In regards to the whole 2% stam vs. 3% avoidance, that's really a much bigger question that as far as I know, there's no real answer to. You might as well ask, "is it better to gem for stam or avoidance? - do I use 3 41 stam gems for 1200 HP, or 3 27 dodge gems for for about 1.5% dodge (with diminishing returns)?"

In top notch gear, gemmed for full avoidance, you can get about 75% dodge/parry/miss as frost with blade barrier and horn up. On the other hand, if you gem for full stam, you can get near 40k HP raid buffed. Which one is better if you're getting hit for 10k?

One thing I've read a little bit about here and there but would like a good answer on is: Can Army of the Dead be used effectively in in raids or even groups for DPS without creating havoc because of the taunt factor?

Thanks

It'd really help if there was any kind of information about that, like a dedicated thread or something. Oh wait Raid Tested uses of Army of the Dead

Seriously, I understand it's the DK FAQ, but looking at the titles of other threads before asking questions won't kill you.

You might change that to "1 dodge rating > 1 parry rating", because 1% parry is (very slightly) better than 1% dodge.
Or you might add that it is that way because parry is more expensive for 1%

Swordshattering vs. Gargoyle
I stand corrected, neither enchant is subject to diminishing returns.
It might be worth mentioning that though, before others make the same mistake.

Will post more detailed frost DPS verbage later if I feel a bit better (sick; bleh) but here are some high/key points:


-Use the following ability priorities for single target:
--IT every 10-11.5 (keep Frost Fever up!)
--BS if Blood Rune Exists
--Dump RP if you have enough to FS
--Obliterate
--Burn Rime procs

-Use the following for multi-target:
--IT (for FF)
--Pest.
--HB spam
--Dump RP / Blood Strike

-Prioritize Hit until capped
-Prioritize a balance between stats gained and weapon DPS / speed (H HoS sword > H HoL axe due to speed/socket/stats!)
-Speaking of stats, avoid haste on gear if possible but the IIT line is actually an OK place to put extra points. I personally prefer filling out IIT before Toughness.
-Hungering Cold works on some encounters in Naxx; Gluth's adds come to mind, as do the Plague Wing's first boss' adds and Gothik (dead/live side guy--I memorize fights rather than names :p). While it doesn't directly increase your dps, it certainly can help in other situations if you're having issues with multi target dps but single is OK (rogue/enh sham heavy, for example).
-Tundra Stalker is superior to Vot3W on a point-for-point basis.
-The two accepted specs are 17/54 or 21/50; the latter is slightly higher DPS but the former tends to have HC and can be a bit more flexible with the last 4 points (whereas 21/50 must waste 3pts in blood to get 1pt in Vot3W).
-Do not prioritize tier gear over alternative pieces in the short run; however, target 4pc T7 if at all possible.
-Best T7 piece is the sholder slot, hands are a slight downgrade from the same-ilevel non-set, as is the chest. The helm is a downgrade until 7.5 (you ARE wearing the BS helm, right?), and I'm not certain about the pants.
-It cannot be emphasized enough: haste on gear is FAIL.
-Try to gear for Str, then AP/Crit, and finally Exp (to 5.6%) while maintaining hitcap.

I'm sure I've skipped something but that's all I can think of right now.

Okay edits.

* Added the DPS section! Whoo! Not my work tho, so if anything is wrong please let me know and I'll fix it straight away.

* Fixed some of the wording in the Rune of Swordshattering/SG part. Added that both are not effected by Diminishing Returns (which I just forgot to put in the first time around).

* Added the dodge, parry and miss caps. Cleaned up some wording in the DR part.

* Still praying for a sticky so its the first thing new posters see when they come here.

Regarding DW tanking.
(note that this is obviously pre patch 3.0.8 and could change)

Currently the only reasons I have been able to as to why DW tanking would be less viable then 2h tanking is that DW does not create enough threat, this is defintely not true.

ATM with the spec and gear I have (see Armory) in 10mans I can main tank or off tank with the only problem being if our mage pops his trinkets at the start of a fight.

In 25 mans our guild partners with another guild whos main tank is a 2h unholy DK (Armory) (who also MTs in the 25mans), on trash mobs he will usually always hold aggro, however on bosses where I'm required to hold secondary threat I usually have to just auto-attack and every now and again throw an IT and HB for risk of overtaking the MT in threat.

As for stats, unbuffed my stats compared to the 2h tank is:
AP -86
Dodge -3.22%
Parry -0.22%
Expertise +10
Hit Rating +47
Stamina +128
Armour -10

And when fully raid buffed I sit around 37k health and he sits around 34k
Looking at these stats and how my threat generation performs in 25mans I would say that overall DW threat generation is just as good, if not better than 2h tanking whilst the differences in tanking stats remains comparable.

I would be inclined to say that the DPS section is somewhat redundant given that the TTT exists: if people are too stupid to find that, they probably won't read this thread before asking their questions.

That being said, there is no "DK Tanking" TTT post, hence the content in this thread could be polished with a view towards creating one.

As long as we are beating the Runeforging dead horse i'd like to bounce my views off someone, let me know if i'm way off base:

I looked at it like this (SG=25def/2%stam, SS=4%parry):

SG nets 3% 'avoidance' and somewhere around 40 stam unbuffed and 50 stam raid buffed
SS nets 4% 'avoidance'

Basically when I was doing the math on paper I split off 1% avoidance from SS and lets call it 'X' or an unknown amount of stats to equal a vague 2% stamina

well 2% stamina from my calculations on current gear turns out to be 40-50 depending on buffs and gear

now, if I want to remove 1% avoidance from my gear and replace it with an equivalent stamina value I would need to look for 41 defense rating, 39.35 dodge rating, or 49.19 parry rating. lets say we had some leftover defense gems, 41 defense rating is worth 41/16=2.5625 gemslots

lets take our ~2.5gemslots theory and change them to stam (those come in 24's), 24*2.5625=61.5 stamina. this means if I remove 1% avoidance from my gear via defense gems I could probably gain 61.5 stamina.

going back to my first point, the 2% stamina that I get from SG (by sacrificing 1% avoid) only gives me about 40-50 stamina.

at this point, im thinking SG is slightly inferior or almost a wash (personal preference) but I want to see how DR factors in and check live 'character sheet' stats. I remove about 60 defense rating and 27 str from my armor and lose 1.2% 'avoidance'. this makes me think at my current item levels 1% avoidance is closer to 50 or 60 instead of my calculated napkin math '41' value.

TLDR
TLDR
In conclusion, I believe if you want more stamina/versatility and you can afford to switch old gems while staying capped (JC gems, high endgame gear, etc) you will have more benefit by keeping Swordshattering and matching it's equivalent benefit with gems or trinkets
/TLDR
/TLDR

Notes:

I'm assuming you are able to be defense capped without Runeforging therefore negating the benefit of crit avoidance
I'm assuming you are able to regem your gear without much trouble
My DR assumptions and calculations at the bottom part are very rough

You're absolutely right, the new runeforge is great for starting deathknight tanks and those of us (like me) who hate having to regem/enchant with every single upgrade to stay uncrittable. It's a real convenience factor. Mathematically the parry runeforge is slightly superior, and I expect to see serious progression maintanks (if such a thing exists in WOTLK) using it.

EDIT: Changed my mind.