Best way to be the main tank?

[Zakavar]

I couldnt think of a better title, but this isnt really about spec, it's more about how the heck I get to be the main tank instead of off tank/dps. I'm one of the few people, apparantly, that really enjoy tanking.  Unfortunately I also prefer bruiser over guardian (gauranteed tank) or any of the other plate wearers, but when ANY other tank class gets invited they take the tanking priority away from me, even if they dont WANT to tank.  I kind of understand why, a plate tank can be safer then an avoidance tank, but is there any way I can convince a party to let me tank?  What I've tried so far seems to go over there heads, so maybe I'm doing things wrong.  Would being a monk help at all? Also two more questions that aren't really new-thread worthy: 1. Unfortunately my bruiser is an older character who was level 18 when I left EQ2.  What's the best way to make up for lost AA exp when the requirement was moved down to 10 from 20? 2. How high is my avoidance supposed to be at level 19?  It's ~25% right now (I'm at work so I cant really check for the precise number).  What's the best way to boost it? Thanks a bunch.

[MokiCh]

At your level there are a lot of new players that don't have much experience yet, so convincing them to let you tank when they got a plate tank might be difficult. The only way I can think of is if you've been doing a good job tanking so far, ask that they let you go on until it's obvious you can't tank what ever it is you're trying to fight. As for your questions, you've not missed out on much as far as AA's go. Just do lots of quests, kill named and explore all the area's you go to completely, and the AA's will come rolling in. For tanking, your avoidance should ideally be around 55-60%ish at least. More is always better of course. As for getting it up, upgrade your stances to at least adept 3 and get gear with + to defense/deflection.. etc. At your level you won't find much of that, so I would suggest getting a full set of mastercrafted leather for each tier and any other good named drops or quest rewards you can find. The disclaimer to all of this is that I'm speaking as a 70 Bruiser and 61 Monk who's been in T7 for so long now that I only have vague memories of T2 / T3, so take all of this with maybe more than a few grains of salt.

[Mongowth]

I am a level 37 Bruiser of DOOM so can give you a little bit more of an insight but not gonna lie and say I know everything as I appreciate everyone has something new to learn <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> What above poster has suggested by getting mastercrafted gear is top advice and agree fully upon. If you can pick up fabled (which on some servers is pretty cheap) then that ofc is the better option. Try to harvest some rare pelts within your tier: if you're 10-19 = T2 or 20-29 = T3 so check on tradeskillers forums to see what they're meant to be. You'll be looking to get Dexterous (+10 STR and AGI iirc) mainly but for the tier I'm currently in there's something like: engraved (or relevant tier afaik) leather line which is +7 STR, +8 AGI +7STA (might be wrong but it's a wider range of stats than dexterous) amongst other details. Another part is to get Hex Dolls, again mastercrafted for whatever you seem fit. About +9 T2 and +10 T3 and up by +1 p/tier for STR, AGI, WIS etc... Adept III's or Masters (ideally!) are your friend. I seem to remember hearing (but if there's any proof to it I have no idea) that Bruisers were downgraded as Masters dropped so often for them and that a Master is about the equivalent to what an Adept III used to be... but that's another story <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> At level 18 ish I was farming a few nameds in commonlands solo... These have a high chance to drop masters and as said soloable and takes about half an hour to an hour for a quick run around getting them rounded up <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I can't think of any other info. atm but will come back if I think of anything else that could help... Hopefully my info. above provides some benefit to you <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Editted for a bigger DOOM <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Zelkova]

<cite>Zakavar wrote:</cite><blockquote>I couldnt think of a better title, but this isnt really about spec, it's more about how the heck I get to be the main tank instead of off tank/dps. I'm one of the few people, apparantly, that really enjoy tanking.  Unfortunately I also prefer bruiser over guardian (gauranteed tank) or any of the other plate wearers, but when ANY other tank class gets invited they take the tanking priority away from me, even if they dont WANT to tank.  I kind of understand why, a plate tank can be safer then an avoidance tank, but is there any way I can convince a party to let me tank?  What I've tried so far seems to go over there heads, so maybe I'm doing things wrong.  Would being a monk help at all? <span style="color: #33ff66"><- Monks are not really better tanks than us so don't switch if you don't want to. As far as getting the tank position, you need not tell them you want to tank but tell them you're a GOOD tank, and then be one. The problem with being grouped with a plate fighter is that, all-in-all they are better tanks than us so nobody is going to assume you're better.</span> Also two more questions that aren't really new-thread worthy: 1. Unfortunately my bruiser is an older character who was level 18 when I left EQ2.  What's the best way to make up for lost AA exp when the requirement was moved down to 10 from 20? <span style="color: #33ff66"><- HAHAHAHA, trust me.. you're fine. Just play, the AA come very fast now. If you must, right click your exp bar and "Disable Combat Experience" and just do tons of quests and try to kill named mobs. Your AA will fly past your adventure level in no time. My level 60 Illusionist just dinged 82 AAs today and I didn't really try.</span> 2. How high is my avoidance supposed to be at level 19?  It's ~25% right now (I'm at work so I cant really check for the precise number).  What's the best way to boost it? <span style="color: #33ff66"><- I don't know.. it's been so long. That seems a bit low though, I thought even our base avoidance was much more than that. Is that in offensive stance or something? The best way to boost it is through items  / buffs that give defensive skill increases but at your level AGI might be the best way because those things are scarce.</span> Thanks a bunch. </blockquote>I know we can tank okay in small groups, but if you really want to tank, you picked the wrong class IMO. Some will argue up and down that we're good tanks but we just don't compare to plate in terms of efficiency. Our EOF AAs don't really make the situation any better, either. But good luck to you and I hope it all works out. I know it gets a lot easier once you get some good gear.

[Tasye]

Listen to posts 2 and 4. Bruisers make decent tanks up until raid or grouping the harder instances where an equally geared plate tank will be better by a good margin; it's hard to beat sheer mitigation on hard hitters. Beyond that, you are still a scrub so you should do ok at tanking. If you want to boost your avoidance, grab a pair of +AGI charm items, and you can stock up on +AGI potions, too. I think you are seeing your avoidance so low because your defense isn't capped. If you are off cap by 1 point it will show an incorrect value in your player stats tab. To see the correct value, you can inspect yourself by right clicking on your name and selecting the Inspect option. I suspect your avoidance will be 50%+

[Bobbette]

The other thing I'll add is that if you're in a group with a guardian ... it just makes all kinds of sense for the guardian to be the main tank (unless they completely suck).  The character is built for tanking and not so much for dps -- a bruiser in dps mode will be doing far more.  Makes sense to play to the classes' strengths in a group. It's less of an issue if you're grouped with a bezerker or shadowknight, because those plate classes can dps -- probably as well as a bruiser at your level. I've tanked groups with plate fighters as members, but it's usually been because, in that situation, I was the better choice  (aggro management issues, or back during the insane avoidance weirdness when EoF first came out, etc).  However, 9 times out of 10, I do defer to the plate -- let them do what they were built for and I do the dps thing, off-tank multiples that head for the healers/nukers, etc. I might be the minority though, I built my bruiser to be dps.  I have a 70 plate class that I would play if I wanted to be main tank all the time.

[Raidi Sovin'faile]

I've been asked to tank even with comparably equipped Plate tanks are around. Usually when there are lesser equiped plate tanks tho. If you only have 25% avoidance, most likely you outleveld your skills. If you are 7+ below the cap, you drastically lose avoidance. Just get hit a bunch and skill up to your max.

[Etchii]

<cite>Bobbette wrote:</cite><blockquote>--SNIP-- I might be the minority though, I built my bruiser to be dps.  I have a 70 plate class that I would play if I wanted to be main tank all the time. </blockquote><p> You sir are not alone, afterall we are called bruisERS, not bruisEES =P</p>

[grish]

Also as you reach higher tierrs you would want to find items that offer deflection, parry, defense, and resistances vs crushing slashing piercing.

[eyes007]

<p>Well, some advice a tank-build Bruiser (with great emphasis on self buffed stats, not base stats, the base stats on eq2players do not reflect fully how a character is set up):</p><p>- Mitigation of 3k or more, I'm sitting at 3176, [Removed for Content] dragonscale bracelet its 3300 (I opted for more avoidance and resists)</p><p>- HP of 7500 or more</p><p>- Average resists of 3k or higher (base - buffed maybe sitting around 4kish)</p><p>- Avoidance of 70% or more (11700 or more)</p><p>- Masters of all buffs first, then Combat Arts</p><p>- Full AA on deflection and parry, mastery of close mind, vigorous spirit and the end bruiser ability of an extra stone deaf.</p><p>- Weapons with high attack rating and defense adornments</p><p>- Fully adorned for that matter</p><p>This will enable you to oftank in raids and be a superior tank in green, blue, white heroic encounters, and be onpar with plate tanks in yellow. I don't say this in jest, a tank build is so awesome you will find you do not even need to taunt. I don't recommend being a raid tank but it isn't out of your reach, but plates do make for a more efficient raid. You can however be a good raid tank for KoS raids, but remember in raids hate is an issue, the right classes can help there.</p>