Originally Posted by
Kreth
Sidonis, Tanked, & Amethyst
1. I think you need to take a look at the specific tradeoffs involved, and where this spec would be used. I'm very skeptical of blanket statements here.
2.
How more insulting could you be? Yes, I am more progressed on other toons, but to 'go there' brings the level of the conversation down. If you don't have anything constructive to add don't bother posting. Seriously.
ishish: Thanks for the measured and thoughtful response. I would respond that I have done a lot of research into the specifics of this spec. I'll certainly take a look at what EJ has to say about this hybrid spec. I do think it is situational-- in a lot of fights, a tank will be in bear (or, if things go right, a dps will be in kitty) 100% of the time. In these cases, it's absolutely better to spec specifically for bear or kitty. However, as axxey points out, the spec involves very little loss in one's viability as a tank. One angle by which to think about it is as a tank spec which can do decent dps. The benefit to certain fights (particularly when they have enrage timers, or just occasional adds) can be large, and there is *no better spec for an offtank* in these fights. I will research the tradeoffs more, but the only thing that has really seemed painful is the loss of infected wounds, and that's fixable with icy talons or if the other tank is also on your target.
Another angle, which people seem to have been focusing more on, is as an emergencytank. I've saved progression raids from wipes; it sounds like other druids have had similar experiences. If you absolutely don't see any space for such a hybrid spec in a progression raid, then frankly maybe you're doing some progression fights wrong. I get invited to dps certain raids because of my spec; perhaps I don't get invited to others because of my spec. This is one of the things I'm looking at, whether to have my offspec as resto or full-on kitty.
Gold (for dual spec, for additional glyphs, and so forth) is not an issue.
I think the idea to carry dps glyphs around and swap often is a great one, hadn't thought about that.