so sick of not being able to tank

[Wiou]

<p>What is it? is it my gear? skill? class? what the hell is it? Im a semi-casual player youve probably seen me around. i've had 90% terrible experiences tanking. and everytime i go in optimistically, but fail terribly. here is my gear.. <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=167097105" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...terId=167097105</a> in tank gear, i get to 84.7% avoidance, and 48%ish mitigation. in dps gear, I get 77% avoidance, and 43% mit ... and in a shard group, in dps gear i drop like a hat, but i can keep aggro on single targets. (not group well) in a shard group, in tank gear i dont drop like a hat, but cant keep aggro and my dps literally goes down the crapper (1.5k if im lucky) what the hell am i doing wrong, I get so discourages from playing most of the time. So I rarely do now.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p>Honestly man, get your mythical and you will be fine. Unfortunately monks require the mythical to be able to tank anything.</p>

[Wiou]

<p>Working on it, frankly it sucks I have to do that to do any kind of decent job.</p><p>I have full t2 shard armor and better-than average (quite a few) fabled tso drops...</p><p>and still cant tank.</p><p>ive been having terrible luck with VS - three 5 hour long raids, all failures.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p><cite>Wiou wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Working on it, frankly it sucks I have to do that to do any kind of decent job.</p><p>I have full t2 shard armor and better-than average (quite a few) fabled tso drops...</p><p>and still cant tank.</p><p>ive been having terrible luck with VS - three 5 hour long raids, all failures.</p></blockquote><p>Take less people, VS can be 1 grouped.  But in your case maybe 2-3 groups might be better.</p>

[Couching]

<p>You need mitigation jewelries for more mitigation. There are some nice mitigation jewelries from instances and open dungeons such as the Hardened Clay Bracelet (124 mit) from sebilis, Obelisk Powered Ring of Defense (243 mit) from OOA, Bracelet of Deprecation (164 mit) from Crucible, etc..  Or you can buy raid loots such as Howling hoop (208 mit), Irritating wool Cincture (205 mit), Black heart, Ring of replusing (124) from SoH.</p><p>Beyond gear, you need to use life saving tools smartly. Also, don't forget to use our two temp mitigation buffs, they are very useful in tanking.</p>

[Wiou]

<p>I have hardened clay bracelet. Is mit > than avoidance? I would be replacing items that give me +5 def, parry etc.</p>

[Cozumel]

<p>I'm not sure what zones you're tanking, but honestly, unless its generic instances (Sebilis/Maidens/Chardok) you're gear isn't up-to-par imho... Its mediore at best.</p><p>Also, your +STR is terrible for lvl 80.  Mine is 1300 unbuffed, you're more than 50% less... thats a major hit on DPS (which will hurt your ability to hold DPS).</p><p>Also, your AA line? You didn't post it, but your build is going to make a big difference.  Also, are you fully mastered?</p><p>And FWIW, I NEVER, EVER-EVER use full defense mode.  I've played with it vs. all the other stances and its simply not worth it unless you're NOT the tank and accidently pull agro and need a little (adn I do mean LITTLE) boost in defense (plus the major drop in DPS will help the other tank regain agro).</p><p>Do you have the AA stance to allow you to attack/move when in IRON stance?  (Bottom line after 170 aa's)... it's WELL worth it, as it adds ~3500 mit for 30 seconds.</p><p>Personally (unbuffed), I'm @ 13500 hp, 7.5k power, 2900 mit, 1300 STR, don't recall my avoid... nearly all fabeled, with my mythical... I push 5.5-7k DPS typical, and generally parse 2nd-5th in raids (VP/etc..) with the only classes out dps'ing me being the swash/brig/assy.</p><p> -- Coz</p>

[Wiou]

<p><span ><p><quote>I'm not sure what zones you're tanking, but honestly, unless its generic instances (Sebilis/Maidens/Chardok) you're gear isn't up-to-par imho... Its mediore at best.</quote></p><p>TSO instances... and TBH, what better gear can you get without raiding? I have full t2/best gear you can buy, along with fabled instances drops...</p><p>You're saying my gear is mediocre and I can't tank with full highest tier TSO gear from tso?</p><p><quote>Also, your +STR is terrible for lvl 80.  Mine is 1300 unbuffed, you're more than 50% less... thats a major hit on DPS (which will hurt your ability to hold DPS).</quote></p><p>Again, probably because Im not raid geared. It's also in tank gear.</p><p><quote>Also, your AA line? You didn't post it, but your build is going to make a big difference.  Also, are you fully mastered?</quote></p><p>I switch between offensive and defensive spec.. Ill post my setup for both in a minute here. I am 80% mastered, and the other 20% is Adept III's.</p><p><quote>And FWIW, I NEVER, EVER-EVER use full defense mode.  I've played with it vs. all the other stances and its simply not worth it unless you're NOT the tank and accidently pull agro and need a little (adn I do mean LITTLE) boost in defense (plus the major drop in DPS will help the other tank regain agro).</quote></p><p>What would you recommend? Tank gear and spider stance?</p><p><quote>Do you have the AA stance to allow you to attack/move when in IRON stance?  (Bottom line after 170 aa's)... it's WELL worth it, as it adds ~3500 mit for 30 seconds.</quote></p><p>I only have 150AA</p><p><quote>Personally (unbuffed), I'm @ 13500 hp, 7.5k power, 2900 mit, 1300 STR, don't recall my avoid... nearly all fabeled, with my mythical... I push 5.5-7k DPS typical, and generally parse 2nd-5th in raids (VP/etc..) with the only classes out dps'ing me being the swash/brig/assy.</quote></p><p>I parse fine with dps gear - usually highest in group, if not im second. Im not crying about that. I just thought with my gear i should be able to tank. Yes its not raid or VP. but I put plenty of work in...</p><p>I play TSO instances enough to have FULL t2 shard gear... best gear you can get from TSO grouping.. yet I cant even tank the TSO instances I ran for them</p></span></p>

[circusgirl]

<p>t sounds like your main area of difficulty is AE aggro.  I would suggest two things to start:</p><p>1)build your group setup around giving you aggro.  This means seek out classes like dirges, swashbucklers, assassins, and coercers, and staying away from things like warlocks, rangers, and other aggro [Removed for Content].</p><p>2)create a tank spec.  I would Suggest the following:</p><p><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww329/Dharlette/Tank_spec_brawler.jpg" width="648" height="607" /></p><p>The str line ups your dps and, more importantly, gives you Chi which can be popped at the beginning of fights you know will be long and hard in order to let you use things like peel, tsunami, outward calm, your mit buffs, etc. multiple times.</p><p>The agi line ups your reuse speed, which means faster taunts and more tsunamis.</p><p>The wis line is your AE aggro line.  Crane flock and crane twirl are essential at the level you're at for holding AE aggro.</p><p><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww329/Dharlette/Tank_spec_monk.jpg" width="646" height="581" /></p><p>The focus here is on two things: AE aggro and defensive abilities.  Enhance: dragonfire gives you a very long range AE spell which I tend to pop while I'm pulling (about halfway between the spot where you're bodypulling them from and the group usually does the trick.)  This gives you a solid foothold on aggro and helps keep the mobs for heading straight for the healer right off the bat.  Lowering the recast of tsunami, outward calm, and your taunts is essential.  You can ignore the enhance: mountain stance until you have the improvement in your shadow tree.</p><p><img src="http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww329/Dharlette/Tank_spec_shadow.jpg" width="647" height="580" /></p><p>Meditative healing and inner focus won't do much for you in instances, so you should ignore those two choices of mine and put points instead in the damage reduction from the fighter line.  The most important things here are the deflection from the brawler line and the removal of the stun component from the mountain stance.</p><p>Additional tricks--make an intercede macro, and set the target for it as your healer each time you enter an instance.  Always have intercede up on them, as it basically works much like prewards do for aggro.  You know how mobs tend to run up and hit you, have a heal go off on you, and then head straight for the healer?  Intercede does the opposite--when a mob hits the healer, your intercede goes off and YOU get hate added with that mob.</p><p>I hope these suggestions help, and if you have any further questions I'm available as AntoniaBayle.Vinka.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>

[BChizzle]

<p>You'd be better off if you made monkey dodge 5 points and ambidexterity 8 Vinka.</p>

[circusgirl]

<p>I actually agree--this spec hasn't been tweaked in a while, and the reuse is definetely better for me than the avoidance.</p>

[circusgirl]

<p>Yup, I agree entirely Blanka, and that little error is now corrected.  Had been a while since I'd reviewed this spec.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p><cite>Vinka@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Yup, I agree entirely Blanka, and that little error is now corrected.  Had been a while since I'd reviewed this spec.</p></blockquote><p>I'd also say like 2 points in heal TSO, you dont need 5 in TV 3 is enough to open up dragonfire AA.  Prolly drop the points in peel and rescue too if you are tanking you probably have agro and don't need a faster recast on those.</p>

[Wiou]

<p>Another obstical I have is I only have 150AA</p><p>So if someone could rearrange that spec to get the most out of it for 150AA, would be totally sweet..</p>

[luder118]

<p><cite>Wiou wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I have hardened clay bracelet.Is mit > than avoidance? I would be replacing items that give me +5 def, parry etc.</p></blockquote><p>yes mit is the most important stat you need to work on to be a stronger tank, with HPs being a close second.  as a brawler you naturaly have high avoidence, for that reason I allways push for more mit.  I have had many many healers (both from my guild and on PuGs) tell me Im eaiser to keep up than alot of plate tanks they normaly run with (and I allways run in offencive stance and dps gear, unless the healer is really struggling I will swap gear but stay in offencive stance).</p><p>hope that helps,</p><p>-Eb</p>

[Wiou]

<p>Eb, can you link your monk so I can see what gear you have? Dps and tank?</p>

[scalzo]

<p>Also make a proper group for you to tank in. Wizard, Warlock, Illy, Trouby in the same group = you fail. Remember Dirge, Coeorcer, Swashy, and Assassin are your friends in making a group. These classes help you keep aggro.  Monks are very reliant on hate modifiers because we have to hit the mob to generate hate. Some other classes get hit to generate hate.  Since the Monk and Pally are similar I think Monks should get an Amends also LOL! Ha wishful thinking.</p>

[luder118]

<p>my brawler is actualy a bruiser, but he was a monk till about a week before RoK came out (been playing the brawler since 12/6/05).  he was my main raid toon all through RoK and for about a month after TSO (we are not an avatar killing guild but we were clearing VP by the end of last summer, hence there are alot of items I still wish I had).</p><p>this is my dps gear (and generaly pritty much all I use except for the extreemly hard raid mobs or a really crapy solo healer)</p><p><a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=284011106">http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...terId=284011106</a></p><p>also wanted to add that there are 3 adorments (all legendary) that can help you boost mit, can do both wrists and forarms.  they add +77 to crush pierce slash gaining a total of 231 of extra mit (about as good as another piece of leather).  I will swap to my tank gear later tonight and see if I can link that setup.</p><p>-Eb</p>

[circusgirl]

<p>The mitigation adornments for wrists are unfortunately grossly inferior to the +3 parry adorns.</p>

[Couching]

<p><cite>Vinka@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The mitigation adornments for wrists are unfortunately grossly inferior to the +3 parry adorns.</p></blockquote><p>Not really, it depends on his gear and targets. +3 parry adorn is better only on tanking raid epic mobs or he has high mit gear already. (Though, He said he wants to be able to tank heroic mobs not raid epic and 48% mit in defensive is really low)</p><p>For example, assuming he has 15% parry, 60% deflection and 50% base avoidance, his total avoidance is 83% (close to what he said, 84.7% in defensive)</p><p>With two 3% parry adornments, he has ~21% (actually a bit less than 21%) parry, 60% deflection and 50% base avoidance, his total avoidance is ~84.2%. He gets ~1.2% avoidance boost with 2 parry adornments.</p><p>With 2 +77 mit adornments, he gets about 1% mit based on his gear.</p><p>In this case, I would say extra 1% mit is better than extra 1.2% avoidance for tanking heroic mobs.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p><cite>Couching@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Vinka@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The mitigation adornments for wrists are unfortunately grossly inferior to the +3 parry adorns.</p></blockquote><p>Not really, it depends on his gear and targets. +3 parry adorn is better only on tanking raid epic mobs or he has high mit gear already. (Though, He said he wants to be able to tank heroic mobs not raid epic and 48% mit in defensive is really low)</p><p>For example, assuming he has 15% parry, 60% deflection and 50% base avoidance, his total avoidance is 83% (close to what he said, 84.7% in defensive)</p><p>With two 3% parry adornments, he has ~21% (actually a bit less than 21%) parry, 60% deflection and 50% base avoidance, his total avoidance is ~84.2%. He gets ~1.2% avoidance boost with 2 parry adornments.</p><p>With 2 +77 mit adornments, he gets about 1% mit based on his gear.</p><p>In this case, I would say extra 1% mit is better than extra 1.2% avoidance for tanking heroic mobs.</p></blockquote><p>Couch your calculations are completely inaccurate.  You created a specific scenario where I guess you are going up against a mob the same level or w/e, fact is if you add 6% parry that is uncontested it will be waaaaaay more effective then 2 +77 adorns.  Thats 6% uncontested avoid plain and simple you can't beat that.</p>

[Couching]

<p><cite>BChizzle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Couching@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Vinka@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The mitigation adornments for wrists are unfortunately grossly inferior to the +3 parry adorns.</p></blockquote><p>Not really, it depends on his gear and targets. +3 parry adorn is better only on tanking raid epic mobs or he has high mit gear already. (Though, He said he wants to be able to tank heroic mobs not raid epic and 48% mit in defensive is really low)</p><p>For example, assuming he has 15% parry, 60% deflection and 50% base avoidance, his total avoidance is 83% (close to what he said, 84.7% in defensive)</p><p>With two 3% parry adornments, he has ~21% (actually a bit less than 21%) parry, 60% deflection and 50% base avoidance, his total avoidance is ~84.2%. He gets ~1.2% avoidance boost with 2 parry adornments.</p><p>With 2 +77 mit adornments, he gets about 1% mit based on his gear.</p><p>In this case, I would say extra 1% mit is better than extra 1.2% avoidance for tanking heroic mobs.</p></blockquote><p>Couch your calculations are completely inaccurate.  You created a specific scenario where I guess you are going up against a mob the same level or w/e, fact is if you add 6% parry that is uncontested it will be waaaaaay more effective then 2 +77 adorns.  Thats 6% uncontested avoid plain and simple you can't beat that.</p></blockquote><p>Incorrect.</p><p>Uncontested avoidance does affect by mob level. 6% parry is not 6% on mobs that are higher than 80.</p><p>The fact is for OP, mit adorn is better for tanking heroic mobs with his current gear.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p><cite>Couching@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Incorrect.</p><p>Uncontested avoidance does affect by mob level. 6% parry is not 6% on mobs that are higher than 80.</p><p>The fact is for OP, mit adorn is better for tanking heroic mobs with his current gear.</p></blockquote><p>lol wut</p>

[Couching]

<p><cite>BChizzle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Couching@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Incorrect.</p><p>Uncontested avoidance does affect by mob level. 6% parry is not 6% on mobs that are higher than 80.</p><p>The fact is for OP, mit adorn is better for tanking heroic mobs with his current gear.</p></blockquote><p>lol wut</p></blockquote><p>Clearly, you have no idea what uncontested avoidance is.</p>

[BChizzle]

<p><cite>Couching@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>BChizzle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Couching@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Incorrect.</p><p>Uncontested avoidance does affect by mob level. 6% parry is not 6% on mobs that are higher than 80.</p><p>The fact is for OP, mit adorn is better for tanking heroic mobs with his current gear.</p></blockquote><p>lol wut</p></blockquote><p>Clearly, you have no idea what uncontested avoidance is.</p></blockquote><p>Yes because the whole term uncontested avoidance doesn't have to do with the fact it checks regardless of mob level.  Not sure how anyone could miss on something so simple.</p>

[Exordus]

<p>I seem to be having the same problem, with group taunts.  I left the game before Shadow expansion and did a short tour of Warhammer, then returned.  I've only been back a short time, and have not yet reguilded (although I intent to).  I did my first pickup instance the other day (I've only run like 2 instances in the last 6 months, so I don't know any of the zones anymore).  I only volunteered b/c the group kept looking for a tank and I was just working on AA.  Went to some zone off of Loping Plains and had 2 Wizards, a Brigand, Dirge and Templar in my group.  Part way through the zone they asked me if I minded sitting out to allow another tank that could keep better aggro to join.  I sat out, not a big deal.  But then went raiding with my old guild later that day.  I've pretty much Defensive AA (with about 158 AA) and prior to the expansion and me leaving, had the best gear: </p><p> <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=392224111">http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...terId=392224111</a></p><p>I was the third tank in the raid, and since I was just getting my feet wet again didn't really have too much responsibility.  I've off tanked VP, tanked some of VP, etc....never had too many issues.  When they asked me to tank heroic adds in one of the raids I was like, hell ya, no problem.  Both MT and MA had to swap the named so I just had to pull the heroics long enough for everyone to burn them down.  I had zero trouble pulling them, but i'll be damned if my one freakin group taunt could do $h!t for holding any aggro at all.  Our AOE damage dealers were dying left and right from one of the group of 4-5 heriocs that came every time that broke off after the first hit.  Eventually they had to bring in a member's toon (member was on vacation) and have the MA (SK) pull the adds as I was reduced to assisting him!! </p><p>It's been very frustrating returning to my toon, that I figured had so much more potential after the expansion and so many new AA's.  You guys are talking about tanking in O-Stance!  Prior to me leaving the game I was always in O-Stance, fully offensive spec'd.  But now, when I actually try and D-Stance spec, I can't keep aggro (on groups) and my DPS has falled to crap.  I understand that once I get more AA it will help, but man, if I can't even tank instances, this is going to be a hard return.</p><p>~Xordus~</p>