WotLK Beta: Grouping with Other Classes.

So far with all the new class changes I've had a chance to run or group with some of all the classes though not all. I can't say I've being in a group with a Shadow Priest or a DPS Warrior usually. But All my groups are PuGs. I'm not apart of any guild in Northrend just liking to go it alone and do other things as i feel so instancing are all random groups and invites.

Most the classes from that are in tBC I'm pretty much used to. Some classes more than others in a 5 man group as a Protection just works much better with some classes than others. Its a bit different seeing a Shaman with wolfs along in a fight and wondering where they came from as the tank, as bit different that is. But most classes seem the usual. Rets seem to work well in a groups that I'm in but that's still hard to tell when you can be busy tanking and learning Dungeons and mob tactics.

Biggest class so far getting used to is probably with Death Knights because they are new and experiences are new with the class. Some Dungeons I've been in groups with 2 Rets for dps or one group I had 3 Death Knights a Hunter and a Priest. That's a bit different there with multiple of one class in a group of 5. Working with a good Death Knight seems fun with at least one DK in a 5 man group based on how my Paladin AoE works tanking.

Its has being sometime of a challenge sometimes AV Shield pulling a group of mobs then start heading towards the mob closing the distance only to have some DK Death Grip it from right where the mob was before I got to it and then having to run back to where I was. As the tank that has more than often being a bit annoying to deal with. Sometime I think of it ahead of time marked a Caster in a group, AV Shield the Caster and have the DK yank the mob from where it was pulling the rest of the group that was shielded. However, I still find this a bit annoying or annoying to deal with in however I decide to pull a group in more than one ways.

However I'm still getting used to being in groups with DK's as they do add a bit to a group as well as with buffs. Two DK in a group is bit much to deal with and three DK's though can seem like fun, to me is more of a challenge to deal with with all the uncontrolled AoE being tossed or spammed around in the groups that I've been in and sometime without regard to the target mob. One good DK in a group seems to work well with a balance of other classes in groups that I've tanked with beyond that its one DK to many for me as a usual 5 man group.

Their will be allot of DK's in WotLK and few will be really good at first learning the class or being as experienced as the other more well known classes. Many will have to learn to work with other classes in how they play. With so many new DK's can only hope they don't end up with some stigma like Hunters have in WoW learning to group and work with other classes.

Screenshots WotLK Beta: Double Take.

Dragonflight Quest defending the time stream. There's two of us. Wearing the The Wyrmrest Accord faction Tabard.

WotLK Beta: Testing Sacred Shield

Paladins sure get lots of Bubbles. Well I've had a change to try Sacred Shield some. It pretty much does what it says. Best i can tell and looking at the combat log on proc it absorbs up to 500 damage then fades away till next it procs which cannot occur more than once every 6 sec on damage. Its a Shield that looks like a somewhat shiny bubble. Sometime can be a bit hard to see it as the tank tanking when a Holy drops it on you, but its there if you refocus.

Anyway this doesn't seem all that great as a spell for Protection, though it has some uses. Its seems more for Holy Paladin to use and to land it on the Tank or the one taking damage. It absorbs some damage going to the tank as they take damage if and when it procs and it seems to procs often which increases the critts of the caster of the spell Flash of Light as the tootip says. As a Protection the Flash of Light part is not of obvious benefit if your Tanking or if self casted in cases without another Paladin (Holy) on a 5 man run per say. But the damage shield has some uses in absorbing some damage in places where you have lots of AoE action. So some situational uses.

I asked a Holy Paladin on one my runs how it works for him and best he says he keeps it up on the tank as its free Flash of Light as it procs about 4-5 times over the duration of the spell. Its not great but every bit helps out he says.

Using it as a Protection I don't really find it all that useful especially when soloing as often I'm blocking all the damage and in cases where I am doing that this spell is barely use full. In some massive AoE it can be useful some where you may have lots of mana to burn and lots of stuff hitting you all around which adds up. It has some uses, buts its very minimal soloing for a Protect and not usually worth using usually for a Protect. It also cost a bit of mana for a Protect to use with very minimal benefit.

I can only maybe imagine some Protection Paladins that somehow may have to off-heal in large Raid for some reason using it maybe to increase their Flash of Light critts maybe in rare situation having to heal. But with the mana cost a Protect already don't have enough mana pool as it is to keep casting huge mana cost spells. I personally don't ever heal so I can't say beyond that personally as I rather DPS if anything. Now if your going to pull 10+ mobs to AoE it does have uses as you'll have more mana than anything with BoS and you'll probably be taking some degree of damage and it can only help. I'm kinda wondering where Rank 2 of this spell is as well.

WotLK Beta: New Face Smasher.

Upgraded from my crafted Saronite Bulwark Shield. Upgrade from that would have been the Leeka's Shield from Cot Stratholme which drops from the last boss which I hadn't seen drop as yet in few runs.

But was already doing some transmuted with Alchemy for Titanium Bars with the cooldown of 3 days as well as having my Hunter mine Saronite for Ore. Crystallized Essence you get from some Elemental Spirits or from mining which are the new motes which gives Eternals the new Primals. Some Titanium I bought from AH (5 bars) cost a pocket full I'm gonna say like 2500g ouch!!. Extortion sounds like a better word. But that's ok. I know how to farm money to make it back. One does need to invest always in a good shield.

All those it took to craft Titansteel (expensive) which you need to eventually craft the shield. Lots of cooldowns. Had a BS friend from a PuG craft the the Shield which does look nice. There are about 4 good pieces of gear a Tank can get crafted from Titansteel.

Currently Revered with the Argent Crusade with a bit of the reps from wearing the Argent Crusade Tabard. So as a Tank you get to pick up the new Helm Enchant as from previous post on factions. The Shield Enchant is fairly easy to get as well as far as mats.

Tip: Easiest way to get enchanting essences is to save and DE all your greens up to 80. Or it will cost you. All my greens from 70-80 I just had them all DE for lots of the new WotLK essences.

Screenshots WotLK Beta: The Halls of....

Halls of Lightning above and Halls of Stone below both in The Storm Peaks both apart of the Ulduar Dungeon hub. These dungeons are a treasure trove of lore about the Titans. The Dungeons are just Beautiful and huge stone monuments on the inside and very well guarded. Stunningly pretty with amazing design! Both are very fun Dungeons to say the least.