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.
Oo, great idea to get some more views from other female tanks. And RAWR for bears!! (I love tanking alongside bears.)
.-= Spinks´s last blog ..[Cataclysm] Rage changes, and the beginning of the end =-.
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I think you need to find a better quality of men. Try: http://www.theartofmanliness.com
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I loved this post. I thought I’d share something that happened, an interaction between my mother and I.
Out of the blue one day she said “If you were and animal, you’d be a bear.” My mind immediately went to /does she think I’m fat and brutish?/. I sort of nervously chuckled and said “Oh… Hehe…. Why is that?”
She said “Because you would never allow anyone to hurt those you love. You are very protective and loving. And God forbid someone were to try to get at your cubs.”
Yup. And in our Guild, I think that’s just the way it is. “YOU BIG NASTY DRAGON THING. YOU WILL NOT HURT MY GIRLS!”
Of course, I tend to be more of the “Oooh… I better fix those owies… That looks like it hurts” in our runs.
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This is a GREAT idea!!
Jesus I’m excited!!!
It was mostly your blog that gave me the courage to leave the healer niche and spec my pally prot!
At the end of the day, even though we play different classes, I still read your blog and find your advise useful, but most importantly, you know what being a tank and a girl is like. Because I can do my own research on my class, but I sure as hell can’t share my insight on girl tanking with myself ^^
Summary: Now I’ll be able to see “tank like a girl paladin”
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Interesting post. I would counter that while “To endure and protect” is a masculine trait, it is not an exclusively masculine trait.
Real men have been throwing themselves in harm’s way to save and protect their families, friends, nations and countries.
Awesome link Phelps, I did not know about the site and I already love it! I just ordered the book.
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Beisenberger Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Oh yes, I definately agree with your points here. I regret not adding the words ‘solely masculine’ in front of the referenced phrase, as it would have illustrated that I was not trying to exclude men, but rather trying to include women. As it is read, it almost implies otherwise! Sorry for the oversight. xD
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Phelps Reply:
April 7th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I would agree 100% with them not being solely masculine traits. Maybe I’m just getting oversensitive, but there’s a lot of casual misandry floating around society right now, and I’ve decided to speak up about it.
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I’m a female martial artist and I can draw a lot of parallels between tanking and fighting, especially the protection vs. aggression subject you mention here. We all channel our “warrior energy” (to steal a phrase from an instructor) from different places and mine is different from most of the guys but I am no less an effective fighter for it.
Anyway, I’ve thought a lot about why I am a small female who is passionately drawn to all things warrior. I have a theory that some traits that culture assigns to men are actually personality traits that men might have more often but aren’t limited to men. I also think that some of these traits have been nurtured in men over the years whereas they are suppressed in women…this was especially true in my family.
It works out, though. My husband, who is the most secure in his masculinity man I have ever met, is a healer both in game and out so we work well together.
I’m looking forward to this series…bring on the female tanking energy!
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Interesting post.
I can see how some men are ‘offended’ by what you say about protection and endurance. But I just figure you mean what they say, that they are not solely masculine traits.
However, I think to protect is more feminine then to endure..
Although in nature most male do protect their mate and young from harm, we all know that there are few things in nature more dangerous then a female animal who fears for the life of her young!
I’m looking forward to the new posts.
~Baruti.
Added suggestion: I am a bit confused about who posts what. Maybe it’s a good idea to put in a line like “passing the pen to XXX” or “Here is XXX to tell you about..”
.-= Baruti´s last blog ..Introduction: Searinox =-.
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Very interesting and true point of view on the tanking role and women in general, women are underestimated. Sure as you said women don’t have as much raw strength as us guys(largely due to the diet women follow to stay skinny and attractive I personally beleive, but that’s another story all together)
There is however absolutely no reason girls cannot excel at endurance, as a matter of fact women have an edge when it comes to enduring hits, they can’t be kicked in the balls! xD
A recent episode of mythbusters also confirmed that women on average have a higher tolerance for pain haha.
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