Aegyn

Hey guys, I've been saying to a few people both in guild and out that I'd post something about pally tanking basics and gear, and I'm finally getting off my duff and doing at least posting links to answer some of the questions that a lot of the starting tankadins usually ask.

First off, knowing the attack table and how it works is the bare minimum any tank should know, in my opinion if for no other reason than being able to optimize your tanking gear for each situation at the least. Here's a link to a solid, succint post about the very subject:
http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.c...opic.php?t=331

Once you get past the basics, and have some tanking experience under your belt, it's definitely worthwhile to take a look at the stickies in this forum, as its' helped me with threat amongst other things.

http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.c...68127105611bba


Gear

Other links specifically for gear questions are as follows:

Pre-Raiding Gear Options
http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.c...opic.php?t=163

Reaching Uncrushability Gear Options List: (this thing was my bible while I was gearing up)
http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.c...pic.php?t=1049

Gems and Enchants
http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.c...68127105611bba

Tankadin Healing as more than just spot healing:
http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.c...opic.php?t=486


Tanking Rotation

My typical tanking rotation is as follows, as I have been asked a few times:

1. Prep Seal of Righteousness
2. Avenger's Shield, break line of sight/ have other players counter if the pull involves casters.
2a. If CC is necessary (and it usually won't be), apply it after the AS pull.
3. Judgement of Righteousness on the first kill target.
4. Consecrate, Holy Shield, up a Seal, in this order (to insure timers are appropriately staggered).
4a. If more threat is needed, Seal of Righteousness
4b. If it's going to be a long fight, judge Seal of Wisdom and back to righteousness
5. Keep Consecrate and Holy Shield up, rotating seals and Judgements as necessary.


Taunt Macro

The paladin taunt macro used to be something like this:
/cast [target=target,help] Righteous Defense; [target=targettarget,help] Righteous Defense

and I used to have this until I went snooping around and discovered that they recently changed how taunt affects non-buffable NPCs. It *is* now possible to throw a taunt debuff (Paladin, Druid, or Warrior) no non-buffable NPCs like the *hyjal knights or footmen*. However, the knights apparently will taunt the mobs themselves, or stun it as well and that stun can outlast the taunt debuff we're putting on them.

We've all been having problems taunting off of NPCs even though they reportedly fixed this. The problem here is that the taunt itself doesn't force itself to affect non-buffable NPCs as it assumes they are unbuffable. So, what we do is force the taunt on to the unbuffable-but-still-taunt-buffable-mob using this macro:

/cast [target=target,noharm] Righteous Defense; [target=targettarget,noharm] Righteous Defense

Basically the old macro says "Only taunt mobs and PCs, otherwise do nothing", making way that NPCs like thrall and Jaina are buffable and are therefor treated like PCs. The new macro says "OK, you can taunt NPCs now."



Lastly, I believe that our officers know a decent amount about pally tanks, but for more info for you guys, and everyone else in the platoon or guild here's a nice, condensed guide about tankadins:
http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.c...pic.php?t=1936

The only issue I have with the guide is that it states that bosses that silence (like Azgalor, for example) make the pally tank susceptible to crushing blows. However, any boss in the game that silences does not crush. They may do massive damage, but they don't crush.

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Aestryd 70 Prot Pally
Epimetheus 70 Feral Druid
Yuusei 70 Enhancement Shaman
Camsmule 70 Fury/Prot Warrior
Tamrissa 61 Demo/Aff Warlock
Aegyn 70 Holy Priest
Shyff 70 Arcane Mage

"The real-life equivalent of WoW tanking is to pick a fight with a rabid pedophilic cannibal and try to keep his attention while a pack of first-graders stab him to death with a spork."

orion808

Good info. Thank you.

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Dominus

Maiden crushes I do believe? Also that website is a good place for all tankadins to look through also officers looking to find out more about the crazy paladins that said F You to healing, ran in and started pissing off npcs till they attacked them :P

Aegyn

My apologies. Thank-you Dom, Maiden *does* crush, I was foolishly thinking only of tier 5 and above. Hydross, Azgalor, Archimonde, Paladin add, Illidari council, and Illidan can't crush (though you still need to be uncrushable due to the shear mechanic of the fight).

__________________
Aestryd 70 Prot Pally
Epimetheus 70 Feral Druid
Yuusei 70 Enhancement Shaman
Camsmule 70 Fury/Prot Warrior
Tamrissa 61 Demo/Aff Warlock
Aegyn 70 Holy Priest
Shyff 70 Arcane Mage

"The real-life equivalent of WoW tanking is to pick a fight with a rabid pedophilic cannibal and try to keep his attention while a pack of first-graders stab him to death with a spork."

Aegyn

BTW, I can confirm that the taunt macro *does* work on NPCs in Hyjal...worked like a charm last night

__________________
Aestryd 70 Prot Pally
Epimetheus 70 Feral Druid
Yuusei 70 Enhancement Shaman
Camsmule 70 Fury/Prot Warrior
Tamrissa 61 Demo/Aff Warlock
Aegyn 70 Holy Priest
Shyff 70 Arcane Mage

"The real-life equivalent of WoW tanking is to pick a fight with a rabid pedophilic cannibal and try to keep his attention while a pack of first-graders stab him to death with a spork."

Arkamis

It's also worth noting that Veras Darkshadow, the rogue add on Illidari Council can crush, but is stunnable.

Flames of Azgalor on Illidan cannot crush, contrary to what some guides say.

Kalecgos and Sathrovarr do not crush. Brutallus and Felmyst do not crush. Lady Sacrolash on Eredar twins does crush. Entropius and adds in P1 Muru do not crush. Kil'Jaeden does not melee you. He simply melts your soul with his mind.

Also worth noting is that Kalecgos and Sathrovarr can resist taunt. Brutallus can resist taunt, but it is the baseline 1% chance, and is not affected by hit rating.