The Classifieds: The birth of a mage tank
by Michael Gray 
Jul 20th 2011 at 8:00PM
Yes, Virginia, mage tanks do exist. While I wouldn't call them a common occurrence, this PUG member was thrilled to find himself becoming a mage tank in this instance run:
My name is Kardas, from Emerald Dream, and I'm a mage. On Tuesday, July the 12, I was running a regular Vortex Pinacle with a friend when the tank and the only other plate wearer (My friend the DK, who happened to have atank spec) dc'd. This left a Restoration Shaman named Blowmytotem of Stormreaver, and a Moonkin named Guudru from Twisting Nether, and me, directly at the begining on the instance. I a bit better geared for the instance so we said, 'What the heck, let's try mage tanking the thing'. They we're great about everything, even everytime I screwed up and got the Moonkin killed. It took about 3 hours, but we finished it, including Al'akir. They are now some of my favorite people on WoW, for everything they've done.
They deserve to get recognized for this, so I figured I'd drop a line and see if I could get this up. It would be really appreciated!
Random Acts of Uberness
It's when another player lights up your night with precise play, a wicked sense of humor or unexpected generosity that your login becomes something to remember. Share your Random Acts of Uberness with theclassifieds@wowinsider.com. Keep things brief (150 words or less, please), and be sure to list everyone's character names and home realms or battlegroup. Don't be afraid of sending an entry more than once if it doesn't appear; sometimes internet dragons eat email, and we'd hate to let that keep deserving players from getting their due.
Streetglory My level 64 troll Shaman was goofing around waiting for some group members to finish up the attunement to Molten Core. As I ran up the stairs near the Prince, I was startled to see a huge drake with an 85 human warrior atop him. Being on a PvP server, I immediately said "Oh crap!" in Vent, and prepared to die. Not only did Streetglory of Soldiers of Lordaeron not immediately bash my face in, but he threw down his "Spectral Sandbox tiger toy" and let me have a ride. I was thrilled! I've never seen one in-game before, and had a ton of fun goofing around for a few minutes with him. Thanks Streetglory! You really made this troll's night :) -- Kirna
Employment: Guild recruitment
Looking for more? Send in your guild name, realm, a link to your guild website or armory listing and a sentence or two on your guild's focus (10-man, RP, late-night raiding, whatever) to theclassifieds@wowinsider.com.
Beer themed You have to love a guild that works with a beer theme. Like your favorite ice-cold beer, Unfiltered is relaxed, refreshing and doesn't take itself too seriously. We're a Horde guild on Hellscream and consider ourselves "casually serious" -- we want to clear content but aren't hard-core about it. It's a game, and we want to have fun! Come as you are; we'll help you level, gear up and get up to speed so we can all go kick some Alliance tail. Bring your favorite movie quotes (Monty Python and Happy Gilmore are especially welcome) and come hang out with Unfiltered. Check us out at http://unfilteredguild.enjin.com.
Death rebels yell I feel like we've seen these guys before. Deaths Rebels is a friendly casual Horde guild on Arathor with focus on helping one another and having fun in game. We hope to raid in the near future and are always looking for more recruits to have fun and run with. If you are interested and want to just hang out enjoy gaming,running classic dungeons/raids heroic guild runs and those type activities then give any member you see a shout ,they will point you to an officer if they aren't one. http://deathsrebels.guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=355627&TabID=2977514
Euphoria is awesome These sound like some fun folks. We are Euphoric Madness, a horde raiding guild on US-Turalyon. We were a top 10 guild on US- Argent Dawn last year, but moved to a server with a higher raiding population. We're a fun loving guild with a great core that gets along very well and is never without something fun to do. My characters name is Syraanix, and I am an officer, raid leader and main tank for one of the raid groups. We were 12/12 in Tier 11 and are currently 3/7 in T12. My goal is to build this guilds reputation up as well as crack the top 10 server rankings here as well.
Open enrollment Esoterica University open enrollment is here! Esoterica is a Horde university on the lovely campus of Steamwheedle Cartel-US. Our open curriculum allows the student to participate as much or as little as they want to and devise a path of development that fits their needs! Our focus is Undergrad and Graduate Retro Raiding, but we also offer a wide variety of classes in Heroics, PVP and RP. Enrollment is open to any full time or part time students who are looking for a new university to call home! So feel free to pick up a brochure at our website and apply today! We hope to see you at ESO SOON! Eso is a Mature Retro Raiding Guild on SWC. We are looking for laid back players to join our guild for fun and shenanigans. All applicants must like Canadians, Cake and Goblin Machetes. Apply on our website, www.esotericaguild.wowstead.com, LFGuild or contact Reiyel or Handredor in game.
Crack open The Classifieds for weekly player and community news, help finding the right guild, events of interest and more. Send us your shout-outs for Random Acts of Uberness and mail your news tips and announcements to TheClassifieds@wowinsider.com.
Filed under: The Classifieds
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Allstar Jul 20th 2011 8:03PM
I am fairly sure that Al'akir does not live in Vortex Pinnacle
DonNochay Jul 20th 2011 10:34PM
OMG IN BEFORE AL'AKIR ISN'T IN VORTEX PINNACLE ZOMMMMMGMMGMMGMG.
Grow up kids, grow up.
dumu Jul 20th 2011 11:13PM
to be fair, the final boss does seem to shout Al'Akir a lot...
flawless Jul 20th 2011 8:03PM
Al'akir, coming soon to a Vortex Pinnacle near you.
Imnick Jul 20th 2011 8:04PM
If only al'akir did live there, I could farm both storm drakes from the same instance
PictoKong Jul 20th 2011 8:06PM
Mage tanking... LIKE A BOSS
SamLowry Jul 21st 2011 1:23AM
If the tank shortage is causing such major headaches, then why not create a tank spec for every class?
Why not?
Hal Jul 21st 2011 8:34AM
@Sam
1. Balance. It's a nightmare in the first place, without turning something into a "tanking" spec. It's why DKs can't tank from any spec anymore.
2. It's not the lack of tanking classes, it's the lack of tanking players. They don't tank because they don't like it; adding in new tanking specs won't help that.
Angus Jul 21st 2011 9:41AM
Hal hit it on the head. I know people with full raid-worthy tanking sets that refuse to queue up as tanks.
Tri Jul 21st 2011 10:27AM
TBH it's not about the tanking players either. It is about the endless grief the OTHER players expose them to while they do try out tanking.
I speak of experience!
razion Jul 20th 2011 8:09PM
Just in case it was, y'know, missed, Al'akir is not in the Vortex Pinnacle.
blancester Jul 20th 2011 8:34PM
And people thought mage tanks were just a silly joke.
In truth Blizz meant us for tanking and not Death Knights!
The Giant Jul 20th 2011 8:47PM
Have they mentioned that Al'Akir isn't in Vortex Pinnacle yet? No?
Al'Akir isn't in Vortex Pinnacle.
Back to the studio.
Jimson Jul 20th 2011 9:12PM
Thanks for that report, Giant.
In other news, the Ice Stone has melted!
And now to Ollie for the Molten Front forecast. Ollie?
"Fire is hot!"
Thanks, Ollie. Stay classy, Azeroth.
blancester Jul 20th 2011 10:39PM
@Jimson
-Breaking News- Tol Barad belongs once again to the Horde!
AudreyR Jul 21st 2011 9:52AM
Now for Death Watch 2011.
Experts say that Arthas Menethil is "definitely dead." However his remains still have not been found.
Next: Insurance is not covering "acts of Deathwing." What you can do to recover.
Ji Jul 20th 2011 9:12PM
I know no one has mentioned that Al'Akir is not in the Vortex Pinnacle, and is in-fact located in the Throne of the Four Winds in the Skywall.
Asaad is, of course, the final boss in VP.
Too bad no one has mentioned this before me.
Haden Jul 20th 2011 9:23PM
First off YES!!!! people are finally recognizing Mages OP skill at TANK!!!! Second off NOooOO we where so close to getting our healing spells!!! now we will not get them cuzz that would make us an "unbalanced tanking class" as said by former DK hating trolls
jfofla Jul 20th 2011 9:30PM
A Mage Tank is a Mank
Rubitard Jul 20th 2011 9:54PM
I think of them more as Tages... with a fancy French accent on the e.