Aug 2, 2011

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The Bacta Tank: Tanking In TOR – The Empire Advanced Classes

In each edition of The Bacta Tank, we take a look at the role of tanking in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and discuss the strategies, tactics and theory on how to make the most of your meat shield. Wether you root for the Republic or empathize with the Empire, if you’re into tanking, take a dunk in the The Bacta Tank!

Welcome, fellow future tanks! It’s time to take another dip into The Bacta Tank.  Today I’ll be taking a look at the Empire’s Advance Classes suited for tanking.  These classes each have a mirror class on the Republic side, which you can read about in my previous post.  In my opinion the core game play between the mirror class will be the same, but the ablities and skills each class will use to achieve this core is what will separate the two classes. As always here at Ask A Jedi, for this article I will only be using officially released information, as well as how these classes may relate to other games I have played.  The rankings are solely based on my opinion only and like the game itself, are subject to change between now and launch.

HAM Scale: 1 = Highest, 2 = Middle, 3 = Lowest

Sith Warrior – Juggernaut – Immortal

Sith Warrior
“Warriors channel anger and hatred to become brutal combatants.  A stalwart defender of the Sith Empire, the Juggernaut embodies the teachings of Marka Ragnos, charging into enemies with heavy armor and pure rage.  An Immortal uses the power of the Force to increases the Warrior’s survivability in battle.” – SWTOR.com

  • Main Weapon – Lightsaber
  • Main Defense – The Force
  • Known Abilities – Invincible, Revenge

Analysis
With Bioware keeping class balance between each fraction, Sith Juggernaut is the counterpart to the Jedi Guardian.  The Immortals ability Invincible is almost just like a World of Warcraft’s Protection Warrior’s Shield Block.  I expect the Sith Immortal to have the highest health of the three Empire tanking classes. The Sith Immortal will jump right in to the fight and unleash his fury on all near him.
HAM Ranking

  • Health – 1
  • Avoidance – 2
  • Mitigation – 3

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Jul 19, 2011

Posted by | 14 Comments

The Bacta Tank: Tanking In TOR – The Republic Advanced Classes

In each edition of Bacta Tank, we take a look at the role of tanking in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and discuss the strategies, tactics and theory on how to make the most of your meat shield. Wether you root for the Republic or empathize with the Empire, if you’re into tanking, take a dunk in the Bacta Tank!

Greetings fellow tank-a-holics! I’m Cealog, and here at Ask A Jedi I’ll be taking the lead on exploring the tanking roles, options and strategies available to players in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and I couldn’t be more excited! First let me start by giving you a little of my own tanking background.

Some Background

My first MMO was Star Wars Galaxies (SWG), where I was a pre-CU Jedi Knight.  For those of you familiar, I didn’t go with the cookie-cutter template, but rather with Master Defender and Master Lightsaber, as well as picking up a few skills in Enhance and Healing.  With that template I could tank just about any mob in SWG.  Also for awhile, I was a Master Doctor, Master Fencer and Master Brawler.  So it wasn’t the absolute best tank spec, but I could hold my own.  Once I finally moved to World of Warcraft (WoW), I played all 4 tanking classes.  Currently, I am playing a Blood Death Knight. Now, on with the show!

Photobucket

Tanking 101

What is a tank you ask? Well, in it’s simplest form, a tank is a combat role in rules-based gaming.  He protects others by using his abilities to have enemies focus their attacks towards the tank.  To survive the damage dealt by the enemies, a tank has three core characteristics: Health, Avoidance and Mitigation (HAM).  Tanks usually have more “health” or “hit points” than other roles, and use this large health pool to be able to take as much damage as they can between any “heals” they receive from a healer (which is another combat role.)  Tanks can also mitigate damage through abilities or talents so that an attack is less powerful. Finally, avoidance means that the tanks can use abilities or tactics to avoid attacks altogether, doing no damage at all.

So let’s take a look at what we currently know about each of the Advance Classes in TOR and their known tanking abilities. We’ll also rank their HAMs based on how I think each will play out. Remember, this is just my opinion, and all of this is based on what is currently known and will no doubt change before launch!

HAM Scale: 1 = Highest, 2 = Middle, 3 = Lowest

Jedi Knight – Guardian – Defense

Jedi Knight
“Through training, a Knight turns combat into an art.  A wall between the good people of the Republic and their enemies, the Guardian stands firm in the face of overwhelming odds and dares opponents to attack.  Defense, allows the Guardian to more effectively withstand enemy attacks and protect allies.” – SWTOR.com

  • Main Weapon – Lightsaber
  • Main Defense – The Force
  • Known Skills – Forceclap, Endure

Analysis

I believe the Jedi Guardian will play closely to WoW’s Protection Warrior.  This will be the classic melee tank we’re familiar with from most MMORPGs.  With a Guardians Force Leap and its upgrade, you will find yourself charging up to the front of any battle.  I believe that the Knight will have the highest health of the 3 classes.  If you like to take a licking and keep on ticking, this is the class for you.

HAM Ranking

  • Health – 1
  • Avoidance – 2
  • Mitigation – 3

Trooper – Vanguard – Shield Specialist

Trooper Vanguard
“Elite warriors, Troopers are the most advance fighters in the galaxy.  Unstoppable and utterly fearless, Vanguards are the first and best line of defense in the Republic Military.  Shields Specialist powers up the Vanguard’s shield generator to absorb firepower and protect their allies.” – SWTOR.com

Analysis

I believe that the Trooper Vanguard will rely on mitigation through their shields similar to how Feral Druids in WoW used to use armor to mitigate damage.  I feel like the Vanguard will have quite a bit of health, but not quite as much as a Guardian.  Ranged tanking will be new for most, but it may allow a better view of the battlefield and allow for not having to stare at the enemy’s ankles the entire time.

HAM Ranking

  • Health – 2
  • Avoidance – 3
  • Mitigation – 1

Jedi Consular – Shadow – Kinetic Combat

Jedi Concular
“Consulars channel the power of the Force for both strength and wisdom.  Wielding double-bladed Lightsabers, Shadows embrace the synergy between melee and Force combat, enabling them to strike down enemies of the Order with deadly efficiency.  Kinetic Combat uses the double-bladed Lightsaber defensively to protect the Shadow and his allies.” – SWTOR.com

Analysis

Jedi Shadow KC is the most intriguing to me of the 3 republic tanking classes.  I see it as a cross of a Rogue and a Death Knight with a little bit of Mage thrown in.  Along with it’s counterpart on the Empire side, the Shadow KC looks to be the king of avoidance.  Where the Jedi Guardian uses the Force for the main defense the Shadow will use the Force for damage to maintain agro.

HAM Ranking

  • Health – 2
  • Avoidance – 1
  • Mitigation – 3

So that wraps up our first take on the Republic tanking classes. Next time: a look at tanking from the Empire side of the fence!

If you have any comments or questions, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! Happy tanking!

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