The purpose of a Guardian is giving me a headache.

[DragonNin]

<DIV>Hey all!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>      </DIV>

[DragonNin]

<DIV>Sigh... Sorry for the post mistake up there.  I know this is not rocket science here but, I still just don't understand what the guardian class purpose is.  Sure it should be Main Tank which is what I want but, the more I read here the more it sounds like your'e just a life tank. I Want to be on the front line getting beat on. I want to be on the main tank line on raids (like EQ1 was with the War).  I read stuff like just guard the zerker or whatever who is "really" tanking the beast. That would really suck if you just end up being a bodygaurd for somone and that is it. I'm lvl 19 and I have to choose which to play and it just seems like SOE doesn't really know the definition between the 2 warrior sub classes (zerk is offensive tank I know) but, I am having doubts that later on I will find out that the guardian is just somone that bodygaurds the real tank which would be the Beserker.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any thoughts?</DIV>

[Corran]

<DIV>Now this is just pure speculation at this point but my guess is that while all fighter bases are adequate main tanks for most roles, there will be cases, such as you mentioned in raids, where only the heaviest armored, toughest, most durable tank will do, and in that case I imagine this is where the guardian shines.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Personally as a 15 cleric I find that the tanks I prefer to group with are in this order:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Warrior w/shield</DIV> <DIV>Crusader w/shield</DIV> <DIV>Brawler</DIV>

[DragonNin]

<DIV>I might get flamed with this statement but, why should all tanks be equal? lol.  Seriously though why? I mean the guardian/zerker role is pretty straight foward all they have is there armor / weapons. So a Pally/SK can use magic to there aid which let's face it, is pretty nice since a fighter mage is kind of a nice thing (best of both worlds right?). I mean SK's can summon a steed at lvl 20! What does the guardian get? The normal and bland defensive ability. Sure that is great but, why play a guardian when I can play SK tank the same (according to SOE), use dmg spells, and get a free horse <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.  So yea just like EQ1(pre - Planes of power. Thats when I quit EQ1) I think the only real tank in this game should only be a Guardian. This is where I don't understand if it *really* is a MT since even the title (Guardian) sounds like you would just use your abilities to guard somone else that is taking the damage.  </DIV>

[Moontayle]

<DIV>Well, the truth of the matter is that right now, it's all a matter of speculation. See, true divergence doesn't start happening until after level 25. That's when the really good spells and class abilities start kicking in. By 50, Guardians are <EM>the best</EM> tanks in the game. Just go out there and do a search on the various EQ2 sites for the abilities lists. Look at the differences between us and them.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you want to be the brick upon which a raid stands and builds its foundations, then be a Guardian. Because the truth is, if you fall, then everything else falls around you.</DIV>

[bjo]

<DIV>as a gaurdian you shoudl always tanka nd hold agro unless youre ac and overall ability to be an MT sucks. at lvl 28 with all buffs up i have liek 2170 hp and around 1700+ ac... i tank almsot effortlessy lvl 30 double arrow mobs with the right group..i was even tanking lvl 33 mobs at lvl 25..so i dont see where the problem is. My only complaisn are that sometiems a zerk of  equal or higher lvl can steal agro but thats usually towards the end of the fight so its ok.</DIV>

[speerha]

<DIV>Atm, Im a bit on the same line as you are, however im not even a guardian yet, only lvl 18.</DIV> <DIV>My thought of mind goes to just sit down, wait, and please come again at lvl 30+ (this was meant for myself, not as a rant at thread-creator).. After that, we will truly know alot more then sitting here guessing when the difference is still very small.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My 2 cents.</DIV>

[GenesisForgot]

Despite comments in the special atk mitigation thread I still believe guardian to be the best tank because it is reliable AC/HP and taunting ability. I've never been in a group that has chosen an evader over myself and I've always done well in groups as long as we either have enough DPS or heals. I see no reason to discontinue my character.

[bjo]

<DIV>i could see the diffrence by lvl 25 through the buffs and abilities i was getting..there is no need to worry unless you dont know how to make a MT or play one.</DIV>