07-22-2006, 07:12 AM
Greetings fellow warriors. I have been thinking a lot about current and future progression in raiding lately, as it is something many of us enjoy together. It is important to me that the warriors of the Tribe be prepared for the dangers we face when defending our Tribemates. Some of you may already know the various things I'm going to suggest, but I want everyone to read this anyway.
As we progress further, it will be a greater and greater requirement that every warrior be able to fill in not only as an offtank, but as a main tank. As you're beginning to see with the Majordomo Executus encounter, every tank must be able to hold their own against a boss-level opponent. Our healing team is one of the best in the game, without a doubt. But we cannot rely on the healers alone, and the easier we make their job, the better off we wil be.
So the basics:
- On an individual level, a tank's survival is very often more important than anyone else in the raid. The death of a tank and a loose opponent usually results in the quick deaths of several Tribemates, and a chain reaction that can lead to a wipe. It is your responsibility to the 39 other people who are relying on you that you be the best tank you can be.
- Talent spec is irrelevant. While protection helps in certain ways, it is actually more damaging to have too many warriors specced protection than not enough due to damage output. You will be expected to tank regardless of talent spec.
- A druid can do your job with the right gear, and sometims do it better with feral talents. The problem is that druids are needed for decursing, poison curing, and healing. Why do I mention this? Because I hope to use certain druids for this job when we have enough, but also because if you are unable to tank something, I may be forced to take someone away from the healing team. Again, that hurts us all.
- Every warrior needs 3 sets of gear up through Blackwing Lair: Tanking gear, Damage gear, and Fire resist gear. For damage gear, wear what you want. I will focus my suggestions on tanking and fire resist gear.
For tanking gear, go here: http://laerg.gotdns.com:10152/viewtopic.php?t=305. That list is a little dated at this point, but still works. Some nice upgrades have been done to items since then, such as Gyth's Skull and the Naglering. Also, consider doing the quests in Silithus leading up to "The Calling" for a nice set of tanking boots if we kill Roman'Khan while fighting Barons. Finally, the bracers and belt of heroism from upgrading valor are very good tanking pieces and can be gotten solo.
If you would like any advice on tanking gear, please do not hesitate to ask me.
For fire resist gear lists, go here: http://laerg.gotdns.com:10152/viewtopic.php?t=849.
- Now that brings me to possibly my most important point: You cannot wait for gear from Molten Core. There are a number of reasons for this, not the least of which is that we have a lot of warriors. In fact, BECAUSE we have a lot of warriors, it's even more important that every one of you be able to fill the same role.
The other reason you can't wait for MC is because the gear from MC will not bring you up to where you need to be on its own. Armor of might is for 1 thing, and 1 thing only: getting enough stamina to survive a round of attacks in Blackwing Lair. That's it... just stamina. To be an effective tank, you need to fill out your gear with smart choices that will boost your defense as well, and Molten Core is not good for providing that.
- Finally, some hard numbers. 5000 unbuffed hit points, 7000 armor, +80 defense. That is what you're shooting for to solidly tank in Molten core, and it is easily possible without ever setting foot in a raid zone. Those numbers get even higher for Blackwing Lair requirements.
Right now we have 4, maybe 5 warriors who meet those numbers. And we need that many for the Majordomo fight alone. But the way we do invites... well, a general goes to war with the army he has, as the saying goes. Right now I believe the healers are carrying us, and I'd like to fix that.
I know a number of you are close to those numbers, and I hope to see everyone past them soon. Because if we head into BWL or elsewhere at some point, I may need to start picking and choosing who gets to go based on gear to give us any chance of success, and I'd rather not have to do that.
Thank you for reading this, and please, be the best tank you can be. For your own good, and for the good of the Tribe as a whole.
As we progress further, it will be a greater and greater requirement that every warrior be able to fill in not only as an offtank, but as a main tank. As you're beginning to see with the Majordomo Executus encounter, every tank must be able to hold their own against a boss-level opponent. Our healing team is one of the best in the game, without a doubt. But we cannot rely on the healers alone, and the easier we make their job, the better off we wil be.
So the basics:
- On an individual level, a tank's survival is very often more important than anyone else in the raid. The death of a tank and a loose opponent usually results in the quick deaths of several Tribemates, and a chain reaction that can lead to a wipe. It is your responsibility to the 39 other people who are relying on you that you be the best tank you can be.
- Talent spec is irrelevant. While protection helps in certain ways, it is actually more damaging to have too many warriors specced protection than not enough due to damage output. You will be expected to tank regardless of talent spec.
- A druid can do your job with the right gear, and sometims do it better with feral talents. The problem is that druids are needed for decursing, poison curing, and healing. Why do I mention this? Because I hope to use certain druids for this job when we have enough, but also because if you are unable to tank something, I may be forced to take someone away from the healing team. Again, that hurts us all.
- Every warrior needs 3 sets of gear up through Blackwing Lair: Tanking gear, Damage gear, and Fire resist gear. For damage gear, wear what you want. I will focus my suggestions on tanking and fire resist gear.
For tanking gear, go here: http://laerg.gotdns.com:10152/viewtopic.php?t=305. That list is a little dated at this point, but still works. Some nice upgrades have been done to items since then, such as Gyth's Skull and the Naglering. Also, consider doing the quests in Silithus leading up to "The Calling" for a nice set of tanking boots if we kill Roman'Khan while fighting Barons. Finally, the bracers and belt of heroism from upgrading valor are very good tanking pieces and can be gotten solo.
If you would like any advice on tanking gear, please do not hesitate to ask me.
For fire resist gear lists, go here: http://laerg.gotdns.com:10152/viewtopic.php?t=849.
- Now that brings me to possibly my most important point: You cannot wait for gear from Molten Core. There are a number of reasons for this, not the least of which is that we have a lot of warriors. In fact, BECAUSE we have a lot of warriors, it's even more important that every one of you be able to fill the same role.
The other reason you can't wait for MC is because the gear from MC will not bring you up to where you need to be on its own. Armor of might is for 1 thing, and 1 thing only: getting enough stamina to survive a round of attacks in Blackwing Lair. That's it... just stamina. To be an effective tank, you need to fill out your gear with smart choices that will boost your defense as well, and Molten Core is not good for providing that.
- Finally, some hard numbers. 5000 unbuffed hit points, 7000 armor, +80 defense. That is what you're shooting for to solidly tank in Molten core, and it is easily possible without ever setting foot in a raid zone. Those numbers get even higher for Blackwing Lair requirements.
Right now we have 4, maybe 5 warriors who meet those numbers. And we need that many for the Majordomo fight alone. But the way we do invites... well, a general goes to war with the army he has, as the saying goes. Right now I believe the healers are carrying us, and I'd like to fix that.
I know a number of you are close to those numbers, and I hope to see everyone past them soon. Because if we head into BWL or elsewhere at some point, I may need to start picking and choosing who gets to go based on gear to give us any chance of success, and I'd rather not have to do that.
Thank you for reading this, and please, be the best tank you can be. For your own good, and for the good of the Tribe as a whole.