The Guardian Tank

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 103 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”. Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 103. Brought to you by Ninjas. You will be dead before you can worry. Guest host: Richard Tanking Tips and Techniques: Listener Host Guest Host Questions: Eld, I just was thinking of making my paladin a tank. Is it worth while to spend time working on a tanking now? I have heard your show and it seems like everything is changing. Should I wait? James Sent from my iPhone TGT, I have decided to level a tank up for mists. I currently have a warlock and and a shaman (both dps). What is a good tank that levels quickly and is good for a beginner. 
Thanks Walter M. News From Around The World (of Warcraft): The New Alliance: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/mists-of-pandaria-a-new-alliance-in-the-jade-forest/ Getting Ready For Patch: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/what-to-expect-from-patch-5-0-4/ End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email to theguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website at www.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 102 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”. Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 102. Brought to you by Healers: Tanks, your welcome. Guest host: Tote Tanking Tips and Techniques: Listener Host Guest Host --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email to theguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website at www.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 101 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”. Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 101. Brought to you by Happy Nerd Media: Embrace What Makes You Happy Guest host: Tote Tanking Tips and Techniques: Listener Host Guest Host Hi eld I am currently turning my Druid heals to a tank and find that I take a lot of damage compared to our other Druid tank… so is there anything that will help me rotation wise to stay alive -Huntsmaster (formerly wraa icecrown who's now wwraa of stormrage)Dear Eldric and various hosts, Hi Eldoric- Long time listener back since episode one. Love the show, and keep up the great work! As a fellow bear tank (back since Burning Crusade), I had a question about one of your points on the last show. You made a comment that you think the separation between Feral and Guardian specs for druids was a good thing that will increase the number of bear tanks.  Why is that? From my own perspective, I have long had two specs: Feral (tank optimized) and Restoration. This allows me to tank or heal in my raids as necessary. But more important, it allows me to through on a different gear set and use all my Cat abilities while questing and soloing in Feral spec. My DPS isn't as high as a dedicated DPS spec, but that ability to easily do solo or quest DPS has been a major perk until now, as many of the talents are shared between Bear and Cat Feral specs. Granted, I know this is unfair to the other tank specs, but it is one reason I chose to be a druid. In Mists of Pandaria, separating out the Feral and Guardian specs will make this behavior less beneficial. Guardian spec druids won't be nearly as effective while soloing, at least in my limited beta test experience. To me, this will make being a Guardian less attractive, and I wonder if other bear tanks will feel the same way, further decreasing our numbers. Would love to hear your thoughts. -Pitchifus (Thorium Brotherhood - US) [Pronounced "Pitch a fuss"] P.S. I'm surprised at your comment on Symbiosis. It's awesome! It doesn't take away any of your abilities, and it usually gives you an extra defensive move in Guardian spec. Check out http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1166361-Symbiosis-Update-Beta-Key-Sweepstakes-Blue-Posts-Upcoming-Raid-Testing-TCG-Art News From Around The World (of Warcraft): The Future Of Threat: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/vengeance-threat-stats-and-the-future-of-tanking/ The Alliance In Mists: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/mists-of-pandaria-a-new-alliance-in-the-jade-forest/ End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email to theguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website at www.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 100 This week we go live for our 100th Episode. Thank you to all the guest hosts (past and present) for attending as well as everyone who joined us on ustream to listen live. It has been a blast over the last few years and I hope we can have 100 more episodes of The Guardian Tank. Thanks Again To The Best Podcast Listeners In The World, Eldoric PS A special message from Notreluna who could not join us live but wanted to say a few words: "I've been so proud to see Eld's show grow from a hobby with a small set of home equipment to a true passion with hundreds of listeners, mad sound and interwebs skills, and thousands of hours invested in making it the best product possible.  Thanks so much to the friends we've made and the listeners who have supported this venture.  Love you, Eld!  - Notreluna"

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 99 Hey Dan, Been out of the loop a while but a big fan of the show. I assume you'll be rolling a brewmaster in MoP, and I'm wondering since there aren't too many resources out there (last I've checked) if you've played one on the beta and have covered the basics of brew master tanking on the show? It's a little daunting to get a complete 85 with a ton of spells to sort through. Thanks! Will S Dear Eldric and various hosts, Over the past couple of episodes you have talked about the possibility of WoW going free to play and some of the inherent issues it could cause.  I think the biggest problem presented by the free to play model employed by Guild Wars is that you have to pay for each content patch.  This makes breaking into the game a few patches in very expensive.  It creates a hurdle that prevents new players from joining the game.  Some could argue that WoW's multiple expansions create the same barrier, but they have brought the price point down and you are paying for close to 10 years of content. I could be arguing a moot point, but that is the initial reaction that came to mind.  Love the show and can't wait for MOP to drop so we can start the new gear grind. Thanks, Painzer Cenarius – US News From Around The World (of Warcraft): The Scenarios cometh: http://wow.joystiq.com/category/mists-of-pandaria Druid Symbiosis: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/07/26/mists-of-pandaria-druid-symbiosis-updated-includes-tables/ Release of Mists: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/mists-of-pandaria-releases-september-25/

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 98 This week we go all over the place (sorry) and get into tanking resources by class.

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 97 Listener Questions: Eldoric, Do think Panderian will make a good tanking race? Do you think they will be as good as the other races of the different factions? Thanks Peter Cliffton. Eld, I was having an issue with plate tanks vs the leather tanks. The leather tanks get resources from attacking/crits just like the plate tanks do but they wear dps gear unlike the plate tanks. So, are we going to have to wear some dps gear along with our tank gear to get resources for our abilities and will this be balance when mists comes out? Windagone Goblin Blood Death Knight Eldoric, How are the healers looking for mists? Thanks News From Around The World (of Warcraft): Cookie Cutter Builds: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/the-no-brainer-talent-and-cookie-cutter-builds/ http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/6036505350?page=3#45 Topic Of the Week: Beta Tank Balance

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 96 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”. Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 96. Expansions, keeping good games alive. Guest host: Tote Tanking Tips and Techniques: Listener Host Guest Host Eldoric Listener Questions: TGT, Just was wondering what the general differences between the tanks is going into MoP. Such as, do some look more at healing and others at damage prevention? To all basically have the same rotation concept? 
Love to know, Banarok Orc warrior Eldoric, How much is active mitigation effecting a tanks success? I mean, if a tank is bad at it does that mean they will die with an average healer where an awesome tank would make the content easy with the same gear. 
Walter Strussberg News From Around The World (of Warcraft): Awesome sauce: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/will-mists-of-pandaria-end-dungeon-queues/ How Challenge Mode Gear Works: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/blizzard-clarifies-challenge-mode-gear-scaling/ Topic Of the Week: Beta Tank Balance End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email to theguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website at www.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN TANK: Episode 95 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”. Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 95. Expansions, keeping good games alive. Guest host: Tote Tanking Tips and Techniques: Listener Host Guest Host Eldoric Listener Questions: Eldoric, I just heard that SWTOR is going free to play. I don’t want to get into a whole lot about that game, but if it can go free do you think WoW could be heading in that direction? That would be great. Thanks Justin Sellers Eld, I am planning to role a monk to tank but Is it worth the time investment of going from 1-95 with a new toon since I have a max level DK. How do these tanks compare to each other? Is it similar? Love to know. Aldwin News From Around The World (of Warcraft): MoP Kills Five Mans: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/will-mists-of-pandaria-end-dungeon-queues/ Balancing Content: http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/06/28/the-challenge-of-balancing-content/ Topic Of the Week: Beta Tank Balance End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email to theguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website at www.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN: Episode 94 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”.  Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 94. 3 of the 7 Lords of the Burning Hells.  Which three?  Didn’t ask. Guest host: --Questions Saw your tweet about it, 140 characters just isn't enough...and I just reread this all and it's WAY longer than I expected...sorry for War and Peace. Did Blizz actually call it DRM? Is that the official reason we're connected? If so, it will reduce but not stop piracy and they need to find a better way to "sell" it. Regarding the debate (aka rage) over the always on drm - It was announced months ago and should not have been a surprise to anybody. If it was, it's their own fault for not researching a $60 product before buying. As horrible as it is, I'll use the "buying a car" analogy the forum folks like to use - it would be like buying a car and finding out after you put gasoline in the take that you bought a diesel. It's not the manufacturer's/dealer's fault you're a moron. Regarding the DRM itself - It's mildly annoying when a server goes down, but overall I'm ok with that because things will stabilize soon enough. Granted, I'd like to be able to play on my laptop on a plane, but that's such a small percentage of my time/life that I can just find another game, watch a movie etc. and it's really not an issue. The biggest player benefit of the always connected game - where everything happens on the server - is that Blizz can hotfix tons of things and there's no need to release a patch. We know from WoW that hotfixes can and do happen quickly and often without our knowledge. Those fixes will be crucial once arena goes live. Arena is not single player, I know, but my understanding is they would have to basically create two games or drastically change how items drop in single/multi player modes. Sadly, most of the people who are opposed to it can't put together an argument for their stance without coming off as a troll or someone who just wants to find something wrong with the game (or won't just admit they want to pirate the game). I know I probably sound like a Blizzard apologist/fanboy, but I really don't consider myself as such. I just haven't experienced a negative impact from this design decision aside from what a reasonable person would expect from an always connected game in the first few hours/days of launch. I am just basing my views on my own experiences.. Sent from my iPhone 
Ben S. -News Anti DRM Article: http://4logpc.com/diablo-3-drm-shows-how-greedy-blizzard-has-become/ Pro DRM Article:http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/129688-why-diablo-3s-always-online-drm-is-a-good-thing End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email totheguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website atwww.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN: Episode 92 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”.  Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 92. Expansions, keeping good games alive. Guest host: Tote Points of Discussion: -Warm Up: Initial leveling experience (zones, questing, dungeons, ect) -Round 1 of PvE: Heroic Dungeon (initial to final content) -Round 2 of PvE: Raiding Tier 1 -Round 3 of PvE: Raiding Tier 2 -Round 4 of PvE: Raiding Tier 3 and Raid Finder -Close Out: The one thing you would have done differently End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email totheguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website atwww.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN: Episode 92 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”.  Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 92. Expansions, keeping good games alive. Guest host: Tote Points of Discussion: -Warm Up: Initial leveling experience (zones, questing, dungeons, ect) -Round 1 of PvE: Heroic Dungeon (initial to final content) -Round 2 of PvE: Raiding Tier 1 -Round 3 of PvE: Raiding Tier 2 -Round 4 of PvE: Raiding Tier 3 and Raid Finder -Close Out: The one thing you would have done differently End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email totheguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website atwww.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN: Episode 91 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”.  Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 91. 3 of the 7 Lords of the Burning Hells.  Which three?  Didn’t ask. Guest host: --Questions Saw your tweet about it, 140 characters just isn't enough...and I just reread this all and it's WAY longer than I expected...sorry for War and Peace. Did Blizz actually call it DRM? Is that the official reason we're connected? If so, it will reduce but not stop piracy and they need to find a better way to "sell" it. Regarding the debate (aka rage) over the always on drm - It was announced months ago and should not have been a surprise to anybody. If it was, it's their own fault for not researching a $60 product before buying. As horrible as it is, I'll use the "buying a car" analogy the forum folks like to use - it would be like buying a car and finding out after you put gasoline in the take that you bought a diesel. It's not the manufacturer's/dealer's fault you're a moron. Regarding the DRM itself - It's mildly annoying when a server goes down, but overall I'm ok with that because things will stabilize soon enough. Granted, I'd like to be able to play on my laptop on a plane, but that's such a small percentage of my time/life that I can just find another game, watch a movie etc. and it's really not an issue. The biggest player benefit of the always connected game - where everything happens on the server - is that Blizz can hotfix tons of things and there's no need to release a patch. We know from WoW that hotfixes can and do happen quickly and often without our knowledge. Those fixes will be crucial once arena goes live. Arena is not single player, I know, but my understanding is they would have to basically create two games or drastically change how items drop in single/multi player modes. Sadly, most of the people who are opposed to it can't put together an argument for their stance without coming off as a troll or someone who just wants to find something wrong with the game (or won't just admit they want to pirate the game). I know I probably sound like a Blizzard apologist/fanboy, but I really don't consider myself as such. I just haven't experienced a negative impact from this design decision aside from what a reasonable person would expect from an always connected game in the first few hours/days of launch. I am just basing my views on my own experiences.. Sent from my iPhone 
Ben S. -News Anti DRM Article: http://4logpc.com/diablo-3-drm-shows-how-greedy-blizzard-has-become/ Pro DRM Article:http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/129688-why-diablo-3s-always-online-drm-is-a-good-thing End of Show Notes: iTunes Review Discussion Listener Applications for TGT Twitter. Other Shows: Creative License, Randomly Reviewed (Video Format), Lore Stories, Weekly Nerd News --Well, I want to thank our guest host,, and our listener host,, for joining us this week and if want to have your question answered on the show then feel free to send an email totheguardiantank@gmail.com and visit our website atwww.theguardiantank.com The Guardian Tank is written and produced by Daniel Keating and is a part of Happy Nerd Media. Anyway, Until next time, this is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank”

THE GUARDIAN: Episode 90 --Introduction: Hello, This is Eldoric “The Guardian Tank” here with “The Guardian Tank PODCAST”.  Your Dedicated Source For Tanking News, Techniques and Related Topics. This is episode 90. Brought to you by gaming companies that think they can abuse their  customers.  Remember, even Rome fell. Guest host: Twitter ADVENTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Scroll to bottom for feed) Internet tough guy stories (forums and facebook) --Questions Ok, I am posting a letter I got that I thought was really good and my response. I would love outside eyes on it. Also, got one spot open for next week's show.

Hey Eld,

I've not played mass effect since I finished the first one. I dug the
game, just never had time to play 2 or 3.

Your description of why you dislike the ending is the most articulate
I've heard and doesn't sound like the whining I'm used to hearing.
Perhaps the rest of the folks I've hear complain about it just can't
explain themselves as well. Most of them just say they didn't like it
because Shepherd dies etc etc.

I agree with you that customers have a right to voice their concerns.
However, if the concern is about the story itself and not how poorly
it is presented, then changing it is a slippery slope of artistic
integrity and fear of backlash from telling a story with a non-typical
twist or ending. If all of our game stories fit a mold, then we'll
soon find ourselves bored with them and not paying attention to them.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for sharing your view on the topic.
Keep up the good work.

MY RESPONSE:

Great points and I will try to address them. There is two main ones that I read which I will try to talk about: Slippery slope of artistic integrity and artist having the freedom to engage in 'risk' when making art. I going to explain things I am sure you know already, but will for the sake of clarity.

The problem with slippery slope arguments is that they are not arguments or fallacies. They can only articulate a projected or theoretical trend, but cannot support that trend. Make sense? The formula A (.9) -->B (.9)-->C (.9)-->D (.9) so A-->D is .9 but it really is .65, shows this. The leading of each numerical value to the next supports a decline that can only follow from one to the next but not from two different values that dont directly proceeding or preceding one another. So, if A to B is happening that doesn't mean A to C is happening because their values are not the same, but A to C could still be occurring if A to B to C does exist. It is just A and C aren't directly the cause of each other.

To put it this way (and I use this example only because it simple and works to example the concept) if gay people are allowed to get married then people will eventually be allowed to marry animals. The values (in a formulaic sense) are not equal from one situation to the next. The slippery slope argument would work just as well if it is said straight people getting married will lead to people marrying animals in terms of the argument.

Second, artistic freedom or the ability for an artist to take a risk. This, I think, is easier to address then above. The concept of artistic risk cannot exist without consequence. The word risk implies some form of consequence by its very nature. If you are always safe then you are not taking a risk. If an artist wants to take a risk with their art, fine, but the consequence is rejection from the audience. Now, with commercial art or an artistic products the audience is a customer who has certain rights in a transaction because commerce was engaged in. What are those rights? The same as with any product, really. A customer can say a p

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