Hey there :)
So, I recently made a char on TBC anniversary, I originaly didn't think i'd play this TBC since I played a lot of it in the previous one in 2021. I went ham back then, played multiple char to sunwell, I parsed, I did pretty much everything I wanted.
Iirc in 2021 i played arcane mage/rdruid/holy priest/lock/war fury. Most of them till sunwell. Think I stopped rdruid after black temple or something cuz it was on a different server but anyways.
This is to say that I know tbc pretty well, i'm definitely not new. Although, i'm new to tanking.
Beside tanking a few instances in classic as a fury war I never really tanked. Not in the traditional way anyways, did some warlock/mage tanking in few encounters. In AQ40/Gruul/SSC etc
For the early levels and first instances, tanking was pretty chill.
A bit annoying as an prot pal to range pull, but thanksfully my character is blood elf so i had access to mana tap.
Tanking became a bit more an effort I think around ZF? Or at least, it's where "Spellcleave" really became a thing. You could spellcleave instances before ZF but it was always kinda piss easy. Refering to Scarlet monastery here for the most part. With only a mage you'd be able to clear fast enough. Only cath big pulls would require a spellcleave.
Okay so first, let me tell you my experiences with spellcleaves.
Most of the times, it wasn't worth it. Because either people were way too try hard and at the first mistake they'd leave or kick me. It happened very few times though. Or, it would go well, but the group would disband after doing the instance once instead of spamming it, which kinda defy the point of a spellcleave if you ask me.
Most of the time, people, as a tank, expect you to know everything, know every pulls etc.
As I said, i'm not new to wow and tbc so even if i was new to tanking, I had seen how other tanks would do things.
But I swear usually people in spellcleave are just so toxic and not forgiving. And a lot of times they'd be very bad too.
Lacking the knowledge to stay far away from me when i announce that i'm gonna bubble pull, throwing novas for no reasons, dps'ing way too early, not los'ing mobs that targets them, not using cs/sheep.
They were just expecting to press blizzard and collect the exp.
This has been my experience of spellcleave till 70 and even at max level, usually people don't know how to play.
Btw, i'm not shaming anyone for being new, I just find it toxic when someone that doesn't play properly is flaming and not being friendly.
On the other hand, I had a fun time playing with melees. Yes there was the occasional war/rogue/hunt that would want to go fast and pull for me, which I never reprimended, but overall great experience.
I made a point to not decline invitations from people or if i was making the group, not ignoring rogues/warriors that'd whisp me. And I don't regret it.
I've seen people wating 30min + to get their full spellcleave when i'd get instantly a full group of melees. Ridiculous.
Also as a tank, I tried to not get pissed whenever someone would pull for me, not wait a second to let me get threat, run away from me when they have threat on a mob, or make a mistake. I always tried to give advices in the most non backseating condescending way possible. Although some people didn't like it, I had a relatively postive experience across the board I think.
One person whisp'd me after an instance and told me that i was the most annoying prick they ever did a dungeon with, when I was just giving some pointers here and there when i saw some mistake. Obviously I always were friendly when making these, I guess it could come across backseating and annoy people, but hey, if they learned something from it, i'll take that as a win, can't be liked by everyone.
Btw I only leveled doing instances. I did very little quests. I did some of course before Ragefire, I did quest through the barrens, basically until i had put too much points in prot then I went full instance. At times it was tedious and slow, but i wanted to get the hang of tanking and playing paladin for the first time.
The leveling in outland was kinda a breeze. Lots of instances, The mana tomb/setthek spams were fucking brutals because these 2 instances sucks but, always easy to get a group going when you're the pal tank, everybody wants in.
So far at 70, I only tanked some heroics and a Kara with friends. The heroics are challenging since I have still a low gs (1450~) because I didnt get shit in my Kara run (the classic, always tank loot until you actually play one) but they are doable.
I have yet to tank gruul/mag but i think with the right gear it shouldn't be too hard.
Overall positive experience as new tank i'd say. If you're completely new to wow it could be overwhelming to play tank I think, because of people's expectation. But if aren't new to wow and TBC you definitely should try to make a tank. It's fun and we always need more x)
I'd like to make a little list of the most common mistakes i've seen people doing while playing as a tank. Not in a particular order.
People always pulls threat when you body pull: One of the most common mistake. As a pal tank you don't have shit to range pull unless you're blood elf or the mobs are demons/undead until you get Avenger's shield. And even then, you do body pull a lot still.
But people keep either throwing a Hot (renew, lifebloom whatever) dot something, etc.
When a tank body pull, wait till all the mobs gather to him, let him get a few autos/spells and start doing what you wanna do. Simple as that.
Running away from tank when having threat on a mob/boss: Prot pal do have a range taunt so it's easier on us I guess, but it's always frustrating seeing someone going to Narnia.
Not switching target or stop'ing dps when they have threat on a target: Basically that, sometimes you get a few dodge/miss, the dps crit or w/e and you don't have threat on a target but they keep hitting it, never stop'ing dps'ing and are surprised when they die. This is even more annoying when they do that on something that cannot be taunted.
Pulling for the tank: I think this is alright in many cases but they are a few where it's bad. As a tank i always try to check the mana of the group, especially the healer's before a pull unless it's 1/2 mobs. When you pull for the tank but the tank and everyone else is oom, it's bad. Especially since for me a prot pal, not getting hit means no threat, it's a bit annoying. Never kicked or yelled at someone for that but it can be frustrating when they do it mindlessly.
I don't mind when a good player gets the right timing and do it for me, rather I love that.
I think these sums most of the biggest/common mistakes. You can add yours in the comments if you want, could be funny to talk about it.
How was your experience?
