How to get people to tank!

[Hierro]

Somehow people have it in their minds that tanking is "scary" and that there's some huge responsibility tied to the job, and that's probably the biggest reason why there aren't more tanks. The "safest" tank is the one people ridicule the most and the best one is one people feel is too "squishy." Somehow people think there are several ways to play, and feel at fault no matter what they do. These are the same crappy tanks who say people complain about them if they pull too much or pull too little when the truth is they've been at fault for their subpar gameplay the entire time.

These are the same subpar DPS and healers who've been getting by their daily roulettes without much question or protest, but it's only when playing a tank do their flaws become that much more apparent. Most people tend to be mediocre players just due to the bell curve nature of things. Good players are good tanks, and people take good tanks for granted and anything less is noticeable and subject to ridicule and such players are simply not high in supply due to the same bell curve.

That is why there aren't more tanks. Want more? SE better casualize this game even harder then. Since no one likes that, we should be happy with what we have.

[Shurrikhan]

Somehow people have it in their minds that tanking is "scary" and that there's some huge responsibility tied to the job, and that's probably the biggest reason why there aren't more tanks. The "safest" tank is the one people ridicule the most and the best one is one people feel is too "squishy." Somehow people think there are several ways to play, and feel at fault no matter what they do. These are the same crappy tanks who say people complain about them if they pull too much or pull too little when the truth is they've been at fault for their subpar gameplay the entire time.

These are the same subpar DPS and healers who've been getting by their daily roulettes without much question or protest, but it's only when playing a tank do their flaws become that much more apparent. Most people tend to be mediocre players just due to the bell curve nature of things. Good players are good tanks, and people take good tanks for granted and anything less is noticeable and subject to ridicule and such players are simply not high in supply due to the same bell curve.

That is why there aren't more tanks. Want more? SE better casualize this game even harder then. Since no one likes that, we should be happy with what we have.

I'll agree with everything up until that last line, but...

You seem to be saying that because there's a disproportionately high skill level among the players who 'iconize' our idea of a tank which can set difficult standards for others who (might otherwise) tank, the only solution is to remove the expectation they've left by either making the game easier, with tanks following as collateral, or tanks easier (and the game likely following as collateral). That seems a clearly false ultimatum.

[Dave_TV]

Part 1, You make dmg from mobs deadly if you are not equipped to tank. (IE give them higher levels of mitigation)
Part 2, You make DPS partners in reducing that damage. Be it with debuffs or CC (gasp)
Part 3, You make tank holding enmity much easier, and you give tanks debuffs on mobs to make DPS work better
Part 4, You Make healing work better the long you are 'on target', and make dealing damage (as healer) easier the longer you are 'on target' So that switching targets (to heal a dummy that pulled) more difficult.


DPS cannot aggro because they will die quickly. DPS shoulder responsibility for keeping tank alive, Tank is responsible for making DPS effective, healer can alternate between objectives.

[marewa]

My friend started leveling DRK and as soon as he saw Low Blow animation (a kick to stun), he was sold. Now it's his main, it's that simple.

[Claire_Pendragon]

While giving damage to a tank is what will attract some people, I can honestly say that if I did only 1% of the dmg I do now, but had to mitigate more dmg (through mobs hitting harder, and me having stronger CDs) I'd love tanking even more. (I find the act of lowering dmg more interesting.)

[Venjenz]

I was discussing this topic with a couple friends who also tank FF14 and have tanked in other games as well, and the bottom line is that PUG tanking is the double edged sword of improvement.

On the good side, playing with people you don't know, who have wildly different skill levels, class combos, attitudes, etc simply makes you a better tank. There's honestly no better way to get good tanking chops than PUG tanking. It's just so random and unpredictable, and that builds your skill set.

On the bad side, while you're getting those skills in those PUGs, you have to suffer through all manner of wankers criticizing you, talking nonsense, deliberately making your job more difficult just to have a reason to criticize you, etc. It's the bill you have to pay in exchange for getting the skills. That is unappealing to many people.

[Rinari]

I honestly haven't had many bad DF experiences. I'm still not at the top end as the highest I'm running right now is expert roulettes, so maybe things change at the very top. The worst I've seen so far is a few rare players demanding bigger pulls when I'm not entirely comfortable doing them yet. I try to gauge the party on the first pull, and if DPS and healing are on point, I chain nearby packs and patrols together for bigger pulls, but I don't do any crazy running across the instance giant pulls yet. The worst case was my first time in Sohm Al (hard) when I was sitting right at the minimum ilvl (230) and had an impatient DPS demanding huge pulls and even claiming I was overgeared. They settled down after I called them out on it. I think they just assumed I was at 260/270 or something without checking.

[Venjenz]

I actually had two pleasant DF experiences in a row my last two outings. It isn't always misery and gloom. It's just the occurrence, or possibility thereof, of taking criticism puts people off even wanting to go down that road.

[bswpayton]

I honestly haven't had many bad DF experiences. I'm still not at the top end as the highest I'm running right now is expert roulettes, so maybe things .

I use to be the same way I use to be nervous about big pulling then I started doing it m ore frequent now I just big pull in everything from level 15 on up. Once you start it becomes addictive

[Rinari]

I use to be the same way I use to be nervous about big pulling then I started doing it m ore frequent now I just big pull in everything from level 15 on up. Once you start it becomes addictive

I still get a bit of anxiety about tanking in general to. I'm sure it's one of the contributing factors to there not being enough tanks in DF. I know it's silly. FFXIV has a good community and most of my experiences have been positive. I just really don't want to mess up!