Three positions need to be filled in any typical Final Fantasy XIV party: two DPS in an eight-man group, or double that in a light party: one Tank, one Healer, and two DPS. As a player that exclusively played DPS, I ticked that last box for a very long time. Years into my travels, I wouldn't move outside of my comfort zone and dive straight into tanking.
My first real tanking experience in FFXIV is something I will always remember. My FC (Free Company) friends at the time, for whom I will always be thankful but can never really forgive, pushed that I attempt the part. They assured me I would be OK and promised to be gentle with me. I reluctantly gave in. It couldn't be so horrible since I was around pals, right?
False. Let me clarify something first, however, before we do that. I'd failed in the past, but never with real people. Using Duty Support, an endless supply of side missions, and finally avoiding people in Eureka, the Bozjan Southern Front, and Zadnor, I had scraped my way through the stages. At the time, my Tank Job was a Paladin, comfortably level 80, and I was content to never take up the role again until social pressure called.
The head of our pre-made light party then dropped us off right in the middle of Paglth'an. In all honesty, I'm glad I never went back to that horrible hellscape since it was one of my all-time favorite dungeons back then. I'm not lying when I tell you that I almost passed out from screaming both inside and outside the dungeon, trembling like a leaf, and tanking it. It was the most horrifying and enlightening experience I've ever had in FFXIV, all at once.The idea of heading the party in that direction appalled me.
I hesitated to go back on Paladin for a time. I never wanted to be in such a position of responsibility again, not with other people having to bear the consequences of my errors. That is, until I saw the damn Amaro mount, which is the prize for mastering every class at level 80.
My favorite mount to this day is still the Amaro. I refer to mine as my X-Wing, and it binds me inextricably to Ardbert, the one major figure who has had the most impact on me throughout my voyage across Eorzea.
I had to get it, of course, so I had no choice but to grab an axe, sword, and gunblade to get there. I became a tank main as a result of this, which marked the beginning of my serious dive into tanking. It wasn't easy, but I conquered that awful panic attack, and it has taught me so much. With a special appreciation to X-Wing and the tank titles and rewards. They provided me with a goal that I could strive toward and feel a bit proud of the little victories I had made in that area.
I immersed myself into it fully, picking up a long list of crucial MMO skills, such as the value of open communication. I can't even begin to count how many times I asked for a little mercy and patience and promptly declared that I was new to the instance. There were occasions when individuals would just leave without saying anything, which I took to suggest they didn't want to play with a new tank. While we waited for a replacement, I pulled up my trousers and gave myself a pep talk. I can't claim that I didn't take it personally at times.
But the majority of the time, folks were really understanding. They would support me along the road, provide advice, and compliment my work. This kind of behavior is what motivated me to continue. This kind of behavior is also what inspired me to become a mentor in order to support people who share my fears.
My fiancé and I met, and I tried to encourage him to try out other roles, like the one and only Job—summoner. Not against his will, mind you. With the Endwalker expansion, Summoner had just undergone a total revamp, and he was claiming he was bored. He now has a complete roster of level 90 professions, including Tanks and mains Healer, and I was beginning to feel like I was getting the hang of teaching after my own experiences. Yes, we are the infamous healer-tank combination, but please don't hold it against us.
so was 2.5 years ago, and it seems inconceivable so much time has passed since .Endwalker dropped. However, being a Dark Knight main right now, I find it impossible to DPS without becoming bored. Naturally, after , I'm going to level everything.Dawntrail releases, but I'll always return to the tanking game.
More than just teaching me a new position, tanking helped me. It helped me see battles in a way that I had not previously. I'm not surprised by a Tank moving so early in a boss battle since I understand why and when it happens. In certain dungeons, I understand the significance of a wall-to-wall pull and how much time the DPS has to light up the mob before, well, the mob lights up the tank.
But it doesn't mean I'm a flawless Tank. I'm not at all flawless. I've learned not to take things too seriously, but I still forget my tank posture more often than I'd like to admit, I still lose aggro on stragglers in large pulls, and I still feel a little irritated when I see the other tanks compete for aggro during an Alliance Raid.
What could possibly go wrong? We mop? That isn't all that horrible. I'm willing to change myself into a blue DPS and grant aggro to anybody else who wants it in an Alliance Raid. I just laugh it off and say something like, "Well, that could have gone better," in conversation if I fail to activate my Tank posture. People appear to find humor helpful and appreciative.
I can attest to the terrifying nature of Tank anxiety, as well as nervousness related to any position. Your party looks to you as a de facto leader even if it's not stated in the job description, and that carries some pressure. I'm here to reassure you that you can accomplish it, even if you're not sure you can or don't think you can. Going beyond your comfort zone in a new job requires you to communicate your worries and inexperience, which may not come naturally to you at first. Laugh it off; you'd be surprised at how understanding most folks are. If you give it a go, I guarantee that you will improve as a player and perhaps even get a new primary job.