I can't decide! Brain aneurysm!

Endlos

So, I'm really torn on what career to play.  I love to tank, and I've narrowed my choices down to a Swordmaster or a Chosen.  I've played a bit of both of them in OB and I still can't figure out which I like more.  I'll end up playing both but I'd like to have a main, and my two choices being on opposite sides of the war (and thus landing on different servers) makes things a bit more problematic.

I attempted to make a concise list of what appeals to me about each career, but as you can see the post just dissolves into rambling mush near the end.

Chosen pros:

Auras

The freedom to use/spam/stack whatever attacks I want, in any order

The only interaction I have with silly, cartoonish dwarves will be killing them

More situational and bonus effects (damage reflection, knockdowns, damage-target-while moving, etc)

 

Swordmaster pros:

Seemingly higher sustained damage, even in D spec most of a  Swordmaster's attacks hit harder than a Chosen's in D spec.  Everything in the Swordmaster tank path just seems much higher (based on wardb.com numbers)

Seemingly ridiculous damage absorption.  Sure, the Chosen's warped flesh is good, but it only triggers on a 25% chance when you get hit.  It roughly compares to Phantom Blade's 25% chance when you hit something else.  But then Vaul's Buffer seems to somewhat grossly tip the scales back toward Swordmaster.  But then the Chosen has armor-increasing buffs, and toughness or heal (or both, if you twist) toggles.  But then AUGH MY BRAIN.

Reccax626

Flip a coin

GreenChaos

If you don't mind playing order , than play order.  We need more order plain and simple. 

Black_Elvis

I am in a similar situation in that I am having a tough time deciding wether to play a Goblin Shaman or a High Elf Archmage....

 

Honestly I'll probably roll order just because of the previous poster's reason.

geldonyetich

I swear, I probably did give myself a minor aneurysm over alt-a-holicism in MMORPGs before.  So, I guess I'm really good at incecision!

However, WOR's not so bad.  I've found that here's a good way to look at it:

First off, realize that all the classes are balanced to be equally potent because Mythic is old hat at MMORPGs and they really know how to balance the classes.  You're never going to be in a position where you regret your class choice because it's broken because they'll always be balanced.

Second, know that all classes in WOR have a pretty good mixture of offense and defense.  Unlike other MMORPGs, your class choice in WOR does not totally gimp you offensively or defensively - you can do both relatively well no matter what you play.  Further, there's no stealth or mob control spells to worry about - because people hate that in PvP - so how you apply your offensive and defensive capacity is pretty much all there is.

Third, notice that all classes are sorted into four specialties: "Ranged DPS," "Melee DPS," "Tank," and "Healer."    All classes play relatively the same as somebody else in their speciialty:Ranged DPS = Dwarven Engineer = Empire Witch Hunter = Elven Shadow Warrior.  

This makes it really easy to narrow down your choices: What role in a group do you really want to play?  Do you want to be the guy who protects others directly up front (Tank), protects indirectly from behind (Healer), does damage up front (Melee DPS) or does damage from a range (Ranged DPS).

Step Four is in noticing there's a difference in flavor depending on how they go about doing their jobs.  While all three of those Ranged DPS classes have a combination of melee and ranged attacks, the Dwarven Engineer has turrets he can place, the Witch Hunter has combo "accusation" points they build and spend, and the Shadow Warrior has a variety of stances.

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So, in your case, you want to be a Tank.  I wouldn't worry about the Chosen not being tanky, it'll be equally tanky to a Swordmaster just in other ways.  You've just got to decide which flavor you like better.  Don't quibble on the actual abilities, think of it in a more of a level of what you're emotionally comfortable to play.