Question - Can GWF queue as tank?

sugarlies

Simple question. I would like to switch from my GF to my GWF. But can the GWF queue as tank?

query523

No. There is a system reason for this in that the GWF is primarilly DPS. There is also a practical reason for this. Usually when a party needs a 5th man it is because they went in without the gear or experience to finish the final boss. Despite their other failings no class in the game can cary like a skilled GF.

sugarlies

The question is more on the selfish side. As a GF, I get instant queues. I think GWF is more fun, since it's a lot more mobile, but I absolutely hate the long queues. Actually, the queues are not my primary gripe, but the fact that if I queue as dps, I usually get incomplete parties where we have to wait for an actual tank. Also, most of the time, we have to try 4-man because actual GFs seem to never stay and we could surely use another player instead of being 4.

Seeing as GWFs are seen as tanks, why can't they queue as tanks as well? Why make GFs required in queue?

ambisinisterr

When the game initially launched there was no priorities.

At launch I would say about 80% of players were either TR's or CW's. This meant with no prioritizing whatsoever it was fairly common to end up in parties with no Guardian Fighter or Cleric. I actually mained a cleric for a long time but I can tell you right now there was no hope of healing four Trickster Rogues without a GF at launch. Obviously this was a major problem for finding parties to do dungeons.

So the adjustment made was to make the queue put at least one cleric and one guardian into each party so that every party had a chance to succeed. The queue does not know what role players wish to play, it only knows those two classes will always fit the role of healer and tank in some fashion.

However in the last year players abandoned the queue as Guardian Fighters (and even clerics to some extent) have become less and less desirable to have in parties. Not to mention the fact LFG proves just how horribly elitist and gear-centic the average player is. That's why the queue takes so long. Use Looking for Group or Legit Community and you won't wait in queue forever.

P.S. I hate that answer..personally I'd rather queue any day...
but at this point it's best to just join them because the queue is not used by the majority of the player base.

epclipseingmoon

why not just go into lfg and say gwf tank lfg whatever. fact is people that actually take gfs in non pugs is quite rare....

xd108x

Like query said GWFs aren't tanks, they are 95% damage based, whereas GFs are better at tanking due to their defenses and skills/encounters they have. I wouldn't mind the devs making a legitimate path to make GWFs into an alternate tank though but then how the queue could differentiate between one that is dps or a tank I dont know, maybe look at how WoW does it? :P Like ambis said though back when the game was launched and people relied more on skill and teamwork rather than just being overgeared for dungeons, then a balanced team with a proper tank class and healer class found via queue makes sense. These days though if you want your own party setup then tis indeed best just to create your own party b4 joining.

query523

Partially. I meant that every class can take it's role. The one place a GF shines is occupying an entire room and surviving almost indefinately. I have 5 toons (6 when the SW goes live) and each of them fullfills their role in a party. In 80% of available situations I would prefer something besides my GF. But a broken party stuck on a DD the GF is the best equiped to pull out the win. My GWF cannot do that like my GF can. GWF's aggro management is limited to DPS. A GF can step in and say, "everyone kill the boss and I will fight the rest of the room." and even a low GS PUG will be able to work it out. I don't have another toon that can do the same.