05-10-2005, 04:02 PM
Gnolack's final spec is looking to turn out to be:
Fury Mastery
Cruelty Rank 5/5
Improved Demoralizing Shout Rank 5/5
Piercing Howl Rank 1/1
Fury Total: 11
Protection Mastery
Shield Specialization Rank 5/5
Improved Bloodrage Rank 2/2
Toughness Rank 4/5
Last Stand Rank 1/1
Improved Shield Block Rank 1/3
Improved Revenge Rank 3/3
Defiance Rank 5/5
Improved Taunt Rank 2/2
Improved Shield Bash Rank 2/2
Concussion Blow Rank 1/1
One-Handed Weapon Specialization Rank 5/5
Shield Discipline Rank 1/1
Protection Total: 32
Arms Mastery
Deflection Rank 5/5
Tactical Mastery Rank 3/5
Arms Total: 8
What I'm wondering about are the 3 points in Tactical mastery. I'm pretty much here now, except that I have only 1 point in One-Handed spec and don't have Shield Discipline yet. That means I won't get Shield Discipline until I hit 60 unless I respec out of something else. The points in Tactical mastery have made life easier, I can charge pull and clap and not worry about losing rage if I had a crit anywhere, or having to stay in battle stance to dem shout before the change over. I can change over for a low power execute, which is still helpful to contain runners. I've managed to do a few stance changes and overpowers too, though the timing on that is very tricky and I would need to macro it to really be able to pull that off well. It's not enough to be able to switch and thunderclap or whirlwind though.
I'm on a PvE server, I've spent my whole career as a main tank and I'm used to the play style. I'm wondering if I would be better served putting talents somewhere else though. The utility of piercing howl and the extra damage reduction of improved demoralizing shout fit in so well with the play style that I don't think I'm gonna find more benefit for those 11 points. But I am missing out on 2% more armor value or a cheaper sunder (which would be helpful in multiple lock down situations), I've also seen that the exta second I could get on shield block would have allowed me to get the second block in if I had the points there. The 10 defense of anticipation would end up giving me about 0.5% dodge, block and parry as well if I wanted to pull points.
I dual weild a lot, even in defensive stance to help with more damage and because I rarely have a good two hander (I'm still using Grimlok's Charge because I haven't found anything better yet though I think I had an axe in the bank for L54 but I can't get on can check) so I get better damge out of dual wield, one hand weapon spec is only going to improve that. I also think there is something going on with the parry since I have revenge available a lot more with 2 one handers on than I do with a 2 hander, and with how good of an aggro generator revenge is I want to use it as much as possible even if I'm trying to put out more DPS because I'm not getting hurt that much. However I know that I will most likely find better two handers as I start hitting the higher instances, but that just means charge pulls will generate even more rage so I'd miss tactical mastery even more. :)
I'm not in defensive stance if I'm not fighting elites usually either, I'm just not taking enough damage for it to matter and the boost to killing speed is more important. My DPS is still pretty paltry though. I'm just wonder if my bent for protection with a few extra DPS options is a good way to go or if I would be better served to just hunker down more for those later instance. I enjoy playing the "you aren't going to kill me I don't care how many of you there are or how hard you hit" style so I don't mind going that way. Some of the plan for talents was done this way to help with the duo speed with Aleri since she is holy spec and we just don't kill that fast. However unless we are douing elites I'm still in battle stance so tactical mastery isn't doing much for me then.
Just some thoughts on defensive tankery and looking for some input.
Fury Mastery
Cruelty Rank 5/5
Improved Demoralizing Shout Rank 5/5
Piercing Howl Rank 1/1
Fury Total: 11
Protection Mastery
Shield Specialization Rank 5/5
Improved Bloodrage Rank 2/2
Toughness Rank 4/5
Last Stand Rank 1/1
Improved Shield Block Rank 1/3
Improved Revenge Rank 3/3
Defiance Rank 5/5
Improved Taunt Rank 2/2
Improved Shield Bash Rank 2/2
Concussion Blow Rank 1/1
One-Handed Weapon Specialization Rank 5/5
Shield Discipline Rank 1/1
Protection Total: 32
Arms Mastery
Deflection Rank 5/5
Tactical Mastery Rank 3/5
Arms Total: 8
What I'm wondering about are the 3 points in Tactical mastery. I'm pretty much here now, except that I have only 1 point in One-Handed spec and don't have Shield Discipline yet. That means I won't get Shield Discipline until I hit 60 unless I respec out of something else. The points in Tactical mastery have made life easier, I can charge pull and clap and not worry about losing rage if I had a crit anywhere, or having to stay in battle stance to dem shout before the change over. I can change over for a low power execute, which is still helpful to contain runners. I've managed to do a few stance changes and overpowers too, though the timing on that is very tricky and I would need to macro it to really be able to pull that off well. It's not enough to be able to switch and thunderclap or whirlwind though.
I'm on a PvE server, I've spent my whole career as a main tank and I'm used to the play style. I'm wondering if I would be better served putting talents somewhere else though. The utility of piercing howl and the extra damage reduction of improved demoralizing shout fit in so well with the play style that I don't think I'm gonna find more benefit for those 11 points. But I am missing out on 2% more armor value or a cheaper sunder (which would be helpful in multiple lock down situations), I've also seen that the exta second I could get on shield block would have allowed me to get the second block in if I had the points there. The 10 defense of anticipation would end up giving me about 0.5% dodge, block and parry as well if I wanted to pull points.
I dual weild a lot, even in defensive stance to help with more damage and because I rarely have a good two hander (I'm still using Grimlok's Charge because I haven't found anything better yet though I think I had an axe in the bank for L54 but I can't get on can check) so I get better damge out of dual wield, one hand weapon spec is only going to improve that. I also think there is something going on with the parry since I have revenge available a lot more with 2 one handers on than I do with a 2 hander, and with how good of an aggro generator revenge is I want to use it as much as possible even if I'm trying to put out more DPS because I'm not getting hurt that much. However I know that I will most likely find better two handers as I start hitting the higher instances, but that just means charge pulls will generate even more rage so I'd miss tactical mastery even more. :)
I'm not in defensive stance if I'm not fighting elites usually either, I'm just not taking enough damage for it to matter and the boost to killing speed is more important. My DPS is still pretty paltry though. I'm just wonder if my bent for protection with a few extra DPS options is a good way to go or if I would be better served to just hunker down more for those later instance. I enjoy playing the "you aren't going to kill me I don't care how many of you there are or how hard you hit" style so I don't mind going that way. Some of the plan for talents was done this way to help with the duo speed with Aleri since she is holy spec and we just don't kill that fast. However unless we are douing elites I'm still in battle stance so tactical mastery isn't doing much for me then.
Just some thoughts on defensive tankery and looking for some input.
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It's all just zeroes and ones and duct tape in the end.
It's all just zeroes and ones and duct tape in the end.