Tank like a girl

I have been one of the very few tanks in my guild for years now. We just never have a lot of those. In TBC, it was two warriors, a bear, and very late into the expansion a paladin or two. In WotLK we struggled in similar fashion. For a good long time, it was me and a paladin. The paladin moved on, and our first DK tank emerged. Now, going towards the end of the expansion’s life cycle, we finally have four progression tanks signing up for raids, more than we have ever had before. In a guild of more than 400 characters, it’s just those four for progression. Interestingly enough, the four of us are all of a different class. And thus, the idea grew in my head how it would be to ask those other three to collaborate, and truly make this blog represent how it is to tank like a girl. Four girls, all of them tanks, representing their views on why they love tanking, and why they love their particular class, and any thought that comes to mind.

Today I bring you part I of this collaboration. Let me introduce you to our newest Daughters of the Horde tank. She’s only recently joined us, leveled to 80 and went off into the world of pug tanking right away. She then joined us in Trial of the Crusader and now Icecrown, to tank bosses WITH HER FACE! It is my pleasure to introduce you to Beisenberger.

Tank Like a Resto Druid

My love affair with the druid began nearly 3 years ago. In fact, it was only moments after I installed World of Warcraft for the first time on my geriatric, hand-me-down computer (a PC that could be classified alongside such technical marvels as the EASY-BAKE Oven) that I had zoned into Mulgore on my very first toon..the bipedal cow. Er…I mean the Tauren Druid.

Life was good. In my state of newbness, I achieved level 10 through an attempt to bludgeon every mob with my staff. Needless to say, I encountered several trips to rediscover my corpse. But after these many out of body experiences, something marvelous happened: Bear Form.

Immediately, my world changed. The once ‘laughable’ love taps from my melee weapon turned into deadly mauls, and the once deadly beatings from the enemy turned into laughable love taps. Clearly, things were going well.

As I leveled the Druid, I experienced all 4 specs offered from this amazingly fun hybrid class. When I reached end game, I decided, “Why don’t I heal for a while until I’m more comfortable with raiding.” Little did I know that ‘a while’ would turn into almost 2 years!

Though I do enjoy healing, it seems that when a person becomes comfortable in a certain role, they forget that sometimes, it would be nice to have a mangling, swipe-mashing, BADASS BEAR. (Especially when you had a particularly awful day at work! Just come home and…RAWR!Slash!MAUL!Grrr!. Therapy.)

You see, tanking in end game was always something I ‘wanted to try’ when I ‘had the time’. And aside from leaving the safety zone of a role I’d played for years…as a female player, there was also a hesitation to fulfill the most brawny role in the game. Melee and tanking classes don’t seem to be quite as appealing as some of the more ‘girl friendly’ classes that WoW offers. And I’m not just talking about male Bloodelves here, I’m pretty much referencing any class whose strong points rest in ‘mind over matter’. (Or anyone that wears a dress in place of armor.)

Let’s face it. On a global scale, women are not renowned for their ability to bench press 200 lbs and smash beer cans with their foreheads. This being said, I think there is a grave fallacy when the classic female mind first studies a tank.

“Ew, he’s going to hit me? IN THE FACE??. And what is this? A hammer? I have to pound that into some dude’s ribcage? No thanks, that’s pretty barbaric.”

In this way, women misjudge the tank. Tanks do not actually symbolize strength in an aggressive, physical way. They are not bullies, they are not self-centered. A tank symbolizes endurance. They do not attack to harm…but they do protect others at all costs.

To endure and protect. Are those masculine traits?
I don’t think so.

In fact, one of the most feminine characteristics in the world happens to be endurance.

It is the cornerstone of a woman’s ability to overcome any odds by her sheer willpower. To give birth, to endure that pain. To raise her children, to comfort the people she loves when they are grieving, to stand up to men who are bigger, stronger, more powerful then they…to place others joys and sorrows above their own. To lose and to live on. To preserve life.

Protecting others at the cost of oneself? I don’t think I have to sell that point at all. It is ‘clear as day’ feminine.

So, If all this is true, how did these brazen, manly claims come about on an overtly girl-tastic role?

I can’t tell you that. But, I can tell you that I’ll have a blast figuring it out as I perfect my mangling, swipe-mashing, BADASS BEAR TANK on WoW.