Blog #1: My Raging Secret
Posted May 18, 2008 at 11:50 PM by Canadianpimp
I've decided to start up a blog. I'm not really going to make the posts all too long, but hopefully I can post frequently like twice a week or something. Hope you guys enjoy it!
So I have a confession to make. I don't really play my warlock that often anymore. Why's that? A big part of it is that in college, I simply don't have the free time I used to have in high school with class, social life, work, etc. Another part of it is that I've started a new class in which I do like better than my lock in some aspects. Last summer I started up a warrior to play with my roommate. I recently just leveled him to 70 and started tanking. He is my second level 70 character, and I have about 10 or so days played as level 70 on my warrior. This is his armory profile.
The World of Warcraft Armory
Tanking has really given me a new and fresh perspective on the game, and gave me a challenge that the warlock class couldn't give to me in PvE. I rolled a warrior because warriors are and will always be the premier tanking class. Blizzard will never take away that away from warriors, and as much as I'm jealous of how well a pally can AoE tank, I'm satisfied with the state warriors are in as our single-target threat and damage reduction is top-notch.
It's also definitely more involving to tank, rather than to spam "2" on skull, X then circle. The thing about tanking that really stands out to me is that I've learned so much about other classes and their abilities and restrictions. I've learned about class synergies a lot more and that really applies anywhere in WoW, not just tanking.
I also am a much better judge of what makes up a good hunter, a good priest or a good warlock. For example, there's a mage in my guild who I run a lot of heroics with. For a two pull where we don't have to use CC, he'll start winding up a pyroblast to hit the primary mob (skull). I time my gun shot to hit the secondary mob (X) a little bit before his pyroblast goes off. The minute the pyroblast hits skull, I'll taunt it and inherit the mage's threat, and just use a few moves on it and I'll have threat on it without having to worry about it and I can focus on building threat on X and such. We don't even have to talk about it with each other anymore. He trusts me enough that I will save his *** and taunt the mob off.
The other thing about tanking is that you dictate how the run goes. A good tank can carry a bad PuG. In literally of the many dozens of heroics I've done, I can only remember 1 or 2 of them, where we couldn't complete it, one being where I tried my first heroic to tank as fury lol. I am absolutely addicted to chain pulling and speed runs. I don't really like using CC on anything smaller than 4 or 5 pulls. I mark mobs with hotkeys, and generally my runs go very quickly. A good tank can make up for bad DPS or a bad healer. It's harder for DPS or a healer to carry a bad tank.
I'll talk more about my warrior later, but just because I play my warrior more now doesn't mean I've neglected my lock. I absolutely love to PvP on my lock. A couple days ago I finally found a resto druid (he's in S1 though) and we've gone 19-1 since we've joined his team. He's not amazing by any means and doesn't have vent, but it's incredible what you can do with a competent druid in 2's. I raid somewhat on my lock, but not seriously. Raiding in WoW was kind of killed for me when my old guild was stuck on Kael'thas for a VERY long time last summer. We disbanded and everyone went their separate ways. I transferred over to the server my warrior was on, but really raiding with my old guild was probably the best experience I've had playing WoW.
Anyway, I'm going to end my first entry here. Feel free to leave comments and such.
-CP-
Blog #2 topic - Leveling my warrior
So I have a confession to make. I don't really play my warlock that often anymore. Why's that? A big part of it is that in college, I simply don't have the free time I used to have in high school with class, social life, work, etc. Another part of it is that I've started a new class in which I do like better than my lock in some aspects. Last summer I started up a warrior to play with my roommate. I recently just leveled him to 70 and started tanking. He is my second level 70 character, and I have about 10 or so days played as level 70 on my warrior. This is his armory profile.
The World of Warcraft Armory
Tanking has really given me a new and fresh perspective on the game, and gave me a challenge that the warlock class couldn't give to me in PvE. I rolled a warrior because warriors are and will always be the premier tanking class. Blizzard will never take away that away from warriors, and as much as I'm jealous of how well a pally can AoE tank, I'm satisfied with the state warriors are in as our single-target threat and damage reduction is top-notch.
It's also definitely more involving to tank, rather than to spam "2" on skull, X then circle. The thing about tanking that really stands out to me is that I've learned so much about other classes and their abilities and restrictions. I've learned about class synergies a lot more and that really applies anywhere in WoW, not just tanking.
I also am a much better judge of what makes up a good hunter, a good priest or a good warlock. For example, there's a mage in my guild who I run a lot of heroics with. For a two pull where we don't have to use CC, he'll start winding up a pyroblast to hit the primary mob (skull). I time my gun shot to hit the secondary mob (X) a little bit before his pyroblast goes off. The minute the pyroblast hits skull, I'll taunt it and inherit the mage's threat, and just use a few moves on it and I'll have threat on it without having to worry about it and I can focus on building threat on X and such. We don't even have to talk about it with each other anymore. He trusts me enough that I will save his *** and taunt the mob off.
The other thing about tanking is that you dictate how the run goes. A good tank can carry a bad PuG. In literally of the many dozens of heroics I've done, I can only remember 1 or 2 of them, where we couldn't complete it, one being where I tried my first heroic to tank as fury lol. I am absolutely addicted to chain pulling and speed runs. I don't really like using CC on anything smaller than 4 or 5 pulls. I mark mobs with hotkeys, and generally my runs go very quickly. A good tank can make up for bad DPS or a bad healer. It's harder for DPS or a healer to carry a bad tank.
I'll talk more about my warrior later, but just because I play my warrior more now doesn't mean I've neglected my lock. I absolutely love to PvP on my lock. A couple days ago I finally found a resto druid (he's in S1 though) and we've gone 19-1 since we've joined his team. He's not amazing by any means and doesn't have vent, but it's incredible what you can do with a competent druid in 2's. I raid somewhat on my lock, but not seriously. Raiding in WoW was kind of killed for me when my old guild was stuck on Kael'thas for a VERY long time last summer. We disbanded and everyone went their separate ways. I transferred over to the server my warrior was on, but really raiding with my old guild was probably the best experience I've had playing WoW.
Anyway, I'm going to end my first entry here. Feel free to leave comments and such.
-CP-
Blog #2 topic - Leveling my warrior
Total Comments 9
Comments
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Thanks for deciding to do a Blog. I check the Den about every day. I will have to log in more to make sure I check out your future blogs.
I like your writing style. Its an easy read. I especially look forward to your take on the different classes as you tank for them.
That tip about Pyroblast is very interesting. Not sure I understand you right. Are you saying you can use it like a hunter's Misdirection if you taunt? Do you mean Intervene instead of taunt? I thought taunt did the same thing to boost agro that fade does to dump it. As in, temporary effect only.
So? Tanking guide on the way? lolPosted May 19, 2008 at 02:55 AM by Tim
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Pretty much. Here's how it works.
Mage does Pyroblast. Say it hits and does 3000 damage and gives him 3000 threat. Yeah there are threat modifiers through talents and Salv, but you get the picture.
Once I taunt, I gain that 3000 threat at no cost, and take aggro from him. The mage still has the 3000 threat, but the point is I get 3000 threat free, and I can open up with high threat moves and basically secure aggro on that mob. It's kind of like a poor man's Misdirect. The only difference is that the mage has the threat of the Pyroblast that I have, but it's no different than me pulling and everyone starts at 0 threat. It works quite well and it also makes that first mob go down that much quicker.Posted May 19, 2008 at 05:27 AM by Canadianpimp
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Oddly I starting raiding on my lock then switched to a tank as well... and now I am back to a Lock again.
Tanking does give you a whole new slant on the game and its something I think everyone should try. It gives things a new lease of life and I am very glad I have my pretty pally tank in her power ranger outfit.
Your very right about a tank being able to carry a group through - there are a number of tricks to stay alive as a tank if the healer is slacking but if a tank is bad there is nothing the group can do to make things work well.
Interested to hear how you get on - maybe I will be writing a blog soon about how I get on after switching off my tank when Sindorella hits 70. (got alot of gear from your excellent guide ready to wear when make it - all gemmed and enchanted
)
http://eu.wowarmory.com/character-sh...ammer&n=Lexica
Thats my tank if your interested. Look forward to hearing more.
p.s it was Vashj that nearly killed my former guild in terms of raiding. Kael we did in two nights. Funny how people have problems with different boss fights.
Posted May 19, 2008 at 08:00 AM by Mistrust
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I admire you for choosing to play as warrior tank. Lots of people say that warriors are boring and that Warrior Tanks are uberboring. Maybe, bz its more fun just to press 2 buttons and DPS in instance rather the to worry about your hp, aggro, mobs etc.? I find tanking hard... dunno why... maybe bz I was arms at that time and my bindings were generally made for leveling and little PVP, so when i entered Instance i had real trouble tanking.
Btw, imagine to tank last boss of Ramparts with 4500ish hp or so with old world items
, please dont judge me, i really wanted that Hellreaver
)
Anyway, I really hope you will continue to enjoy your warrior and tanking duty because good tank really makes the difference.Posted May 19, 2008 at 09:22 AM by NecroLix
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I only wish there were more tanks like you, sir. I too know that I would make a great tank but I just can't make myself level up another character. I hate hate hate leveling.Posted May 19, 2008 at 11:17 AM by Debuff
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Finally had time to get back to the important things in life. Thanks for the tip about Taunt. Very interesting. Pyroblast, POM Pyroblast, Taunt. Nice way to start.Posted May 25, 2008 at 05:32 PM by Tim
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You mention you know better now about what makes a good player of another class. You had a great point about one of the things you can do working with a mage. What else you got???Posted May 25, 2008 at 05:36 PM by Tim
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Yay for Warrior Tanks! My main is a Warrior. In fact, his armory is almost a clone of yours. My second 70 is of course my lock. It is the only class I've found that is almost as fun to play as my tank. But my first love will always be my Warrior.
I've seen you on http://www.tankspot.com/ and was wondering if it was the very same world famous Canadianpimp, or just a pretender. I figured it had to be the real deal from the demeanor of your posts and answers.
Your gear guide was instrumental to making a seamless transition with my lock into raiding. Being able to plan ahead well enough to put 5 epic crafted pieces (already gemmed and chanted) on the moment I hit 70 put me in an immediate position be vaible in raids and not have to be that guy that has to be carried thru to get his gear.
Thank you for your contributions to the Warlock community. and I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with for us tanks. ;)
Edit: nice clue on the pyro-taunt tactic. although the mage would have to wait a bit to start unloading again till you stack some agro on the primary target. For other tanks out there reading this, I would not reccomend using this tactic with a mage that you do not run with often. Most mages don't have the self control to give you a few seconds to get back to primary target and get a threat lead.Posted May 26, 2008 at 02:11 AM by mattdeeze
Updated May 26, 2008 at 02:16 AM by mattdeeze -
Yeah, I post somewhat on tankspot. Cider has done a fantastic job with his site over there and is the premier site for warriors.Posted May 27, 2008 at 07:50 AM by Canadianpimp
