The Daily Quest: Gee, tanks
by Anne Stickney 
Aug 17th 2011 at 6:00PM
WoW Insider's on a Daily Quest to bring you interesting, informative, and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere.
I have to admit, I've never really played a tank seriously at max level before. The closest I came was with a druid alt during Wrath of the Lich King who would occasionally fill in and bear tank heroics when needed. Heroics by that point had become so easy that tanking wasn't exactly difficult, so I didn't mind filling in -- but the tank role is just not one I've been entirely comfortable filling. So when the new threat changes were released yesterday, I wasn't terribly sure what they meant or why they were even important.
Luckily, the blogosphere is abuzz with discussion over the changes and how they affect dungeons!
Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment, and you may see it here tomorrow! Be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites.
I have to admit, I've never really played a tank seriously at max level before. The closest I came was with a druid alt during Wrath of the Lich King who would occasionally fill in and bear tank heroics when needed. Heroics by that point had become so easy that tanking wasn't exactly difficult, so I didn't mind filling in -- but the tank role is just not one I've been entirely comfortable filling. So when the new threat changes were released yesterday, I wasn't terribly sure what they meant or why they were even important.
Luckily, the blogosphere is abuzz with discussion over the changes and how they affect dungeons!
- Looking for More goes over the threat adjustments and tries out tanking with the new changes.
- Raiding After Dark gives us a look at the changes from a paladin tank's perspective.
- Big Bear Butt gives his perspective on the threat changes and reactions.
- Tobold's MMORPG Blog has a good point about the threat changes and how they affect player responsibility.
Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment, and you may see it here tomorrow! Be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites.
Filed under: The Daily Quest
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Corath Aug 17th 2011 6:07PM
My main is a Druid, and I was a tank from the middle of BC through most of Wrath. I enjoyed it at the time, mainly because I could use one set of gear and just respec. Unfortunately now, I'm specced for feral DPS so I haven't done any tanking in Cataclysm yet.
This somewhat relates to a new post that I have up at my blog (http://corath.wordpress.com), as I created a new Death Knight on a new server with the intentions to be a tank. I don't have much experience yet, but I've enjoyed the few Ramparts runs that I have done.
http://corath.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/a-change-in-scenery/
Enjoy!
Ilmyrn Aug 17th 2011 6:41PM
I think it's worthwhile to remember that we shouldn't view these changes to threat in a vacuum, but look to the future. Sure, five mans will surely quickly become AOE fests again (those that weren't already), but with a new tier of heroics on the horizon, and the future ideas GC said they had in mind for tanks, it's pretty clear that this is a band-aid. The real fix is still in the pipeline.
As long as the likely return to Wrath era heroics isn't permanent, I'm okay with it.
mackejn Aug 17th 2011 6:53PM
Well, the real problem is a lot of tanks don't trust Blizzard to fix the problem. As a druid, I can see that problem. Blizzard doesn't seem to know what they want to do or how to do it without completely breaking one tank.
Udderpowered Aug 17th 2011 6:47PM
Is the threat hotfix on EU realms yet?
Fletcher Aug 17th 2011 6:51PM
Just because tanks can keep aggro on a whole bunch of mobs doesn't mean that they can *survive* it; in most dungeons - certainly in the Zuls - there are mobs that can and will wipe you if they're not handled properly. Scouts need to be nuked, flamecasters need to be CC'd, et cetera. Wrath got the way it was because everyone outgeared the heroics to a ridiculous degree. That'll happen to Cata too.
hicks Aug 17th 2011 7:05PM
BC was that way too. I had terrible gear at the time, and did a 4-person Underbog Heroic run with my somewhat undergeared friend, and the two that were decked out in T6 just destroyed everything.
I don't think that heroics this time around were much harder than BC or LK heroics when you were just gearing up to them--UP and Halls of Lightning in particular were absolute nightmares. The Cataclysm heroics were difficult at 333, you had to pay attention at 346, and a laugh at 359+. The Zuls progressed the same way, they're much easier now (due to gear) than they were at 4.1's launch, but some bosses (and trash) are still reasonably challenging.
Even the ICC heroics were tough for a bit, until gear and experience caught up. I got into a lot of HHoR runs where the tank would instantly drop group for the first few months.
Harrier Aug 17th 2011 7:05PM
I haven't been able to find mention of this on joystiq.com...
http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/2400-WoW-Lost-300k-Subscribers-Patch-4.3-this-year-Blizzcon-2011-Tickets-Blue-Posts
zweitblom Aug 17th 2011 7:32PM
Well, it *was* mentioned and discussed here, but I certainly believe you that you could not find it. The only thing worse than the comment system on this site is the search...
zweitblom Aug 17th 2011 7:37PM
P.S. http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/
jaminwarcraft Aug 17th 2011 7:59PM
You know, that screenshot really looks like my own Worgen! (Except without all the cool gear!)
Just written up, after researching, my own post on all this Transmogrification madness - http://shatteredbeginnings.blogspot.com/2011/08/they-come-in-with-transmogrification.html
Would like to get a view from around the community!
- Jamin
Harrier Aug 17th 2011 8:25PM
Thanks for the link zweitblom. I should read massively more often.
Fenice Aug 18th 2011 4:17AM
To be honest, I'm still mixed about this whole threat thing. One the one hand, it's true that I've held off tanking until I was sure that I would be able to keep threat. On the other hand though, I certainly felt much more accomplished once I did have enough gear to keep threat above trigger happy DPS classes. (I have a mage as well, so I understand the dilemma on both sides. :P)
Anyway. As someone who hoards almost all of the novelty and nostalgic gear that I've collected, I'm really interested in hearing more of the specifics about the Transmogrification system. I think this blog does a good job of fairly evaluating the pros and cons to such a system.
http://thevengefulpolyglot.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/newly-announced-transmogrification-and-void-storage/