Going to main a tank job for SB need some advice

[Claire_Pendragon]

There's really no evidence or reason to claim that DRK is going to have lowest threat in trash pulls. Even if Unleash remains at 50 potency, that has nothing to do with threat. Flash is an enmity generating skill and it doesn't even do damage. So it's quite clear that they can adjust the level of enmity a skill does regardless of whether or not it even does damage.

So while losing 50 potency would reduce the amount of enmity generated, it's perfectly possible that they increased the base amount of enmity the skill generates to compensate.

And all that being said, even if you completely ignore Unleash, DRKs still have Abyssal Drain.

DRKs will still be the easiest tanks for trash pulls and large group pulling.

Flash has a 100 potency to it, which scales off your attack stat. (its why flash generates more threat for a WAR in zerk than a PLD in flight or fight. Its also a magic spell, and subject to spell speed.)
So the modifier is still x6.

Its better to assume unleash might go from a x6 threat modifier, to a x12 modifier, to match its current threat generation.
Which I'd be plenty happy for, AND it will help teach newer players to rely more on abyssal drain for DPS.

So I played around some last night in POTD on a paladin, and while I know POTD isn't the best for actual senarios it was pretty fun. I am very grateful for all the feedback and discussion in this thread for sure. Right now I'm still bouncing around the 3 trying to choose.

PLD seems fun and the most straightforward
WAR seems like it could be easy to start but would have a high skill ceiling meaning I would probably always be lower than optimal
DRK is the biggest unknown as it seems like it would be good for AOE, but also has the most to manage with TP and MP management.

Honestly I want to focus on the tanking aspect and would like to play without having to be constantly watching my gauges and taking away attention from keeping aggro. Still kind of PLD 40% WAR 30% DRK 30%.

What would you say is the best "all a rounder"?

Just for clarification, WAR generates the most threat for AoE, as it has 720 threat, instead of DRK/PLDs 600.
DRK wont really worry about managing TP liek WAR does, and DRK also wont be worrying about MP liek it currently does come 4.0 (you practically cant remove darkside, as you wont be allowed to hit dark arts w/o having the MP for it, and u only need MP for when adds spawn mid fight, which you'd need to know about before hand anyways.)

PLD will currently be the "all rounder" as it handles physical and magical dmg equally, and can mitigate them more often than DRK or WAR can.
Its current magical attack DOES require you to watch your MP, as your dmg will go down below 80% mp for one of your CDs.

So my guess is;

WARs will worry about running out of TP in AoE threat, with some worry about wrath, for free AoEs.
PLDs will worry about MP for single target DPS.
DRKs will worry about saving some emergency MP for an AoE in case of adds spawning mid fight.

WARs wont worry about single target much.
PLDs wont worry about AoE much (except to throw in more DPS with their new AoE, which drains TP)
DRKs wont worry about... either very much, as their rotation is now "When its up, use it."


EDIT: DRK does need to make sure it has MP saved for Carve and Spit, or Dark Passenger. (picking Carve and Spit before Dark Passenger if limited on MP)

Aside when you have slashing debuff

EDIT: lol. Technically if you have a WAR, NIN, or SAM, then dark passenger has a power priority in use than your GCDs.

[Kaedan]

Well, PLD is likely to have more management to deal with, as you will need to watch that your MP doesn't drop below 80% (without some quick way of regaining it). So if you're looking for something easier, I would suggest DRK.

Right now, DRK is a little more complex because of the MP management, but it seems like they're highly oversimplifying it for 4.0, so it's quite possible that DRK will be the least "busy" tank come 4.0.

As for "all rounder", I also suggest DRK. DRK is pretty much in the middle between PLD and WAR.

But again, it really comes down to which aesthetic you like more. In the end, all tanks will be more or less balanced and the "busy-ness" of them will only really matter for progressive content.

[Surake]

Well, PLD is likely to have more management to deal with, as you will need to watch that your MP doesn't drop below 80% (without some quick way of regaining it). So if you're looking for something easier, I would suggest DRK.

Right now, DRK is a little more complex because of the MP management, but it seems like they're highly oversimplifying it for 4.0, so it's quite possible that DRK will be the least "busy" tank come 4.0.

As for "all rounder", I also suggest DRK. DRK is pretty much in the middle between PLD and WAR.

But again, it really comes down to which aesthetic you like more. In the end, all tanks will be more or less balanced and the "busy-ness" of them will only really matter for progressive content.

Interesting I was pretty much dismissing DRK because it seemed the most busy/meter watching... hummm

[Jim_Berry]

Paladin seems to be getting the most love out of all tank class in SB so yeah i say go with PLD

I main PLD, and I fear that I will have to compete for a space.

[konpachizaraki]

I main PLD, and I fear that I will have to compete for a space.

i call bullshit, if anything they're guaranteed a place in most if not all group if things keep going like this

[Claire_Pendragon]

I feel the need to make an adjustment to my prior posts.
I said DRK doesnt really need to watch MP liek it used to, but I now disagree, due to current calculations.

If you only have enough MP for a single Dark Arts, to boost the potency of another attack, the priority is now;

Carve and Spit (adds +350 potency with DA)
then
Dark Passenger (does 150 potency, but dont DA this, it costs nearly the same MP as a DA, and only adds +90 with DA)
then
Any GCD. Syphon Strike, Soul Eater, Blood Spiller. (All gain +140 potency)
then
The Blackest Night (Only for Tank busters, its a tiny DPS loss)

So if you know Carve and Spit, or Dark Passenger are about to come off CD, you need to save some MP for these, to maximize DPS, as these arent GCDs, you need them back on CD asap.

Aside when you have slashing debuff

EDIT: lol. Technically if you have a WAR, NIN, or SAM, then dark passenger has a power priority in use than your GCDs.

[HappyHubris]

Which tank is shaping up to be the most mechanically interesting/pleasing for 4.0?

[Nagamasa_87]

Quick question should we be respec points into strength before stormblood hits? Instead of them all in Vit now..

[Claire_Pendragon]

Which tank is shaping up to be the most mechanically interesting/pleasing for 4.0?

While I friggin LOVE DRK in 3.x, probably more than most tanks in MMOs, I think PLD is going to feel more like DRK in 4.0, and probably feel more fun to me. DRK was a reskined PLD with some abilities slapped on. Now it feels liek PLD has abilities slapped on to feel like DRK, and DRK has abilities taken/added to feel more like WAR, with a small splash of old school PLD)

Quick question should we be respec points into strength before stormblood hits? Instead of them all in Vit now..

I plan to get as much STR as I can, but I also plan to focus on RDM instead, as I'm not too happy about DRK, and RDM looks to be the only DPS that has appealed to me since 1.x LNC.

[Zephanoa]

From a long time tank of all three classes, it's really up to what you feel comfortable with. If the goal is to pick up quick and move through MSQ, I would do Dark Knight, Warrior is getting enough of a rework that I would be leery about bringing it into party combat quickly. Paladin is my personal favorite but that is because I think it is the -easiest- out of the tanks to get into. I wish you the best on your tank endeavors!