Get this bird off my face...

Tier 13 for paladins has been announced, and MMO-Champion has a great visual retrospective for those of us wondering what sets to go after for transmogrification.  First off, I'm not an overly big fan of Tier 13.  While I think that paladins should always have some sort of wings implemented in their armor design, looking like I took a pigeon to the face while flying through Hyjal is not something that I relish.  Plus, if you took away the helmet and shoulders, it looks very similar to Heroic Tier 11.  Plus, is it just me, or is your eye drawn to the crotch area when looking at Tier 13?!?  I want to take this opportunity to thank Blizzard for giving us the opportunity to transmogrify our armor...

The only retro tiers that I am finding myself drawn to are 2, 5, and 6 (MUST have the helm from Tier 6; it is perfect in its simplicity), and I might just end up doing Full Tier 5 with the Tier 6 helm.  Purple Paladin, GO!  xD  Or actually, I honestly really like my Tier 12!  I have fought hard to get it, and the fact that I look like Tyrael from Diablo is awesome in my book.  Throw some ethereal-looking wings on me and BAM: Archangel of Justice.  I just have to wrangle my helm away from Ragnaros...

Dear Blizz, MAKE ME LOOK LIKE THIS!  Hugs & kisses, ~Kita

Dabbling in Prot...

In order to help my guild with getting our weekly guild challenge for raiding done, I was told by our GM that we needed to have a level 70 raid team.  Originally I thought of giving another shot at healing as a Restoration Druid, but after thinking it over and talking with other guildies about it,  I decided I would start yet another Holy Paladin.  In order to level quickly, I figured, "eh, I'll go Protection so that I can faceroll my way to level 70 as a tank, then switch to my beloved holy heals."  Hrrrm.  Not as easy as I thought.  Even if I ignore the idea that most groups I get stuck with when using the LFD system are also facerolling as well and are wanting to run through each dungeon like they were the star of the latest action movie, I still feel like there is a lot to tanking that I am not utilizing properly and therefore not doing as well as I should have.

My first issue is that I haven't looked into it properly and I only know what I have seen other tanks do from the viewpoint of DPS or healer.  This, of course, leaves a LOT to the imagination, and I find myself just pushing random buttons in an effort to maintain aggro.  However, I still manage to do really well in BGs!  xD  I think some more research into Protection is definitely needed before I use the LFG system again.  Also, I think perhaps making myself some twink items would be a good idea as well.

High DPS =/= Skill

So, I was just in a PUG with a few people running Zul'Aman.  Now first, off, I will say that ZA is not my favorite instance.  PUGging ZA makes me edgy, as people tend to go balls to the wall in the hopes of getting the bear mount, and when they don't get it, it tends to fall apart for various reasons.  I've been doing better with that shit, but...

This time around, I had a mage who was decked out in all sorts of high end gear, and he thought that I should be kissing his 42k DPS ass.  After he bit the dust during the Halazzi fight (failing point: not using some of that leet deeps to down the damn lightning totems), he proceeded to ask me if I was having some problems keeping him alive.  I told him that obviously I was, because he was taking a shit-ton of damage and that he should probably try to concentrate on downing the lightning totems to make it easier.  After claiming that it was "the melee's job to take care of totems," he proceeded to nag me about putting up Blessing of Kings instead of Blessing of Might.  I would have been open to suggestions had he not been such a dick about it.  He continued to be a dick for the rest of the run, posting DPS meters after every pull and at the end, he made the statement, "healer, you may have gear, but you don't have skill."  The tank whispered me and said "don't listen to him, you did good."  I told the mage that he may have gear as well, but he was the one who really didn't have skill.  He retorted by posting the DPS meters AGAIN.  *eyetwitch*  I finally had taken enough bullshit.  I told him in no uncertain terms that he had no skill because his awareness SUCKED and he had no concern for his fellow group-mates.  Also told him to suck my cock, and after waiting a few moments for a retort, said "fuck you, buddy" and dropped group.

I have seen this several times, and it ruffles my feathers worse than not using crowd control in situations that could benefit greatly from it.  I get so angry because people seem to think that skill is only measured by the DPS meters.  I don't care if you are the #1 mage on your server and are sporting heroic mode Firelands gear, if you are a dick and want everyone to kiss your ass just because you are doing insane DPS, that's not going to work for me.  Go group with other assholes and you all can suck each others' e-peens.  I would rather group with fellow people who are more concerned about going through situations as a group rather than basking in the convoluted glory of one jackass.

Raid Leading!

So, I have never been a raid leader.  There seemed to be a lot that they needed to do, and I had no flippin' clue when it came to little things (like how to place the world markers).  xD  But yesterday, I had finally had enough of looking in trade chat for a Baradin Hold raid for myself and 2 other guildies, so I figured, "fuck it, I'ma try to raid lead.  Can't be that bad..."

Lessons Learned:

1. Do not be so soft-hearted as to allow just anyone in.  Ask if they know the fight, and at the very least, look over the tanks to make sure they aren't geared in greens.  As a person, I like a challenge and I usually have the time to explain everything, but you must keep in mind the raid as a whole may not have the time or energy to deal with people who are not prepared.  If a person is not pulling their weight, explain to them that they need to be better prepared, and that you will be replacing them.
2. Organize your raid beforehand.  Depending on the fight, I am a fan of having one tank and one healer in each group or all my healers in one group.
3. State loot rules at the beginning, and that way if anyone has issues with the rules you have set forth, then they can leave.  Make sure to set your loot to whatever you see fit; a general rule of thumb is that main spec (the spec you are in at present) > off spec.
4. Explain the fight basics for each role.  If people shouldn't stand next to things/people, tell them beforehand.  I neglected to tell people that standing near the tanks was probably not a good idea, and lost a few due to that.  Tell the raid what you expect of them.
5. ALWAYS do a ready check before pulling the boss.  Hell, check twice if more than a few minutes has passed.  I told my one tank to pull when the other tank was AFK.  That was an unnecessary wipe!
6. DON'T get caught up in typing during the fight!  This goes for anytime and anyone, really.  Always be aware of what is happening around you and keep Raid Warnings short and to the point.

Fortunately, we did just fine after a couple rough starts, and defeated both bosses in Baradin Hold.  I do want to raid lead again, as it was pretty fun!

Me on my Hog with the tiny Noggenfogger buff, bringing a normal-sized Tauren guildie to Zul'Farak.  xD