Comments on: 9 ways to Stay a Sharp Tank http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/ A guide to tanking as a warrior in world of warcraft Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:01:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Arvernien http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-3527 Arvernien Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:24:00 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-3527 I wish more Raid level DPSers would practice with PUGs. I was tanking Heroic Mechanar last night and the rest of the group was in T5 or better gear (I'm in a mix of pre-kara/badge gear). They didn't control their threat and seemingly couldn't figure out to reduce their threat. On the other hand, I've never see such high DPS numbers (1000+). I got a lot of practice with Intervene, Taunt, and when Taunt was on CD - Concussion Blow. Finally, I got a serious check on my TPS - fine for similarly geared party members, low for high end raiding. I wish more Raid level DPSers would practice with PUGs. I was tanking Heroic Mechanar last night and the rest of the group was in T5 or better gear (I’m in a mix of pre-kara/badge gear). They didn’t control their threat and seemingly couldn’t figure out to reduce their threat. On the other hand, I’ve never see such high DPS numbers (1000+). I got a lot of practice with Intervene, Taunt, and when Taunt was on CD - Concussion Blow. Finally, I got a serious check on my TPS - fine for similarly geared party members, low for high end raiding.

]]> By: Blugar http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-406 Blugar Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:49:28 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-406 Multi-Target Tanking is something every tank should know how to do. I've found my guild and the pugs I run with appreciate when you can effectively retain hate on two or more targets at once. It's a tricky skill to master, but one that in a pinch can keep your healer from being smashed into kibble. I do agree that 5+9 are more effective together, because PuG's are hit or miss. Sometimes you get huntards, other times you get amazing players. Running Steamvaults last night with an alt we had a tank that was new to tanking so it was a learning experience for him, those of us that had experience tanking were giving him pointers and such and he had learned a great deal by the end and already you could see improvements. Either way, all these tips are very handy, whether you use them in a raid or not really doesn't matter, but just like professional boxers who practice a variety of punches and combos, but might only use a full there's always those tricks they can pull out in a pinch that might mean the difference between the belt and a 10 count. Multi-Target Tanking is something every tank should know how to do. I’ve found my guild and the pugs I run with appreciate when you can effectively retain hate on two or more targets at once. It’s a tricky skill to master, but one that in a pinch can keep your healer from being smashed into kibble.

I do agree that 5+9 are more effective together, because PuG’s are hit or miss. Sometimes you get huntards, other times you get amazing players. Running Steamvaults last night with an alt we had a tank that was new to tanking so it was a learning experience for him, those of us that had experience tanking were giving him pointers and such and he had learned a great deal by the end and already you could see improvements.

Either way, all these tips are very handy, whether you use them in a raid or not really doesn’t matter, but just like professional boxers who practice a variety of punches and combos, but might only use a full there’s always those tricks they can pull out in a pinch that might mean the difference between the belt and a 10 count.

]]> By: Speidel http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-362 Speidel Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:32:22 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-362 That sounds a little too hardcore for my blood... That sounds a little too hardcore for my blood…

]]> By: Max http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-361 Max Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:12:01 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-361 I am all for self improvement but I found that my group mates started to rely on my skills to save the pulls every time. Then when we went to raid and SHTF they would just stand around and get 1 shotted. I understand what youre saying and practiced properly will certianly rebuild those skills from the days where improved taunt was not "optional". We do what we call tuning runs. All pulls are chain pulls until someone yells OOM. The first few pulls are marked and CC is owned explicitly until we reach that mark in the kill order, or the member yells for help. Once we are comfortable with the mobs pulls are done sans marks to practice sorting. Tank gets healer/first dps, mage sheeps caster, hunter grabs melee. Best of all we do it in our craptacular gear and NO VENT! This is also the time where we try new unorthodox boss pulls and setups. We do a little review after the run to say what works and what doesnt. Something else to try is doing a heroic with only a 3/4 man team. I am all for self improvement but I found that my group mates started to rely on my skills to save the pulls every time. Then when we went to raid and SHTF they would just stand around and get 1 shotted. I understand what youre saying and practiced properly will certianly rebuild those skills from the days where improved taunt was not “optional”.

We do what we call tuning runs. All pulls are chain pulls until someone yells OOM. The first few pulls are marked and CC is owned explicitly until we reach that mark in the kill order, or the member yells for help. Once we are comfortable with the mobs pulls are done sans marks to practice sorting. Tank gets healer/first dps, mage sheeps caster, hunter grabs melee. Best of all we do it in our craptacular gear and NO VENT! This is also the time where we try new unorthodox boss pulls and setups. We do a little review after the run to say what works and what doesnt.

Something else to try is doing a heroic with only a 3/4 man team.

]]> By: admin http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-360 admin Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:15:37 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-360 @Max: I certainly won't deny you have a point bud, but the list is about improving yourself. It's a selfish list really nonetheless I know for myself that I've learned more techniques from saving fools than from letting them die. That being said, I'm certainly not afraid to let them know they are a fool after I've saved their life ;) But perhaps you've said it better... combine 5 + 9 and everyone wins :) @Max: I certainly won’t deny you have a point bud, but the list is about improving yourself. It’s a selfish list really nonetheless I know for myself that I’ve learned more techniques from saving fools than from letting them die. That being said, I’m certainly not afraid to let them know they are a fool after I’ve saved their life ;)

But perhaps you’ve said it better… combine 5 + 9 and everyone wins :)

]]> By: Tara http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-359 Tara Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:10:28 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-359 My main is my prot warrior, but I also have a mage I run with often and my first character was a healer. It is just as much the responsibility of the healer/DPSer to drink quickly between pulls as it is for the tank to give them a little time to do so. :) My main is my prot warrior, but I also have a mage I run with often and my first character was a healer.

It is just as much the responsibility of the healer/DPSer to drink quickly between pulls as it is for the tank to give them a little time to do so. :)

]]> By: Max http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-357 Max Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:03:17 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-357 <p>I do not agree with number 5 unless this is a pug that you never group with. If you are grouping with guild players whom you also raid with they need to be working on CC skills. I found that if I continue to save everyone the following things happen. </p> <p>1. CC classes never learn how to kite. Mages, Locks, SPs and Hunters can all kite very well if they learn their art. I kept saving this one hunter so often when his first trap failed or when he pulled agro that he cant kite to save his life now. Im forcing him to do it whenever we group now and he is getting better. </p> <p>2. You have to train people to watch the threat. On some raids you absolutely cant pull agro off the tank or DPS too early. If you are in some heroics and DPS pulls its also game over. Dont save them, let them die. They will get it figured out soon enough. </p> <p>3. Control. DPSers need to learn how to control their dps. If you are a RAID tankyou probably have some pretty insane gear. You can dish out more TPS than most any DPSer can keep up with. SO they dont learn how to control themselves. They just go wide open from start to finish. When these folks go group with another tank they pull agro. I always hear them complain in guild chat about how the tank they are stuck with is sooo crappy. </p> <p>So keep in mind your place in the group. If you feel that your skills are on par, DONT SAVE EVERYONE. It helps them build the skills they will need in raids where you CANT save them.</p> I do not agree with number 5 unless this is a pug that you never group with. If you are grouping with guild players whom you also raid with they need to be working on CC skills. I found that if I continue to save everyone the following things happen.

1. CC classes never learn how to kite. Mages, Locks, SPs and Hunters can all kite very well if they learn their art. I kept saving this one hunter so often when his first trap failed or when he pulled agro that he cant kite to save his life now. Im forcing him to do it whenever we group now and he is getting better.

2. You have to train people to watch the threat. On some raids you absolutely cant pull agro off the tank or DPS too early. If you are in some heroics and DPS pulls its also game over. Dont save them, let them die. They will get it figured out soon enough.

3. Control. DPSers need to learn how to control their dps. If you are a RAID tankyou probably have some pretty insane gear. You can dish out more TPS than most any DPSer can keep up with. SO they dont learn how to control themselves. They just go wide open from start to finish. When these folks go group with another tank they pull agro. I always hear them complain in guild chat about how the tank they are stuck with is sooo crappy.

So keep in mind your place in the group. If you feel that your skills are on par, DONT SAVE EVERYONE. It helps them build the skills they will need in raids where you CANT save them.

]]> By: DaddyGamer http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-356 DaddyGamer Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:21:13 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-356 Pulling quickly is a hard thing to do sometimes. I feel this is my single biggest flaw since I am a bit slow. One thing I have started with is that I state at the start of an instance that: "I am going to pull next grp asap if all have 50% mana or more. Anyone need longer break say OOM or similar". Since I mostly - almost exclusively - do PuGs, this is something I get flamed about regularly. It has happened in the same run that I am both flamed for pulling to slowly as going before heal has full mana... About crutches: Nobody wants crutches voluntarily, but if Magtheridon breaks your leg - they are sure nice to have =D Pulling quickly is a hard thing to do sometimes. I feel this is my single biggest flaw since I am a bit slow. One thing I have started with is that I state at the start of an instance that: “I am going to pull next grp asap if all have 50% mana or more. Anyone need longer break say OOM or similar”.

Since I mostly - almost exclusively - do PuGs, this is something I get flamed about regularly. It has happened in the same run that I am both flamed for pulling to slowly as going before heal has full mana…

About crutches: Nobody wants crutches voluntarily, but if Magtheridon breaks your leg - they are sure nice to have =D

]]> By: Annalyze http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-354 Annalyze Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:09:41 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-354 I think if I started grouping with pugs it would quickly kill the enjoyment of the game. There are some really stupid people out there. I think if I started grouping with pugs it would quickly kill the enjoyment of the game. There are some really stupid people out there.

]]> By: Siouxzen http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-353 Siouxzen Sat, 06 Oct 2007 17:16:21 +0000 http://www.tankingtips.com/2007/10/05/9-ways-to-stay-a-sharp-tank/#comment-353 I'm the healer you speak of and I see this!!! Part of the reason for the macro is due to crazy dps'ers (Speidel) using aoe and getting one or more extra groups. This normally isn't a problem if the healer has mana to heal for it. There are some instances that it's more important for mana than others. I would like to point out that I will also push a tank to pull faster if the run is inching along at a snails pace! I’m the healer you speak of and I see this!!!

Part of the reason for the macro is due to crazy dps’ers (Speidel) using aoe and getting one or more extra groups. This normally isn’t a problem if the healer has mana to heal for it. There are some instances that it’s more important for mana than others. I would like to point out that I will also push a tank to pull faster if the run is inching along at a snails pace!

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