Im giving up tanking for groups...

[Gang]

I been back on Eq2 for less than 3 weeks after nearly 2 year break.  I got a level 80 guardian kitted out in mosty RoK and now a few TSO gear.  I have tried a few instances in TSO and well its been a disaster from the off.  I look at other tanks armor and see that they mit is nearly 200 more than mine (mine is around 500 - 600 all legendary and all level 77 to 80).  Another point is that I used to tank all instances in KoS, EoF when they first came out without a problem.

I have tried to tank the TSO instances and been mosty wiped and being accused of being a rubbish tank and replaced.   Im not rubbish, I know my class, how to tank, I know how to pull, how to turn mobs so the mobs back is facing the group etc, I know what each and every spell is for for my guardian and how to use them.  My spells are mostly Adept 3 and a few masters.  But still im finding it hard to keep aggro, even tho im taunting, auto-attackng, spamming attacks etc.

Like some group memebers are pointing out to me that my armor is just too weak and im tanking well but agian it comes down to my armor.  But my problem is that how im I suspose to get top quailty armor if groups don't want me to tank for them and what group wants a guardian to DPS and take up space in a group.

Im doing the shards quests and so far got 6 shards, but its slow going and its getting very boring.  The T1 shard armor in moors doesn't seem as good as the armor I already have.  I feel like the game as got so hard and being away for such a long time is keeping me back.  On a good note some groups I have tanked for and fail have been really nice and understanding, replacing me as Tank but keeping me in the group.  But im getting to a point of quiting the game again.

[Beghauns]

It can be quite rough for a guard in tso.  The t2 shard gear is quite good mitigation wise due to the + mit increases on it.  Aggro is rough even with my gear unless you have a transfer and a dirge, but then I'm not the best aa spec for dps more raid survival.

[Maebus]

Maybe your problem is you are grouping with bad DPS?  I find it hard to believe that your agro is so bad that they cannot use the made for children threat meter to find your line and not cross it.  Or is it that you are dying through the encounter too often?

[RafaelSmith]

Ganger wrote:

I been back on Eq2 for less than 3 weeks after nearly 2 year break. I got a level 80 guardian kitted out in mosty RoK and now a few TSO gear. I have tried a few instances in TSO and well its been a disaster from the off. I look at other tanks armor and see that they mit is nearly 200 more than mine (mine is around 500 - 600 all legendary and all level 77 to 80). Another point is that I used to tank all instances in KoS, EoF when they first came out without a problem.

I have tried to tank the TSO instances and been mosty wiped and being accused of being a rubbish tank and replaced. Im not rubbish, I know my class, how to tank, I know how to pull, how to turn mobs so the mobs back is facing the group etc, I know what each and every spell is for for my guardian and how to use them. My spells are mostly Adept 3 and a few masters. But still im finding it hard to keep aggro, even tho im taunting, auto-attackng, spamming attacks etc.

Like some group memebers are pointing out to me that my armor is just too weak and im tanking well but agian it comes down to my armor. But my problem is that how im I suspose to get top quailty armor if groups don't want me to tank for them and what group wants a guardian to DPS and take up space in a group.

Im doing the shards quests and so far got 6 shards, but its slow going and its getting very boring. The T1 shard armor in moors doesn't seem as good as the armor I already have. I feel like the game as got so hard and being away for such a long time is keeping me back. On a good note some groups I have tanked for and fail have been really nice and understanding, replacing me as Tank but keeping me in the group. But im getting to a point of quiting the game again.

Pretty much in the same boat........I think I have tanked one TSO instance in the past two months.

The truth is we are the absolute worse of the plate tanks to tank TSO instances. Its not that we cannot get the job done....it just it requires 10x the work for not just us but also for the rest of the group.......and it usually means taking 3x as long to clear most instances. And god forbid you have a group with no form of hate buff or xfer.

This far into TSO people are all about maximum efficiency in clearing TSO........DPS do not want to have to hold back. If there is decent SK or Zerker available groups are simply going to take the easier/faster/less stressful way and use one of those to MT.

[Landiin]

Sad but true

[thial]

This is preaty much why I've resurrected my pally. I'm sick of the stres it deals on me to do heroic instances with the guard. Tanking instances on my pally is so much more fun than the guard even though my guard has 25% more avoidence 3k more mit and almost 5k more hp self buffed. Of course my pally is in t1 shard gear he doesn't even have his fabled epic but even with all that craptastic gear compared to my guard the pally still holds agro 100% better, which to me is silly.  I know this is due to amends but really the gear gap on the two should even out the playing field but it does not. The pally still has an edge and the week points really don't matter when it comes to MOST of the heroic instances, some I would not bring my pally into till he has at least all t2 shard gear and fabled epic IE: PoF maybe ravenscale..

[Pikard]

SoE, are you taking note? you have a class dying on you because you messed up on the Fighter changes and forgot to put a class back the way you found them.

I sure hope you get an earful at the upcoming fan faire!

[Davngr1]

yea if you play a guard and he's not in fabled with a myth agro is going to be an issue.

   i don't know if you're wanting to gear out or not but i suggest you get the Tier 1 armor.    it's not so great by it self but the bonus is pretty good.  try to make your own groups start with the everfrost instances and insist on having a dirge and coercer and take your time on pulls so all your stuff is up..  people will cry but they will cry more if you wipe im sure.  

      for the most what the class is seeing, is that raid guardians recived an awsome mythical( raid reward) and all the other classes cried like little girls, so not only was the mythical changed in to something useless but guard AA was nerfed and other tanks recived just as my survivability tools as guard.

      it is indeed an abismal time for the non raid guard and brawlers. 

    hope devs stop making the class pay for the great gear and groups that raid guards have available to them. 

[einhander]

Rok was all bout guards..They tanked every raid and instance the best..Tso is crusaders time to shine..Pallys and sk's tanking raids everywhere and the instances just seem made for there aoe abilitys.

Next expansion most likey back to guardians again..Crusaders(expecialy SK) Have sucked for ages..Sks are awesome now..pallys ok but need alot of help still.

4 more months then it will be guard time to shine again.

[RafaelSmith]

einhander wrote:

Rok was all bout guards..They tanked every raid and instance the best..Tso is crusaders time to shine..Pallys and sk's tanking raids everywhere and the instances just seem made for there aoe abilitys.

Next expansion most likey back to guardians again..Crusaders(expecialy SK) Have sucked for ages..Sks are awesome now..pallys ok but need alot of help still.

4 more months then it will be guard time to shine again.

more simply put.......SOE fails at class balance.

[Yimway]

What's your avoidance?

I bet the problem is avoidance, not mit...

[dirtymeat80]

How's your AA looking as well?  If you're just coming back, you might be way behind on a curve with all the dps classes that probably have 170+, and have unlocked many new nifty spells & combat arts and are putting out way too much dps than you can keep up with.

Slowly but surely work your way up with some Scion & Deep Forge type runs till more shards & more AA come along.  Start duel-wield tanking if you can survive it.

[Kigneer]

Ganger wrote:

I have tried to tank the TSO instances and been mosty wiped and being accused of being a rubbish tank and replaced.   Im not rubbish, I know my class, how to tank, I know how to pull, how to turn mobs so the mobs back is facing the group etc, I know what each and every spell is for for my guardian and how to use them.  My spells are mostly Adept 3 and a few masters.  But still im finding it hard to keep aggro, even tho im taunting, auto-attackng, spamming attacks etc.

Like some group memebers are pointing out to me that my armor is just too weak and im tanking well but agian it comes down to my armor.  But my problem is that how im I suspose to get top quailty armor if groups don't want me to tank for them and what group wants a guardian to DPS and take up space in a group.

Every fighter now has to manage hate better. A Guard tank got on my case in stealing aggo from him (he too isn't used to the hate managment changes, and expected to hold it like in RoK). When I run with another Pally, I can't use my amends in the group, as it'll steal the hate from him as MT (where before it was a nice perk, 2 amends one for the healer and the dpser).

Secondly, get a ad hoc group together that doesn't mind having 2 tanks in a group. We did the DF instance with 2 Pallys not even in T2, but it required some really tricky healing (Templar solo healing the MT, while the other healer and us Pallys healing the group with group heals and saving Holy Touch on the MT in case the Templar couldn't keep up). It's true TSO is more suited for Crusaders, but the lack of MT dps requires much more management of wards/heals (as good as SKs are for their massive AoEs, they can go down faster than Pallies because they're not healers), which also takes time down on hitting the target(s).

The Guardians still have their niche for overall mitigation -- you can still hit the target(s) without downtime healing and warding. The trick in surviving those instances is dedicated heals on you, and managing that hate better (telling the group, especially the dpsers to gradually throw out spells until you locked enough aggro -- 140+ range). Some dpsers are so powerful, a Pally's Holy Ground won't even nudge the enemy away.

[RafaelSmith]

Kigneer wrote:

The Guardians still have their niche for overall mitigation

Yeah its nice to look at those MIT numbers on my screen as the mob(S) are running around from scout to wizard to healer.

[MacDre24]

I think you might be the skipper of the fail boat for a three reasons.

1) Your group sucks. Your healers are bad, or you need 3 instead of 2 to survive because they are bad. I have healed an 80 guardian through some of the TSO instances, where they were wearing either legendary, or mastercrafted with fabled epic. They had no problem holding agro and with a good healer they didnt die.

3) Your group set up sucks. You are going to lose agro if your group consists of Wizard, Ranger, Brigand, You (guardian), Healer 1, Healer 2/Illusionist. Try bulding a group with a dirge or troub atleast.

2) You are not very good. Learn2play. Classes dps more then they did in KoS and EoF. Fact. AAs give much more dps ability, even to crappy players. Mobs hit harder in TSO then they did in KoS/EoF --> RoK/TSO. SoE has done this every expansion. And its not because of the level cap increase. Go take a hit from a solo mob in JW, then go take a hit in moors. I bet you the mob in moors hits you harder, more often, and double attacks nearly every hit.

[Landiin]

Its all about the group make up for guards and their hate. If you have no hate transfer and no one is stilling agro from you then they are holding back or they need upgrading. That is fact, its not about l2p its about group stacking..

[Davngr1]

einhander wrote:

Rok was all bout guards..They tanked every raid and instance the best..Tso is crusaders time to shine..Pallys and sk's tanking raids everywhere and the instances just seem made for there aoe abilitys.

Next expansion most likey back to guardians again..Crusaders(expecialy SK) Have sucked for ages..Sks are awesome now..pallys ok but need alot of help still.

4 more months then it will be guard time to shine again.

 yes SK where lacking something in RoK, yes single target tanks like pallys and guards shined in RoK

    but in no way where guardians with out a MYTHICAL weapon overpowerd.   you can not say that and not be completely wrong.

[Dareena]

Maebus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Maybe your problem is you are grouping with bad DPS?  I find it hard to believe that your agro is so bad that they cannot use the made for children threat meter to find your line and not cross it. 

Well to be honest, it's rough for a new tank in TSO.  Especially for Guards.  The main issues aren't the threat meter, but really about how great the difference is between the dps and the tank.

For example, I have a guardian friend.  Slowly over TSO, he's managed to get this T2 armor.  This past weekend, he finally got his Fabled Epic.  (He refuses to leave his small family guild and sadly doesn't network.)  Up until then, I would steal aggro from him by simply turning on auto attack and using 1-2 medium damage combat arts at my disposal.  Why would that happen?  Quite simply, our mechanics based capabilities where in completely other ball games.  (For the purposes of this discussion, I'm not going to address the subject of skill.)  I am a mythical wielding brigand who's almost completely mastered out.  Also I'm wearing T2-T4 armor and various pieces of fabled jewelry.  When compared to his masterless character, is there really any surprise that I steal aggro from him constantly?  As if this isn't a big enough issue, my 200 AA greatly outweighed his 160 AA.

My point is that gear disparity is a real issue.  So is your AA count.  If you've been out of the loop for a while, you're playing in a completely different league than the rest of the people who've been constantly improving themselves.  That's just a fact of this game.

----------

To the OP.  If you really want to play catch up, join a good guild that will be patient with you.  Through them, you should also have some opportunities to do gray zone shard runs.  Though SOE has made an official statement that they now frown on gray zoning for shards, they've never accompanied it with any sort of penalty beyond attempted peer pressure.  If you're trying to play catch up and need to be power leveled for shards, gray zoning is a real way to go.

Also make sure that you get ahold of your Fabled Epic.  (If you need a temporary weapon, a Weaponsmith can always make you a cheap 4.0 delay slashing weapon for x3 Chunk of Void Metal via a faction recipe.)  Between T2 armor, T2 jewelry, your Fabled Epic, and all Ad3 arts, you should be in really good shape.  Once at that callibur, you should also be able to start joining the various pick up raids for your Mythical Epic.  Also make sure to understand and take advantage of the Fabled adornments out there.  It's amazing when you see just how quickly they stack up on each other.

[Davngr1]

Dareena@Lucan DLere wrote:

Maebus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Maybe your problem is you are grouping with bad DPS?  I find it hard to believe that your agro is so bad that they cannot use the made for children threat meter to find your line and not cross it. 

Well to be honest, it's rough for a new tank in TSO.  Especially for Guards.  The main issues aren't the threat meter, but really about how great the difference is between the dps and the tank.

For example, I have a guardian friend.  Slowly over TSO, he's managed to get this T2 armor.  This past weekend, he finally got his Fabled Epic.  (He refuses to leave his small family guild and sadly doesn't network.)  Up until then, I would steal aggro from him by simply turning on auto attack and using 1-2 medium damage combat arts at my disposal.  Why would that happen?  Quite simply, our mechanics based capabilities where in completely other ball games.  (For the purposes of this discussion, I'm not going to address the subject of skill.)  I am a mythical wielding brigand who's almost completely mastered out.  Also I'm wearing T2-T4 armor and various pieces of fabled jewelry.  When compared to his masterless character, is there really any surprise that I steal aggro from him constantly?  As if this isn't a big enough issue, my 200 AA greatly outweighed his 160 AA.

My point is that gear disparity is a real issue.  So is your AA count.  If you've been out of the loop for a while, you're playing in a completely different league than the rest of the people who've been constantly improving themselves.  That's just a fact of this game.

----------

To the OP.  If you really want to play catch up, join a good guild that will be patient with you.  Through them, you should also have some opportunities to do gray zone shard runs.  Though SOE has made an official statement that they now frown on gray zoning for shards, they've never accompanied it with any sort of penalty beyond attempted peer pressure.  If you're trying to play catch up and need to be power leveled for shards, gray zoning is a real way to go.

Also make sure that you get ahold of your Fabled Epic.  (If you need a temporary weapon, a Weaponsmith can always make you a cheap 4.0 delay slashing weapon for x3 Chunk of Void Metal via a faction recipe.)  Between T2 armor, T2 jewelry, your Fabled Epic, and all Ad3 arts, you should be in really good shape.  Once at that callibur, you should also be able to start joining the various pick up raids for your Mythical Epic.  Also make sure to understand and take advantage of the Fabled adornments out there.  It's amazing when you see just how quickly they stack up on each other.

 lol   you assume too much.

   not every dps is myth/fabled and  what the problem with guards is, is that thy lost DMG then had their abilitys given to all other plate tanks and recived nothing in return..   yes they are the worst of all the plate tanks right now because they whre only ok before TSO.

  only RAID GEARD guardians with MYTHICALS where ahead of other tanks. 

[TygerMeow]

Dareena@Lucan DLere wrote:

To the OP.  If you really want to play catch up, join a good guild that will be patient with you.  Through them, you should also have some opportunities to do gray zone shard runs.  Though SOE has made an official statement that they now frown on gray zoning for shards, they've never accompanied it with any sort of penalty beyond attempted peer pressure.  If you're trying to play catch up and need to be power leveled for shards, gray zoning is a real way to go.

Also make sure that you get ahold of your Fabled Epic.  (If you need a temporary weapon, a Weaponsmith can always make you a cheap 4.0 delay slashing weapon for x3 Chunk of Void Metal via a faction recipe.)  Between T2 armor, T2 jewelry, your Fabled Epic, and all Ad3 arts, you should be in really good shape.  Once at that callibur, you should also be able to start joining the various pick up raids for your Mythical Epic.  Also make sure to understand and take advantage of the Fabled adornments out there.  It's amazing when you see just how quickly they stack up on each other.

I agree. This has always been a gear-based game, but now it's massively so. On a level playing field the guard is tough to play these days relative to other tanks, as people have pointed out. But as you stated, you are not even three weeks back after a very long time away. You are simply behind on the gear curve (not to mention AA and esp taunt masters are helpful, but not as good DPS aggro management these days). No amount of skill on your part is going to overcome getting hit by massive damage by TSO bosses because your MIT, resists and especially critical MIT isn't up to par (check out this bonus stat, even on T1 fighter shard armor).

In previous expansions you could have expected to level up, buy some mastercrafted gear and tank a lot of heroic zones, but not so now. Even with full T2 and your epic, I think people have indicated things won't be easy - but you will find them a lot easier.

In addition to working with your guild, and getting grey shards, I would suggest offering to mentor people. While not as prevalent as group invites at 80, you occasionally see people asking for a shard instance group at 78 or whatever, or with people at 80 and others somewhere else in the mix. If you do a zone below 80, you only get one shard, but the daily double will still net you three. This will allow you to learn each zone and named strat without so much pressure.

We ran Deep Forge the other day at around 60 with 5 people by mentoring a bit lower, then mentoring the tank and everyone who could up a bit higher. This allowed some 'new' people and lower levels to experience the zone and learn it with more room for error and lesser gear.

[RafaelSmith]

Tyger@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Dareena@Lucan DLere wrote:

To the OP. If you really want to play catch up, join a good guild that will be patient with you. Through them, you should also have some opportunities to do gray zone shard runs. Though SOE has made an official statement that they now frown on gray zoning for shards, they've never accompanied it with any sort of penalty beyond attempted peer pressure. If you're trying to play catch up and need to be power leveled for shards, gray zoning is a real way to go.

Also make sure that you get ahold of your Fabled Epic. (If you need a temporary weapon, a Weaponsmith can always make you a cheap 4.0 delay slashing weapon for x3 Chunk of Void Metal via a faction recipe.) Between T2 armor, T2 jewelry, your Fabled Epic, and all Ad3 arts, you should be in really good shape. Once at that callibur, you should also be able to start joining the various pick up raids for your Mythical Epic. Also make sure to understand and take advantage of the Fabled adornments out there. It's amazing when you see just how quickly they stack up on each other.

I agree. This has always been a gear-based game, but now it's massively so. On a level playing field the guard is tough to play these days relative to other tanks, as people have pointed out. But as you stated, you are not even three weeks back after a very long time away. You are simply behind on the gear curve (not to mention AA and esp taunt masters are helpful, but not as good DPS aggro management these days). No amount of skill on your part is going to overcome getting hit by massive damage by TSO bosses because your MIT, resists and especially critical MIT isn't up to par (check out this bonus stat, even on T1 fighter shard armor).

In previous expansions you could have expected to level up, buy some mastercrafted gear and tank a lot of heroic zones, but not so now. Even with full T2 and your epic, I think people have indicated things won't be easy - but you will find them a lot easier.

In addition to working with your guild, and getting grey shards, I would suggest offering to mentor people. While not as prevalent as group invites at 80, you occasionally see people asking for a shard instance group at 78 or whatever, or with people at 80 and others somewhere else in the mix. If you do a zone below 80, you only get one shard, but the daily double will still net you three. This will allow you to learn each zone and named strat without so much pressure.

We ran Deep Forge the other day at around 60 with 5 people by mentoring a bit lower, then mentoring the tank and everyone who could up a bit higher. This allowed some 'new' people and lower levels to experience the zone and learn it with more room for error and lesser gear.

While its true that gear and AAs matters a great deal...  For Guardians, unless they are in a guild that is either at the same level in terms of progression or one that enjoys filling charity slots its going to be hard to attain the level of gear required to overcome the disadvantages we face in tanking TSO.  Ive gotten my 200AAs, some decent gear and spent some time trying to maximize what I can do with what I have and with the exception of a few of the easier TSO instance.....TSO is still a lesson in frustration for me and my group.   Still can't MT without at a minimum one form of hate xfer.....and the rest of the group hand picked to exclude high DPSers and AEers.

[Kigneer]

Gaylon@Mistmoore wrote:

Kigneer wrote:

The Guardians still have their niche for overall mitigation

Yeah its nice to look at those MIT numbers on my screen as the mob(S) are running around from scout to wizard to healer.

At least you have it.

At least you can tank without having to ward and heal as that is suppose to compensate for not having MIT.

At least you have more dps than a Pally as well (my little 27 level Guardian can blaze through instances I couldn't at level without dying).

Every class has their woe stories, but Guardians still have their MIT (something I'm sorely lacking even in T1 armor).

[motogp]

This is a good one. In lvl 70-79 chat...."player1 says to lvl 70-79" ......Group seeking SK for instancesruns pst. Guardians arnt even 2nd choice. As far as instance groups go.. Guards arnt wanted.  Including myself, when i play my Brigand i want a zerker or SK mting.

[RafaelSmith]

motogpgp wrote:

This is a good one. In lvl 70-79 chat...."player1 says to lvl 70-79" ......Group seeking SK for instancesruns pst. Guardians arnt even 2nd choice. As far as instance groups go.. Guards arnt wanted.  Including myself, when i play my Brigand i want a zerker or SK mting.

LOL I am to the point where I prefer a Zerker or SK tanking...at least that way I don't feel guilty over the slow runs, wipes and deaths the rest of the group has to edure.

[Rahatmattata]

einhander wrote:

Rok was all bout guards..They tanked every raid and instance the best..

You were better off having a pally or zerker tank RoK heroic stuff.

Next expansion most likey back to guardians again..

4 more months then it will be guard time to shine again.

I predict next expansions SK will finally seige the MT slot, guards will be utterly useless for all content, bruiser will be nasty OP and monks will be behind bruisers and extremely [Removed for Content]. Zerkers will still be OTs and be ok heroic tanks with coercer dirge + transfer... assuming heavy aoe content. Otherwise garbage.

I'll probably be wrong but that's my guess.

It would be nice if one day I could see in world chat "Solid group with high dps and mythicals needs tank" and not cringe.

[Davngr1]

Kigneer wrote:

Gaylon@Mistmoore wrote:

Kigneer wrote:

The Guardians still have their niche for overall mitigation

Yeah its nice to look at those MIT numbers on my screen as the mob(S) are running around from scout to wizard to healer.

At least you have it.

At least you can tank without having to ward and heal as that is suppose to compensate for not having MIT.

At least you have more dps than a Pally as well (my little 27 level Guardian can blaze through instances I couldn't at level without dying).

Every class has their woe stories, but Guardians still have their MIT (something I'm sorely lacking even in T1 armor).

lol   level 27?  are serious?    level him to 80 and go tank nuroga  not even a hard instanace.. but you feel what working for agro is really all about dude.  

[Gang]

some good advice here, I am looking into my AA's and seaching these forums for more advice and help.  Thanks all..

[Gang]

I tanked DF last night and it was a success,  The group only died twice due to me not knowing about how the names attack.  I was told with the last name that you need to keep moving backwards after dieding by his hands.

But my group was made up from Mystic, Warden, Dirge, Nerco, warlock.  I still think I need 2 healers for DF until I get more and better armor.  But I still found aggro hard to hold, even tho I used every combat art and taunts non-stop, I still lost aggro to the mages.  All my taunts are Adept 3 and most all my spells are Adept 3 or better.  Maybe my AA's are wrong, I don't know.  But im happier now

Before I did tank DF, I had 11 shards so i got my self T1 gloves and boots.  Next im saving up for chest piece and so on or just going for T2 gloves, I don't know yet.

[Landiin]

Dont just smash your buttons Ganger. Doing that will lower your DPS. Time you CAs with your auto attacks, this will increase your DPS and in turn increase the hate you have.

[aislynn00]

If you want a better shot at holding aggro, here is what you can do:

Tank in offensive stance.  Unless you have a lot of +slash gear plus a dirge running Weapon Boon or warden with their combat skill buff on you, you will be chain-missing with your auto-attacks while in defensive.  Aim for 500+ in your combat skill of choice (probably slashing, since you will be using your epic).

Dual-wield.  Yeah, I know you will be sacrificing survivability, but you really won't be holding aggro while wearing a shield unless you have lots of +double attack, +DPS, +attack speed, and +melee crit.  Vs harder named, try switching to a shield, then use Reinforcement when you lose aggro the first time, then cycle through your other rescues one at a time when Reinforcement drops and you lose aggro again.

Get a dirge or coercer, or better yet, get both.  Make absolutely certain they are putting their hate buffs on you.  This isn't always going to happen automatically since a lot of dirges, in particular, like to devote their concentration slots to other buffs.  If you go with a dirge, ensure they are running Percussion of Stone (10% - 12% less damage on you overall); it is the most important bard buff after Hyran's (the hate buff).

Given the class status quo, you really can't expect to hold aggro vs average damage dealers without one of aforementioned classes; you would have to almost match the damage dealers in DPS, which isn't going to happen if they know what they are doing and are equivalently or better equipped.

After you have one of the two hate buffers, get an assassin or a swashbuckler.  Make certain they put their hate transfer buff on you.  These two aren't essential, especially if you have both a dirge and a coercer, but they will make your life one hell of a lot easier while providing great DPS, to boot.

Get one or two healers, whatever you need in order to stay alive while dual-wielding in offensive.  There is no shame in bringing two healers to TSO zones, especially if you aren't decked out in tier 2, 3, and/or 4 TSO void shard gear.

The best healer for you is the templar.  They add a buff to you that procs stone skin; it will dramatically improve your survivability (10% - 12% less damage taken).  They also boost your combat skills moderately and your HP and mitigation way more than any class aside from defilers.  Ask whether they are spec'ed for Shield Ally.  Make certain you have the buff (another 5% - 6% less damage taken).  I can't stress this enough: Get a templar if you can. 

Defilers make the second-best healers if survivability is what you need.  Lots of HP combined with the best defensive debuffs in the game.  A [Removed for Content] defiler won't bother debuffing the mobs, though, which renders the class much less attractive--something to be aware of.

Wardens have the highest theoretical healing output of all healers and they come with that great combat skill buff mentioned above.  They unfortunately don't have much in the way of defensive buffs, unless they have accumulated enough AA to get the fabulous critical mitigation buff from the Shadow AA tree.

Inquisitors, furies, and mystics are great for boosting your DPS, and thus, your hate generation.  Make sure the fury is putting their DPS/attack speed proc buff on you if you pick that class as your healer.

If you follow the above, you should be able to run instances decently well.  You won't hold aggro against mythical'ed wizards or the like,  but it shouldn't be too hard to keep aggro where it belongs when grouped with non-raiders.

Best of luck to you.