Help with Tanking

[The-Endless-Mo]

I see posts aplenty about how we make good tanks, but at level 22, I just seem to be lacking something. Over the past few days, it's gone rather poorly. Oftentimes, I'm grouped with my friend, who's a Fury, and I just seem to get hit for a lot, then hit again for a lot moments later, averaging five to seven hits a fight. I have Brawler's Stance at APPIV, Martial Focus at Adept 1, Ignore Pain at APPIV, and I use them all constantly in the fight. In addition, I use a lot of my combat arts, using just about everything. But I still get hit all the time, and my health drops like a rock, I have all pristine tailored armor, and my AQ1, AQ2, and AQ3 gear, and I'm now working on buying some of the really good earrings and bangles and the like. What do you guys do to tank so well? I've gotta know.

[lordofdrago]

A bruiser can tank but our true calling is damage output, not tanking. A bruiser tanking will require more effort from the healers. We are probably the worst tank of all fighters but better than all other classes.Balance BlackRain, 36 Half-Elf Bruiser – Oasis

[EQ2Adam]

<DIV>Bruisers suck at tanking until about level 35, at which point we slowly start getting better.  Even at 50 I don't tank as well as a Guardian or SK but my damage output is higher.</DIV>

[Rontgen]

As I'm sure you noticed in other posts, many note that Bruisers can tank solo or relatively few mobs better than large 4+ group mobs. I recall that I had a lot of trouble trying to tank group mobs in Fallen Gate, while things were easier in Wailing Caves, Nektulos, Nektropos and Enchanted Lands/Zek (so far). I can't offer a reason why some places are more difficult than others. My best advice is to pick and choose your battles carefully (not a particularly remarkable tip, but effective)Also, take note of your level compared to what you're fighting. Other players note that Bruisers can have a toughter time with red ^^ mobs.....but who wouldn't, really? Additionally, think about what classes you are grouping with (not to metion their overall skill in handling their respective class) - I almost always group with two friends, one a Coercer and the other a Defiler, which seems to work really well. They know my style and I know theirs, so we can adjust to dynamic situations. I'm sure other class combinations will work just as well with a Bruiser, although I'll defer to the expertiece of other players on what those combinations might be.Lastly, maybe you just need to give yourself more time to learn the strengths and weakness of the Bruiser *hides under his desk*. It took me quite a while to learn the nuances of the Bruiser - knowing when to use the Bruising Spirit ability is a perfect example of this. Give it time - fight every mob, and make note of how things go - group with lots of people and classes - and dont be surprised if you get overwhelmed from time to time.<p>Message Edited by Rontgen on <span class=date_text>01-18-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:24 PM</span><p>Message Edited by Rontgen on <span class=date_text>01-18-2005</span> <span class=time_text>06:05 PM</span>

[Excallon]

<DIV>i'm a lvl 22 bruiser and tank all the time without too much trouble, i find that as long as the group all know what they're doing i don't have much trouble, and remember, a quick FD then heal and back to the fight can save the whole group as well as yourself.</DIV>

[benisbor]

<DIV>Lord of dragons, please stop spamming incorrect information.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As for the post at hand: Bruisers can tank, but they take longer than any other class to come into their own. About 30+ you should start seeing things change. 40+ the ability to tank is undeniable. However, don't just run into a mob and hit attack. If you've been DPS all your life, chances are you will have to change your play style to get into tank mode. I had to do it, so will you. Sit down for a minute and set up another hotbar just for tanking. Put your taunts in it, your stun attack, your fear, your Ignore heal, your stifle attack, your knockdown ability, and your Martial Focus 30 sec evasion buff. Also, this may not need to be on the hotbar as it lasts forever -- put up your defensive buff (Bouncer, etc. At higher levels it will be Retaliation).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Your role as a tank will also mean watching your power much more closely and making sure that while you still do use your high damage attacks (especially your Rapid swing line, this is an amazing taunt in and of itself) you focus on always saving enough power to taunt effectively. While in tank mode, you need NOT spam your damage attacks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You'll be sore and out of luck as a tank around level 20. I certainly was. BUT JUST WAIT!</DIV>

[Sla]

<DIV>I'm still tanking pretty well, level 23 now. If you have full pristine crafted boiled (I guess even tanned at low 20's too) gear mixed with AQ's, I don't see why you should be having problems. You listed most of the important skills rights now (brawler's stance, martial focus). Also be sure to use staggering stance, tanking or not. When tanking, put it on someone else and you get a nice agi buff, when not tanking, put it on the tank to just completely erase damage taken. Awesome skill. Also shoulder charge to stun and lessen damage taken / healer power drain. Intimidating orders raises AC a lot for some reason as well when you get it at 23. I don't bother with toughness or call of arms anymore.</DIV>

[Tren]

Something to conider is using Staggering Stance on your healer, this adds additional agi. That combined with Martial Focus and gear with agi stats is awesome .. i rarely get hit and if i;m taking too much damage, i jsut quickly FD .. wait .. then start over. Im currently at Level 22 and if youre looking for accessories for that level, look for pristine fashioned gold items ... rings, necklace, wrists. they give really good agi stats. Also i use a gold girdle for a belt ... just click on my name in my sig and check out what i have .. ever since ive upgraded its been smooth sailing.

[Groovemeist]

<DIV>Yes, having agi gear is the key.  You are going to get hit for more than other tanks when you get hit, this is a given, so you need to make sure that you give yourself the most chance to dodge/block those attacks.  I see a lot of bruisers/monk go for STR because they want to be DPS, well if you want to be able to tank well, then you need to focus on the AGI.  Get some cheap cuirbolli gloves over your AQ they are +7agi, some agi bracelets, and switch to some duel wield weapons with AGI on them.  Also make sure your druid friend keeps their AGI buffs on you at all times, (don't get all the talk about shamans as the best bruiser healers, I think it is bunk +AGI is the key).  Also as stated before you should be using staggering stance on every fight, 3min buff so you have to recast all the time, just like intimidting orders, but it gives you and your target +AC as well as increasing your AGI 10-15 points or more depending on lvl of you and the ability.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Here is my stat philosophy AGI >AC/STA >STR.  Also if you can get a bard in your group with the druid you'll see like a 50-60 point increase at your level in your AGI with their buffs, it will be like night and day.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope this helps.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Groovemeister on <span class=date_text>01-19-2005</span> <span class=time_text>07:21 PM</span>

[Redbed]

<DIV>I dont think Lord of Dragons was spreading false information.......Bruisers are not bad tanks.  Some people who play bruisers are bad tanks.  Im one of them.  Against Single Mobs...I have no problems.  I simpley do not like spending my time managing mob aggro.  I Like beating the living heck out things more then worrying about staying alive or more importantly keeping other people alive.  It severly cuts down on the time I can spend deciding how I can hurts the mob next ......</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Aggro managment is the key to effective tanking.  And its so - so when Im still using shout.....I  believe Shout is what?  Early teens skill....long past grey.  Yes it works....I just worry about it.   My vision of the Bruiser is someone who beats on something...not someone who gets beat on......But its a personal problem...I try not to let it effect others too much.  Just wish people would let me know Im gonna be tanking before I agree to a group.  I should start asking.....sigh...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyway...I m not a good tanker...Hope I dont bring down other peoples expectations of the Bruiser class.  Keep the Bruising Spirit going and you can tank effectively I have learned.</DIV>