Do parties expect BM to tank?

[Silhouette]

Hiya, newbie here ^^  Just wondering if parties expect BM to tank in even the first instance at level 20?  I have a warlock at 34 or so that I don't ever remember if we had a tank at that first dungeon or not.  I've tanked in games like FF11, FF14, and such - will I need to retrain my BM when I enter the Blight dungeon so that it has more aggro generating perks (like spec cyclone, or something that adds more aggro) even if I don't use that kind of build often solo?  Thanks for any help!

[Els]

The only 2 skills with threat increases are Cyclone and 5-pt strike, both of them have a non-threat version. 
Cyclone threat path gives you 9 focus over 3 secs, which is nice, and an additional 150% threat for 30 secs (meaning 250% total threat). There's a path without the threat bonus.
5-pt strike threat path hurts as much as Blade Call, except its not AoE, but later you'll have a soul shield reducing the CD of 5-pt strike by 70%. There's also a path without the triple threat bonus.
So, both spec are good and you can always switch to non-threat if you want to (it's just like 2 clicks anyway).

[Satarn]

You should be speccing Cyclone anyway and use it as often as possible for the chi regeneration it provides. Since the non-aggro path doesn't give anything else, you can as well take the extra threat(unless you want to use the deflect version for leveling, then you will also have to spec your Block correctly though). However, you shouldn't worry about tanking before max level - there's no need for that in the easy content and you will probably get some over-leveled randoms in parties anyway.

 

Once you hit 45 is the time when you should take care to keep aggro from bosses, not only because it helps your group, but also for the Cyclone procs, which will let you keep spamming the draw stance ani-cancels for maximum dps.

[Mevelios]

Even though I'm not yet at the 4-man dungeons, as a 45 BM you happen sometimes to be asked to tank, yeah. Especially from warlocks.

You can avoid using any threat generator (those are five-point strike move 3 & cyclone move 2). However you should consider that tanking constitutes a strength for you as well: deflecting/blocking enables cyclone which constitutes your best focus recovery (6 on use, +9 or 15 over 5 secs depending which move you're using). Five-point strike, if specced to tier 3 on both moves 2&3, can be used as a .6s immunity. Cyclone moves 2&3 at tier 3 are temporary immunities as well. Rush, once turned into multislash (move 2) becomes a longer immunity that even enables the use of cyclone at tier 4, meaning if there's any reason to be under consecutives attacks for a long time, you get a really long immunity.

Not to say that you still have both your blindsides, the one to the right (E key) being constantly available as long as you use it only in draw stance. The left blindside (A key) can be used in draw stance as well, simply triggering its own cooldown. They need a precise use but they will work wonders. And if that's not enough, your block skill is still available!

You can also gamble on your evade rate when switching to draw stance, it passively gives you a fixed +20%, at the cost of -20% in your block rate.

So if at any point, tanking makes you somewhat doubtful about your ability to survive or deal damages, you can be certain of it: you have everything you need to both tank & hit hard. At this point it only becomes a matter of precise timing, and knowledge of your opponent! :)

 

Tanking also allows you to have control over placing your target into your damaging fields. That is to say, your sundering sword (anklebiter turned into move 3), your blade call, and if you had the luck to get your hands on this one, the lightning draw T5M2. Skills related to the flock of blades require also your target to remain around (both lightning rod and whirling scourge, though that last one simply needs you to stay in melee). And as long as those damaging fields are running, you don't need to hit; simply to make sure your target remains inside them. Better have control yourself over the placing, than relying on other party members making your skills useless without intending to!