Alter Aeon FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

FAQ 7.4 - What is a tank?

On Dentinmuds, most mobs are capable of dealing damage to only one
character.  The tank of a group is the character that takes all the
damage.  Generally, the tank is the one with the best protective spells
and highest armor class.

It is usually a bad idea to have a spellcaster be the tank.  They
usually have lower hitpoints than warriors or thieves, and are limited
in the amount of armor they can wear.

High level warriors (above level 24 or so) may also have special
tanking skills that make it much easier and safer to group.  See the
help page for 'tank' for more details.