Instance QuestionFollow

OK so I have a mid-lvl lock but I'll admit I don't know everything about them, especially what's up with locks around lvl 60-70 or so.

I was in a Shattered Halls run last night (Group composition: Me (tanking), Hunter, Rogue, Warlock, Priest).

Why, in that scenario, would a warlock use a VW? I'm used to imps or succubi (?) with the occasional felhunter when dealing with casters. Seems like we had CC/OT going on but again, I don't know late game lock styles. What's the strategy so that I can know what I need to worry about/be aware of as the tank.

Thanks!

OK I get that. I guess I wasn't clear. I was the tank as a paladin. We had a hunter with all the CC/OT that traps and the pet. We also had CC in the form of sap. So when I mark am I supposed to give the VW it's own target? We really didn't have enough targets to go around often only pulling one or two at a time (that weren't sapped or trapped). With a hunter and a VW out, when there are (or will be) only 2 loose targets, which one do I assign the OT responsibilities to?

Well, I only have a midlevel warlock myself, so I can't really say why there was a VW out in this situation. Normally in an instance group I will ask my group what pet they would like me to have out - esp if it's a PUG because I like to make sure I know a little of what everyone elses playstyle is.

Normally the only reason I would have my VW out is if the group is missing a real Off Tank and need me to pick up healer aggro when the tank is tied up with a boss or other mob. Otherwise I would normally just have the imp - apart from stamina buff until I respec he also lowers my threat which works well for most groups.

Was it a PUG? I have had endless issues with TankaDins in the past(PUG only), and in that group setup I think I may know why the VW was chosen. This is not a slam on any player, but the bottom line is Tankadins are not the best tanks avaiable. Sure when everybody knows each other, and nobody is in a hurry it works out just fine, yet if you look closely at that lineup you may see why the VW was chosen. A hunter can shed all the thret in the world ever 30 seconds with Fein Death, a Rogue can Feint or vanish, a priest can fade, and you want aggro, so what is it that a lock can do when they get aggro? Eat it thats what, Soulshatter dont realy count as aggro managment(in this context), not when every other source of DPS can litiraly dump aggro every 30 seconds or so without a large pricetag. For me, far too often the Pally uses conceration, the priest/druid/shaman/pally heals the Tankadin and it is all over, the Heal regesters more aggro than conceration and the mobs make a Bline for the priest, they pop Fade, but even in the best casethe situaion is not looking pretty for a "Ideal" start.

Secondly it could have been you were dealing with a Demo Lock who had the MD buff and he wanted to take 10% less damage, maybe they were out of shards and had to use the Abbsial shard to summon a VW(garbage logic the could have summoned a imp) and lastly, maybe the lock was kind of slow?

The only other thing i could immigine is that they were wanting to AoE and needed the sheild from a VW sac.

If you have a lock in your party he shouldent ever use VW, even to tank. Tanking is YOUR job remember, not his pets who wont be able to hold aggro anyhow, so have him use succy if you need more CC or otherwise use Imp for stam buff. Since he was using VW i take it he wasnt demo spec. I 4 maned Shatt Halls with my felguard tanking up tell the 1st boss once when our tank dc'd and we got bored waiting for him lol, so it can happen (we had a mage/rogue too for max cc lol).

Demo locks should use felguard for dps, most other locks should use imp or succy.

I have run with amazing Tankadins, but no matter what you say, they are not the preire tanking class of the game. they are a solid thrid place in the tanking game. If you think a Pally can outtank a prot spec warrior then we have some discrepinces. i still find a prot/arms warrior or a Beartank Druid setup to be prefreable to a TankaDin. I have run successfull heroics with a pally tank, but in that case it was a buddy of mine, and every person in the party knew each other. nobody had to wonder if one member of the party knew what they were doing. My point was not that pallies are crappy tanks, just that since some classes have a inate advantage in the tanking game(like say, Buit in extra thret) when playing with a alternetive tank, it takes more teamwork. Is that bad? no, I like when it is a bit more of a challange. But it sure would explain somebody trying to "Play it safe", that aside, I think it is silly to do a 5 man with VW unless you absolutly have to (like for one pull or something).

When i see a pally spamming Concecration i usualy leave the party. Too meny Jailbreak runs with crappy pallies(not even playing as tank) to ever let me forget it.

Thk u! U r 2 knd.

(yeah like I'm going to resist that set-up )

As for the karma, thanks but don't worry about it. I don't. I go up I go down. Sometimes, if it changes fast enough between green and red, I pretend I'm a christmas light bringing joy to a troubled world.

Sorry I didn't mean that you were pampering. My poorly made point was that the karma system is so random around here I don't even pay attention to it (unless the color of my name changes then it's like "Huh, ok people are bored" - goes for up or down).

You're right that it shouldn't be, but it is.