What is role of IB?

[anathir]

Why does this class even exist? I am sort of new so maybe it is a l2p thing so I am looking for an explanation.

Groups tend to run 2 tanks, usually a defensive tank and an offensive tank.

The defensive tank is 100% of the time kobs, because he gives: auras, 5% crit to group nearly always, superpunt, and a multisnare with 5s cd, aoe stagger. He can run rugged or something defensive to stay tanky, stack armor/toughness and just be amazing all round.

http://www.ror.builders/career/knight-o ... lazing-sun


The offensive tank is normally swordmaster, because he gives: ini steal, ww (or ether dance), spirit damage, blurring shock, wings of heaven, and has WODS so can run a bit higher offensive stats than another 2h would normally. Lots of proccing, lots of spirit dmg and a good emergency ability.



So as IB if im trying to beat either of those setups how do I do it? And if not, why hasnt it been buffed to at least be a competitive option?

[shaggyboomboom]

IB mostly shines when you have a dps WP in group, otherwise I can't say much, not a IB player.

[DirkDaring]

Great melee assist tank , with oathbound, runic shield, ancestors fury, as well as other single target buffs,
Also CC. Tank With earth shatter aoe snare, aoe knockback+snare it speced with powered etchings.

[GodlessCrom]

No one ever specs the aoe kb on rune etched axe. Nor should they. IB fulfills a role similar to SM: semi-selfish offensive tank if 2h. It's just not as good as SM at that role. It's still a lot of fun to play and so few groups actually tryhard that the difference between the two is negligible imo.

They also look way cooler than sm or knight. Plus, you're a dwarf. Which was good enough for your ancestors and so it's good enough for you, laddy

[anathir]

But if I go full/partial glass cannon how does IB survive without WODS?

[GodlessCrom]

By getting healed by his group. I don't really suggest going full glass cannon, it's not worth it Imo. In part because youre still not a cannon even if you are made of glass. If your whole group wants to play around you doing it, that's different, but it's not very fun otherwise. You can do decent damage without being a glass peashooter anyways and still maintain very good survivability.

Ranged dps will always make your day worse, just part of being 2h tank, but you can smack other melee (and rdps who don't kite well) around pretty handily.

[blaqwar]

IBs have other defensive options, granted none of them are as good as WoDS but being able to raise your resist, boost your parry through weapon skill, buffing your toughness and absorbing magic damage is still something.

As has been said the role of a 2H IB in small scale is the same as that of a 2H SM, they simply have different synergies. If you aren't running a good armor debuff (WL) but want to run a Slayer or a melee WP (which I'm sure will be a lot more common once the retracted changes go live again) an IB is a great choice. SMs are capable of more spike damage while IBs tend to just run you down with sustained pressure damage. There's also very limited synergy between the fabled WW CD reduction and some careers that simply don't use it very well, meanwhile an IB can provide the tools already mentioned:

- Lower CD knockdown (which is also a bit easier to react with since it has no stance requirement)
- AoE snare
- STR/Armor/Toughness/crit buffs on an Oathfriend (they don't stack but better than pots)
- An outgoing heal debuff
- Core crit chance debuff (SM needs to spec and run a tactic for it)
- As opposed to WoH IBs have Rock Clutch, which is decent spike morale damage and a root

I think people just overvalue SMs somewhat as they better fit in the current meta at this point in the game. That and WoDS is what makes SMs appear more attractive to groups.

Edit: Also, WoDS is somewhat situational and not the best when facing decent melee trains since you will only be able to face and parry the attack of only one person, as unlike dodge and disrupt parry isn't omnidirectional. In those cases the extra toughness and armor IBs tend to sport is much more useful.

[GodlessCrom]

Crashing Wave and Cave Win have the same cd. Shield of Reprisal does not, but it requires block, making it a bit unreliable at times. Otherwise agreed on all counts.

If you want to play IB, then go for it. Look up Volgos vdeos on getting geared and specced, cuz they are pretty good.

[blaqwar]

Ah right, I mixed up the cooldowns on Cave In and the block based knockdown. My bad. I should level up my IB since I love the feel and look of the career but taken with leveling some other sneaky-stabbers right now.

[anathir]

Crashing Wave and Cave Win have the same cd. Shield of Reprisal does not, but it requires block, making it a bit unreliable at times. Otherwise agreed on all counts.

If you want to play IB, then go for it. Look up Volgos vdeos on getting geared and specced, cuz they are pretty good.

Oh god haha. I said i was sort of new but I'm way ahead of volgo's level of play.