Since then, we hit the Cataclysm dungeon wall, leveled pallies, got wind that pallies would get nerfed (at least, heals), abandoned pallies, we went back to roots and leveled druids instead, druids got scary, then got fun, now recently they got buffed and they are somewhat OP. Not as OP as paladins though. And my lovely healer has taken a break, but we still have wow time, so I've decided to dedicate myself to the one non-tanking class I do enjoy- rogues.
At first my intention with Sicari was to just quest, and do some leatherworking serviceable enough for my druid.
Well, that changed quickly enough. Around the beginning of wrath, I felt confident enough in my knowledge in the 5mans that even if my dps sucked, I would still be a non-fail dps. And well, my dps did suck, quite a bit, but at least I cc'd and I didn't stand in the fire. After a few weeks of tweaking and discovering that duh, backstabbing is awesome, last night I actually did 3rd place dps by an 80 point margin, to 2nd place, and I was doing 2nd place damage overall. And while the experience has been fun, it has also been illuminating.
The first thing I noticed was how easy it is to fall into what the other roles consider the DPS mindset: Recount is this driving force. You need to be number 3 or higher. Number 4 has this certain ignominy... seeing your name there begs for an answer. In your brain, it means you are most certainly doing something not only wrong, but profoundly wrong. You seek for explanations: I know I did. Why am I last place dps if I'm second overall damage!?
The competitiveness is intoxicating, and in truth, it's desperation setting in: The healer is extremely necessary, the tank could be replaced but it would take a while, but me? They can kick me whenever they like it! I now understand the DPS desperation. I don't understand the entitlement yet. I don't understand how that desperation turns into - " I'll be a dick, because I feel you're doing your job wrong"
But then, I think I'm now a class apart, within DPS.
I also started noticing bad tanks...people running a level 77-80 5 man in level 70 end game gear...one particular warrior was fully decked in end game TBC gear. I can't remember how many rewards I had sold as trash in the last few days that would have been improvements for this player...not only was he undergeared, he would make stupid pulls, and would have aggro issues....well, I was outdpsing this particular tank, so...sadness. Other tanks simply don't know how to do the five mans, and are nice about it and ask, and are quick to get trampled. I could of course commiserate with my brother in arms (or prot...?) and lent some feedback, but non-knowledgeable tanks aren't as effective, and obviously, when would they learn? But they quickly get trampled by some of the other dps....which is always sad.
I've noticed how quickly tunnel vision sets in too. I had to train myself to ensure to get behind a mob so I could stab him in the back...I can't count the number of times I clicked that '5' key to no avail, and not knowing why nothing happened. Well, of course, the huge Vykrul is attacking me, can't stab him in the front with BACKstab. Duh. Improving on my DPS has also taught me how aggro works. Aggro is a sensuous being....and a whore. It goes where it likes. Now in retrospect, I realize that not enough dps'ers manage their aggro. I was, like I said, doing very decent dps last night. And while I did grab aggro a few times, I dropped it almost immediately, and I never died. And my health bar never really dipped, except during one boss fight...either the tank was phenomenal, and I would say he was apt, as he lost aggro a few times, to a mage of course...or I know how to manage MY aggro. It's fairly easy...truth be told, it's almost comical- 1. allow the tank a moment to attack 2. if you pull aggro, either drop it or CC. I've gotten out of that flashing red screen with kidney shots a number of times now. And it works almost instantly.
But it seems that...this doesn't happen as often.
So far it's been an interesting few days. And very insightful.
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