Being the Tank!

[Pinuvin]

<p>I've read these forum's on and off for a few weeks and need a little help.  I have a 57 Paly that I really like playing, I've only soloed with him so far.  I've found a couple of friends and we've decided to start over and I've choosen a Paly and grouping with a warden and swashy.  Since I've only soloed, I have no idea how to tank a group.  So far, only level 12, I haven't had to worry too much about agro and such but I know the time is coming.  There are many abilities and spells I never used soloing that deal with agro and wanted to know which ones are going to be important.  Any help on tatics would be greatly appreciated.</p>

[juggalo0385]

<p>learn how to body pull.  also when tanking make sure your taunts are expert at least.  Just remember when tanking your not trying to top the dps charts your main goal is keeping the mob focused on you.  if you are a pally then utilize your amends because that will transfer aggro from a high dpser to you.  start off with single pulls then work your way up to whats comfortable.  Also when you are TANKING don't try to be the healer.  if you are just there for support then throw some heals out.  Pallys are a unique class and you need to learn how to play them correctly it will take time but you will get it with practice</p>

[Boli32]

<p><cite>juggalo0385 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>learn how to body pull.  also when tanking make sure your taunts are expert at least.  Just remember when tanking your not trying to top the dps charts your main goal is keeping the mob focused on you.  if you are a pally then utilize your amends because that will transfer aggro from a high dpser to you.  start off with single pulls then work your way up to whats comfortable.  Also when you are TANKING don't try to be the healer.  if you are just there for support then throw some heals out.  Pallys are a unique class and you need to learn how to play them correctly it will take time but you will get it with practice</p></blockquote><p>Then after when you want to play at a higher level disreguard most of the above and start again from scratch <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[juggalo0385]

<p><cite>Boli32 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>juggalo0385 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>learn how to body pull.  also when tanking make sure your taunts are expert at least.  Just remember when tanking your not trying to top the dps charts your main goal is keeping the mob focused on you.  if you are a pally then utilize your amends because that will transfer aggro from a high dpser to you.  start off with single pulls then work your way up to whats comfortable.  Also when you are TANKING don't try to be the healer.  if you are just there for support then throw some heals out.  Pallys are a unique class and you need to learn how to play them correctly it will take time but you will get it with practice</p></blockquote><p>Then after when you want to play at a higher level disreguard most of the above and start again from scratch <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I tank just fine thank you</p>

[Maamadex]

<p>An integral part of keeping a mob focused on oneself is dps. Amends or not, any tank should do as much as they can to be high on the parse. And as far as heals, don't try to be a healer, but learning how to use heals to aid in your survivability is key as well. But as far as abilities you'll get to help with aggro, those include Amends, Sigil of Herosim, and a ton of area effect dmg spells to help you with AE fights. Holy Ground at 80 is crazy nice too, fine dps and aggro ability. As I said tho, holding aggro amounts to mainly doing as much dmg as you possibly can heh. Having a dirge with you will help in later lvls. They buff dps and hate etc.</p>

[Meirril]

<p>You might struggle with agro issues till you hit 49 and get amends. Master amends and don't look back. Unless your group is really extremely balanced amends plus your dps will hold agro. I generally skip taunts to save power because I don't need them to hold agro. On the few occasions I do need them, they get used on the pull and when CAs are waiting to refresh. There shouldn't be any need to lower your DPS to keep agro. If the healer is pulling agro after you have the mob pulled and parked you are needing too much healing. I'd suggest you try easier mobs, or start self healing.</p><p>Keeping your CA/spells upgrades is one key. With them at apprentice, anyone who bothered to upgrade will terribly out perform you. It is important to upgrade no matter what class your playing as long as your grouping. Armor and weapons...still imporant but some lapses can be forgiven as long as you arn't leveling quickly. Once you hit the 80+ levels...bad equipment becomes more intollerable. Spells should start becomming expert+, and time should be spent on upgrading equipment.</p>

[Vlahkmaak]

<p>1.) ALWAYS turn the mob(s) - ALWAYS.. I dont care how simple the dungeon you are in lazy tanking breeds inefficiency and screw ups later.</p><p>a.) Turning the mob basically means you step into it, or through it, and turn its back towards the group.  This way the meee DPS can get good back shots in and the ehalers and clothies will eb out of any fontal aoe arc.  Also, as potential mobs walk down dungeons they will tag you first, as a pally use an AOE to focus them onto you and reposition as neccesary.  On my guard I plant em and let hold the line do its job.  Very few mobs require the grp to be in front of it (dragon in Veksar, etc.  REMEMBER: Its your job to place the mob it is not the job of the DPS to run around behind the mob and joust back causing potential un needed adds (but then again your a pally, not a guard - grab em all).</p><p>2.) Make sure your properly buffed - that means YOU get the good DPS buffs first so you can maintain high aggro.</p><p>3.) Cast your ward when pulling in most all situations except where you are trying to seperate overlapping encounters as your ward might proc and cause social aggro. </p><p>4.) Amend the highest DPS class in your grp.  If they have a hate transfer use amends AFTER they put their transfer on you not before.</p><p>5.) If there is another fighter class in the grp, especially a brawler, have them put their avoidance check on you - do not use yours as you will avoid more hits with another fighters check on you. </p><p>6.) Your the tank LEAD.  Tanks have to take command and be a bit pushy at times.  Listen to others but make it clear YOUR calling the shots not the guy/gal in cloth standing even further back than the healers.</p><p>More to come - Ima bit tired atm as it is very late.</p>

[Pinuvin]

<p>Good stuff, thanks!</p><p>Plaguemeiter, thanks for the great input!  I played a lot of classes in the original EQ and most of what you're saying I learned from years of playing there.  Thanks guys.</p>

[Aenaddor]

<p>Amends is a fun toy, when your doing instances put it on your softy caster and let him get comfortable with it, then take it off and stop taunting mobs, see if you can break his gear before you end the zone.</p>

[Anurra]

<p><cite>Vlahkmaak@Venekor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>4.) Amend the highest DPS class in your grp.  If they have a hate transfer use amends AFTER they put their transfer on you not before.</p></blockquote><p>Didn't they fix this so the order of buffs do not matter anymore?</p>

[Odysia]

<p>Whether by VC or by groupchat macro, make it very clear where you want your group to be. I have 4 macros:</p><p>"Advance to my position"</p><p>"Pulling %t in 10 seconds, HOLD YOUR POSITION"</p><p>"Charging %t in 10 Seconds, FOLLOW ME!!!"</p><p>"ROAMER pathing close - repositioning %t - MOVE WITH ME!!"</p><p>(of course these days I don't use them much due to VC)</p><p>As mentioned earlier, always turn them. Positional DPS classes will love you. Especially Rangers, which not only have positional dps but also minimum range problems. It is impossible to produce consistent DPS unless the mob is positioned consistently.</p><p>Do not tolerate folks ripping agro off you. "But you have your rescue, it doesn't matter". BS - when that mob spins round, even if just for half a second, it spoils scout DPS.</p><p>Don't tolerate people pressuring you to go faster, especially if they keep pulling extra mobs to 'help things along'. No... go at your speed, and if things proceed slowly you'll naturally start picking up the pace. Just tell them, hey, if I have to allow for you possible pulling an extra mob, I'll have to wait for all my timers to be back up, so we are just going to go slower....</p><p>I recommend using 3rd person, that way you can body pull, engage and turn, but still have the camera looking behind you (or whatever is the major threat axis).</p>

[Rast]

<p>Also, do not be afraid to explain how YOU handle the encounter.  Each tank has a different place they like to tank certain mobs.</p><p>When pulling a mob back to the group, a technique I've found helpful for turning the mob is to run back to about the middle of the group and just a moment before the mob gets into melee range, I reverse direction, throw a taunt and it creates an almost natural spinning of the mob.  Doesn't work on every encounter, but I've found it works for many, especially in group settings.</p><p>Watch for shaman wards on body pulls, they can cause serious issues if they are on and proc when body pulling, makes for a hard encounter when you healer either dies because the mobs goes straight for them or has to spend the next several seconds healing themselves instead of you.</p><p>On long body pulls, watch out for stifles/stuns.</p><p>If you don't know a named encounter, don't be afraid to ask for help, chances are someone in the group has killed it before and might have some tips or suggestions, but then incorporate those tips into something that makes sense for you and the group you are in.</p><p>As said above, don't try to be a healer, but well timed heals can be the difference between wiping and 100% survival.  We are just not real efficient at healing and over healing can cause power problems.</p><p>On a side note, I like those macros above.  I have some that are similiar, but not the positioning one, I may have to create one like that, thanks!</p>