[SM] tanking skills

[dansari]

Karisanna has a lot of respect from me and his word should be taken as sound advice. I've learned that playing my SW is very linear (dot, basic attack, and basically rkd, slow, group ap increase and VoN when needed). Stance dancing is its own world and takes getting used to, but basically that's the gist of it. SM, on the other hand, is a whole different beast. I'm normally in groups so I'm specced for WW (it really is just a great group ability), so the regular thought process i have is:

Am I guarding the right target and am I close enough for guard? (GES and Enemy are good for this)
Is my challenge up?
Is my WW up?
Is my Crashing Wave available?
Who should I knockdown?
Oh yeah.. Taunt increases damage I should use that.
Am I using shatter?
Oh God guard guard GUARD
Wait.. Blurring Shock or Dazzling Strike on this guy?
WHAT STANCE AM I IN?
Challenge you fool!
Oh fu I'm getting focused.. WODS and run!
Oh yeah.. Sudden Shift.. don't need that basic stance ability..
Winds is up!
"Sorry I was late on guard"
Whyyyy am I not taunting? I'm a scrub.

Scenario over. I need a drink.

[Darosh]

Spoiler:

Karisanna has a lot of respect from me and his word should be taken as sound advice. I've learned that playing my SW is very linear (dot, basic attack, and basically rkd, slow, group ap increase and VoN when needed). Stance dancing is its own world and takes getting used to, but basically that's the gist of it. SM, on the other hand, is a whole different beast. I'm normally in groups so I'm specced for WW (it really is just a great group ability), so the regular thought process i have is:

Am I guarding the right target and am I close enough for guard? (GES and Enemy are good for this)
Is my challenge up?
Is my WW up?
Is my Crashing Wave available?
Who should I knockdown?
Oh yeah.. Taunt increases damage I should use that.
Am I using shatter?
Oh God guard guard GUARD
Wait.. Blurring Shock or Dazzling Strike on this guy?
WHAT STANCE AM I IN?
Challenge you fool!
Oh fu I'm getting focused.. WODS and run!
Oh yeah.. Sudden Shift.. don't need that basic stance ability..
Winds is up!
"Sorry I was late on guard"
Whyyyy am I not taunting? I'm a scrub.

Scenario over. I need a drink.

-50pts for Slytherin, you lack the "Why the **** does mdps xyz charge in all the **** time!?", "Where the **** is everyone!?", "Why are you not assisting each other!?" - "WHY IN GODS NAME IS THIS RP TRYING TO CLUB PEOPLE WITH HIS STAFF!?"

Abbd.: Gotta be more realistic if you wanna teach new players the ropes.

[Martok]

Karisanna has a lot of respect from me and his word should be taken as sound advice.

Thanks, Dan, I appreciate the support. For the record Dansair is one of those Shadow Warrior players I will guard-bot because he is very good at his class. He is featured in one of my earlier videos if any SW player wants a few pointers.

[Daknallbomb]

Karisanna has a lot of respect from me and his word should be taken as sound advice. I've learned that playing my SW is very linear (dot, basic attack, and basically rkd, slow, group ap increase and VoN when needed). Stance dancing is its own world and takes getting used to, but basically that's the gist of it. SM, on the other hand, is a whole different beast. I'm normally in groups so I'm specced for WW (it really is just a great group ability), so the regular thought process i have is:

Am I guarding the right target and am I close enough for guard? (GES and Enemy are good for this)
Is my challenge up?
Is my WW up?
Is my Crashing Wave available?
Who should I knockdown?
Oh yeah.. Taunt increases damage I should use that.
Am I using shatter?
Oh God guard guard GUARD
Wait.. Blurring Shock or Dazzling Strike on this guy?
WHAT STANCE AM I IN?
Challenge you fool!
Oh fu I'm getting focused.. WODS and run!
Oh yeah.. Sudden Shift.. don't need that basic stance ability..
Winds is up!
"Sorry I was late on guard"
Whyyyy am I not taunting? I'm a scrub.

Scenario over. I need a drink.

Hmm looks like sm is a lot of fun mayb i try nice advise bzw

[Atropik]

Hmm.. look what we have here, a guide about sms defensive abilities, hope ts will use some of them, and not only wods faceroll all the time xd well done then.

[anarchypark]

lol whining even in forum cuz assassin class can't kill tank fast enough?
well you and i both need more english skill to debate.
let's keep this for tank role thread.
positioning and guard tip is coming.

[Paxsanarion]

Thank you everyone for this excellent read, as a newbie Swordmaster I found it facinating. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to explain not only the processes but their thoughts on why those processes are used and when. I also got a chuckle or two Great stuff! *salutes*

[Aethilmar]

I was reading through this partial necro and didn't see much love/info about the cousin of the Swordmaster - the Shieldmaster.

Redirected Force: Not as good as the fabled BG super-punt but pretty damned good and usually available when you need it even with the block requirement. Will certainly separate a tank from his guard long enough to get a kill.

Crushing Advance: Somewhat clumsy to use but AOE interrupt plus armor and block buff (which makes punt even more available) ... yes please.

Also you don't need the other tank in your group to guard you.

[Paxsanarion]

I was reading through this partial necro and didn't see much love/info about the cousin of the Swordmaster - the Shieldmaster.

Redirected Force: Not as good as the fabled BG super-punt but pretty damned good and usually available when you need it even with the block requirement. Will certainly separate a tank from his guard long enough to get a kill.

Crushing Advance: Somewhat clumsy to use but AOE interrupt plus armor and block buff (which makes punt even more available) ... yes please.

Also you don't need the other tank in your group to guard you.

After a great deal of forum / guide reading and finding some wonderful build advice, I have settled on playing a Shieldmaster as I progress to 40.

[Rekkerr]

" Gusting Wind is primarily an interrupt. Sure, one can have fun knocking people off a bridge or over a cliff into the lava lakes, but I primarily use it to stop someone from doing something they are in the middle of doing. Admittedly at times I make mistakes with it, but of all the knock-backs in game Gusting Wind is, to the best of my knowledge, the weakest of any class, and therefore it is best to use it as an interrupt as opposed to an instant. "

Taunt is a better option for interrupt