What should I play?

[anarchypark]

Kotbs is the easiest one on the new players, he provides benefits just by popping auras (same as chosen) while SM and IB require more proactive playstyle. But imo you should pick the one that seems the most appealing to you and stick with him, good IB or SM can be as helpful as kotbs if played right (okay, I might be exaggerating here because kotbs bring so many strong passives it's hard to outshine him)

Something I see a lot, at least in t1, is tanks/mdps being really timid and either wont engage (hiding behind rdps and healers) or they try to run away when engaging the enemy (meaning you only die further away), so my preference is a tank that can take an absolute beating while disrupting the enemy, would that be an Ironbreaker? I messed around with a BG so I get how they work as far as Grudge works, but it's my understanding that the BG is more about debuffing the enemy vs an Ironbreaker who buffs himself instead making him harder to kill

i'm glad that you saw same problem i see all the time.
i think every tank can be super tanky if they spec for it.
believe me you'll have hard time playing the tank in tankless realm.
to overcome frustration, pick tank class you can love.

SnB tanky IB is least played tank i think.

[Fey]

A well played tank has the most impact.

[tazdingo]

Something I see a lot, at least in t1, is tanks/mdps being really timid and either wont engage (hiding behind rdps and healers) or they try to run away when engaging the enemy (meaning you only die further away), so my preference is a tank that can take an absolute beating while disrupting the enemy, would that be an Ironbreaker? I messed around with a BG so I get how they work as far as Grudge works, but it's my understanding that the BG is more about debuffing the enemy vs an Ironbreaker who buffs himself instead making him harder to kill

sort of, but in large scale orvr IB is probably the least tanky ordo tank. pretty much any kotbs and a bubble spec SM is way more tanky. IB is a monster in small scale, not large scale

it's a mistake to look at self buffs as a measure of tankyness as they just end up getting severed, and if you spend your entire rotation trying to re-apply them then you're not really doing anything. BG is super tanky because of it's free avoidance and terrifying foe - IB doesn't have these

http://waronlinebuilder.org/#career=ib; ... :;0:0:0:0:

Assuming you have capped armor you can swap out armor tactic. Runic Shield, higher levels of Block than the KOBS and SM, and an amazing M2 = SNB IB is godmode if specced well.

I could never hope to be as tanky as an IB - while simultaneously being somewhat useful (AoE snare, long punts, huge willpower buffs for disrupt) - on my SM.

i really don't rate block that highly, anyone who is seriously dangerous is just going to ignore it. i'd take SMs crit eating bubbles any day

IB may be better at holding a front line but i'd much prefer to be an SM whilst mass brawling

Does the SM offer a lot to small or large parties besides some damage and being tanky? I haven't looked into them much

in full deftard spec you have WW, a group CD reducer, and the (albiet unlevelled) group stat steal, both of which are absolutely premium. you have blurring shock for dps assist, group bubble. then lower down the chain, potentially 2 group heals, ST morale drain, 80% cripple, interrupt, disorient

you're missing ST punt and probably the KD. either way, you'll have plenty to do, even moreso because nobody really plays def SM

[dwayne22]

Its not easy to tell what you want play, in my opinion just anything you like and have fun.

[Aebel]

sort of, but in large scale orvr IB is probably the least tanky ordo tank. pretty much any kotbs and a bubble spec SM is way more tanky. IB is a monster in small scale, not large scale

it's a mistake to look at self buffs as a measure of tankyness as they just end up getting severed, and if you spend your entire rotation trying to re-apply them then you're not really doing anything. BG is super tanky because of it's free avoidance and terrifying foe - IB doesn't have these

http://waronlinebuilder.org/#career=ib; ... :;0:0:0:0:

Assuming you have capped armor you can swap out armor tactic. Runic Shield, higher levels of Block than the KOBS and SM, and an amazing M2 = SNB IB is godmode if specced well.

I could never hope to be as tanky as an IB - while simultaneously being somewhat useful (AoE snare, long punts, huge willpower buffs for disrupt) - on my SM.

i really don't rate block that highly, anyone who is seriously dangerous is just going to ignore it. i'd take SMs crit eating bubbles any day

IB may be better at holding a front line but i'd much prefer to be an SM whilst mass brawling

Does the SM offer a lot to small or large parties besides some damage and being tanky? I haven't looked into them much

in full deftard spec you have WW, a group CD reducer, and the (albiet unlevelled) group stat steal, both of which are absolutely premium. you have blurring shock for dps assist, group bubble. then lower down the chain, potentially 2 group heals, ST morale drain, 80% cripple, interrupt, disorient

you're missing ST punt and probably the KD. either way, you'll have plenty to do, even moreso because nobody really plays def SM

Thanks for all the info man, I may go with a def SM as kotbs seems to be represented more and if def SM is so useful but so underplayed it may be the way to go for me