are intimi-tanks still viable?

[leesun]

I have been toying with the idea of making a dwarf fighter with child of the mountain (+4% max hp), tier 5 stalwart taking hardy and tenacious defense (+6 con +20% comp bonus to hp) and going unyielding sentinel strength of vitality (+20% insight to max hp), taking the heavy armor and shield mastery feats. I want to be able to tank the fat dragon in FoTP and be like, yo what up baby gurl, and just stand there not giving 2 shts.

BUT are intimi-tanks still viable? iron mits would give me healing amp, pared with the cheap and fast renewal I could have some self sustain. on another toon renewal gives me around 150-300hp per tick. EE ring of djin, cormyeian green dragonplate, orcish pirateer jordans and a blue prismatic cloak would give me nice resistances. would the enchantment bonuses from items stack with the passive bonus from block energy in unyielding sentinel? I remember back in the day tanks were requested often, but I don't play as often now as I used to. are intimi-tanks still useful? still meta?

[Enoach]

This all depends on the group you run with.

There are those that will tell you that an intimi-tank died long ago, and then there are those (like myself) that enjoy playing that style and have saved a quest/raid a time or two (possibly more).

Many of the end game Raids still require some form of tanking to control either a group or a single boss.

Now, that being said you still want a DPS mode that you can switch to for times when tanking is not needed for the group you are in.

[unbongwah]

See my Dwarven Defender & Sacred Vanguard threads.

In terms of DPS, if we're talking pure Vanguards, no question: pallies win, hands down. Ftr bonus feats can help you tweak your DCs and PRR/MRR, but right now they don't get anything as good as Zeal+Holy Sword. I'm tempted to say that even if you want a TYWA build, you're probably better off sticking with pally.

[SiliconScout]

I have been toying with the idea of making a dwarf fighter with child of the mountain (+4% max hp), tier 5 stalwart taking hardy and tenacious defense (+6 con +20% comp bonus to hp) and going unyielding sentinel strength of vitality (+20% insight to max hp), taking the heavy armor and shield mastery feats. I want to be able to tank the fat dragon in FoTP and be like, yo what up baby gurl, and just stand there not giving 2 shts.

BUT are intimi-tanks still viable? iron mits would give me healing amp, pared with the cheap and fast renewal I could have some self sustain. on another toon renewal gives me around 150-300hp per tick. EE ring of djin, cormyeian green dragonplate, orcish pirateer jordans and a blue prismatic cloak would give me nice resistances. would the enchantment bonuses from items stack with the passive bonus from block energy in unyielding sentinel? I remember back in the day tanks were requested often, but I don't play as often now as I used to. are intimi-tanks still useful? still meta?

In my experience only if they are the best or very close to the best DPS in the group they just don't get a big enough leap on the rest when intimidation fires off to hold onto that aggro unless they are more or less keeping up with the DPS pain train as well. Honestly though if you are looking to really help out just build for pure DPS and self heal. Intimidate as a playstyle died a long, long time ago in this game and generally is situationally useful for when someone squishy accidentally pulls aggro but even then only if they realize they need to stop DPS'ing for a bit.

[LongshotBro]

i'm no master at the playstyle or top-tier build, but i do have one character that has evolved into an intimi-tank over a couple of lives now, and i love it.

people in both my guild and PUGs have complimented the tanking ability, which again, i don't think i am top-notch at. probably moreso because, as others have pointed out, it's not a popular or common thing to do these days. so it's perhaps just a pleasant surprise in groups to have someone pull the aggro and/or soak up damage and let others do the dirty work.

i've run both as a fighter and a paladin version, both sword-and-board. paladin certainly has more bells and whistles, but i will say that fighter was ultimately "tougher" in my experience. i felt like my fighter life was better able to take and control the aggro, and also had higher overall defenses. that being said, i don't keep a lot of hard data/numbers so i can't tell you with mathematical precision. just a feeling.

if it's a question of whether to build one, i say go for it. if nothing else, it's a different sort of playstyle that maybe you will find enjoyment with. i'd certainly never played a tank of any sort before and just wanted to try it out. it quickly became a favorite.

[AbyssalMage]

BUT are intimi-tanks still viable?

They are still viable. As another has said though, it has to fit your play style.

The (not so) recent nerf's prove that having a super high PRR/MRR combo provides plenty of tanking power. I am not sure you need to focus so heavily on HP's but experimenting is part of the fun (i.e. Not sure if Dwarf is really needed except to role-play). The lower levels may be oppressively slow (self healing will not be great) yet ED's at 20 will make life a lot easier (for healing and increased DPS/Defenses, as the situation dictates).

Gear will come. As you refine the build, your gear will become better than what you posted. It is a great starting point though.

[Ghwyn]

Almost any build is viable these days, but an intim tank still has a useful role to play in the current game. Paly will be higher dps with holy sword, but fighter works well. Baldeforge is the easy button, and you can add fighter levels for extra feats and different enhancements. With the recent intim updates, you can hold it again high dps characters.

I enjoy my intim tank alt. I gave up some dps to be able to do LE hox and not be affected by bees, but its still fun. And fun is what is all comes down to.

[Spoonwelder]

Almost any build is viable these days, but an intim tank still has a useful role to play in the current game. Paly will be higher dps with holy sword, but fighter works well. Baldeforge is the easy button, and you can add fighter levels for extra feats and different enhancements. With the recent intim updates, you can hold it again high dps characters.

I enjoy my intim tank alt. I gave up some dps to be able to do LE hox and not be affected by bees, but its still fun. And fun is what is all comes down to.

Intim tank is helpful in LHoX and LTempest Spine (if the party works with you)....but both need high intim(90+) which isn't easy to fit in without some serious work and/or loss of DPS.

As for DPS issues on tanks - the bonus you get from the new Intimidate can keep you ahead of almost all but the top tier DPSers in the game - 100intim = 20,000damage every 6 seconds if you spam it - 400% bonus (plus gear/enhancements can add 200%+ and more) to threat during intim will get you the rest of the way there in almost every case.

The only problem is dealing with the hate - dedicated healer, high PRR, AC and HP - 3/4 will likely get you there in all but the nastiest of situations.