Curse

SojiroTenken · Aug 05, 2006, 08:25 PM // 20:25

Hello, I have been playing a warrior since the dawn of time (the beta for guild wars =P). Before factions came out, it was pretty easy to have monsters just attack the tanks and have the casters nuke at them. However, nowadays, monsters never pay attention to tanks for more than a second and aim straight for the casters. I find it much more effective to use a warrior that bolsters everyone's armor with WY and deal massive DPS by means of spamming sword/axe skills (cleave ftw =)). Body blocking is next to impossible in faction's wide areas and I can't get the monster's attention of me for anything. Even if I run ahead of the group to draw aggro to me first, there are ALWAYS people who tend to draw even a small bit of the aggro away. So, my question is, is tanking still possible? If so for you guys, how? Like what techniques do you use. I'm talking about the average PUG/henchman group, not a guild group lol. Even in guidl groups, monsters don't tend to stay on the tanks long >.>. Thanks in advance and I HAVE read the guides for tanking.

Racthoh · Aug 05, 2006, 10:09 PM // 22:09

Henchmen run slower than you, so if there is a large span between groups it's possible in theory to get aggro on occasion. In PuGs... well, if I could get 7 strangers to listen to me I would PvP more often.

Rera · Aug 05, 2006, 10:22 PM // 22:22

Tanking is possible if your group is competent or if the terrain is good. It's impossible to tank for an incompetent group on open ground.

"None Shall Pass!" is an interesting skill I've been fooling around with. It has a painfully long recharge (45s), but it prevents the initial wave from running past you and makes it easier to bodyblock and hold aggro. It's particularly effective if you have some way of keeping the enemy knocked down around you, with Crude Swing and Earthshaker for example.

You can bodyblock a single monster without the aid of terrain by walking backwards while strafing. It's almost impossible to bodyblock groups unless you have a wall.

Eviscerate > Cleave.

It was always more effective to have a warrior dealing damage, it's just that later updates made it more obvious. It's easy for a good monk to keep you alive even without any defensive skills. I used to monk for FoW guild groups and PUGs, so I'm not just speaking as the clueless warrior.

SojiroTenken · Aug 06, 2006, 02:13 AM // 02:13

Ohh thanks for the response guys, anymore xD. I personalyl dislike eviscerate cuhz it takes too long to charge up and monsters diee too fast imo for DW too be useful.

Yukito Kunisaki · Aug 06, 2006, 03:32 PM // 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by SojiroTenken

Ohh thanks for the response guys, anymore xD. I personalyl dislike eviscerate cuhz it takes too long to charge up and monsters diee too fast imo for DW too be useful.

You obviously don't fight lvl 24 Dolyak Masters who heal for 40% hp bar when they use Orison of Healing...

SojiroTenken · Aug 06, 2006, 07:14 PM // 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukito Kunisaki

You obviously don't fight lvl 24 Dolyak Masters who heal for 40% hp bar when they use Orison of Healing...

Lmao, I forgot about those guys...., but I'm mainly playing factions now so yea..... xD

Honey Trap · Aug 06, 2006, 07:48 PM // 19:48

Of course it's posible to tank, but as many have stated it all depends how intelligent/stupid your team is. Getting out of a mobs aggro circle is the easiest way to lose aggro, but try telling your average tanking elementalist that!

Other than intelligence, I find knockdown skills best for handling aggro on mobs and the elite skill Shove is a godsend when tanking. Couple Shove with None Shall Pass and you shouldn't lose aggro too much. Most times I use Griffon's Sweep instead as it costs half the mana (5), but be warned it does fail. If it fails, it causes damage anyway and it reloads way faster than NSP (5secs vs 45secs).

Note that all the above can be used with any weapon preference, as they are Tactics, Tactics and Strength based, respectively.

Defensively:
Watch Yourself, Dolyak and Healing Signet are usually enough for me and I load up 1-2 damage skills on that with the obligatory Res filling up last spot.

Current setup:

W/Mo
Armor: Full Sentinel
Runes: Minor Strength, Tactics & Swordmanship, Superior Absorbtion (on chest) & Vigor
Weapons: Victo's Blade / Victo's Shield

Strength 13
Tactics 10
Swordmanship 9
Healing 8

Watch Yourself - Dolyak Signet - Sever Artery (can be anything really) - Griffon's Sweep or Non Shall Pass - Shove (elite) - Healing Signet - Mending - Rebirth

This is my staple setup in PvE as it's so effective, changing the odd skill/second prof, according to environment.

Rera · Aug 07, 2006, 01:05 AM // 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukito Kunisaki

You obviously don't fight lvl 24 Dolyak Masters who heal for 40% hp bar when they use Orison of Healing...

And you obviously have never used interrupts.

@Honey Trap:
If those 8 points in healing aren't going towards some amazing skill, I recommend you take those wasted points and put them in swordmastery so you actually do damage.

Don Zardeone · Aug 07, 2006, 01:16 AM // 01:16

Warriors can still tank. The fix only made monks do more healing.
For tanking, the warrior is still the best choice (ya rly).

But I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you don't have at least 14-16 in your weapon, then you're not a warrior.

Sciros Darkblade · Aug 07, 2006, 02:33 AM // 02:33

LOL if you want to tank you can put 0 into a weapon for all it really matters. Wars can fit roles besides just dmg output. Anyway, I do have lots of trouble holding agro since mostly we play quite carelessly and just kill stuff mindlessly until there's nothing left. Watch Yourself helps, but really if you can't hold agro, FRENZY the monsters all to pieces.

Alternatively, take off your armor. Monsters LOVE to attack stuff with low armor, no joke.