Fear of the Dark Knight

[addz3]

Can anyone give some positive advice. I love tanking and really like DRK but in this game I find tanking really intimidating. Nothing is ever right, pull to fast or to slow, take to much damage or don't deal enough. The way this game is set out its so important that tanking is done well with very few chances to correct an error. Does anyone else feel like this? I don't really raid but i'm far to worried about screwing something up and the consequences and abuse of other players that I've never really tried...

Am i the only one?

[Bixillarla]

Just do your best and don't worry about it. You will make mistakes while you are learning to tank, no one starts out tanking perfectly, it takes practice.

[MagiusNecros]

In most content you'll only really worry about cycling defensive abilities and just maintaining aggro on everything that exists. And let your party do the rest of the work for you.

If you are new to tanking start with small pulls until you feel comfortable with your current party. Good players versus bad players will make a difference.

[drids]

Survivability as well as damage per second is a team effort. Tanking gets easier as you get better on the job but don't feel anxious to try it out. Watch and read a few in depth guides and practice a bit in fights you already got the hang of, and you will become better as time goes on.
As a tank you're the one that sets the pace of a dungeon, just go the way you're confortable with and communicate with your teammates, you may surprise yourself with how many people are actually very understanding when you say beforehand that you're new to tanking.

edit: see, as i was writing this very short comment, two very nice people already gave you their support (:

[Blackcanary]

Start training ur dark in low level dungeons start from the beginning. I find the best dungeon to practise in is Brayflox. It's where I have been train my PLD. And let players know from the start that ur new to tanking and that ur training. People will be really nice when they know ur new. They will give you great advice.

[Velhart]

Take advantage of the mentor system. Ask more experienced DRK's how they handle things. Join together with friends and take on easier content like dungeons, and when you get more comfortable, work your way up to primals and so on. Practice rotations on a dummy and the Stone-Sky-Sea dummies also for the content you are engaging in. In time it will feel natural to play and you are worrying about the content itself more than your bar.

[addz3]

Thanks for thr advice. I'm already lvl 60 on drk and pld but I've just done dungeon roulette or fates to get xp. I want to do more different content but I find it way to nerve wracking.... more than a few end game people are unsympathetic to the casual gamer trying to breach out...

[addz3]

I feel a bit pathetic in even saying how intimidating I find trying to tank new things due to other player opinions etc

[HyoMinPark]

I was the same way when I started leveling DRK. Sure I'd leveled up gladiator and marauder for the applicable cross-class skills, but I had never tanked any duties. The best thing I could have asked for was a friend mentoring me on DRK as I leveled up--giving me advice on using CDs and how to do pulls in the different dungeons, which mobs to get rid of first, best place to use certain CDs/combos (Delirium combo), and how to incorporate my skills as I learned them. Now I consider myself a fairly decent DRK. I rarely lose hate, even when DPS intentionally try to play the DPS game and rip aggro from me (my mentor friend being one of them lol). Best thing is just practice. Let people know that even though you're level 60, you're still learning how to be the best at your job.

It's okay to be intimidated when it comes to new things. We've all been there. And you will meet people that won't be so nice in duties. How you deal with them is key to your learning experience--do your best not to let their attitudes affect you. If they want to be jerks, let them. I'm sure you do a fine job tanking. If you need any advice on DRK, I'm not an expert, but I think I can give you some solid advice on the job. It is my secondary job I play, and tied for favorite along with Bard. So just hmu if you want some advice. :3

[Cinno]

You're not pathetic, this is a WAY more common thing than you'd think. To be honest i'm with you in this. I have leveled up my Marauder to ALMOST 30.. and That whole time, I only play it when i have a full preformed party of people that i know will be supportive. That's what you need.

I have my White Mage up to 60.. and I love healing. But it didnt always start that way. I was intimidated by it at first, it was just way too much pressure.. But i went in with some of my friends from my FC (one of which mains a healer) and they helped me get comfortable with it. Now I can heal without even breaking a sweat.

You'll get comfortable with it, and you'll get comfortable doing harder content with it. The main thing you need to remember, is that dieng isnt bad. There's this massive stigma attached to death in this game, but every fight is different as a different role, and it takes time (and sometimes a little death) to learn exactly what you're supposed to be doing. Find some people to run with you when you try out something you've never tanked before so that they can support you, and offer tips for improvement. Fc members, or people you feel comfortable with. With a little practice (in a group that wont put pressure on you) you'll get the hang of it in no time.