Curse

042 · Aug 31, 2006, 04:53 PM // 16:53

Here's a more tactical question for the warrior community:

Is it the function of a tank to deal damage or to take damage?

In my mind, because of the nature of the AI and the enemy NPCs generally locking onto the first target in range (or first to attack), a warrior's job, especially a W/Mo, is to be the point person and take the damage. Being able to deal damage is secondary. This obviously gives the benefit of grouping the enemies and allows for the nuker or mesmer to attack a large group in a confined space.

However, in looking through other threads, it seems to me that tanks are treated as the primary damage dealer. While my sword/axe/hammer deals plenty of damage, especially with mods, there are plenty of spells out there to block melee damage, plus the fact nothing I produce as a warrior can match a high level nuker with meteor shower (especially an echo nuker).

So, should warriors run in and take the damage, with dealing damage as secondary, or should we be more concerned about dealing damage?

Thanks.

sumasage · Aug 31, 2006, 06:21 PM // 18:21

I think you could do both. You have 8 slots on the skill bar - 1 for res = 7. Maybe use 1 for IAS stance +3 dmg skills, 2 for defensive stances/shout, and 1 more for whatever (heal sig?). Usually it depend of the group is doing and what they want you to do. I dont think you need to load up 7 slots worth of stances and other defensive skills....so i generally bring dmg and 1 or 2 defensive stances.

DeanBB · Aug 31, 2006, 08:07 PM // 20:07

There's no way to hold onto that aggro though and in the case you cited, meteor shower, you'll have enemies scattering and locking onto other targets. Toss henchies and random players who don't wait for a warrior to grab aggro and you might as well not bother, bring offense and defense both.

In more organized groups taking a warrior as a stance/armor tank may well be appropriate, but not for everyday use.

Silver_Fang · Aug 31, 2006, 09:13 PM // 21:13

to Tank is to Absorb damage and Mob control.

In GW, Tanking is not easy because of the AI. Esp when you group with Firestorm Elementalist. The mob in GW isnt as stupid as you said and they dont attack the first person they see, they chase after you and if anyone is inside their aggro range, they have a chance to go pass you and attack that person instead. Your main task is to dont let anyone to run pass you by any mean.

And as someone already said, you can do both Tanking and Damage dealing at the same time, you dont need your skill bar to be filled with stance and shout.

Ole Man Bourbon · Aug 31, 2006, 09:27 PM // 21:27

I think you basically want to deal damage as much as you can get away with it. At a certain degree of difficulty, though, stances/armor become essential.

Yukito Kunisaki · Sep 01, 2006, 04:21 PM // 16:21

Tank - by definition is a very LARGE container that holds fluids usually. OR a vehicle of great defensive power with more than enough destructive power to match...

When I think 'tank', I remember Battlefield 2. BIG MACHINE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE HIT WITH OR SHOOTING AT USING REGULAR ARMS...

In Guildwars, I don't think the word 'tank' needs to be modified. A warrior can EASILY do Elementalist style damage if not more if you have the correct setup. Mark of Pain + Triple Chop {E} = Too much armor ignoring damage to compare to other skills... what's more, it's the most energy efficient giant AoE ability in the game. MS causes scattering despite knockdown so I don't want to hear any arguments regarding that... Let's see MS work for 30s. without echo...

Anyways, for balancing PvE strategies, Warriors should bring Res sig or res skill if they're monk Secondary [Rebirth is king in PvE, wtf do w/mos bring res sigs is beyond stupidity in my eyes]

With the 7 left over skills, you've got a choice of this setup for good balancing.

3 attack enhancing skills, 4 defensive, or vice versa...

I easily prefer 4 attack, 3 defensive skills just because you have so much armor to begin with that 4 defensive skills can ONLY combat degen for the most part...

Being a warrior, you should always strive to bring a deep wound inducing attack. Swords suck in PvE in that regard, more than half of all the enemies I fought in PvE don't bleed, rendering Gash useless...

Axe owns all. Deep Wounding ghosts and spirits and undead? W00T!

Some key skills for defensive measures are Watch Yourself, Dolyak Signet, and Bonetti's Defense. Very useful.

AoE attacks are better than IAS stances since you're not able to hit mobs using IAS and AoE is just more practical since 1v1 fights in pve are rare... Cyclone Axe is Lord of non-Elite AoE with Triple Chop {E} as my fav. AoE elite... [Hundred Swords is pretty pathetic when seen in comparison]

I think Ensign mentioned it, but Eviscerate {E} + Executioner's Strike is the most devastating quick-spike in the universe. No other class, I don't care how you cut it can do this much damage using only 2 skills...

Age · Sep 01, 2006, 10:15 PM // 22:15

I would have to say that swords can do some fine damge in PvE.When it come down to tanking there are 2 sets of Warriors in GW just plain warriors those you see in PvP and PvE and tanks that use skill like defy or endure pain.

Kuja · Sep 02, 2006, 06:50 AM // 06:50

The term itself is loosely used for warrior

Skuld · Sep 02, 2006, 10:12 PM // 22:12

You will get different opinions. Most people advertising their warrior as a "tank" will have a skillbar full of inappropriate defensive skills such as bonetti's defence and mending under the illusion that this is helping them stay alive. Some use it as a synonym for the entire warrior class. You never know

Age · Sep 02, 2006, 10:43 PM // 22:43

I would say those that use thier strengh line the most with endure and defy pain and very little in thier other attributes.