Group Content?
Are Rangers viable group tanks 1-50? It seems like their skill caps are more or less on par.
When blue launched rangers were paper tanks. This was due to the AC mechanics. Some still claim it's broken, while others say it is fixed and much better. If it is indeed fixed then a ranger will do nearly just as well as any other class in the BiS armor(i.e. rubicite pre planar). The only exception I can think of is the 10 extra defense skill cap warriors have over rangers 200, and the 200 riposte vs a rangers 150ish.. and a negligible amount of dodge difference iirc. I cant remember the numbers off the top of my head.
Are SKs still the best? How does PAL compare? I'd imagine stun is great for all the caster mobs.
Stun is great for casters, but, if you are an SK you have the benefit of Ogre Slam. Plus, FSI is huge for a SK. No interrupts when casting is amazing. That coupled with the fact you can Slam while wielding 2h means bigger damage without sacrificing interrupts
How much does race factor into things? Can an ERU or HIE PAL really group tank?
Any race can group tank however you will notice more of the struggle in classic with extremely low sta/str as a HIE/Eru (Agi). It is definitely doable, but I look at those racial choices personally as a long term investment. You have to be willing to be underrated in classic, less HP, less damage, less racial based effectiveness (which can be mitigated by player skill. A dwarf paladin who doesn't know how to root n scoot while chain stunning interrupts on a healing mob, etc. etc. isn't worth his weight in ale. If you are a HIE pally and peak performing, you will shine.
How miserable is it to group tank as a WAR?
1-20 mobs are relatively weak. You will basically be a backstabless rogue. You will be more or less dead weight with the inability to generate aggro based off of weapon procs. However, if you can grab an early aggro weapon you might fair better. But let's be honest. On the way to 50, you won't have the armor nor the aggro capabilities to effectively keep mobs interested in you as a warrior, especially when Mr. Mage is AoEing blades on mobs and Mr. Wizard is raining down nukes....they will be hard to content with for aggro generation without a slow, snare, dot or stun component in your repertoire.
Duos?
Are SKs, WARs and RNGs still viable duo-ists in classic?
Warriors are not viable duo-ists in classic, fresh launch. SKs and Rangers? Absolutely. They play very similar. One is masterful indoors (sks) while the other is unbeatable outdoors (Ranger). This is largely because of feign death splitting vs harmony splitting. Both provide snares, the ability to regenerate HP via lifetaps or heals as well as snap aggro -- disease cloud (SK) flame lick (RNG). I lean towards ranger and am about 90% committed to maining him during Classic.
Raids?
Without disciplines, can other classes raid tank? What will knights do in the Planes?
Without disciplines, especially if a mob is slowable, any class that can hold aggro can tank. Which will typically be your knight classes due to snap aggro. It could be a ranger, but time will tell if AC is fixed or not for this launch.
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