When threat gear doesn't cut it

I did it, it hurt, but I did it. I used a straight up stam gem in my gear. I used several in fact. I also dropped Herbalism (to Nassia's chagrin) in favor of JC and its sweet, sweet BOP gems.

I also went back through my bank, snagged my MT gear, as I call it, and sprinkled it into my main set. The reasoning is simple, but a totally unusual feeling for me. I know that, in new content, survivability is our utmost priority. And, in Ulduar, it seems that stacking Stamina seems to be the most effective method of doing so. One cannot forget the mitigation and avoidance stats either. But on thing that is absolutely certain, threat stats of all kinds (save for perhaps expertise) have taken a back seat.

To tanks who have been on the edge of progression for a long time, this regearing, reenchanting and reevaluation of the character as a whole may be old hat. But not for me. This is arguably the first time I've had to make fairly dramatic changes to a gear set to stay viable as a tank.

I like it.

I like having to rethink my gear style, mixing and matching items to gain the optimum mix of health, avoidance, mitigation while still maintaining enough threat generation to keep up with newly upgraded dps.

It's invigorating to theory craft again. Naxx was an upsettingly easy instance. My first instance on the cusp of progression, and you could clear it in greens; with only a few tries per boss. I did appreciate that Naxx wasn't Kara 2, but seriously, it was ridiculously easy.

Now, in Ulduar, we as tanks are tested. Both in our actual skill as well as our knowledge of our class and its mechanics. I particualarly enjoy how we must utilize many of our skills in one fight. We have to deal with adds, participate in the Super Bowl of Not Standing in Shit, tank bosses and make sure positioning is tip-top.

As tanks, we have to be malleable, able to change our roles and jobs at a moment's notice. We have to play at our best and prepare for the worst. We often get priority on loot, over heals and dps and that's for a reason.

We have to protect those same heals and dps, allowing them to do their job to the best of their capabilities. To complete that task, we have to be on the ball.

So to all the tanks out who haven't yet done a once over (or twice over, thrice over, and on and on) of your gear, spec, enchants, glyphs and all aspects of your character: do so. Earn the gear that is to come. Earn your guild's continued confidence. And earn your cheaper repair bills. Seriously, plate's expensive.

Man...

School and two jobs makes it hard to keep up on the blogging.

New post incoming regarding new gearing methods, the need for tanks to be malleable in raids and some Arms thoughts.

3.1 checklist

Shamelessly stolen from Mirror Shield, here is my list of things to do when patch 3.1 drops. And by the way, can it be soon? Please Blizzard? I need more stuff to do, I'm actually doing homework at reasonable times as of late!

Anywho, the list:
- Update addons via Curse Client
- Log on Bura and run to Org for dual specs
- Realize the 1k needed is on Daacacia
- Curse
- Log the DK and pass the money over
- Relog Bura and buy dual specs
- Create Arms dual spec
- /dance with a big honking axe on my back
- Drop herbing for Jewelcrafting
- /cry for the loss of Lifeblood (It's OP!)
- Begin power leveling JC
- Run to dummies to relearn Arms rotation
- Realize I need new glyphs
- Make glyphs and hearth
- Fly to Icecrown to check out the tournament
- Get ganked
- Run back to body
- Play with Arms spec
- Get invite to raid
- Try to learn the changes to Prot while in Ulduar
- Hope raid leaders don't notice my newbitude
- Profit