Monks as Tanks

[Owa]

<DIV>Look, I know I'm not the most vocal supporter of the Monks Are Tanks faction, but I just joined a pick-up group a minute ago with a templar, illusionist, mystic, and two rangers - all at least two levels below me. The illusionist said "who's MT?" </DIV> <DIV>[Removed for Content] me off no end. Needless to say that grouping was a brief one...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>To paraphrase Sage, where's SniperKitty when you need her?</DIV>

[Bladewind]

<P>Yeah, those are good times <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>You should have insisted that the illusionist be MT <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I'm spoiled by my guild/regular group, so I don't have to convince people that I am a tank anymore.  I still remember the annoying pick up group days, though <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[MoonglumHMV]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> annaspider wrote:<BR> <DIV>Look, I know I'm not the most vocal supporter of the Monks Are Tanks faction, but I just joined a pick-up group a minute ago with a templar, illusionist, mystic, and two rangers - all at least two levels below me. The illusionist said "who's MT?" </DIV> <DIV>[Removed for Content] me off no end. Needless to say that grouping was a brief one...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>To paraphrase Sage, where's SniperKitty when you need her?</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Anna...you can always make me laugh <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Sounds like almost the exact same experience I had in TS over the weekend.  A group of myself, mystic, illusionist, swashbuckler, & templar...gathering for finishing off AQ6...Illusionist proceeds to ask who is MT.  With stunned silence at first, I speak up and say 'how about I give it a shot?'...then we proceed to finish off AQ6, killing most anything in Griff fields/bandit camp area, and get everyone 60%+ xp for their next level in a about an hour and a half...including several fights with adds that I taunt off including Shadowdash and his 2 friends that one of the others drug with them when running to us from the Gnoll caves.</P> <P>Only wipe of the night was when that same illusionist decided he wanted to go try to harvest right after a string of fights (healers low on power) by one of the named ^^^ epic Cent mobs that spawn in the area...I should have called to run and just let the illusionist bite it, but being the noble Troll Monk I am of course I try to save her...and (suprise suprise) FD failed both times I was able to attempt it...</P>

[SageMarrow]

<P>yeah, thats always great...</P> <P>Gives you that stinging yet tingly sensation then a mental screech of GOD <A href="mailto<img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />AMNIT@!# @#$" target=_blank>DAMNIT@!# @#$</A>@!.</P> <P>then you quietly speak up.</P> <P>"ill tank"... and suddenly wish there was PvP</P> <P>And its funny because some of the group members know it for a fact, but they just sit back and watch to see whos gonna say somn...</P> <DIV>like, "i wonder if he even knows hes a tank?!"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[bonesbro]

I just assume that the illusionist didn't bother to check the classes on everyone <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>

[sglant]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> bonesbro wrote:<BR>I just assume that the illusionist didn't bother to check the classes on everyone <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>I assume that alot too... because targetting each member of your group is just too much of a hassle; much better to ask a question and wait for a response.</P> <P> </P>

[Gaige]

Monks are healers, I mean come on, we get mend <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[woo]

<DIV>what i hate worse, is when they say:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>cleric type: "whos MT?"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>me: "i am the only tank.."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>cleric type: "ahahahah i have more AC than you noob, monks arent tanks"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>me: "ok you can tank and hold aggro then."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><group goes out, i steal aggro from him on accident as he is in orange and i lose 100hp></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>me: "maybe i should tank?"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>cleric type: "ok, im main heal"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>me: "should let the warden heal.. will work better with me"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>cleric type: "wardens arent healers noob.. only clerics, your on my ignore list noob"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>me: "k"</DIV>

[Owa]

<P>There used to be a little halfling Monk who ran round TS back when I was still Berserking many moons ago. He kept shouting 'Yes! Monks are tanks!" and in his bio he said "No REALLY - Monks are Tanks!" </P> <P>I used to think he was weird, but now I'm rethinking my own bio...</P>

[ArivenGemini]

<span><blockquote><hr>Gage-Mikel wrote:Monks are healers, I mean come on, we get mend <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div><hr></blockquote>And snappy dressers.. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I have gotten a couple groups because people were impressed with my AQ monk outfit... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div>

[Aegi]

At level 40 I got into a group where they asked "Who's going to tank" and the level 37 SK in the group said his own name. We proceeded to move through rivervale killing solo blue mobs, I proceeded to leave. <div></div>

[ArivenGemini]

<span><blockquote><hr>Aegien wrote:At level 40 I got into a group where they asked "Who's going to tank" and the level 37 SK in the group said his own name. We proceeded to move through rivervale killing solo blue mobs, I proceeded to leave. <div></div><hr></blockquote> heh, I had a similar thing at a lower level... I better AC+ over the cursader in the group of the same level... he wanted MT and since they were an established group I didn't say anything... I figure they prolly are used to each other and I dont like pushing the issue in setups like that...  but when he dies (after several "issues" tanking) I grab all the agro, hold it rock solid and we promptly beat the stuff into the ground with no problems... then said "and THAT is how a brawler tanks"  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Side note, after he leveled I -still- had higher ac than him <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </span><div></div>

[SageMarrow]

<P>yeah, the inherent competition between tanks is crazy, i hate joining a group with a plate tank lower than me, because i know that i could tank better than him, and as a bruiser he cant keep aggro off of me if i dps...</P> <P>vicious cycle that is....</P>

[ArivenGemini]

<span><blockquote><hr>SageMarrow wrote:<p>yeah, the inherent competition between tanks is crazy, i hate joining a group with a plate tank lower than me, because i know that i could tank better than him, and as a bruiser he cant keep aggro off of me if i dps...</p> <p>vicious cycle that is.... </p><hr></blockquote> if there was only one or two levels of difference between my serker and your bruiser, and you didn't instantly start up into full dps from the start (i.e. behave like the scouts and mages should, start slow and ramp up as the tank contains agro) I dont think I would have a problem with keeping agro. If you WERE a level above me I would <i><b>only</b></i> be MT if you declined... and then you get to try and keep agro off of ME as my serks and hate building skills kick in <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  and I have to do the same scaling back of abilities.. I try to go with a higher level fighter as MT unless they refuse.. at least until they prove they cannot do the job..  they have (hopefully) more time in the saddle than I do and I would rather have the extra potential experience running the encounters. </span><div></div>

[SomeDudeCRO]

We all, if we played pickup groups, experienced this at least once. Myself, it was mostly in my 20's (before that I was always tank).  Thankfully as days went by and I went from one pickup group to the next, the question changed from "So, who's gonna tank?" to "Hey Monk, you ok with tanking?" and finally to, "Hey bro, wanna tank CT/Perma group?" But I only spent probably 15% of my lvling in pickup groups, so my experiences probably aren't the norm. <div></div>

[Wiou]

Are you kidding? People ask who is MT so they dont assume, they just want to know who is the main tank. No offense to anyone. Most dont look at everyone in group and decide for themselves. <div></div>

[woo]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Wiou wrote:<BR>Are you kidding? People ask who is MT so they dont assume, they just want to know who is the main tank. No offense to anyone. Most dont look at everyone in group and decide for themselves.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>31 warden</DIV> <DIV>33 monk</DIV> <DIV>32 mystic</DIV> <DIV>30 assassin</DIV> <DIV>29 dirge</DIV> <DIV>30 wizard</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"whos main tank?"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>sorry but this happens SOO often, only 1 fighter subclass in the group and someone asks.  i think people should learn what class is what--half the time people dont know if a conjurer is a healer or a mage, or if a monks a fighter or scout.. etc</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>it should be obvious to everyone, people shouldnt have to announce.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>now, if there were 2 fighters in the group w/ in a level of eachother i could see this question being asked.  but when thers only 1, i think its almost reason to kick out of group for stupidity.</DIV>

[Amanojak]

<P>Just the other night in Lavastorm I was asked to disarm a dropped chest. -_-</P> <P>Lucky they dont blame me for a late evac</P>

[woo]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Amanojakae wrote:<BR> <P>Just the other night in Lavastorm I was asked to disarm a dropped chest. -_-</P> <P>Lucky they dont blame me for a late evac</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>i get asked to evac the group alot  :smileysad:</DIV>

[Yojimbo99]

<DIV>yep at 46 i still get asked all the stupid questions: evac, disarm,  track (and various other things that r too forgetable to mention) ..and my all time favorite "can u rez"   And my biggest complaint is when a group "lets" u tank and the healer is 3 lvls lower and some jerk off mage a lvl or 2 higer than your self starts complainin about a mana being wasted and aggro control(and thinks u r completely sucky when in a grp of 4 with a lower lvl hlr that u cant take dwn deeps red cons to him /boggle) and now the good news;  its mostly ignorance and it doesnt get better for the most part ive given up as far as grouping goes( i dont look for one  im just as happy to solo all day and help those that are nice) and now im unguilded and have been for a bit of time(think im the only person of my lvl range unguilded who isnt a suspected plat farmer or bot on my server) its  to the point where its just easier to go do my own thing then try to xplain what my main job is within a grp(not that im some *$%#&! who refuses to do  the off tank thing; i do that more than tank when grouping)  just gets old when everytime u grp u have to try and justify yourself being there for no reason.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rolangard; Slayer of Fairies</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Ranot]

as someone who unfortunitly lives through pickup groups I quite often see the question of Whose MT, or people saying We still need a tank then proceeding to /ooc Group of 5 seeks tank!. Heck even in guild the plate tanks seem not to accept the fact a monk can tank and i'm forced to sit back trying not to laugh as the paladin says he can't hold aggro if there's more then 3 mobs. Sadly it's really dishearted me to the point I havn't even logged on in a few days. I really wish people would learn to accept that yes monks are tanks,

[Owa]

<P>I must admit I wasn't really disheartened in this particular group, more filled with a sense of disbelief that people could adavnce to level 40 and still remain so ignorant of the game.</P> <P>Mostly though, the versatility of this class is what I love so much. If there's a great plate tank in the group then I'm happy to slip into my Dragon Stance, equip all my STR gear and proceed to [Removed for Content] the DPS classes off whilst looking slinky and cool. If the tank isn't so good, I like to change stances/gear on the fly and save the casters for a few fights  - until the tin can asks me if I can tank for a bit as his 'mouse is acting weird today', his 'computer is lagging', he's gone temporaily blind in one eye or whatever the latest excuse is. I then proceed to tank wonderfully (whilst still looking slinky and cool) and act all modest when the compliments start flying - 'oh, just lucky I guess', 'must just be on a good roll', 'just got new batteries for my mouse, that's probably why' - and all the other stuff you say when you're feeling smug.</P> <P>Finally, if the group is just horrible I can simply disband and solo like a dream. I love this class. :smileyvery-happy:</P>

[RafaelSmith]

The stupidity of people that play this game is amazing sometimes.  I play a Guardian and ive been in group situations where I am the only fighter, the only one in heavy armor, the only one with a sword and shield and people in the group still ask who is MT...*$%#&!?   Whats worse is when their are multiple fighters in a group and the typical [Removed for Content] contest starts...Sorry but im smart enough to realize how the game is played...If i end up in a group with other fighters (ANY FIGHTER)...I just inspect them, their level etc and expect them to do the same...the decision on who should MT becomes obvious....If its me fine if not fine...I get out the big axe and pretend to be a Zerker =P  <div></div>

[kerra]

In my bio it says <EM>"I am a Tank not a Scout and if you ask me to Track, Evac or Disarm a chest I will silent fist your @$$"</EM> :smileyvery-happy:

[ArivenGemini]

<span><blockquote><hr>kerra wrote:<div></div>In my bio it says <em>"I am a Tank not a Scout and if you ask me to Track, Evac or Disarm a chest I will silent fist your @$$"</em> :smileyvery-happy:<hr></blockquote>I just offer to demonstrate feign death.. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </span><div></div>

[kerra]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Ariven wrote:<BR><SPAN><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> kerra wrote:<BR> In my bio it says <EM>"I am a Tank not a Scout and if you ask me to Track, Evac or Disarm a chest I will silent fist your @$$"</EM> :smileyvery-happy:<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>I just offer to demonstrate feign death..<BR><BR><img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR><BR></SPAN> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>To be honest I never FD when people ask it is such a novelty to them to watch me fall on face that it gives me no great pleasure to do it for them. /shug /ponder maybe i am just an @$$. :smileyvery-happy:

[ArivenGemini]

<span><blockquote><hr>kerra wrote: <blockquote> <hr> Ariven wrote:<span> <blockquote> <hr> kerra wrote: <div></div>In my bio it says <em>"I am a Tank not a Scout and if you ask me to Track, Evac or Disarm a chest I will silent fist your @$$"</em> :smileyvery-happy: <hr> </blockquote>I just offer to demonstrate feign death..<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span> <div></div> <hr> </blockquote>To be honest I never FD when people ask it is such a novelty to them to watch me fall on face that it gives me no great pleasure to do it for them. /shug /ponder maybe i am just an @$$. :smileyvery-happy: <div></div><hr></blockquote>Let me rephrase it... I offer to demonstrate FD while I am tanking something... and let them play "who is main tank NOW" <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </span><div></div>