The Main Charm Slot was mentioned based on Tanking ability more than Damage / Tank ability.
Your setup can be altered based on the Groups Dynamic.

Fighter Tanker:

Best Weapon to use: Axe.
Reasoning: Ratios and the stat setup for the Fighter makes this the best option.

Best Armor to use: Scale or Chain.
Reasoning:
.. Scale for multi defensive attributes when using Intelligence on items
.. Chain for more minimum physical defense than Plate, also note to use Vita stats to increase your base physical defense.

Best Stat charm to use on Main Slot: Vitality + Intelligence
Reasoning: with the new update, it has been mentioned that dexterity no longer provides physical critical defense (Please note, this is not 100% confirmed)

Best Stat Placement for your Fighter Tanker:

Base:
50 Strength
40 Dexterity
10 Intelligence
50 Vitality

Vitality: You need to reach 75 maximum without Items.
Dexterity: You need to add 10 points here when you have reached 75 Vitality
Note: Once you have reached 75 base Vitality, and 50/50 Str/Dex, it is best to gain 2 levels first before
placing any stat points into your stats, then you need 1 point in each Str & Dex to keep the ratio at its prime.

Modifications to look for on your items:

Weapon: You need EE and preferably another stat to help with defense like: Vitality or Intelligence
Armor: You need EE and preferably another stat to help with defense like: Vitality or Intelligence
Main Charm: You need to find one with both stats: Vitality / Intelligence.

Starting out:
+ Life / EE ... TierIII items can make you survive up until level 15 when you will need your EE gear etc.
____________________

Please note that the above is only a guideline.

This post was edited by izParagonzi on Jan 4 2011 11:55pm

Dex not blockingcrits is confirmed
It's in the portal and all

Yes dex is not a defensive value anymore but more of a damage and crit.

Thank you all for your suport and I think I will try to put all your good ideeas on a page and rewrite this guide based on your feedback also.

I knew I'll start a rage thread when I did this but in fact I did this with a major purpose. When people argue about things like that the result is always a positive one

Have a nice day.

I don't know if anyone touched upon it. But if you can't find EE on armors, chains/plates outperform scales under in damage taken. But that is generally common sense, given that most monsters are physical.

But that isn't really tanking related, because it be bad news to not use EE armors for tanks. But just a thought.

This post was edited by DeafBoy on Jan 5 2011 12:49am

I just found out after some tests yesterday and some days ago also that even a plate is weaker then a scale/leather as master quest armor it's the best tanking armor for nmnm! Plate is the best nmnm tanking armor and I'm 95% sure of it.

I would have to test stuff like that for myself. Not saying you are wrong, but it could be random chance of monsters to pop out with different stats. Maybe a NMNM spawns with more physical than magical and it's all chance.

You would have to do a good 5-10 tests to get a good idea. And more over time. Because things could just be isolated incidents.

I have not tested this out, but I can recall all of the times that I have accomplished Ambush.

There are times that the monster spawns are weak vs magic (thus being physical in damage)
And there have been time where the spawns are weak only vs Physical (thus being magical in damage)
Now, I have come across a mixed bunch that are either 4/5 phys/magic and 5/4 phys/magic, thus equal.

So with that being said, Dependent on the group and the spawn, you may utilise a certain type of amor.
Mind you, with either outcome, Scale is more likely the best choice... Chain/Plate can be better with more int stats on items etc.

Versatility is better than a single entity... thus... Scales are the optimum defense as long as they have 3 properties:
1. Enhanced Effect for both Phys/Magical defense
2. Vitality for phys defence
3. Intelligence for Magical defences

I tested that out in 6 nmnm and I had tank some time in group with very high leather on nmnm but I got less damage then him. This is only for nmnm and I did not tested for other quests. From those 6 tested 2 times I was solo tank and I did managed to do it. You should test that out also. We might get an ideea about how nmnm can be done easier in the future: scales/leathers on random monsters , plates on nmnm.

Please test it as to reveal this. Untill yesterday I just wondered why I have no problems on nmnm untill Nate said on vent that it seams plates are way better then anything else on nmnm. That made me think about my last catacombs with nmnm.

It might be true.

It could be...

I have been healer in the last 6 nmnms where I was dealing 900 + average heal
No 1 died whether they were in Scales/Chain or Plate as a tanker.

This means that the group will aid in every other aspect of your survival.
Not only the heals, but also the damage the group has...

Example...
500 average dmg / 800 avg heal will be very good
300 average dmg / 600 avg heal will be pretty good
900 average dmg / 400 avg heal will be Okay
etc

Thank you very much for this wonderful guide! While I may not play hardcore, somebody told me once that I'm horrible as a tank. I'll take your advice into consideration on how to further my potential contribution to the team.