I know this has probably been asked a million times in past on this forum (but I wasn't here then I don't think :)). For those bored with the question I apologize beforehand.........
I love tanking. Don't ask me why. Can't explain it. Raids r fun and I like tanking....it's just a fact for me.
My knight is lvl 37. Facing 2nd class change. My guide (which has been notoriously wrong on many points) says in plain english the following:
"Dark Avenger is a Tank........."
also says
"Paladin is not a tank...you are a mini-tank...."
For some reason in my mind as I've interacted with others--I've come to believe that the Paladin was often a tank and a Dark Avenger was less of a tank (don't know why I have that impression--it's just one of those insidious ideas that leaked into my empty head!).
I don't know any players of higher levels in game that are either.
Which, if either, would you say is the real tank?????
PS. It appears from guide that pally is great against undead stuff and can heal (useful for soloing?). Looks like DA has a black panther summon and focuses more on defense/shield and other tanking skills. Neither pally or DA appear to be able to hit anything and hurt it (lol). Guide therefore seems a BIT consistent in arguing DA is tank.
You appear to have it backwards. The Paladin is the human Uber tank. His sole purpose pretty much is to tank. He has some nice skills (if that is the type of character you like to play - hence the reason I am a pally :)). Now the DA, while he too can tank, is not so specialised in that area. He has more overt attack and damage abilities (i.e. panther).
To sum up, a Paladin is a defensive tank, and a DA is an offensive tank. Either type is a valid way to go, it really depends on your playstyle (and or RP style if you like that in your MMO).
Do note though that tanks currently aren't very powerful. But don't let that discourage you. C5 is almost bound to buff melee classes somehow. Persistence will be rewarded. (Or so I keep telling myself :p )
You see! Everyone tells me Paladin is defensive tank.
My guide book says DA is. My guide has been seriously wrong on other issues (lmao)
My question was because guidebook conflicted with what others in game told me.
I want to tank. :)
Paladin has better defensive skills than DA, so he is the better defensive tank. Your guide is wrong. If you want to do stuff like raid boss tanking, Paladin is the better choice.