Question on the right tank

[vikingthug]

<div>First off let me describe my play style.  I solo a bit, as well as duo with my gf who plays a fury and mentors down to my level.  I dont want to be a guardian, they solo horribly and Id rather play of of Freeport, since I know the quests and the territory there.  I have a  24 Berserker and while he is fun, he doesnt solo that well.  I was conscidering making a Bruiser, probably a Ogre or Barbarian but havent made that leap yet.  I have never really gotten into the whole grouping thing but lately Ive really discovered the benifits of grouping and will probably make it a point to group more often then not.  For me its a tough choice but Id really like to see how well the Bruisers compare to the Berserkers DPS wise and how well both tank. I dont think i will be tanking any serrious epic mobs but Id like to be conscidered DPS as a groups Off Tank... Any help would be greatly appreciated.</div>

[KeandraD]

I think you'll have a blast with bruiser <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I find the bruiser much more fun to play than my zerker, and we tank well too, i've tanked almost all the time up to lvl53 without problems (mostly duo with a fury)To make it a bit easier, just make sure to upgrade your spells and gear <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><div></div>

[ganjookie]

<div></div>Soloability with bruiser should be higher then a berk.  <strike>Class</strike> Race doesnt matter too much, but the ogre and barbies have good racial skills, as well as Iksar and trolls, but half-elf bruisers pwn all, we have a camo ability <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> of course that depends if you want PvP or PvE<div></div><p>Message Edited by ganjookie on <span class="date_text">04-10-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:37 PM</span></p>

[Falwen]

<div></div><p>I think Bruiser sounds like the perfect choice for you.  I haven't played any of the other fighter classes, but I would imagine we are probably most successful at soloing.  We can take quite a bit of abuse (definately keep your armor up to par though), and we can dish out a fair amount of dmg. </p><p>I spent most of my early levels soloing and duoing with a necro and felt the whole time that I'd chosen the perfect class.</p><p>Many groups have a tendency to not think of us as a tank, and will look for another to fill that role.  However, if you have the chance to teach your group otherwise, we actually make terrific tanks.  Even if there is another tank in the group, we shine as an offtank. </p><p>If a tank isn't needed, jump behind the mob and smack him silly.  When I've grouped with people who link parses, my DPS usually puts me as one of the top people in the group, unless it's a group full of warlocks of course :smileyvery-happy:.</p><p>The really  nice thing is that if you ARE looking for a group... you can fill more than one role... group looking for DPS - OR - group looking for tank.  It gives you a lot more options and opportunities.  We aren't necessarily the best tanks out there, and we aren't the best DPS, but we're pretty darned effective at both.</p>

[vikingthug]

Awsome, just what I most needed to hear.  I got him up to level 11 last night, Ogre of course and it was a blast.  I was routinely taking on 2-3 and sometimes 4 white one arrow down mobs and walking away chuckling.  Im using a fist weapon and a baton at the moment but not quite sure what weapons I can use..I know blunt items, but does that include flails and hammers?  Currently Im wearing some pretty average leather armor and have made him a tailor to make better.  We dont ever wear chain though do we?  My avoidance is currently 57% and I hope it gets higher.  I will keep trying to get my skills up ie adept III or better.  Thanks for all the help, I really appreciate it.

[Kalem]

<P>Good to hear you're enjoying your new bruiser.</P> <P>We don't wear chain.  Crafted leather (especially the rare crafted) is good stuff.</P> <P>We can use flails, but I believe those aren't craftable after tier 2...which is a shame.  Nothing looks cooler than a bruiser dual wielding flails <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>They're just now introducing tier 7 slashing weapons we can use.  But for the rest of the tiers you'll pretty much be stuck with crush (at least for now).  There are weapon types for us for instance cesti, and cestus, that do slash and piercing damage, but use the crushing skill.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[PhozFa]

<blockquote><hr>Kalem wrote:<div></div> <p>They're just now introducing tier 7 slashing weapons we can use.  But for the rest of the tiers you'll pretty much be stuck with crush (at least for now).  There are weapon types for us for instance cesti, and cestus, that do slash and piercing damage, but use the crushing skill.</p> <p> </p><hr></blockquote>The only diffrence between the T7 slash/pierce and the T1-6 cestus/cestii is really just the T7 ones use the slash/pierce skills. They do the same type of damage and same graphics (sure some new but some old). It isn't like they really introduced anything they just made a minor change in the way something we had worked. <div></div>

[Gravve]

<P>Yah you can use any blunt weapon out there , Hammer , maces , flails , clubs , Batons, fist , ect . staffs , bo's ,  as well as cestii's .  only thing we cant use is swords and daggers and bows .  I'm currently useing my bare fist even though I took a lost on my stats ,  the Str and relentless punches aa's with our offensive stance makes for some hella damage .  when im tanking its weapons when im dps its fist all the way .  My suggestion to you though is stick with weapons atm till ya start getting aa pumped up .   Only armor we can use is Leather or cloth , although I stay away from cloth like the plauge ,  no mitagation and mostly intellegence . Str , Agi and Sta is the way I went .   Sorry to ramble just tossing out a few ideas for ya and trying to help .  Good hunting and welcome to the world of Bruisers !</P> <P> </P>

[ganjookie]

Spirit of the WOlf totems ASAP!<div></div>