Nich

I'm sorry if this impinges on too many other threads, but a lot of them seem to either be single talent focused, or looking at TBC, where new itemisation and level 70 change the playing field.

I guess the big thrust of this thread is, obviously, how viable - as a raid tank - are paladins with current itemisation?

As things currently stand (and try to remember that if I inadvertantly slip into 'claims', it's my lazy shorthand for 'IMO' ;)), we have two sets of gear considerations, in a tanking role: mitigation/avoidance, and threat production. I've not really been givin many chances to test my (base) threat production without tweaking it via gear/enchants, so I tend to play it safe by wearing what non-set tanking items I can get my hands on (read: warriors either have it, or have better), and having a few pieces of spelldamage gear to bump my spelldamage up to at least 100.

To a lesser degree, longevity is still an issue when we're not taking lots of damage, so I also try to sneak some mp5 in there, too, if only because I can't rely upon another pally lending a JoW.

I think I've been compared to a might-equipped warrior, in my current gear, so not so surprising that it's not often I'm allowed to tank (even tho' I've gotten into the habit of healing in my tanking set - for a lot of things - just in case something needs picking up).


Would the following talent spec, and gear list, be the best that a pally tank can hope for in the current end-game?


[Helm of Domination] (+7def/10stam/24heal)
[Gluth's Missing Collar]
[Pauldrons of the Unrelenting] (+18spelldmg)
[Elementium Threaded Cloak] (+1%dodge)
[Avenger's Breastplate] (+4allstats)
[Judgement Bindings] (+9stam)
[Gauntlets of Steadfast Determination] (+15agi)
[Royal Qiraji Belt]
[Avenger's Legguards] (+7def/10stam/24heal)
[Boots of the Unwavering Will] (+7stam)
[Angelista's Touch]
[Ring of Emperor Vek'lor]
[Onyxia Blood Talisman]
[Styleen's Impeding Scarab]
[Wraith Blade] (+30spelldmg)
[Blessed Qiraji Bulwark] (+2%block)
[Libram of Hope]

If needed, you could probably swap the ony trinket out for a tear, and maybe one of the rings for, say, the Nozdormu spelldmg/mp5 ring.

From reading around and my understanding of mitigation and avoidance, however, the above gear combined with HS spamming and luck on our side with redoubt, should push most, if not all, crits and crushing blows from the table. It's reasonably high in stamina, and surprisingly still has a not (too) embarassing mana pool.

From experience, a typical tanking scenario would rely on pulling with Avenger's Shield, JoR, HS, Sor, Consecrate, and mix them up as long as you think your mana pool can sustain it.

For talents, I obviously think that 41 in Prot is worth it, just for a ranged aggro dump, but my current talent spec is probably what I think provides a decent base build to work around. I'm still unsure on the validity of taking Imp Resistance Auras, or Ardent Defender - especially seeing as it means no points into Deflection - but say you lost the aura one (and hey, it's not going to affect your group come TBC anyway, it seems) and kings (hey, some other pally can cover it, you're the Sanct bitch!) and put 3 points into parry, giving you the stereotypical 41/10 build; you're still left with a bit of a compromise.

Is that pretty much about the best we can do, for the current itemisation set/talent budget?

Taking into account the fact I am in a Naxx guild, and ignoring the fact that this time of year + the proximity of TBC means raids are sketchy at best, and so I might not necessarily have access to some of this gear, how does this setup for a tankadin compare with warriors who are starting to work on their tier3? And with Bears?

I'd like to offer moral support, but I have questionable morals

 

Lumi

Mark of C'thun would be a better neck and Cryptfield Silk Cloak a better cloak. With those stats, I think you could actually get away with being an offtank for Patchwerk.

 

Nich

Ah, true.

I'm still used to some items being unavailable to me personally, because warriors are tanks and so warriors get first dibs :)

I'd like to offer moral support, but I have questionable morals

 

Lumi

Oh. Well then easier items would be [Cloak of the Golden Hive] (Huhuran), [Master Dragonslayer's Medallion] and since you don't already have a wraith blade, [Blessed Qiraji War Hammer] and [Lok'amir il Romathis] are pretty easy to get too.