What is the best benefit a Paladin Tank brings to a group?

Monday, January 21, 2008

Karazhan update

I am currently offtanking for one of our guild's kara groups. Our group seems to be stalled out a little. We can consistently down all bosses but Prince, Nightbane, and Netherspite.

This week was our first shot at Prince and on one try we had him to 9%. So close! A lot of our trouble was getting used to the event and bad luck with the infernal drops.

We are progressing as a group because of individual improvements and better knowledge/experience. This leads me to believe that we will eventually master the castle.

Also, we are mixing up our groups. The other raid group is a little more advanced and better geared. Interchanging a few players will balance out the two groups and help our overall progress.

Gruul...Dead!

Last week we killed High King Malgar and Gruul killed us. This week we got both of them down. For HKM, I tanked Olm the Summoner along with the Felstalkers that were possessed. This helped control him and led to our victory.

Against Gruul, I just off-healed. I have 1000+healing so I actually helped. Some of my gear dropped, but I won none of it. A trend of late.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Gruul this weekend

This Sunday we are going to try Gruul's lair. I just read up on it, and BOY! he looks fun and challenging. I may be used as an off tank or be asked to bring in my mage or hunter for dps. Either way I'm excited. I have been in the lair once before, but our PUG failed. At that time, I was neither uncrittable or uncrushable. Now, I am both, so I will bring more to the fight.

Wish us luck!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Karazhan Progress...slow but sure

This past week I off tanked Kara through Nightbane and even main tanked Curator. I had a lot of fun but have little luck with tanking drops. Our mt is pretty decked out, so if a tank item does drop, I will most likely get it.

One funny mistake (funny because it didn't cause a wipe) was during my tanking of curator. Apparently, right before I pulled, one of the other pallies gave me Salvation (30% less threat). Looking back, I am surprised that I held aggro. Our main tank stacked his arc resist gear and was second in threat to absorb the arcane attacks. He stole aggro a couple of times, but I eventually got it back. Sorry Aus! It was a fun encounter though. My tier 4 shoulders dropped, but went to a Healadin, grats.

Although my pride doesn't want to admit it, it will be benefitial to accrue some good DPS gear and even HEALING gear. This will make me even more marketable. When the instance calls for a certain assistance in one of those areas, I won't be a detriment to the team. Right now, I have 1000+ healing in my healing gear. I really don't know what exactly to look for in a dps set besides +spell. Any comments on that would be appreciated.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

WOW New Year's Resolutions

1. Give priority to family and other responsibilities above the game

2. Have more fun - not let the game put me in a bad mood

3. Game Goals
a. Main Tank Kara
b. Main Tank ZA
c. Exalted with Shatar (DONE)
d. Exalted with Scryer (DONE)
e. Get Epic Flyer
f. Help Hellz and Nana reach their goals
g. Complete Gruul's lair then tank him

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Growing up as a Paladin

I decided to be a tank because I wanted a different experience. My previous 2 characters were DPS (Hunter/Mage). Leveling solo was a bit tedious since I hadn't gotten the hang of multiple target AOE attacks until later in my pally life. I really did enjoy the lower level dungeons and grouping for them.

Most of my groups included Hellzfire and Nanasdead, so it was easier to get a whole group because we already had the core (Healer, Tank and Dps). Especially fun was Mara. Although quite extensive and frustrating at times, the quests and beautiful scenery made it very rewarding.

When we hit lvl 58 and ventured to Outland, we flourished in the experience and reward rich quests of Hellfire. It was there that I got my first real tests as a tank-going through Ramparts and Blood Furnace.

Originally, I was inspired to create a paladin tank because of the play of Arizanti, an awe inspiring tank. Gotta love those 45 min Shattered Halls runs! I got a lot of advice and encouragement from him.


Currently, Hellzfire, Nanasdead and I are venturing into Karazhan and mastering heroic 5-man dungeons. My killer and healer both have been a little more lucky in getting some epic drops than I have, but I am diligently building my armory. They have also been working hard in tailoring a lot of their own epic items.

I finally reached Uncrushable after being Uncrittable for a while. The Devilshark cape eluded me for quite some time. It helped me get over the crushing blows milestone. Thanks Lord Kalithresh! Now, I am working on getting exalted rep from Shatar for the shield. Also in my progression are more heroic badges and Kara. I have an eratic work schedule, so I rarely see the whole of the instance. I have been through Shade and have to say that Kara is fun. The variety of encounters and undead killing power that I have make it very exciting.

As of today, I have tanked all 5 mans, heroic Ramp, SP, Mech, Bot, Seth Halls and Attumen/Kara trash. Most of the other heroics I haven't attempted yet, but with the added rewards of the daily heroic quest, I probably will.

My current goal is to main tank all of Kara with Nanasdead healing and Hellzfire killin. They already have the ability to do so. I think we just need to get together and do it.

Wish me luck!

A paladin, warlock, and priest...

A year ago when TBC released, two real life friends and I began a journey to conquer the world of warcraft. I chose to play a Blood Elf paladin and they chose a warlock and priest. My best friend chose the incredibly powerful warlock class and named her Hellzfire. I am Damnazion the shield of the group, Hellzfire is the destroyer, and Nanasdead is the undead priest that makes us whole again.

It took us quite a while to reach level 70 because we play other characters, but recently we have chosen these 3 as our mains and are working hard to improve our gear and skill to conquer Kara and beyond.

This journal will mostly be of my own experiences with spice thrown in from Hellzfire and Nanasdead.

Enjoy!