Actually tanks?

[Virr]

Hello, new to the game and was wondering something about Monks. As it is now I have a 20 Illusionist and a 20 Bruiser (who is currently an exile and getting betrayed to Monk eventually). I'm trying to decide which one I'd be better off making my main for doing group content later. The vibe I get from these forums is that Illusionists are liked for raids but not wanted at all for anything else, which sounds terrible if true. On the flip side I can't find much of anything concrete about Monks. I'd be rolling one to tank ( I understand they don't tank in raids), so my questions are:-Are Monks actually considered viable tanks by the majority of the community?-Are Monks wanted for raids at all, I know getting into raiding is hard and I may not even want to do it and it would be a very long way off for me anyway, but I don't want to end up hitting level cap and slamming into a brick wall because my class is hated. I got enough of that in FFXI. What do Monks do in raids if not tank?

[Junaru]

Since RoK mezzer classes seem more wanted then before. I don't play one so I can't comment too much.Are we tanks? Yes and no. Yes we can tank. Most other classes don't think we are so most of the time they need someone to prove it. I've tanked every RoK instance except Maidens with little effort. If you want to tank a raid don't pick a Monk. Few Monks have or even will. Off tanking as a Monk seems an option but my guild has too man plate tanks for me to even worry about it. I will say that with Peel my guild has asked me to tank/co-tank some raid mobs. Doomcoil and Pawbuster seem to be the main ones I'm asking to tank. Basically these two mobs hit like sissy's (main Doomcoil) and having Peel gives the raid a nice padding. Last time we did Doomcoil they had me and another Monk tank is 80% of the fight with Guardian and Zerk using Rescue when needed.Monk is a great al around class. We solo well, we can tank and we can DPS. Meaning we can fill a few roles which helps up get groups.

[Wildmage]

monk tanking is going to be a problem till they fix the avoidance balance issues between the various tanking classes.

[SykeAuttic]

<p>-Are Monks actually considered viable tanks by the majority of the community?</p><p>From what I read on these forums and a few others...no monks are not considered viable tanks. The simple truth is that all fighters are viable tanks, depending on the situation...in the case of brawlers, healers have to be a bit more aggressive on heals and the brawlers has be more aware of their health, incoming hits, what is happening around them...but really...everyone should be...what fun is it to play the game on autopilot.  </p><p>-Are Monks wanted for raids at all, I know getting into raiding is hard and I may not even want to do it and it would be a very long way off for me anyway, but I don't want to end up hitting level cap and slamming into a brick wall because my class is hated. I got enough of that in FFXI. What do Monks do in raids if not tank?</p><p>Monks have been wanted, then not wanted, and so on back and forth during the life of this game.  Yes, there are some issues with avoidance, but frankly SOE has nearly a decade of breaking and fixing and then breaking monks again...sadly it happens over and over...but they are so fun to play.  Is we do not tank, we flip over to offensive and do DPS.  Gear, weapons, skills, all play a role in how much DPS we can do...</p><p>I've known many people who played monks or bruisers and gave them up because they took much of a beating, could not out DPS a scout, or just didn't enjoy the freedom that a that being a brawler gives us.</p><p>  </p>

[Ramius613]

Since you sound more like a casual player, then playing a monk would be ideal for you.  If you get into a casual guild that does raid, if that's what you choose, you do bring a couple of things to a raid.  First there is our raid wide group buff, which increases the haste of everyone in the raid, as well as increase the casting speed of spells, healers and finger wigglers love this.  We do decent DPS, and have some tanking ability in a raid situation.  As far as tanking for group content we are a viable class.  The gear that is out there enhances our abilities.  Now granted we are not going to be able to do it as good as Plate tanks, but show me a Plate tank that can get to the bottom of Sebilis Solo (besides an SK).  Group Feign Death is a good way to save a group if the SH*T hits the fan(in tanking or DPS mode).Overall, monks have improved in the past six months.  We still have our problems, but all in all, they are a fun class to play all around.