Choosing a tank class..

[BorisDaBlade]

Depending on party comp, or if your using DF, usually open with shield lob and flash every pack your picking up if your pulling gate to gate. It's usually a good time to pop rampart as it will keep the healer from needing to heal you as you're running.

Then once you've gathered all mobs, circle of scorn, flash again, then just prioritize which mob to hit with the sword.

[Makeda]

Depending on party comp, or if your using DF, usually open with shield lob and flash every pack your picking up if your pulling gate to gate. It's usually a good time to pop rampart as it will keep the healer from needing to heal you as you're running.

Don't try to "gather all the mobs" if you're new to this, or if your healer or DPS are new to their roles. It can end very badly.

Stick to pulling each pack and finishing it off until you know how to manage threat enough to be sure that when you do chain pull, some of them won't peel off and eat the other people of your party on your merry way to the next gate. There is nothing worse than a chain pulling tank that doesn't know enmity buildup and management... It is an extremely common thing to see in just about every MMO when you encounter 'new' tanks trying to copy an experience-player's move before they are ready to.

Anytime you see a 'flower' - new or returning player icon - above your healer (and sometimes above a DPS), revert back to single pack pulls until you're sure of their ability.

[Wyndam]

I've been away since 3.1. It sounds like nothing's really changed in the tank balance. Is that about right?

Personally I always preferred PLD because it was the most straightforward. It makes it better for guys like me who come and go a lot or play a bunch of different classes. Also I'm not doing any Savage content and little PvP so the DPS differences in the tanks is more about convenience.