Is "hold the line" useless?

[Hamster?????]

I keep reading that engagement means nothing on tanks/off tanks anymore. I might remove it on my tank for a damage increase if thats the case.

If I make my tank a DD, would that make a difference?

[Drake]

Well it's not useless, any mob breaking engagement will take damage from the attack of opportunity, which really hurts.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

It still means the same thing: +1 engagement targets. But there are weapons that achieve the same. And you need to ask yourself whether you only want to hope for free disengament attack or whether you would rather choose a different talent to cause attackers more trouble more quickly.

[Hamster?????]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

It still means the same thing: +1 engagement targets. But there are weapons that achieve the same. And you need to ask yourself whether you only want to hope for free disengament attack or whether you would rather choose a different talent to cause attackers more trouble more quickly.

Currently Eder has Measured Restraint and Hold the Line which allows him to engage 3 enemies, but I heard that enemies tend to ignore that on low dmg characters. So I'm currently in a struggle between keeping Hold the Line or respec that to give Eder more dmg. ATM his only defensive abilities are Hold the Line and Wep + Shield style, and every other upgrade is focused on accuracy and dmg.

I'm trying to use Eder as a tank, but if enemies ignore those engagements, Hold the Line would end up being useless. I'm kinda hoping that Hold the Line could keep them away from my glass cannons.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Do what works for you is the rule of thumb.

You cannot forcefully "bind them" to you. Enemies may choose to break engagement whenever they like. Ranged attackers may choose to attack your vulnerable less protected characters any time.

For Eder, who is survivable enough as a Fighter, I prefer making him a Ruffian (Sabre for high Slash damage) and giving him a shield in the secondary weapon slot without wasting a point on learning weapon'n'shield style.

[Rizilliant]

No, I find having more engagements for my main tank absolutely necessary.. He can deflect those hes engaging, otherwise, hes defenseless against any attacking, whom hes not actively engaged with.. Then you have disengagement attacks, and it helps to grab, and hold aggro.. I noticed mobs stopped running past my tank, and to my other characters at the start of battles, now that hes able to hold multiple engagements (with passives, a weapon that added engagements, etc.) With that weapon, I believe its 4 engaged enemies

They seem to follow the old aggro rules.. If your dps are attacking an enemy thats not being attacked, they can change focus, and target the dps instead.. I try to have dps target the tanks active enemy, for a few moments, until the other mobs have had time to focus on the tank, THEN start with aoe, and other priority targets.. I also run Eder, AND a melee 2 handed Paladin, with high defenses, so its a little easier.. I refuse to run less than 2 melee, preferably 3..

My Eder has ZERO offensive/dmg/accurcy abilities, and does quite well in regards to dmg, accuracy, and holding aggro.. I make up for his lower stats with buffs, food, and gear that adds to those lower stats.. He is specc'd 100% for tanking, defense, and engaging as many targets as possible