Forum post of the day: The tank surplus
by Amanda Dean 
Jan 23rd 2009 at 9:00PM
"Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels."- Faith Whittlesey
Kazug of EU-Defias Brotherhood is afraid that he will never be able to take on the role of main taink against Heroic Malygos. He pointed out that although tanks are relatively scarce in five man instances, there is fierce competetion for tanking slots in 25 mans. One out of five players must be a tank in five mans, whereas only one in twenty-five can be main tank in a raid. He feels that only the best of the best, the ones with the most time as he defines it, are able to take on the role of main tank.
Other tanks are left taking out the trash on single-tank fights. Several posters echoed Kazug's sentiment. Despite a dedication to tanking, they're relegated to the roll of picking up adds in most fights. Others indicated that their guilds rotate MTs or even have tanks roll off for main tanking responsibilities. For some guilds the MT is the MT and that's all there is to it.
As a tank, I see things a little differently. If I have to, I will MT, but I actually feel like I'm contributing more and working harder as an OT. A bad OT will wipe a raid and a good OT will save it. I must be ever vigilant for spawning adds. Instead of standing in one place spamming my 2, 3, and 4 keys, I'm dashing about making sure that everyone is safe. I'm watching the main tanks health and ready to pick up aggro on the main boss should anything go wrong. I feel like it's a dance with the MT. When I sway, chasse, and flare it makes my partner look good.
Then again, I'm not convinced that topping the DPS chart means best DPS either. There are many factors in calculating overall contribution. While you're guild will come up with its own solution to main tanking, remember that if you are forever relegated to the OT position, you should be a necessary, valuable, and loved part of the team. If not, your guild has problems. Let's dance!
Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Warlock, Analysis / Opinion, Raiding, Death Knight, Forums, Forum Post of the Day
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Freedomfighter Jan 23rd 2009 9:07PM
Even using the argument that OT is still a viable position, it still is clear that there is a discrepancy between how many tanks a 5-man needs versus a 25-man. 25-man content doesn't require 5 tanks, and thus in a guild built around 5-man and 10-man content will find tanks left out on min-max 25-man encounters.
Wakleon Jan 25th 2009 2:06AM
My guild runs or mans with a MT and an OT. Our 25 mans range from an MT and an OT to three OTs. We have around 5 tanks who are all geared well. I'm hoping that as we grow we get a more diversified tanking pool. Currently we have I think 3 prot wars and 2 prot pallys. No DKs or Feral druids. Hopefully this is something we get as we get our 2nd 25 man group going.
Voltage Spike Jan 23rd 2009 9:07PM
I completely agree with your stance on tanking. I have much more fun and find it much more enjoyable being an OT. MT is okay but it's also incredibly monotonous. OT has more to do and the work is much more rewarding to do.
Damntheman Jan 23rd 2009 11:19PM
This has always been the case. MT is the tank with best attendance, not the best tank. Which is why anub was such a bitch back in vanilla, it was the first time the MT had to do something besides face-roll (assuming you were alliance and never learned to stance dance).
Maxilimus Jan 23rd 2009 9:11PM
Epic Failure
Hor Jan 23rd 2009 9:16PM
This is a problem that has only been exacerbated by the fact that everyone who has a "tank" class wants to be a tank now that it's the cool thing to do. Before Wrath, my guild had me and a Protadin as tanks. Now ... there's 2 Warriors that previously were only about DW Fury who want to tank, 2 Druids, and 4, yes 4 Paladins that were previously healers. Now, we're left lacking on the DPS and the heals ... but full on tanks. Having rerolled to DK with the expansion, I'm relegated to either taking out the trash or just all out DPSing, despite the fact I'm dripping in tanking gear, and in a healthy tanking spec, not a DPS spec. So, in short. I feel your pain.
butler Jan 23rd 2009 9:15PM
You're guild?
Again with WI authors who can't spell...
slartibart Jan 23rd 2009 10:04PM
You're comment is unintentionally hilarious.
BWarner Jan 27th 2009 9:47AM
Roll? More like role. One's what you do with dice, or do while driving in an urban environment. The other is the particular part that one plays in a group. Sorry, but that really gets to me.
BWarner Jan 27th 2009 9:51AM
Not to be too hard on the poor girl - she did get chasse, after all.
Tohraxegrim Jan 23rd 2009 9:29PM
This has been a problem in my guild since tBC. We have always had an abundance of tanks. We had at least 5-6 prot warriors, 1 feral druid, and a prot pally (who pre 3.0 did everything because he could AOE tank). We always struggled getting 25 people together, but we always had at least 4 tanks online. Healers are so few and far between just like they've always been. But I even have trouble finding DPS sometimes now (at least trouble finding moderately intelligent DPS). There are WAY too many tanks.
kurnie Jan 23rd 2009 9:56PM
i had this problem being a druid. so as much as i enjoyed tanking , i have now switched to being a viable boomkin.
when dualspecs come in ill be happier with switching between either easily but atm there is a shortage of dps rather than tanks.
meme Jan 23rd 2009 10:09PM
Oversupply of tanks here too.
And cry ´cos 'I want to be the MT' is so stupid that dont deserves a post
Aamau Jan 23rd 2009 9:51PM
I can understand the dilemma you have, but at the same time I want to scoff at you. Too many tanks? Try having a tank shortage. If any MTs, OTs, or any Ts feeling left out, whisper me on Vashj. I will hook you up.
VSUReaper Jan 24th 2009 1:23AM
My issue isn't the fact that we are low on tanks or overflowing with them, its the fact that as a prot warrior, I CAN'T tank adds.
I have 25% dodge, 20% parry, 22% block and 65% mitigation from armor. The adds dont hit me hard enough to generate enough rage to hold them while the dps knocks them out.
Then I have DK's and pally's that are coming in and just pushing me aside because they want their chance to shine as the guy that can tank it all: trash and the boss.
I dont mind sharing the MT job, but when 1 class is better equipped to deal with adds than another, then they need to drop the egos and step aside.
Angus Jan 24th 2009 9:12AM
VSUReaper:
Get one of those tankadins to give you Blessing of Sanctuary instead of kings.
Watch the difference.
Seriously, it is a mandatory blessing for a tankadin because healing doesn't do enough to recover mana. But on a warrior or DK, it's infinite resources. Yea, everyone likes the +10% everything of kings, but really, if you need rage and aren't really being hurt in OT position, you don't need it.
Chamual Jan 24th 2009 6:51PM
@VSUReaper
I think it is you that has the ego problem. Any paladin or druid is going to suffer just the same as you for not taking damage when offtanking or tanking adds. The paladin will oom for example.
Just make sure you have a paladin tank in the raid who can buff you with sanctuary and you will regen rage everytime you dodge, block, or parry an attack.
Don't make lame excuses as to why you should be on the main boss rather than adds as an excuse to not have to add tank. There is no reason other than ability for any tank to tank anything, MT is generally easier because you just have to stay alive, whereas add tanking is generally more difficult, altough only on a couple of fights in Wrath such as satharion with drakes up.
VSUReaper Jan 24th 2009 7:15PM
Yeah, it would be easy if I had the pally on every fight, but I dont - only on PUG. What do you do when you have the DK?
And what are you supposed to do when the paladin's snap aggro wont let me build up enough rage in the first place to get the adds? I love it when he gives me 2 targets to tank, and then immediately proceeds to just aoe tank the living daylights out of everything within range of him.
Or in the event that its little non elites that I'm supposed to be keeping from attacking my healers (I'm thinking of the Anub'Rekhan and the Maexxna specifically - non elites that according to my group I am supposed to gather up and kill is very difficult b/c they scatter before a t-clap can hit them)
Yeah, I prolly do have a bit of an ego problem, but some tanks are designed better imo to tank little adds (DK's and Pally's) and some tanks are better at tanking the actual boss (druids and warriors). If I had the patience to have stuck with the pally every time I tried to roll one, then I wouldnt mind tanking the adds, b/c I know that I'm superior at it.
bearclaw Jan 23rd 2009 9:57PM
Its tough, most people are pretty happy with their Warrior Main Tank that most guilds run, its sad as a Def Capped Death Knight, let alone a good Death Knight tank that you are regulated to dpsing in anything that is not a 10 man, I have a nice DPS set because of it but I would much rather watch my toon parry, dodge and in general have some interaction with mobs as opposed to looking at Malygos' butt and waiting for the next spark to spawn.
I am sure Paladins and Druids feel the same way "DURRRRR He has more HP and a Shield he is da tank" I feel like that is all I ever hear. Avoidance, skill, rolling cooldowns, all seem to be things that don't matter
Deadly. Off. Topic. Jan 26th 2009 1:30PM
I got annoyed in my guild when they did that to me. The warrior has more HP, lets use him as the main tank. Meanwhile the paladin is regulated to off tanking just cuz.
Not saying it's NOT a needed job, but having to off tank just because you're not a warrior is a pretty lame excuse in itself.