A DR/Guard build instead?

[TheKeg]

All of these AC builds popping up makes me think, what would the viability of a non-AC, S&B, DR/Guard tank be? Aside from the shield feats (Shield Master, Imp SM, and Imp. Shield Bash), everything else could be devoted to DPS. It would be a mix of the two extremes. You would have all the DR (actual/physical) a AC S&B type would, but wouldn't have to worry about all the equipment (often hard to obtain). My guess is most of your saves would be about the same as well.

I only see two downsides to this. Since you would be getting hit more, your "total DR" would be lower (assuming no hit = infinite damage reduction). And you'd be vulnerable to special attacks that you wouldn't be when shield blocking.

I know there's Tukaw, but I don't think that you could hold aggro these days. Has anyone played around with a build like this or given it some thought? I'm not too good at knowing what equipment to put where, but I think you could fit in quite a bit of guards (dragontouched armor, Shroud items, etc...).

[Samadhi]

I have had a build like this for a long time. It should still be posted in the barbarian forums somewhere.

After about 10 months, I kind of gave up on the shield + shield mastery feats. Doing more DPS via THFing (and therefore making it easier to hold aggro) won out on the additional damage reduction.

With the changes to shield mastery, though, I have been considering a revitalization of S&B mania. I still wouldn't give up the versatility of having a more offensive stance, but nothing wrong with multi-tasking


PS My current average damage per GETTING hit is 54.5. Pretty tasty if I do say so myself.

[Darknark]

All of these AC builds popping up makes me think, what would the viability of a non-AC, S&B, DR/Guard tank be? Aside from the shield feats (Shield Master, Imp SM, and Imp. Shield Bash), everything else could be devoted to DPS. It would be a mix of the two extremes. You would have all the DR (actual/physical) a AC S&B type would, but wouldn't have to worry about all the equipment (often hard to obtain). My guess is most of your saves would be about the same as well.

I only see two downsides to this. Since you would be getting hit more, your "total DR" would be lower (assuming no hit = infinite damage reduction). And you'd be vulnerable to special attacks that you wouldn't be when shield blocking.

I know there's Tukaw, but I don't think that you could hold aggro these days. Has anyone played around with a build like this or given it some thought? I'm not too good at knowing what equipment to put where, but I think you could fit in quite a bit of guards (dragontouched armor, Shroud items, etc...).

Kinda off topic, as it isn't a melee but......

I wrote up a build a while ago, Arcane Tank, capable of reaching very high DR and still theoretically holding agro against anything.

It was only SnB in that it used a shield and a Conc opp healing amp Bastardsword.

I don't really know if it helps much, but hopefully it does. Or at least gives you more options.


IMO the only way to fully capitalize on DR/- tanking is by turtling as a caster with DoT's on the boss. Torc and Conc opp for less SP drain while still holding agro. Guards for even more agro and dps.