[Truece]

Round 3: FIGHT!

WAR/DNC
MNK/WAR
SAM/NIN
COR/RNG
SMN/WHM
BLM/WHM

I updated my gear slightly:

Rings: *Soldier's Ring/Phalanx Ring
Body: IM Cuirass
Back: Gaia mantle
Legs: IM Cuisses

We camped at Cape Terrigan zone in Kuftal Tunnel, fighting crabs, PT was levels 50-54. I continued to use tavnazian tacos (since I had some left over from the previous party). I used axe/sheild combo and only used defender if the healer was getting low on MP or I was getting low on HP. I was a little frustrated with the SMN (who was main healing) since he tended to spam cure III on me, even when it wasn't necessary. I asked him not to heal me past ~900 HP (75%) so that the latent on my Soldier's Ring would be active, but he continued to heal me to full. However, this was my first time tanking w/ only 1 healer (although a DNC would've been a perfect addition, imho) and we fared quite well.

The biggest problem that I had was getting finishing moves, since quickstep seemed to miss often. The result being that I didn't always have animated flourish available. This could be related to my lower-skilled Axe (156 @ 54) and the lack of my Sniper's Ring (and ACC+2 on my gloves, when I switched to AF). The COR was switching between Fighter's Roll and Samurai's Roll. The Store TP from Samurai's Roll was a nice boost since I was missing so often and my TP gain was a bit slow for my taste.

The BLM had a death wish, I think. He wouldn't even wait for my 2nd 'voke before he would start casting Stone III or AM (not to mention casting AM when the mob was above 50% health). Rant: After 25 mins, the BLM (leader) dings 55. The COR (who was just 50 at the time) said something about the 5-level gap. The BLM responds, "I'll leave then", changes the leader to someone else, and leaves the PT in the middle of a fight! I couldn't believe it! We continued on for the next 45 mins w/ just 5 until a replacement BLM was found.

While I tried to pay closer attention to how often I would block, I had a difficult time seeing how often a block would proc. I immediately switched into AF gloves (STR+4, Shield skill +10) as soon as I dinged 54.

Throughout the night I was getting some nice shield/parry skillups. I'm still on the fence about G.Axe vs. Axe/Shield, but I can say that it sure is nice to see hits for 20-30 damage instead of 70-100! I still feel that I am a 'better' tank when I keep defender up full-time. At least then I don't feel like a huge MP sponge. I want healers to think "cool, a WAR tank. {Yes, please.}" instead of "ugh, a WAR tank. {Thanks for the offer, but I'll have to pass.}"

Near the end of the PT, someone said "Tru, I keep thinking you're a PLD!", which I'll take as a compliment. I'd still like to get in a PT w/ a PLD and see how my hate tools hold up...

*I picked up a Soldier's Ring since I was getting low on funds, and it was only 1k. I thought that it would be fairly easy to keep the latent active since I rarely go over 50TP due to steps/waltzes. If the healer will cooperate next time, I think I'll try it again.