This is a pretty common issue across MMOs as a whole. There's a huge demand for tanks, but no one is willing to supply it themselves.

Is it because of perceived responsibility?
Is it because it's human nature to avoid a path of higher resistance?
Is it because of possible ridicule?
Is it an issue with aesthetics?
Is it even perceived power?

Tanking is such an awkward thing to even pitch. The job description is literally getting punched in the face. repeatedly. While someone ELSE does the dirty work of stopping said things from punching anything ever again. Making something so masochistic appealing isn't easy. Nor is there something "simple" about it. If it was simple, it would likely be standard across trinity MMOs by now. Things that work tend to spread.

That said, specifically for FF14, I would agree to a tank stance... of sorts for early level. Threat, while fine for a veteran on an alt, is not acceptable for a sproutling in the brand-new set. I don't want a Gladiator with Shield Oath. the extra -20% damage is unnecessary at that level, and nearly useless. it only helps the veterans and hurts a newbie because of expectations. All that said, a Threat generation buff? THAT would be much more desirable for everyone. It allows for newbie and vet alike to properly hold aggro without having to actively compete with everyone else.

You see, one factor in those early levels I don't often see discussed here is that Tanking in sastasha isn't even a challenge against the dungeon. A sprout tank's most likely challenge is against their own party. It's YOUR ability to generate threat vs. THEIRS (a battle they often lose to sync'd BRDs and BLMs I might add). If you cannot out-compete your own group in this respect, mobs arent attacking you, therefor you arent doing your job. Actively and very clearly failing at your job in front of others isn't appealing to anyone.
2 strikes immediately. You're supposed to be a leader, but you're actively competing the team you're supposed to lead. You're supposed to get hit in the face but have no ability to achieve it.


Pulling half of sastasha might sure be fun for a veteran, but giving tanks the tools to do that on their own at that level only sets a higher standard for those coming later. I don't approve of that as the entry point. especially if the goal is to make that entry point accessible. pulling 2-3 packs of 2 mobs, while boring for us DPS and veterans, is vital for a learning curve.


Regardless of intentions or ideas, the least effective method to make anything appealing if to use force. If we want more tanks to fill queues, we should not "make" anyone do it. So I believe we need to find a way to make getting punched in the face more appealing. I'm not sure I have those ideas at nearly 5:30 in the morning, though.

Less ridicule would be nice. It would at least ease the stigma of it existing.
The ready and easy access and excess of enmity at level 15 would also be kinda nice.
Engaging cooldowns might also be kinda neat. I wonder how much more "fun" GLD would be with sheltron-like abilities as early as halitali?