12-06-2006, 01:14 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-06-2006, 01:17 AM by Concillian.)
Personally I think shield slam is a must have. It will still be the threat tool. Devastate is not much higher threat than a sunder, it won't beat out shield slam in most cases for rage per threat or threat per time... Devastate is useful once you have a full sunder stack to add damage while keeping sunder up for a similar rage per threat as sunder, but slightly better. Based on what I've seen from Kenco's testing of the threat value, I just don't think it will replace shield slam as the primary threat tool.
Devastate has a very small static threat component, most of it's threat comes from the damage done, so it can safely be used as DPS without fear of pulling aggro for how most prot warriors will be geared when offtanking, and for that it is very good. It's balanced to slightly outpace sunder on threat while doing damage, and I think it fits well in that space. It also gives tons of extra solo / grinding utility.
Focused rage will make up more than the rage lost by unbridled wrath and the rage normalization. First tanks won't be too far over the normalization point. Second Unbridled wrath is an average of 1 rage per 2.5 hits... or 1 rage per 5 seconds for a Quel. Focused rage makes up for that as long as you use more than 1 offensive skill every 15 seconds... And I don't care what you tank, you will definitely be using an offensive ability more than once per 15 seconds.
Also vitality adds a very small amount of rage back, about 2/5 in UW worth or so, depending on your strength. You might be underestimating the rage benefit of focused rage compared with unbridled wrath.
I know I haven't given you any clear directions, but the information should help you decide. There isn't really a right answer. threat and health are good (vitality) decreased spell damage is good (imp def stance) added shield block is good for more threat to shield slam (shield mastery) and more rage is good (focused rage). There are some tough decisions in the bottom of the tree, and you just have to decide on a specialty... or you need to drop points from cruelty and become a more dedicated tank... with devastate for grinding, you will still do better solo than before the patch (dual wielding and using devastate for damage).
Devastate has a very small static threat component, most of it's threat comes from the damage done, so it can safely be used as DPS without fear of pulling aggro for how most prot warriors will be geared when offtanking, and for that it is very good. It's balanced to slightly outpace sunder on threat while doing damage, and I think it fits well in that space. It also gives tons of extra solo / grinding utility.
Focused rage will make up more than the rage lost by unbridled wrath and the rage normalization. First tanks won't be too far over the normalization point. Second Unbridled wrath is an average of 1 rage per 2.5 hits... or 1 rage per 5 seconds for a Quel. Focused rage makes up for that as long as you use more than 1 offensive skill every 15 seconds... And I don't care what you tank, you will definitely be using an offensive ability more than once per 15 seconds.
Also vitality adds a very small amount of rage back, about 2/5 in UW worth or so, depending on your strength. You might be underestimating the rage benefit of focused rage compared with unbridled wrath.
I know I haven't given you any clear directions, but the information should help you decide. There isn't really a right answer. threat and health are good (vitality) decreased spell damage is good (imp def stance) added shield block is good for more threat to shield slam (shield mastery) and more rage is good (focused rage). There are some tough decisions in the bottom of the tree, and you just have to decide on a specialty... or you need to drop points from cruelty and become a more dedicated tank... with devastate for grinding, you will still do better solo than before the patch (dual wielding and using devastate for damage).
Conc / Concillian -- Vintage player of many games. Deadly leader of the All Pally Team (or was it Death leader?)
Terenas WoW player... while we waited for Diablo III.
And it came... and it went... and I played Hearthstone longer than Diablo III.
Terenas WoW player... while we waited for Diablo III.
And it came... and it went... and I played Hearthstone longer than Diablo III.