I'm starting to think of him just as the name says. A vanguard, front line, first in, up close soldier. *cough*stormtrooper*cough* Its not so much 'pew pew behind cover'. Bu sort of 'Whoa someones shooting me! Now hes in my face! Hitting me with his rifle! And punching me with grenades! What kind of sociopath punches you with grenades?" Maybe not that dramatic, but thats basically the point. Its seems hes the type not to stand around while waiting for you to die by gunfire, hes going to keep the line advancing, even if it means personally kicking you out of the way. Well I'm practically sold, one more question that is a bit off topic. Are the Vans the dominate tank currently? Or does that title go to the baton twirlers?

Can't the jedi shadow tank? Mmmmmmm laser shotgun. I don't mind short range, its just that every talks like you should spam stock strike, and gutting at all times.

Ok, I get that its fun to hit them with your rifle, its just that after a while I'm guessing that a hitting instrument that was actually designed for hitting might seem like more sense.

This is probably the best path I can follow. I was just hoping someone could describe it. Your right, it really is better if I see it for myself. Some friends were trying to convince me to start tanking again a day or so ago. In tall this time before the game's early access I hadn't even considered that role, so I know next to *nothing* about the vanguard.

Ok I'm sorry, I didn't phrase it correctly. Let me explain, what I'm concerned about is actually kind of shallow. I'm concerned not by the vanguards effectiveness (the fact that you say he requires more attention actually makes me like him more) or the fact that he uses a rifle. No its that it sounds like I'm going to be constantly shooting people at point blank range, and how that feels and looks. At some point around lvl 35, am I going to go "Why didn't they just give this man a club and some grenades and be done with it?" I get visions of Skyrim archers beating people to death with their bows. Its satisfying, yeah, but around mob number 12 you start to feel kind of dirty and awkward. I'm not saying the vanguard wouldn't be a good tank, or that its mechanic is weird, or even that I want BW to change it. I'm just wondering if that during his job as tank, this rifle man looks, feels and acts like someone wielding a rifle. That the game remembers that lasers come out of the narrow end.

I'm torn between tanks at the moment. I promised myself I wouldn't roll a force user, but it looks like Guardian tanking would be less......awkward. What bugs me most is the thought of being point blank most of the time and using a rifle, but most on this forum don't have a problem with it. Those of you who tank with a vanguard, doesn't it feel bulky or seem a little off to be tanking with a rifle? I honestly want to know, because I don't want to pass up a chance to tank with what looks like an awesome class.