The Fragile Tank Ego: an analysis

Trying to run a raid with casuals, alts, and the occasionally poor geared raider resembles herding cats in about every sense. It is chaotic, requires constant attention or you lose one, and in the end makes absolutely no difference in the grand scheme of things.

Most notably, contending with people that attempt to maintain the carefully cultivated egotism of the dedicated raid tank. As a rule, Prot warriors, paladins and bear druids, have absolute confidence in their own ability. This has to be true or they wouldn't be willing to stick their neck out there night after night, suffer insane repair bills, and take the blame on bad pulls/positioning/reaction time/Misc.

Dealing with a raider that has seen the level of responsibility and (sometimes) acclaim, and wants a piece of that action, blows my mind. Most of the tanks I know that reach top tier have a similar mindset. They see a position that they can be good at, and the person currently in that spot is less than optimal, sometimes even horrible. So they re-roll, or re-spec, and put themselves at the bottom of the list. They learn everything they can from the people they already want to replace, and they move up.

I seem to be rambling. *smack* where was I?

Oh yes, an analysis of the tank ego:

• Charectarized by absolute confidence, unless challenged in anything resembling a patient tone.

• Willing to go to any length to help the raid, unless asked to do anything but tank(more on this at a later time)

• Obsessive with gear, and attendance (which leads to more gear)

• Cooperation is their watch word, unless youre after my gear, then it becomes a fight to the death on why I need it more. On this last note, thank Gods for loot systems.

did I leave anything out?

Frustration and Guilt

The frustration of leading a raid in Ulduar increases, based on two factors.

1. The level of difficulty

2. Absence of regular raid members

As an example, last night we reached crazy cat lady again. Not that many moving parts, a small list of spells, and generally something we should have had in the bag once the pull was figured out. But having to remind people over and over again simple things like where to stand each and every time, calling out reminders on simple mechanics.

The reason to have a rank for raiders is to lock down the people that listen to strats, remember details, and want to progress, and I can't help feeling like all that is too much to ask some of these people. When I ask my off tank how many hitpoints he has, ballpark figure, he should know. I shouldnt have to ask the top melee DPS in the raid to switch and help tank because of my lack of confidence in someone that is supposedly just as geared as I am.

Guilt. It comes from frustration. Knowing that cursing at the screen at the people I have known for a long time, years, decades in some cases, is pointless. Worse, that if they knew what I was saying, it would hurt feelings and could hurt their enjoyment of the game. Guilt forms like condensation on the glass of anger. These folks have been reliable, have trusted me through some crazy ideas and strats, and I have no right to be upset at them. At the end of the raid when we don't reach a goal, ultimately it's because the raid leader didn't do his job.

If any of you read this, sorry for being a dick sometimes.

Tankadin

My primary game is WoW, and my primary toon is a blood elf paladin, which I like to think I play well.

I browse site after site, checking and weighing statistics on gear, carefully balancing my HP, avoidance, and mitigation. I am actually at the point now where a .25% difference is a critical decision. However comma space I am NOT enthused with the new Tier 8 graphic, and may attempt to completely bypass looting them despite the stats simply because Luminas should not be subjected to wearing a dress.

I know it's my choice to loot or not, but was a small design change was that hard? They could have made it look like a proper knightly surcoat and I would have been fine. Maybe arrange the graphic to look like a kilt, that would be great, but long flowing skirts just don't work.



*sigh*

Disclaimer

I can't promise that any following posts will be on any specific or linear topics. I play a tankadin, and will post about tanking. I play a hunter and will comment on DPS matters. I play Eve Online, and may discuss 0.0 pirating.

With that said, I will insult no person's intelligence, except perhaps my own,