even when rotating all my cooldowns (-20% Damage, 20% Parry Increase, +Healing Received, Bloodbath, etc..)

Keeping both Grit and the Darkside up. What am I doing wrong? Is my level 32 gear already so bad?

[Alistaire]

Yes. Tanks more than other roles have a much more noticeably difficult time with gear that's not kept up to date.

[ashwich]

in theory, the only difference between a DRK and a PLD is blocking, and with low level scaling that doesn't even happen very much. If you're rotating CDs properly, it's just a matter of mindset. I think there are a few dungeons that hit relatively hard around that level, most of the time healers are required to do a bit more than just regen. So if that makes you feel squishy, you might be overthinking.

[Krissey]

in theory, the only difference between a DRK and a PLD is blocking, and with low level scaling that doesn't even happen very much. If you're rotating CDs properly, it's just a matter of mindset. I think there are a few dungeons that hit relatively hard around that level, most of the time healers are required to do a bit more than just regen. So if that makes you feel squishy, you might be overthinking.

In Temple of Qarn on the 3 spider monsters and the blue ghost blob right before the Golem boss I dropped dead both times. Both times the healers said "I wasn't expecting the squish" despite using the -20% inc damage CD (Shadowskin?) and also the Parry Buff (Dark Dance), then after those went off I would use Bloodbath in addition to +healing received (convalescence?)

They did say they were in Cleric Stance both times...perhaps they just weren't prepared because those monsters hit harder than normal monsters?

However on the same pull after the boss we didn't die - so maybe they were just in cruise control mode and those are special monsters they were surprised by at first

[AriKitae]

They did say they were in Cleric Stance both times...perhaps they just weren't prepared because those monsters hit harder than normal monsters

The gear from Cutter's Cry could help, but this makes me think that the healers were just surprised by a pack that did more damage than they expected. It wasn't the nicest to blame it on squishiness, but sometimes that happens. I've had a scholar call me squishy a while back in Sohm Al when I was in synced full VIT 209ish gear on my Warrior, doing normal pulls and using my CD rotation.

[LegitChamp]

In Temple of Qarn on the 3 spider monsters and the blue ghost blob right before the Golem boss I dropped dead both times. Both times the healers said "I wasn't expecting the squish" despite using the -20% inc damage CD (Shadowskin?) and also the Parry Buff (Dark Dance), then after those went off I would use Bloodbath in addition to +healing received (convalescence?)

They did say they were in Cleric Stance both times...perhaps they just weren't prepared because those monsters hit harder than normal monsters?

However on the same pull after the boss we didn't die - so maybe they were just in cruise control mode and those are special monsters they were surprised by at first

That pull in Qarn where you died does have a lot of damage, the blue soul thing is actually a pather if I remember correctly so all 4 together can be rough. I think most tanks leveling through that area would be squishy there (compared to tanks level synced). I know my Warrior was in addition to my DRK.

[Seku]

In Temple of Qarn on the 3 spider monsters and the blue ghost blob right before the Golem boss I dropped dead both times. Both times the healers said "I wasn't expecting the squish" despite using the -20% inc damage CD (Shadowskin?) and also the Parry Buff (Dark Dance), then after those went off I would use Bloodbath in addition to +healing received (convalescence?)

They did say they were in Cleric Stance both times...perhaps they just weren't prepared because those monsters hit harder than normal monsters?

However on the same pull after the boss we didn't die - so maybe they were just in cruise control mode and those are special monsters they were surprised by at first

Taking your word at face value:

Sounds like your healer was slack off on the heals and trying to dps in that particular instance. or was new and doesn't know how to judge the tank by their gear. In either case their main priority should have been to see how well you handle the hits and placed up some defense (stone skin, adol, ect) to buy them some time before attempting to DPS, let alone be in cleric stance. Something I see a lot of healer's neglect or don't know how to time correctly.

[Fluffernuff]

In Temple of Qarn on the 3 spider monsters and the blue ghost blob right before the Golem boss I dropped dead both times. Both times the healers said "I wasn't expecting the squish" despite using the -20% inc damage CD (Shadowskin?) and also the Parry Buff (Dark Dance), then after those went off I would use Bloodbath in addition to +healing received (convalescence?)

They did say they were in Cleric Stance both times...perhaps they just weren't prepared because those monsters hit harder than normal monsters?

However on the same pull after the boss we didn't die - so maybe they were just in cruise control mode and those are special monsters they were surprised by at first

First of all, DRK can't heal themselves. not in qarn. you MIGHT have bloodbath as a cross-class, sure. but thats not going to keep you alive. if that's your definition of "squish", then fine, DRK is "squishy". but simply put, your cooldowns as a DRK or PLD purely REDUCE damage. they dont REMOVE it, and they certainly dont RESTORE it. not even the famous healer tank warrior has that many restoring tools in qarn. they have bloodbath and inner beast. MAYBE second wind.

Secondly, if your healer is in cleric stance, they have 0 right to blame a wipe on "squish". period. they were actively reducing their own healing or not healing at all. if youre in cleric stance as a healer, youre doing damage. you cant cast cure at the same time as stone II. here's a newsflash. if your health is above 0% after 15-20 seconds (enough for your cooldowns to run their course) then youre not "squish". if you have the time to use your tools, they have enough time to use theirs.

Lately, I've been trying to level arcanist rather than tank. yknow. take a little break from the BS like this. get 2 classes up to 60 for the price of 1. maybe work on mentor. oh boy. let me tell you. im glad i chose arcanist and not archer. every other run, if not EVERY run, the tank will die. at least once. the healer wont be OoM, but they might be in cleric stance. but they wont be OoM. the tank never just evaporated. even when theyre pretty dumb and charge into a pull that realistically should kill them, the healer always has time to heal them. i've actively been watching tank HP bars. as a DPS. because if the healers mess up, i need to be real freaking quick on that swiftcast resurrect.

"squish" should reserved for vastly undergeared (hall of novice gear in brayflox, for example), or any tanks that still somehow swear that pure STR acc. are the way to go. no, im not kidding. they still exist. and i have to fight them for aggro in CT and VA. and its rediculous.

[Februs]

in theory, the only difference between a DRK and a PLD is blocking, and with low level scaling that doesn't even happen very much.

I wouldn't say that this is the only difference between them. Pld's passive block mitigation is a more obvious distinction between them, but there's also a pretty subtle (but substantial) difference in how their CD's are used, particularly in how they are timed. A lot of people see the Drk skill sets and say, "oh, it's kind of like Pld," and they're not wrong. It is "kind of" like Pld, but if someone tries to play them the same way then I can understand why they'd feel squishier.

[ashwich]

I wouldn't say that this is the only difference between them. Pld's passive block mitigation is a more obvious distinction between them, but there's also a pretty subtle (but substantial) difference in how their CD's are used, particularly in how they are timed. A lot of people see the Drk skill sets and say, "oh, it's kind of like Pld," and they're not wrong. It is "kind of" like Pld, but if someone tries to play them the same way then I can understand why they'd feel squishier.

so in this scenario... what you're saying is OP didn't use all of his cooldowns, when in fact he stated that he did... or there's a cooldown a pld would've used that he didn't have access to?

I don't understand this PLD use cooldown better sentiment.... how is the ability to utilize your resource something you generalize by class?