I spent some time debating whether or not possessing just a couple pieces of agility gear was enough to start beartanking with. On the one paw, OH MY GAWD I AM TANKING IF I DIE WE ARE PROBABLY EFFED. (This IS a position of responsibility.) On the other, Daschela’s only level 40 and it’s not like anybody can visually check her near-total lack of agility heirlooms since RAWRRR she’s a bear. I’ll just pray that the healer doesn’t inspect her, amirite?
Therefore, Daschela said to hell with it and decided to test out her skills in a super low dungeon first – just in case. She recruited a tolerant healer friend and they headed out just to see how badly things could go.
I May Be Putting Something Off
I’m pretty sure I’m going to kill my heals, even though I’m level 40 and going to a level 20something dungeon.
I talked myself into actually going eventually.
Beartanking is Easier if You Roar
See? Here’s some proof.
RIGHT. So after shifting her skills around a bit and getting over the initial OMGWTF feelings whenever she /roared as a bear but a night elf woman’s voice came out, Daschela felt ready to queue.
Her first honest-to-Gawd beartanking experience turned out to be the one and only Dire Maul. Aaaaaaaaaaaaand the first thing she noticed just happened to be the fact that she was fighting alongside a completely naked worgen.
I Guess I Can’t Talk
IF ONLY I had thought to quote “No shirt, no shoes, no service” at him.
Apparently, he was just having fun by running around naked. In Dire Maul. Also, the healer was a shoeless dwarf, but next to the naked worgen, who’s looking?
The Dwarf’s Got No Shoes Either
I expect the mage to start stripping next.
So basically, the message for me in all this is: you’re level 40, who the eff cares about your gear because LOLZ! If you show up to tank in healer-type leather, there’s going to be a naked worgen FOR NO APPARENT REASON so it seriously JUST DOES NOT MATTER.
Despite our total lack of gear in some cases, it went ok. Look at Daschela holding aggro like a pro!
Daschela Keeps Aggro
ON ALL TEH THINGZ
It’s ALMOST like I know what I’m doing!
That last screenshot is just … wow … information overload.
And hey, you tanked like a boss and noticed the gnome wasn’t wearing shoes and you took screenshots of it, at the same time. So a job well done
Yeah, ALL THE NUMBERS. Can’t deal with default nameplates and numbers, aargh…
I remember somebody telling me once they were good for figuring out if you were losing aggro.
But I seem to figure out the whole “Somebody else has aggro ohnoes!” by simply seeing if anybody’s nameplates has any BAD COLORS around ‘em. Yellow? Bad. Orange? Bad. Red? Bad. Nothing? Good.
Why thanks!
I don’t remember if I turned the nameplates on intentionally or if, in a panic, I hit the V key. But if it makes it look like I was taking on twice as much, that’s fine by me.
Dire Maul is pretty much the gnomer of the 40′s o_o
And we’re coming up on Blackrock!
There’s just so much joy from the 20s to the 60s.