Hrm. If there isn't a guide there should be. I'll think on it. In the mean time, some tips:
- Spell Upgrades in Order of Priority - Taunts and other hate increasing spells/skills (Shadowknight caress line for example)
- Buffs
- Other (normal non-direct hate increasing damage spells or combat arts)
- Always always always play in third-person camera mode You'd be amazed how many tank actually play in first-person view. You can't see incoming adds from all angles, you can't see where all your group mates are positioned, you can't protect your rear from a paladin. Just don't do it. 3rd person camera wins.
- Do not "lazy-target" Lazy targeting is the bad habit of acquiring your target by allowing a mob to hit you when you don't have a target. Tanks who get into this habit are often slow in acquiring their next target during a group encounter or worse, stand there while a group member is being beat on because they didn't notice one mob in the encounter peel off. Always acquire your next target through direct mouse-click right as or possibly a second prior to the previous enemy dropping. This is more efficient than tabbing (which can cycle you through too many non-essential targets to be effective) and allows you to grab the next logical target or priority threat.
- Use direct taunt skills at every opportunity Hate is added through both direct taunts and damage dealt (and friendly damage healed). Your priority each encounter is to build up your hate fast and early. You won't be able to sustain the damage that the casters and scouts can lay out so you need to get a far enough "hate lead" early before they can get their hooks in. Open with your direct taunts and your big damage spells/CAs. Build a large enough hate lead early and the mob should be dead before the DPS'ers catch up to you on the list.
- Don't be wishy-washy. It may sound silly, but a groups viability can hinge on the confidence of the tank. This doesn't mean that you need to be reckless, but you need to be decisive. People can smell a weak group and will frequently abandon the group early or at the first sign of trouble if they sense that the people within the group are incompetent. The tank is the biggest showpiece of the group's mentality as a whole. Take charge. Put your foot down and tell the group how things are going to be. Get this in your head: You're the ****ing tank. Be a leader, be strong and confident and people are much more likely to follow your direction or stick around when things go south (wipe, lost target, etc.). There's a thread on the official boards about personality types as related to primary in-game class. Almost without exception, people who have plate tanks as their mains are extroverts. There is a reason for this. Attitude goes a long way towards being a successful group leader and as a tank, that's what you are.
- Don't be afraid to let that over-zealous nuker/scout/bruiser die. Seriously. Some people just need to learn a lesson. Some people just need killin'. Look, hate-management is everyone's job. Not just the tank's. If the tank is losing aggro to a wizard every other fight, 8 times out of 10 it isn't the tank's fault. If someone is consistently pulling hate from you, stop saving them. Instruct your healer not to heal the over-nuker/dps'er. If they want to play tank - let them try it without help. Let them eat the deaths. Either they will learn to tone it down and play nice in the sandbox, or they will leave. In either case you win. You either have a reformed member who is now being productive and efficient, or you got rid of someone you probably didn't want to be grouping with anyway.
- Know your group members More than any other archetype, a tank needs to have an understanding of the abilities and nuances of every class. Tell the warlock to lay off the Absolution line early. Ask the assassin why they haven't given you their Shadows hate transfer. Understand how to work positioning for the scouts. Understand how you'll need to react when the coercer's charm breaks or when you see the big nuke particle effects from your wizard.
Don't be afraid to tell other people what to do. You're the director of the group. You are the leader. Again: You're the ****ing tank.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to fire away.
Edited, Jun 25th 2007 3:25pm by Stugein