So, I'm curious what others think on the subject. I've got my own opinions, but I'm sure some of you who have been more active in RvR thus far can provide even further feedback.

The 4 tanks are -

Arms - Seems best peeler, Moderately high dmg, and of course survivability. Also seems to have best RA options. Downside is that there seems to be quite a few of them active in RvR as opposed to the others.

Paladin - No det and 1000 range seems to make them all but useless to competitive groups. Would be nice if you could rely on them, but since you can't have to workaround with pots anyway.

Merc - Overall top dps? Seems strong, slam build good for peeling, and relatively few of them by comparison to arms. Has potential to be only tank in a group, but without the reliable snare that arms has, seems like a step down.

Reaver - Same as paladin, no det, and lacking their bomb abilities. Levi is strong, but for competitive group play they are likely to be taken last, and only in tank groups, where even a paladin might win out over them.

I'm curious if I missed much. I made some assumptions on purpose. Seems to me arms is the #1 in competitive 8v8/group play. But also perhaps overpopulated?

Generally accurate. But everyone said no one would run a Pally in 8v8 and they were wrong. I have ran with several guilds that ran a Paladin and they did great.

Merc can peel very well if pierce spec and once they get Prevent Flight, but Armsman certainly is nice too.

Merc is probably the worst peeler out of the 3 light tanks with no reliable rear snare. In order to get the anytime thrust chain you have to go at least 44 thrust, which if you want slam you can't go 50 DW anymore, so you lose damage and are better running an arms.

For an only tank in the group Arms is the best, and is probably the best peeler alb has. Anytime snare is huge, and you have really good damage.

If you run a 2 tank setup, 2 arms or merc/arms is really good. Merc damage is good once they get the ability to keep a target on them (prevent flight). Until they can get PF, endurance is going to be a problem while dps'ing.

If you don't want to run endurance pots you have to run a paladin, but 1000 range endurance is pretty terrible considering most alb groups have to spread out a bit with casters, minstrel pushing, etc. While some groups run a pally, if you ask any of the ones that do halfway decent they'll probably tell you you're better off running endurance pots.

Unless you have 4+ tanks in a group, a tank without det is going to be hard to fit in. Not saying it's impossible to do well with one, but against a competent group that tank will spend the majority of the fight rooted or mezzed.

Isolationist87D wrote:Paladin - No det and 1000 range seems to make them all but useless to competitive groups. Would be nice if you could rely on them, but since you can't have to workaround with pots anyway.

A well played 44 Thrust Paladin, can be an amazing Peeler!

We run a competetive group with a Paladin and I don't want to miss him:
- Speed 6
- Personal Peel- / Blockbot
- Endu
- Grp Inst (RA)
- Revive (Pala doesn't need the mana anyway)


Paladins are not OP, but far away from useless.

Greetings

Ramocheese wrote:Merc is probably the worst peeler out of the 3 light tanks with no reliable rear snare.

This is true if you're talking about styles only. I have prevent flight on my merc and very rarely do people run away from me. Not only that, but I can snare without burning endo.

Mercs seem rare, invites to rvr groups seem rare as well. I think merc class as a whole us under rated and under estimated by most. Merc with prevent flight and temped out hits like a truck, can take a moderate amount of damage, and can put a TON of pressure on enemy healers/support.

Can't peel or dps if you're CC'd out