[BG] The Black Guard's Purpose?

[nocturnalguest]

Interesting.. not the overall greatest of news as it stands. Aesthetically I may just stick with it, and I like having debuffs and whatnot. But, it does bug me to see a Black Ork or a Chosen wade in and do so much whereas I have more issues. Especially with that apparently very crucial skill being so deep in the Right Hand tree, and I really need a lot from the middle. Oof.

You came into second worst place to ask "general" questions (worse is only in-game). There are no known issues with "squishiness" or "OPness" for any of 6 tanks both sides. All of them can be build offensive, all of them can be build defensive, all of them have crucial things to bring for groups.

All tanks are absolutely viable and have their own places and shine in their own niches depending on group compositions. As for BG its viable in all possible content both as either SnB or 2h, its up to how parties will be built and what for - BG is best option to support heavy AoE spam and for regular typical warbands 4 chosen slots are already locked so competetion is BG vs BO and main question is how DPS are specced and what is the purpose of party.

[Gladiolix]

A good player on "bad" class is way better than bad player on "meta" class, especially true with tanks IMO.

People tend to list all the bad things their class have and good things the OTHER classes, and never the good things they have and that other people dont (+ downplay how good their strong points are). EDIT: Textbook example of this right below . I would ignore all the discouragement on playing on a character that you enjoy playing.

Also regarding the OP question: "Is the purpose of a BG really just.. a couple of debuffs?"
Pretty much yeah, but thats true on every other tank too (simplified SnB selling points to warband play): Chosen/Kotbs = aura bots, BO = Speed buff, SM/BG = Cooldown reducer, IB = superb single target buffer

[Florian90210]

BG is worst tank rn.
It does feel that defence stats in paperdoll are far from reality, I guess BG feels squishier because this class don't have damage reduction abilities. And I don't think there is a way to reproduce blob attack and analyze it.

BG is bad because:

• it require to manage not only AP, but also Hate.
• Your buffs and debuffs mostly ST and they cost AP or Hate, GCD. Compare it to kotbs and chosen auras which don't require anything, AoE, buff AND debuff at same time.
• Your strong Willpower buff cool, but if you give it to healer, that means you can't generate hate from your dps buddy.
• Your one of the best ability "Crimson Death" too high on dmg tree, kotbs can do it too with cheaper tactic and + guaranteed AoE wounds debuff, while BG's wounds debuff require not only tactic but get triggered only on critical hit (lol)
• CDR is cool, but it only works in highly coordinated groups and now shamans can do it too now btw.
• Even in dps tank meme build you still do less damage then other tanks. (no WS buffs for you)
• With recent changes your punt is no longer the best, kotbs and chosen punt you with moon like gravity (unlike BO's punt) and put you out of battle for long time and good distance. Also again, you need to build 100 hate. So every first engagement you will be out, because kotbs don't need to build anything, you go flying instantly.