But all we are is dust in the wind.

Some replies by Ghostcrawler on Tank Threat.

I am not sure what to think as of yet on some of the comment on the one hand I do agree that tanks could use stronger single target threat and that the reliance on Tricks of the Trade and Misdirect while interesting from a group dynamic strong point make the tank classes as a whole feel incomplete.  Again we reach the issue of threat scaling, and I agree it was absolutely perfect in Naxx and solid in Ulduar but after that it seemed to not really keep up.  Can we still hold threat, of course we can and I doubt I can lose it once I get going.  But the amount by which threat has scald with damage is not consistent with the increase for DPS classes.

Given this is the second time this has happened though not as bad as Burning Crusade, I am not truly confident they will find an adequate solution.  But I do have hope they will do their best to enhance the tank classes in the places they need it most.  I am not too terribly thrilled about losing more AE threat but I understand why.

Glorious Asian Taddies

How you doing?

Courtesy of Really Cute Asians.

I got nothing else, probably see The Crazies tonight.  Should be fun.

Which means we will 10-man and 25-man normal raid dungeons and 10-man and 25-man Heroic dungeons, giving us 4 completely different lockouts for a given week for a single dungeon.  This will be interesting and I am not sure how it will play out but hopefully it works.  I am intrigued to see how the achievements will work for these encounters and I can almost assume that any mounts will be given for the Heroic mode of the dungeons only but we shall see.

Hopefully more information will be forthcoming once the PTR goes into full swing.

New patch notes!

General Highlights!

• Construction of the Crusaders’ Coliseum is complete. Testing not yet available. New raid normal and heroic modes for the Crusaders’ Coliseum can be toggled using the Dungeon Difficulty setting. This applies to 10 and 25 player versions. 10 player (normal), 25 player (normal), 10 player (heroic) and 25 player (heroic) all share separate raid lockout timers.
• Isle of Conquest, the new 40 vs. 40 player siege-style battleground is now available for testing.
• New druid art for cat and bear forms has been added. There are now five unique color schemes for each form and faction. Changing hair color (night elves) or skin tone (tauren) via the barbershop will change the look of one’s cat and bear forms.
• Block Value: The amount of bonus block value on all items has been doubled. This does not affect the base block value on shields or block value derived from strength.
• On-Use Block Value Items: All items and set bonuses that trigger temporary increases to block value have been modified. Instead of increasing their block value amount by 100% like other items, they have all had their effect durations doubled. This applies to Glyph of Deflection, Gnomeregan Autoblocker, Coren’s Lucky Coin, Lavanthor’s Talisman, Libram of Obstruction, Tome of the Lightbringer, Libram of the Sacred Shield, the tier 8 paladin Shield of Righteousness bonus, the tier 5 paladin Holy Shield bonus, and the tier 5 warrior Shield Block bonus.
• Blessing of Sanctuary: This blessing now also increases stamina by 10%. This effect is not cumulative with Blessing of Kings.

Paladin Highlights!

• Exorcism: Now has a 1.5 second cast time, but can once again be used on players.
• Hand of Reckoning: Redesigned. Now does damage only when target does not currently have the caster targeted, but damage done increased to 50% of attack power, occurring after the taunt effect is applied.
• Judgement of Light: Now heals for 2% of the attacker’s maximum health instead of a variable amount based on the spell power and attack power of the judging paladin.
• Righteous Fury: No longer has a duration or mana cost, remaining until cancelled or death. Also cancelled when a Paladin activates a different talent specialization.
• Lay on Hands: The buff from this ability now reduces the physical damage taken by the target by 10/20% instead of increasing the target’s armor.
• Seal of Vengeance and Seal of Corruption: These seals have been redesigned to deal substantially more damage. Now, once a paladin has 5 copies of the debuff from these seals on his or her target, on each swing the paladin will deal 33% weapon damage as Holy, with critical strikes dealing double damage.
• Shield of Righteousness: Now deals 100% of shield block value as damage instead of 130%.
• Ardent Defender: Redesigned. Currently, any damage taken by the paladin while at 35% health or below is reduced. Instead, any attack that would reduce the paladin to 35% health or below has its damage reduced. In addition, once every 2 minutes an attack that would have killed the paladin will fail to kill, and instead set the paladin’s health to 10/20/30% of maximum.

Some big changes there… I am not sure what to think of it all just yet.

I find add tanking to probably be the most difficult and thankless role. Even more so in then ten-man version. We finally got the ten-man Undying achievement and still trying to get the 25-man achievement. I hope we can knock it out before Ulduar but if not there are other achievements to get and I won’t feel too bad about it. I really should update more often and will strive to get a post up at least weekly if not sooner.

In other news with all this extra time not playing I have taken to reading and enjoying my Changeling: The Lost books, if I am not doing one nerd thing it is another.

Oh and Happy Birthday to my girlfriend.

Oh on a side not Twilight Vanquisher Vanifae is go.

I started leveling a druid recently, Wigglebear, using the Bind on Account items bought with emblems.  Specifically Stained Shadowcraft Spaulders and Swift Hand of Justice x2.  I plan to level as Feral and then probably switch to Restoration unless i have too much fun as Feral which is possible.

Keep on tanking.

Not bad for a casual raiding guild.