Swordmaster Tanking Stratagies

[Black Guard]

Ok, I was going to be a Black Guard, mostly becuase they are an anti-magic tank and sort of a melee tank aswell. Sooo, I have chosen to be a Swordmaster becuase they are also a anti-magic tank and a sort of melee tank. So I was wondering if I did want to tank an instance becuase the group couldnt find any other tank. Would it be possible to stack up on health, dodging and parry instead of using a sheild?

[Roksana]

i know it isn't much, but there you go
http://www.warhammerinfo.com/db/c/index.php?switch=Swordmaster

[Black Guard]

i know it isn't much, but there you go
http://www.warhammerinfo.com/db/c/index.php?switch=Swordmaster


Thanks, but it really didnt answer my question.

[Roksana]

It probably will, eventually. That site lists character skills, abilities, and tactics.
Black Orc - http://www.warhammerinfo.com/db/c/index.php?switch=Black%20Orc

You seem to be on the right track, though. Swordmasters are described as "Unlike the rest of Warhammer Online's heavy tank classes, the Swordmaster does not entirely rely on bulky heavy armor, but instead on quick dodges and nimble evades." -So boosting dodge and evade abilities is how they mitigate damage.

Edit to add:
http://warhammeronline.wikia.com/wiki/Swordmaster

According to the wiki, they tank best with their greatsword, as opposed to sword and board.

[Demerit]

Ok, I was going to be a Black Guard, mostly becuase they are an anti-magic tank and sort of a melee tank aswell. Sooo, I have chosen to be a Swordmaster becuase they are also a anti-magic tank and a sort of melee tank. So I was wondering if I did want to tank an instance becuase the group couldnt find any other tank. Would it be possible to stack up on health, dodging and parry instead of using a sheild?


I'm sure you could MT an instance with no shield (given a viable group make-up...not sure why you'd want to tho) but you'll probably still be worse off even with a SM. Reason being that even with stacked health, parry, and dodge, adding a shield (at no cost...except loss of two-hander which should be fine since you're MT) will also provide the % chance to block (and maybe other benefits) on top of that which would make you better off as a tank.

Without fully knowing the game mechanics and encounters, it would be difficult to even begin speculating if it's possible or not to stack enough stats to effectively replace a shield. The SM were being referred to as light tanks and one reason probably being that avoidance is not all that reliable in a tanking role. With a shield the SM might be able to close in on the heavier tanks but SMs with two-handers are probably more suited to being off-tanks.

[Deshiva]

I'll agree that a swordmaster can MT, but I can't say to what extent. Need to play the game here to form a proper opinion. They have the tools necessary, no idea how much of a difference shield versus two hand will be in this game though.

Either way I hope I can keep my greatsword on the times I am main tanking, but I expect to be offtanking or caster tanking mostly thanks to my spec. And since parties are up to 6 players we got a bit more leeway for offtanking, might have several tanks in a party and still keep decent amounts of dpsers and support.

Having said that I will put on the old shield and sword style when necessary. I just wish they had done shields for swordmasters more like sheaths, so you still felt different visually than your average tank.

[Kaeden Force]

I have heard that swordmasters will be able to tank with two handers if specced correctly.