Guardian: A Reference, Guide and FAQ

It makes sense that we as Guardians have a thread that hopefully consolidates everything (or near everything) new guardians would like to know about this class and maybe even provide some additional information and alternatives for some of the veterans. I will separate this list out in categories to help keep things more organized/easier to find. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding this class, I will try to answer them to the best of my ability, and possibly add it to the main list.

Last Updated: 30 May 2007

**Please note this list will be periodically updated with new information from community questions/information and changes from patches.

Please keep in mind that much of this is information gathered from my closed-beta level 50 Guardian and feedback/forum post from other high level Guardians and Beta testers#, so some of it may be slightly inaccurate or differ from your current game experience.

#Your names are too numerous to mention but if you think I'm talking about you, I probably am.

Prologue: Guardian - An Introduction & Overview
A. What is a Guardian?
B. Nemesis
C. Terminology
D. FAQ’s

I. Skills
A. Active Skills
B. Passive Skills
C. Fellowship Skills
D. Combat options

II. Traits
A. Class
B. Legendary
C. Race
D. Virtues

III: Stats & Equipment
A: Basic Stats
B: Other Stats
C: Equipment & Supplies

IV: Builds
A. Defensive Guardian (Block Focused)
B. Offensive Guardian (Parry Focused)
C. Off-tanking Guardian (2H Specialist)
D. Threat Guardian (Fellow Specialist)

V: Issues, Concerns & Desired/Suggested Enhancements

FYI: In general, text in italics is straight from Turbine (statements, documents and mouseovers).
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Prologue: Guardian - An Introduction & Overview
What is a Guardian?
Role: Tank
A sturdy fighter and protector of the weak, a skilled Guardian can face even the toughest foes and survive. The Guardian is one of the few classes willing and able to try to draw more blows onto himself, and can retaliate with devastating responses. The Guardian will be the class of choice for players who enjoy hard-fought battles and heavy hand-to-hand combat. A master of the defensive arts, a Guardian uses taxing attacks and irksome taunts to draw and hold opponents’ attention, relying on his shield and weapon to turn aside incoming attacks with blocks and parries. His combat style depends on creating openings during an opponent’s attack to provide the opportunity for his own counterattacks.

Reactive Skills: The Guardian is the master of reacting and counterattacking in combat. A sizable number of your skills are dependent on certain combat situations. As you are attacked, you will see the appropriate counter-maneuvers unlock for use against your foe. For example, the skill Retaliation can be used after you parry an attack.

In terms of other MMORPGs, the Guardian fulfills the role of Heavy Tank, with lower overall damage output in exchange for improved survivability. The Guardian is one of the hardiest of classes, with the highest average Morale and a number of abilities which mitigate damage taken. The Guardian is a good soloing class, although the lower damage output means killing monsters takes a bit longer for the Guardian than for some other classes.

B. Nemesis: Healing & Ranged Classes
Due to lower damage output, a mob that has the ability to heal itself will always be a challenge for a Guardian to defeat solo, at or above level. Be prepared for a long battle, ready to stun as often as necessary and have ways to restore power or a stalemate may occur. Ranged classes, much like our Hunters, can do the most damage in the shortest amount of time. Closing the distance by running to them or pulling them to you to get into melee is required if one wants to defeat this foe.

C. Terminology
Aggro: The attention or aggravation of the mob; management of which is the Guardian's primary function (but not his sole responsibility).
IIWAI: The question we all need to ask before we /bug...Is it working as intended.
LOS: Line of sight. A tool that every Guradian needs to lear how to use to improve their ability to Pull and position a mob for combat.
Main Tank (MT): The player in a raid or fellowship that concentrates on keeping the enemies attacking him and only him, while the other players pick them off.
Main Assist (MA): The player in a raid or fellowship who calls the shots on which mob should be taken down next by the DPS classes.
Threat: The level of aggravation or ire a player has generated to a mob by using skills and/or sometimes their mere presense.

D. FAQ’s

What’s the best race for the Guardian?
There is no best race, only preference. Many feel that both the Dwarf and Man Race traits and starting statistics better suit the Guardian than the Elves and Hobbits, but take note of these two things.
1. The starting differences mean next to nothing at the highest levels. The way you build and play your Guardian will have the biggest effect.
2. When it’s time for a Guardian to become “Legendary” he must travel to Rivendell (land of the Elves) and speak to Sam Gamgee (Hobbit).

What’s the most important stat for a Guardian?
It depends on what type of Guardian you want to be. Take a look at the Builds and Stats sections and determine for you what fits into your play style.

What can I do about repairs? Will they make any adjustments for Guardians? Do you think it’s worth playing a guardian with the state of repairs?
To quote Patience quoting the great thinker…Butthead, “Settle down, Beavis”
More from Patience http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.p...0# post456780


I. Skills

II. Traits

III: Stats & Equipment

IV: Builds

V: Issues, Concerns & Desired/Suggested Enhancements

Hopefully this helps answer some questions new/potential Guardians may have about this class. If there is anything else you would like to ask, please place a question here to be answered by me, or any other knowledgeable Guardian. Happy Hunting
post by Cyberjazz@http://forums.lotro.com