Interview with xenosys-vex

[Aana]

That's not what I got from reading her views at all, what I saw is what I read which literally states they are there to make classes different and balancing utility is "utterly futile" which implies not to even bother with it and only worry about dps.

In balancing the way you describe we are homogenizing the role anyway.

Edit: I'm getting tired of reading situations that only imply mitigation is for lowering damage received. You can effectively save members of your team with it that are not topped off on HP for raid wides. I cannot count how many times I have saved someone with a simple reprisal. At least that skill is on the role list where raid mitigation makes the most sense, you bring it if you want it or in some cases if you feel like you "need" it.

I am simply refuting the position that Xeno (this is a xeno interview thread afterall) and lots of other people often take to balance: ie-

"Balance tanks like this"
Utility
1 TankA
2 TankB
3 Tank C

DPS
1 Tank C
2 Tank B
3 Tank A

BARANCE!!"

Im just saying that's not balance. The game is designed to be cleared even with tank B/C(worst utility combo) and therefore #1 utility tank (A) will not be needed and will do less DPS. Tank A will ALWAYS be the black sheep because DPS is all that actually matters. Even if they swap the game so you really need that defensive utility, then all you do is kick out high DPS no utility tank. There is never any balance that way.

All tanks must be near equal in DPS 1st and foremost. There is no such thing as balancing apples and oranges (DPS and raid mitigation). It works for DPS because 'dps utility' is just raid DPS exchanged for personal DPS. Apples to apples.