07-01-2003, 12:25 AM
My vote is for the barb over a druid for a party "safety" tank.
I tend to embed my tanks into mobs and get surrounded (more critters beating on me, the less beating on the party), so I prefer WarCry's lower range but 360 degree protection to Shockwave.
Druids have no AI manipulating skills, so I have to give some points to the barb here for sheer fun. Anything that's ignoring my juicy looking barb can be Taunted into warcry range. If things get really hairy, Grim Ward (or Howl if you're high enough level) can come out (sadly, rarely ever needed in LoD though). Taunt has the added benefit of setting mobs up nicely for area attacks from party members.
Barbs have a more reliable method of disabling bosses/champions. I'll trust Bash to pin a fanatic+cursed moon lord over Maul's unreliable stunning ability vs bosses. WarCry+Bash means any boss pack is neutered. Actually any melee physical damage is essentially neutered.
Barbs are also more mobile and able to aid a lagging party member, with leap attack and frenzy if you go that route. With high enough shout and a defiance merc, you can make party members say "what the heck happened?! why is my DR 9k?" Enough to make a difference in case something gets through to swing at 'em.
Barbs can also dual wield lightsabres, negating conviction mlebs. Through in a Ravenfrost or two, a Rising Sun and WarCry and you're pretty much invincible.
That said, a Werebear can make a dandy tank too. I've just found I have more options with a barb over a werebear and enjoy the lunkheaded tanks over the furry tanks, but to each his own :D
I tend to embed my tanks into mobs and get surrounded (more critters beating on me, the less beating on the party), so I prefer WarCry's lower range but 360 degree protection to Shockwave.
Druids have no AI manipulating skills, so I have to give some points to the barb here for sheer fun. Anything that's ignoring my juicy looking barb can be Taunted into warcry range. If things get really hairy, Grim Ward (or Howl if you're high enough level) can come out (sadly, rarely ever needed in LoD though). Taunt has the added benefit of setting mobs up nicely for area attacks from party members.
Barbs have a more reliable method of disabling bosses/champions. I'll trust Bash to pin a fanatic+cursed moon lord over Maul's unreliable stunning ability vs bosses. WarCry+Bash means any boss pack is neutered. Actually any melee physical damage is essentially neutered.
Barbs are also more mobile and able to aid a lagging party member, with leap attack and frenzy if you go that route. With high enough shout and a defiance merc, you can make party members say "what the heck happened?! why is my DR 9k?" Enough to make a difference in case something gets through to swing at 'em.
Barbs can also dual wield lightsabres, negating conviction mlebs. Through in a Ravenfrost or two, a Rising Sun and WarCry and you're pretty much invincible.
That said, a Werebear can make a dandy tank too. I've just found I have more options with a barb over a werebear and enjoy the lunkheaded tanks over the furry tanks, but to each his own :D