Found this FAQ-like questionnaire in Righteous Defense and decided to follow along.
What is the name, class, and spec of your primary tank?
Thorianar, paladin, protection. I used to be Taladan for a long time in another server, but had to change in a server transfer.
What is your usual tanking environment?
Almost everywhere. I do the Heroic daily with guildies, join the weekly ToC10 and Ony10 with the guild and pug ToC25 and Ony25. I completely refuse to to Ulduar, in any form.
What is your favorite encounter to tank, and why?
Depends on my mood. If I feel lazy, Twin Valkyrs is a good one, ’cause I can sit there and just do my rotation (while avoiding the orbs); if I feel adventurous, Onyxia, mostly ’cause it requires everyone to watch what it’s happening to me, I have to keep an eye on whelps, guardians and Onyxia health (when she lands.)
But, besides any mood I may have, Thaddius still is my favourite encounter of all time, no matter what spec. The first time I did that, I was in retribution spec and, even today, as protection, I find it a very fun encounter ’cause it requires your whole raid to act as a single entity, moving from side to side depending on the debuffs.
What is your least favorite encounter to tank, and why?
I can’t remember a single encounter I don’t like, but I’d say any Ulduar encounter. Just because I hate that place.
What do you think is the biggest strength of your class, and why?
For what I noticed, I think the biggest strength paladins have right now is the highest EH compared to other classes.
What do you think is the biggest weakness of your class, and why?
The rotation. I mean, there is nothing wrong with it, but we are hardly a “reactive” class. Even retribution is reactive (Art of War), but protection is a single minded thing that only needs to worry about its rotation and it’s all good. DKs have Rune Strike and Warriors have Sword and Board (which gives them the chance to cast Shield Slam with no cost.)
In a 25 man raiding environment, what do you feel is the best tanking assignment for you?
Again, it depends on my mood. But, considering that paladins are kings of AoE threat built, it’s probably getting the adds while other class tanks the boss.
What tanking class do you enjoy tanking with the most?
So far, I only know how to tank as a paladin. I read some stuff about warriors and a bit about DKs, but never really tried to level one and give it a go (although I’m seriously thinking about leveling a warrior to make it a tank after my priest reaches level 80.)
What tanking class do you enjoy tanking with the least?
No idea yet. As the original poster, “see previous question.”
What is your worst habit as a tank?
On the paladin rotation, the Holy Shield spell should be one of the first spells to be cast. The way I do the rotation, it’s the last (in my defense, I do this for rapid threat building, when the DPS goes crazy over a mob to make their recounts look good, so threat first, survivability last.)
What is your biggest pet peeve in a group environment while tanking?
Pullers. You know, those guys that feel a bit bored and are incompetent enough to not roll a tank but like to pull mobs for the giggles. I had every single role doing that (even healers!)
Do you feel your class/spec is balanced with respect to the other tanking classes?
Balanced in the way of “if you know your class”, then yes. The biggest problem with the paladin tanks, right now, it’s the low learning curve necessary. If you compare stats of mitigation of every tanking class, they are all the same. BUT (big “but”), most of the classes require more knowledge about gearing up, spec, procs and such. Paladins don’t.
What tools do you use to evaluate your own performance as a tank?
Number of people that died while I was tanking (well, before I died.)
What do you think is the biggest misconception that people have with your tanking class?
That whatever I do, it’s instant. I put consecration and BLAM! it’s instant aggro, “let’s burn this guy down.” People don’t seem to understand that Consecration is a AoE DoT, and that it builds aggro very very slowly.
What do you think is the toughest thing for new players of your class to learn about tanking?
What mitigation is. Right now, people that roll a tank worry more about total HP than mitigation abilities.
I have a guildie saying yesterday that he was happy with his 30k HP unbuffed in tanking gear. When I asked his DR: “500″.
If someone were to evaluate your tanking ability via tools like fraps, recount, and World of Logs, what tendencies would they notice?
That I put Sacred Shield last, sacrificing my survivability.
Stamina or Avoidance, and why?
I try to mix both, whenever possible. I noticed, more than once, that other paladins, with 5k more HP than me, can take, from the same mob, high spike damage. It’s fun to see that paladin boasting his 49k HP buffed while I have only 45k HP (same buffs) get 2 shot ’cause he’s a stam stacker.
Which tanking class do you understand the least?
Definitely, druids. Last night, in ToC10, with the guild leader tanking by my side with his druid, I was saying “this is a kitty gear”, “this is a bear gear” on the leather drops (we had a kitty) and he was saying “Hm… this is a good tanking gear” on things I though it was for kitties.
What addons or macros do you currently use to aid you in tanking?
So far, just Skada and Grid. Skada gives me a Threat meter and a DPS count in one single point (and I don’t need to install two addons for that, like Omem and Recount) and grid can show me if someone in the group is under attack (so I can cast Righteous Defense and save them.)
Do you strive for a balance in tanking stats, or do you stack some higher than others, and why?
I try to balance, whenever possible. I got a macro to check my parry diminishing returns and I’m going for it, trying to not sacrifice any other stats. If there is nothing I can put there, I go for stamina.
