How to Play RPG With No Tanks in Your Party
No One Needs to Be Harmed, Not Even the Meat Shield
Most people who have played an MMORPG or a classical D&D campaign know what a tank is. In a world where some people cut through monsters with their swords and axes and sorcerers burn villains with fireballs, the job of the tank is to get hit, so other people don’t have to. But one of the greatest things about a TTRPG is that there isn’t a right way to play it. So today, we are talking about how to play an RPG with no tanks in your party.
Avoiding Violence While You Commit Violent Murder
The classical way to play fantasy RPGs is the old reliable hack and slash. This approach involves lots of stabbing, attacking creatures as soon as you see them. You are always looking for XP and treasure above everything else. Well, if you fight everything head-on, you are probably going to get hit. That makes the brave person covered in armor (or fury) very valuable. So, a great way to play without tanks is to focus on social and sneaking tactics. Of course, you are going to stab, slash, and throw lightning at the BBEG. But you don’t really need to taunt and duel every monster along the way. Bluffing, being discreet, and circling around strong foes are very efficient ways of avoiding damage that needs to be soaked.
No Weak Links
The tanks in most RPGs are usually tasked with keeping the most fragile members of the party alive. They are complementary to the glass cannon wizards, sorcerers, and other kinds of individuals that, in some ways, are known as nukers. The tank is there to allow those characters that can’t handle getting hit to do their jobs and keep standing. But what if no one needs this kind of protection? If your party is made up of lots of people who can take some hits, you can spread the damage around. It’s time to help each other, and use smart positioning and combat strategy to make sure your enemies can’t single a party member out and take him down. A great way to do this in D&D is with lots of fighters in your group.
Keep Everyone Healthy, Always
So you don’t want to have a wall of steel or flesh between your conjurers, long-range damage-dealers, or other fragile party members, but you don’t want to narrow the class or kit choices. There’s a challenge there because lots of traditional fantasy RPGs balance the game by making the ones that do the most extraordinary stuff easy to kill. But there’s a way to keep casting spells, shooting arrows and backstabbing even if you lack the HP or resilience to do so. Always be healing.
In D&D 5E, lots of classes can use healing spells! You don’t need lots of hit points to keep fighting; one is enough. Of course, this strategy has to be adapted to the game system. There’s even something heroic and beautiful about a hero who falls six times but gets up seven just to keep fighting. So if you can’t avoid being hurt, heal as much as you can and make every move count.
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