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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Queue: Tank talk
by Adam Holisky 
May 5th 2009 at 1:30PM
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky will be your host today.
There was a good, and amazingly civil, discussion yesterday in the comments to the Queue about which instance a tank should head to first. Most of the debate came about via my suggestion that Utgarde Pinnacle was a good candidate for a tank's first heroic. The nice thing about this game is that there is no right or wrong answer (most of the time).
However one of the only truths about the game is that you can get better at it by discussing it and debating the aspects of it with other people. So I do humbly recommend that no matter what question you ask, you always look for more than one answer and compile all the answers into one that fits you best. And with that said, ask your questions about the game in the comments and we'll see if we can't help you on this path of enlightenment. /zen
Otharello mentioned...There was a good, and amazingly civil, discussion yesterday in the comments to the Queue about which instance a tank should head to first. Most of the debate came about via my suggestion that Utgarde Pinnacle was a good candidate for a tank's first heroic. The nice thing about this game is that there is no right or wrong answer (most of the time).
However one of the only truths about the game is that you can get better at it by discussing it and debating the aspects of it with other people. So I do humbly recommend that no matter what question you ask, you always look for more than one answer and compile all the answers into one that fits you best. And with that said, ask your questions about the game in the comments and we'll see if we can't help you on this path of enlightenment. /zen
"I'm pretty sure that suggesting Utgarde Pinnacle for a new tank is the height of sadism."
In my opinion, not really. Utgarde Pinnacle has in it a few key aspects that all tanks should have quickly picked up. One is separating out mobs that need to die first and quickly. This is a skill that's learned early on: "kill the caster first!" is a common mantra. While there are some packs in Utgarde Pinnacle that might require someone with crowd control abilities, even those aren't too bad if the DPS focus fires down one caster after the other.
The only other thing about the trash is to pull the packs back to areas you've already cleared – which is a skill that should have been picked up in the regular 80 instances like Halls of Stone / Lightening.
The boss fights are all easy when the healer knows what he's doing. There are some positioning "gimmicks", like all grouping up for the final boss that are somewhat tank related, but it's nothing that is beyond any other heroic.
Finally, the only real challenge to the tank comes in the gauntlet. That's pretty easy compared to a speed run through CoT:Strat, which you'll notice I recommended a new tank start working on right away (albeit starting slowly). All a tank has to do is run down the gauntlet half way, stop, collect the mobs. After those are finished off, he runs down the rest of the way and does the same thing. The boss at the end of the gauntlet is tank and spank, sans moving away from him when he does his whirlwind of death.
And one last thing to note – I didn't say that a new tank should be brought to Heroic: UP. I said a tank that's followed the progression I outlined should be brought to Heroic: UP.
Michelle asked...
"Do companion pets significantly lag other players out while raiding?"
They can, depending on the person's computer. Additionally they can get in the way with click-targeting, which is something many successful DPSers do. And note that click-targeting means clicking the mob to target your DPS to instead of tab targeting to it. This allows the left hand to continue with DPS rotations via the keyboard and the right hand to control the target of the DPS via the mouse. It is quite a bit different from clicking DPS abilities.
Alanid asked...
"Also, is Patch 3.2 the definitive point for the next stage of the argent tournament? And if so could the new 5-man perhaps be inside the tournament?"
Patch 3.2 will definitely be progressing the argent tournament. We have no idea where the new 5-man instance will be.
Aldrir asked...
"Sure running non-heroic dungeons is a good tip but really, who runs the normal level 80 dungeons?"
People who don't want to look or act like fools in heroic dungeons.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column! Leave your questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em!Filed under: The Queue
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)
Jon Do May 5th 2009 2:03PM
Does anyone have a running tally of the nerfs to the Violet Proto-Drake world event meta-achievement?
I've lost track...
Also, has there ever been any official confirmation that the Violet Proto-Drake is a 310% mount (other than data mining)?
Finally, is there any word on next year's world event meta-achievement? You have to figure that a *lot* of people will have completed most, if not all, of the 2007-2008 meta-achievements, and most people will have a lot less 'achieving' to do during holidays if the achievements aren't updated.
tatsumasa May 5th 2009 2:23PM
http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=60024
"Effect #2 Apply Aura: Mod Speed Mounted Flight
Value: 310"
Lrn2wowhead
Taladan May 5th 2009 5:28PM
You can check it directly from the official website:
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/basics/mounts/flying-proto-drakes.html
(The violet proto-drake is the last one in the page)
Quickshiv May 5th 2009 2:11PM
If you see a player with a horrible spec (at level 80) what should you do? I don't mean in raid or even group just running around some times I will inspect someone to see what gear they have if I don't recognize it. If their spec is very bad should I comment in a nice way or just let them go on about their business.
h8rain May 5th 2009 2:17PM
I see more often that I probably should, but people that put all 71 points in one tree.
That is a good question. Like, how should you approach that without sounds like a jerk.
Quickshiv May 5th 2009 2:24PM
Exactly, I don't want to come off as some know it all but there are certain things you just shouldn't do. I just want to help the person out but If I come off as a jerk it isn't going to help anyone.
Mindreaver May 5th 2009 2:24PM
It depends on how often you see this person. Is it in a PuG group? Just laugh to yourself.
If it's a guildie, or somebody you see often, you might want to mention it to a class leader. If you are a class leader, or just the same class, it is usually easier to say "Hey, have you tried out disease-less blood or 2h frost? I did yesterday and it's awesome, you should give it a go sometime". That way you can start the conversation about different specs, and different talents, without saying "you're a retard, and 71 blood is terrible".
Quickshiv May 5th 2009 2:29PM
In the case I am thinking of it was a rogue and my main is a rogue and we just happen to be at the same vendor. He had an interesting off hand that I didn't recognize and it turned out to be a fist weapon that came from a quest. Then I noticed he was using sword/fist that's when I decided to look at his spec. I think I should have just said something like "Hey I notice your running sword/fist have you looked at lightning reflexes since 3.1"
Anteia May 5th 2009 4:12PM
I'm going to say flat out- just don't do it. DO NOT Comment on someone else's spec unless they ASK you for advice or you're the one deciding whether they're going to enter your raid group or not. What you may think is friendly criticism -rarely- comes across as so. It comes across as a stranger mocking you. I once had someone else have a problem with the way I gemmed. I had no idea who the hell they were and they came across as a complete jerk to me, though later a guildie of theirs claimed that they just 'wanted to help'. The way I gemmed was for a specific reason, and one I spent hours looking over. Specs are hotly debated, firstly. Secondly, not everyone likes being cookie cutter. Thirdly, there may have been something that enticed them into speccing the way they did for their own gameplay style. You may think it horrible- but while I admit some DO just throw talent points around, most people don't. They may even be in between switching specs around and trying new things to find what they want, and don't really need more advice because it's not a permanent spec, just something they were testing the possibilities of.
So, if you comment, they likely won't be seeing it as a nice experienced player helping them out. They'll see it as the elitist jerk that they didn't even know and they have no idea why the heck this person is even talking to them about something that doesn't concern them and implying they're inferior. That doesn't mean you ARE a jerk, but it's how you'll likely be perceived for the situation.
Angus May 5th 2009 6:10PM
I saw a protection paladin with the following gear:
Web Cocoon grips.
Massive Skeletal Ribcare
Death Inured Sabatons
etc...
Like 3 DPS pieces, 2 healing pieces and the rest were good tanking pieces gemmed with things like Attack power and intellect.
He was at the stone in Naxx...
And his spec was all over the place, like someone had thrown darts at a board with a spec taped on it.
Yea. I just did a /point and a /lol
It would have been too much to log into my alliance toon to ask him if he was just a complete moron or what.
Bubsa May 5th 2009 2:18PM
Wait, people click-target?
Kemikalkadet May 5th 2009 3:07PM
Of course. I do it with nameplates though.. it's far far faster to click a nameplate for the mob you want to attack in a crowded pull than to tab-cycle and run the risk of tabbing to far and have to cycle through them again.
Balius May 5th 2009 5:50PM
Or tabbing to another group and running the risk of pulling with an autoshot, as I see hunters doing constantly.
Mohrlock May 6th 2009 1:01AM
Circumstantially I'm definitely a click targeter. Outside of instances/raids I'm pretty non-chalant about spamming tab and not caring what I hit or not; but as a tank you can't tab-target your way through everything.
I tab around to check threat but if I'm going to hit something it needs a click. Ever tried tab-targetting (H) Gundrak on the first boss without clearing all the trash snakes? Yeah that's a load of fun! *laughs*
Each to their own really. I spend 90% of my time with both hands on the keys when I play, some people do the same with the mouse (*shudders*). Everyone has their own ways I guess :)
Merlista May 5th 2009 2:25PM
How do you politely bow-out of a group request while not implying the door is closed for later? Its rare I can guarantee uninterrupted time of 3 minutes or more but when I can I really enjoy grouping. Of course I don't join unless I'm virtually guaranteed uninterrupted time. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Its an annoying mouthful "Sorry, can't guarantee my time right now, look me up later?"...Perhaps there's an acronym I haven't learned yet. Thanks!
Liltimmy May 5th 2009 2:41PM
Don't know of any acronyms.
I usually just say "ooo wish I could, but i dont think ill have time to finish. thanks though :)"
AyaJulia May 5th 2009 3:12PM
"Sorry, little busy right this second, maybe later? ^^;"
Ben Striegel May 5th 2009 11:17PM
I think it depends on the attitude of the person inviting you. I'm going to assume a case where you're not using the LFG tool, since that would tend to imply a certain measure of reliability.
Try and gauge the attitude of the group leader from their tell. A good rule of thumb is that people with polite attitudes tend to be more understanding. At the very least, their tell should contain some form of greeting beyond, "u holy?" If they seem reasonable enough, let them know what sort of constraints you're operating under and give them some definite parameters. If you know you have two hours to play and the group's going to take 90 minutes to run, just let them know that they need to start in under half an hour or it's no go. If you don't have any definite constraints, be honest and give them the worst-case scenario.
On the other hand, people who have looked you up on /who only to whisper "wut spec" or spam random invites tend only care about your specific class/spec combination and couldn't give a rat's ass about your personal inconveniences. Not that I'm saying that's a bad thing in general, as it's definitely par for the course for PUGs, only that it's a bad thing for someone in your situation.
McRaider May 5th 2009 2:29PM
I think my first hc was Nexus. Not too hard, really. Having the guilds best healer as my friend irl might have helped :D
Legae May 5th 2009 2:37PM
What ever happened to the zombie invasion from pre-WotLK launch? It seems like it sort of just disappeared. I don't remember any final epic fight against the zombie swarm. I just logged in one day and everyone was cured. It really did seem like it was all building up to something. Was it? And I just missed it? Or was WotLK launching reward enough?