All tanks created equal?

[TheDrunkenDwarf]

A heavy fighter should be able to tank as well as any other heavy fighter class in most situations, special situations being the exception not the rule (say, a paladin DOES tank better against undead). At the same time, your classes abilities will both feel and work differently so you will need to choose different tactics when tanking, even though you are technically doing the same job. This is so different classes with the same job don't feel or play the same. - Aradune

All 4 of the protective fighters do their primary role equally well, however it's HOW they perform this role that makes the flavors different. Secondary roles also provide a great deal of flexibility in playstyle for players as do your other non-primary role abilities.

I've said this before.. you guys need to get the EQ model out of your head to a large extent, as we're taking new approaches to the old standards. I think you'll be pleased. - Elidroth

The heavy fighters all tank equally well. It's how they go about their other activities that really define the class. You will still have reasons for wanting one tank over another given a specific situation, but all of them will take a punch just as well as the others. -Elidroth

It looks like they are making a real effort to avoid the problems that plagued EQ and EQ2 where there was one tank class that was significantly better than the others at doing their primary job (keeping the mobs on them, and absorbing the damage that the mob does).

I certainly hope they will succeed. Any thoughts?

[Jabari Dreamchaser]

I certainly hope that Sigil can pull this off. There is no point in having 4 separate tank classes if they are all the same thing. However, giving each their own personal flavor will make for some good times ahead.

- Crosses his fingers -

[Eclipse]

Necro'd just cuz...

discuss?

-Eclipse

[Lightning]

It was, to my mind, a big problem in EQ2 - all the sub classes felt the same, and it gave me a kind of dreary "why am I bothering" feeling. I raised 2 tanks (a monk and a paladin - self healing meatshield and avoidance tanks, how different an experience can you get?) to mid 30s, a ranger to 40s in beta and a rogue to mid 20s in live and they all felt largely the same.

To add insult to injury they continued to share powers and abilities beyond level 20 (where, for those of you not versed in EQ2, the classes split into subclasses at 20) making them feel even more samey.

I quit EQ2 after about a month and a half (plus three months of beta) so I don't know if they ever addressed it.

Right now it is a concern but I have faith in Sigil being able to pull this off - not only because their archetype concept is closer to EQ1 than EQ2 in that while classes can be broken down into archetypes, they won't all tread the same path.

[Fadeyn]

Due to the way that Sigil has designed combat in VG, I don't think this will be as big an issue as it is in EQ2.

Tanking is reactionary here, so as long as you know what your doing and react appropriately you will keep your agro. If you get stunned or afk a second and miss your next round set up, your probably gonna get your guys killed tho.

So we will all be able to do the job just as well on a base level as eachother, but our skill with our character is what will decide who the better tanks are.

not that I'm trying to compete or anything.

[Eclipse]

I still think part of the main issue that many people are missing is that we will not be able to hold agro very well regardless of what we do.
I believe they are making the system more realistic and less of a list. It's the reason why rescues will be huge in VG...casters, healers and light melee will be stealing agro very frequently, and it will not be because the tank wasn't doing his job, or because the other player did something wrong...it will just HAPPEN that way.

I can already foresee name-calling and stuff where people assume it's someone's fault when agro doesn't go as planned. Be prepared for chaotic agro too...it's not going to be an easy task to make the enemy focus his nose on you. PLUS, Sigil conversations on the OVF have suggested that we have seen the end of the single pull system. And I for one, am excited about that. Thought it was hard keeping agro on one? Try three, and don't forget that these three may decide on a whim that someone else looks tastier.

Scared yet?

-Eclipse

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by Fadeyn

Tanking is reactionary here, so as long as you know what your doing and react appropriately you will keep your agro. If you get stunned or afk a second and miss your next round set up, your probably gonna get your guys killed tho.

In my experience, tanking in EQ1 was largely reactionary, but I get your point Personally I am very much looking forward to it as it seems to me that player skill will count for more than what class you play and what gear you wear. The equipment dependancy of warriors is something I will be happy to see the back of...

Originally Posted by Eclipse

PLUS, Sigil conversations on the OVF have suggested that we have seen the end of the single pull system. And I for one, am excited about that. Thought it was hard keeping agro on one? Try three, and don't forget that these three may decide on a whim that someone else looks tastier.

Scared yet?

-Eclipse

Scared? No. Excited? Definately, especially given that multiple tanks in one group will not only be viable but desirable - it's a good time to be a tank

[Fadeyn]

Tank 4 Life *rawr*