Bad Tactical Memes

[Darian]

I completely disagree here.  Yes, the target often will turn back to who it was attacking before, but it's FAR from pointless.  1) It gets you hit which gets you rage, 2) It gets you hit instead of the (likely) squishier target the mob was on first, and 3) It gets you hit so you have a shot at using Revenge.  If you're low or empty on rage, that is a good time to use taunt if they are on someone else.  You hit them, they hit you, hopefully that gives you enough rage for a bash, or if you're lucky, Revenge will trigger.  Waiting to use taunt until you have enough rage to reclaim aggro for good is a very bad idea, as it hurts your ability to get said rage.  If you're behind on aggro and out of rage, you're unlikely to get yourself back at the top of the list without getting abused/hit (unless you dual wield and go into battle stance which you often can't safely do).  Also, though only gimpy warriors rely only on taunt (sadly, that's all some do), it is vital when used right.  At higher levels, 1 or 2 seconds equals dirt nap for a priest, and taunt will give you 6 seconds to regain aggro or have the mob die.[right][snapback]98237[/snapback][/right]

Oh, hell yes. Taunt is what it is, and nothing more: a method of getting a mob's attention. It's not a method of keeping it. Its purpose is exactly as you describe: get you hit and keep someone else from getting hit for a couple of seconds in order to be able to use other skills to lock the mob down.

Another HUGE use for taunt is if you have an off-tank in the group serving as a main assist while you keep the last mob to die securely locked down. You're not going to HOLD aggro on the mob the off-tank is engaging -- but you can sneak in a taunt occasionally for the sole purpose of getting hit for a couple of seconds and building up some more rage.

I was convinced that battle stance dual wielding was superior at locking down multiple mobs than defensive stance.  I still believe that's the case... but only in WC and the early game.  It is just not so later in the game.

That's probably very true; between the minimal decrease in actual hit points mitigated by being in defensive stats, the minimal effect of armor on mitigation due to low AC numbers, the lack of concussion blow and shield slam, and the microscopic dodge/block/parry numbers you'll have, defensive stance is sorely gimped at low levels. Further, given the relatively low HP carried by low-level mobs (even elites) compared to the relatively high damage output a low-level warrior is capable of dishing out, it's generally more effective to go ahead and beat the snot out of your enemies at that stage. However, once you find yourself having to resort to mocking blow to keep a situation under control, it's best to go ahead and flip back to defensive stance.

(Of course, your experience playing with ME thus far has an entirely different color: as an experiment for me, every last one of Synik's talent points is in fury, since Darian was arms/prot to 60, and has been prot/arms since.)