What makes Rangers worse tanks than Shadow Knights or Paladins?
 

Apparently AC is all bullshit, rangers can match it pretty easily anyway with tree weave and Tolan's cheap as fuck in lower levels. Does the hp/sta ratio really make that big of a difference? What am I missing?

What makes "tanks" better tanks than rangers?

I'm only guessing...
 

I'm just guessing but part of it is most likely related to them being able to wear plate gear which has better overall tanking stats aside from the AC? I also read somewhere that wearing a shield caused the characters AC soft cap to go up and all armor is then considered under the soft cap. That won't matter for 2h wearing Knights, so my second theory is:

Ranger caps for defensive skills are low compared to the Knights (according to the wiki).

-Defense capped at 200 (according to the wiki) means they stop growing defense skill at level 40. Pally and SK cap at 200 until they get 51 and then it opens up.
-Dodge, Parry, Riposte are all lower than the Knight classes.

Early Tolans raises your AC value as you mentioned, but unless you are talking BP and Legs they are straight AC. Pally and SK can gear so many pieces that give them lots of STR (to block better with) and and STA. Just my theory though.

Well if the wiki is right, defensive skills is a big reason. According to the wiki ranger defense maxes at 200, while paladin maxes at 252. Riposte 150 v. 200, dodge 170 v. 155, parry 220 v. 200? Not sure if anyone can confirm or refute these numbers. Also not sure about hp conversion pally v. ranger.

All I know is a beta buffed 60 ranger got worked over pretty decently trying to kill the stupid level 40 paladin key dude in skyshrine. I mean, I'm no ranger pro, but I was clicking my DCOS and using dots and slow from epic procced and shit. And I think I ended the fight at like 50% hp and nearly oom.

1. Rangers have some 20% fewer HP than Shadowknights and Paladins
2. Rangers are ~100AC behind as well
3. 1 + 2 -> Cleric spends 40% more mana healing
4. Rangers can tank most xp group content just fine if there is a shaman around

grats on playing a ranger correctly and not dying :D

Lol. I tried to think of how I could have killed him without the lay hands, but I don't think I could have unless with some shenanigans about mobs that don't heal themselves if rooted and not in melee. Guess I could have interruptnuked a couple heals? Fuckin rangers :)

Shit. Forgot beta rangers have disciplines. That would have helped a little.

Rogues tank better than rangers. Bring it rangers

now i know ac on this server is kinda wonky and this might not count for shit but,

pretty sure there is a long write up about worn ac, shown ac, and actual ac and how chain ac stacks up vs plate. it doesnt.

ranger roughly translates to lilbitchnig in old erudian