A general tanking question

[mushintao]

Can someone more experienced at tanking explain to me the roles of the MT and the MA. I am getting up to the level where I will start tanking and I would like to find out a little more info on these roles, especially the MA, I don't know what they do, lol.Thanks again in advance.Gherehn, 15 ShadowknightLucan D'Lere<div></div>

[Norrsken]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> mushintao wrote:<BR>Can someone more experienced at tanking explain to me the roles of the MT and the MA. I am getting up to the level where I will start tanking and I would like to find out a little more info on these roles, especially the MA, I don't know what they do, lol.<BR>Thanks again in advance.<BR><BR>Gherehn, 15 Shadowknight<BR>Lucan D'Lere<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>It's been posted before but its a fast reply</P> <P>MT - Keeps the mobs on him at all time.<BR>MA - The guy that everyone is assisting.</P> <P>MT can be the same as MA, but it has its advantages to separate the both, so the tank can lock down roamers and the like if they would happen to drop in, and not risk some unattentive mage or ranger to drop a big attack on the very much not aggro managed add and rip it. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </P>

[mushintao]

So, after doing some research on the topic via previous threads, I still have some questions that need to be clarified.If I understand correctly, let's take this scenario, I am the MT. As group is fighting a mob, another mob comes up and attacks another group member. Is it my job to switch to that target or is it the job of the MA? If everyone is targeting the MA, then it would make sense for me to attack the add, that way the group can focus on the original encounter.I have seen conflicting reports on this in the message boards.

[jddro]

<P>I'll take a stab here, as having a SK in EQ </P> <P>The first and only rule to know and understand when playing a tank is - EVERYTHING HITS YOU! if your labeled the MT in your group then any adds/roamers are your duty. Get em off the squishes fast. </P> <P> </P> <P>Now there are expections to this, lets say there is a zerker or a monk in the group, then they would be labeled MA and they "could peel off and grab the adds/or they could mantain the current target and you peel off. MT and MA should be clarified with every group so there is no confusion.</P> <P>But the jist of your role is take the beating - if others are incompatent and cant grasp the concept of "peeling off" when adds come, then simply take it on yourself to manage agro of anything attacking your group.</P> <P> </P> <P>Hope that helps man.</P>

[YummiOger]

<DIV>good to see a new SK asking these things .. to answer,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>MT (main tank) should hold all aggro for the group/raid. MT's role is to work and hold aggro.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>MA (main assist) directs the damage output for the group/raid. decides who to kill first, ect.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In a Group setting, wherew there is only the need for 1 tank, the tank usually does both MT and MA. depends on how u want to work it. desiding between MT/MA is not so critical in Groups.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In a Raid setting, it is much more important due to the # of peeps in a raid (24).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>in the end its really up to you which method u want to employ, i never really used MA while in groups, i would just Tank/aggro everything and they would assist-thru on me.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV><p>Message Edited by YummiOger on <span class=date_text>08-25-2006</span> <span class=time_text>08:40 AM</span>

[mushintao]

thanks everyone, I appreciate the info.<div></div>

[ArmadaXeenelk]

<div></div>Also... If agro is an issue(it can be more of an issue for us shadownkights especially in high DPS raids)make sure as the Main Tank(MT) you also ASSIST the Main Assist(MA).  This will keep you and the raid on the same mob so you're also focusing your hate gain on the mob the raid is taking down.So if you're pulling keep the mob targeted, the MA will most likely pick the weakest of the mobs or whatever you're targetting unless asked not to.  Then once the mobs are set up and you're in position, switch over to the MA to make sure you keep the agro.I've also seen MA use a system where they target the MT and use a hotkey to /assist over to the MT's target.  This is usually accompanied by a RAID CHAT shout that its ok to attack the MA's target.  This also keep trigger happy raiders from attacking early and messing with MT's hate.hope that came out making sense <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> good luck<div></div>