He can afford to go pure CON because he has people to do the damage for him. When you are leveling solo pre level 100 pure CON works. When you start getting past 100-150 the game gets tougher and pure CON as a solo player is NOT… NOT going to work. Well its doable but you will be so slow in everything that you’ll give up over time.
There are a lot of players coming from other MMO’s that play tanks as there main classes and want to continue that here. However what people need to understand is you will spend 80-90% of your play time either questing or grinding. Both of these things are BETTER WITH DAMAGE. Both go faster and smoother if you can help provide damage to your team. Can you go full CON and flail your wet noodle arm around or just block all day… sure. Will it do much to help anyone other then yourself, no.
Tanking in ToS is not the same as it is in many other mmo’s. Trying to bend it to your style of play just leaves you as a weaker product. Do you have a TON of health and are harder to kill, you bet! Does the harder content require a tank like that, nope!
Lets get something straight. SB will hold threat. It keeps threat long enough to keep almost everything on you. If a DPS blows everything on a single target SB will not hold it, but at higher levels if they do that the mob is already dead, so it’s a moot point.
So whats the problem? Well most of the content is based around timed spent and most of the challenge is set around doing something in a set time or protecting something. Both of these scenarios are benefited by a tank who does something OTHER then just aoe taunt and block. People don’t get it, because in almost any other mmo your job as the tank is to hold threat, and stay alive. That’s your whole damn job, it’s all your responsible for! ToS however does not require massive HP pool tanks to survive so when you are focused on 100% survival you are HURTING your team. You provide NOTHING beyond a taunt. Which anyone with a rank or two in Peltasta can provide.
To sum this up and get to my point. If you are playing with friends and want to be a giant useless HP wall because it makes you feel good then do it. However if you are a solo player or a player who wants to be the best “tank” they can for their group then grab some STR and some damage skills and start helping the group progress at the best rate possible. You’ll learn pretty fast that not only is a massive HP pool not needed, other players will get tired of you not pulling enough weight by just blocking or flailing a less useful full CON build around.
FULL tank in this game is not full CON. Its balancing CON with damage to do the “FULL” job. Not just the defense half of it. In the end do whatever you like. I see people all the time in game with screwed up builds and gear and I never say a word because I don’t want to rain on anyone’s idea of fun. However as someone who has been playing the “tank” roll in games for over 20+ years I offer this. Each game has its own system and style. Your job as the tank is to be the best tank you can be for your party each and every time. Even if that means playing differently then the way you assume a tank SHOULD be.
Good luck friends!