Well after quite a long layoff between posts I doubt I have any readers left but what the hey. I've been in limbo with Rhubarb for quite a while now. I reactivated her a while back when Heroes was low on healers; I specced her holy and turned her loose, healing up a storm. At the time I only planned on healing for a little while but I realized that I liked it. However, in the back of my head I had always had the thought of returning to Ret once the guild had enough healers. We received an influx of healers and I specced back to Ret; unfortunately it was far too frustrating to do anything with. Inconsistent damage and no mana made for a frustrating grinding experience. This was very annoying and I toyed with leveling up something new or just playing Brambles again.
It was about this time that one of the main tanks in Heroes, Honorshammer, decided to leave us in order to pursue more of a raiding career. This, combined with an already existing shortage of tanks has created something of a tanking vacuum in Heroes that is somewhat holding up our progress through Kara.
I decided to see what I could put together for a Tanking set. After picking up some rep pieces and getting a couple of small drops, in very short order I was uncrittable (490 defense) and about 13% away from uncrushable. At this time I was ready to try tanking since I still didn't know if it was something I could do, or would like to do even. Unfortunately, at work we entered a 2 week long competition in Calgary, where I live, that took up almost every evening for those 2 weeks. That ended about a week ago and I just this evening tried tanking my first instance.
For my first instance as a tank we ventured into Shattered Halls. On this run was:
Rhubarb: sacrificial tanking newb
Origami: feral druid
Wichita: resto shammie
Lakini: moonkin
Regolas: warlock (not sure of spec)
My first problem (besides not having tanked before) was that these guys vastly outgeared me. I realized I need more spell damage to roll with these guys so I can generate enough threat.
Second, it does not matter how much you gear up and read up on how to tank, until you've done it you don't know squat. I had read all the theory and stuff, I had planned out what I was going to do and how I was going to execute my plan to build threat and to hold aggro. Not a complete waste of time but I definitely didn't need to spend so much time.
The problems I had were definitely not from building threat. They were mostly from holding aggro, and getting it back. Lakini and Reg were especially good at yanking mobs from me.
Some things I need to work on:
Avenger's shield: When there are more than 3 mobs I need to learn to pick my targets better.
Righteous Defense: Our taunt functions differently than other tanks in that, as far as I know, it becomes useful only after we have lost aggro. Its incredibly useful when a mob takes off, but noticing this is the problem. When there is only one mob it was pretty obvious when I lost aggro, however when I had many more it was more difficult to identify the lost mob and who hes targeting.
Mana: I burnt through my mana like crazy, partly because I had to really work to hold aggro against my overgeared guildies.
Composure: When everything went wrong and the sh*t hit the fan, I was left standing around wondering what I should do. My first couple of pulls there was a lot of this, luckily origami was able to put his bear suit on and save my bacon.
Anyway to make a long story slightly longer, we finished SH without a single death, whether I was the reason or not I am secretly going to take credit for it, *shhhh*. The tanking trinket didn't drop but thats ok, I realize that the tanking xp and practice is actually much more valuable at this stage.
I need a few pieces of gear before I am ready to venture into Kara, but more importantly I need much more practice. Hopefully in the next couple of days I can suit up for a couple more runs.
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4 comments:
I couldn't hold aggro off Lakini, don't sweat it. You are running more spell damage now than I ever did. To get Uncrushable, you will probably have less spell damage available to you than you do now. Pretty much all your spell damage will come from your weapon spot, and maybe your shoulders. The D3 (Righteous) ones are pretty good, they drop from Laj.
Macro your taunt: /cast [target=target,help] Righteous Defense; [target=targettarget,help] Righteous Defense
Shattered Halls is the easiest instance for a Paladin to tank. You should be able to hold those groups easily.
The shield takes ALOT of practice to learn how it jumps.
Situational awareness is a really important skill to develop as a tank. You've got so many things you've got to watch and keep an eye on.
My usual response to a loose mob is first Righteous Defense. Our taunt is tricky and a bit flaky even in a the macro form. Taunts can be resisted as well. If that doesn't work, I'm going to Hammer of Justice the mob. When it comes out of the stun, if I still haven't established aggro, I'll try to taunt again, and if that doesn't work, then BoP the person it's after.
Some mobs are immune to taunt, but you won't see them until Kara, if I remember correctly.
BoSalv anyone who might pull aggro, and don't be shy about popping your wings.
Pick up the Improved Judgement talent. It's about a 15-20% increase in threat.
Finally check to see if I'm online. I'd be happy to join a group with you. We can clear a hallway or two with one of us tanking, then switch it over. We should be able to 4 man just about any normal mode instance.
Rhub, you did great. And yeah, there's going to be a learning curve with a new role but good tanks consider all the things you talked about. It's not just all about gear and pressing buttons, it's about intelligent thinking.
You've got that going so it's just a matter of giving it more practice and more learning.
I think you should try tanking BM and then Heroic SP at some point. Those will give you even more "flavored" tanking situations. :)
Hey I echo everything Honorscode said and Origami above.
I'm not in Kara or been their like you but i'm a Paladin Tank. Your experience does help in situational awareness.
Tanking tanking practice and the practice gives you more confidence in knowing what to do and how to react. As a tank you learn to develope awareness of what's happening around you with the mobs and your group. When you practice enough it becomes more fluid to you. But be confident! Be wanting to hurt the mob more than you want it to hurt you.
Shattered Halls is nice practice ground. I'm sure your group have good people and a good healer and you should be fine.
I don't have your raiding experience but i'm a Paladin tank working on my gear and building my Tanking Resume profile. Sound like you have better gear than i do. I do Instance run with all PuG's and they way out gear me. But when i'm infront the boss and i start i'm going to hurt him so bad building threat he's not gona get pealed off with the rest of group with better gear. Confidence! Yet it takes practice.
In time you learn your what you need to do to build threat and build it fast or show all depends. Situational awareness comes in time. You learn which mob is your highest on your own personal threat list and deal with it quick or get your group to eliminate it. learning tricks to stop a mob or caster comes by doing and practicing.
However one of the best things i can say is helpfull as a Tank Tanking is "Target Targeting". The mob is your Target and its always good to know just who the mob is Targeting. If that target changes it means someone is trying to pull aggro from you and you need to step it up a bit in threat. If Target changes and run away you immediately know who its next target is and you either Taunt RD/Taunt BoP/Stun Hammer of Justice/ Drop a Judgement or SoR Mob or whatever it takes. Yes some boss are immune to taunt.
Learn to play with Avengers Shield to learn its boundries to know how ir which mob it will hit in a formation or when to throw it on moving mobs. All take practice and confidence. In time you will be fine.
I happened across this post so I thought Id mention my experiences as a pally tank.
the /cast [target=targettarget] RD macro is invaliable.
Best weapon other than arena is from Exulted Keepers of time Continum Blade i think, with +40 spell damage enchant to give it some kick.
You Avenger Shield will follow a straight line if it can, between the closest mobs to your target, its not garenteed but most the time you can control which targets get hit that way. As a rule I try and avoid hitting hunters CC with the shield as it makes it real hard initially to get them off ya.
Libram of repentence for 13 or 15 badges of justice is the best move towards un-crushable you will ever make. It'a a guarenteed 5.32% of shield block I think.
This might be old news to you by now .... but I thought it was worth mentioning. As a pally tank in the final stages of clearing kara I thought it might help.
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