Buffs Are Crutches: Accept What You Get

I may deviate here from some accepted logic, but I hate when people start to complain about buffs. This can take a number of different forms.

First, there is the person that dies and wants to get full re-buffs before you do the next trash pull. That’s ok in a 5-man instance, but it’s an utter waste of time in a 25-man. A lot of pulls have charging mobs and extra damage that goes into the DPS, so it’s not unlikely that one or two may die - why should the entire raid need to wait for that one person before moving on?

Then, there’s the guy that holds up the next boss pull because he’s missing one buff. Gee, Paws is incredible. I don’t think we could have downed him if you, and you alone, were missing that +14 Stats and +25 Resistance. I’m glad you wasted our time so that we could rectify the situation.

There’s also the person that whines about Pally buffs dropping before the last trash pull before a boss. You can wait 2 minutes, fight part of one fight without a Pally buff, and get re-buffed before the boss. It ain’t gonna kill you.

Finally, there are whiny people who don’t accept the type of buff they get. Hunters are notorious for wanting Kings, Might, and Wisdom over Salv. Melee classes will also argue over what type of totem the nice enhancement Shaman should put down. You know what Blessing you’re going to get? The one I give you. The same with the Shaman’s totem.

Why So Gruff? Aren’t Buffs Important?

Sure, buffs are nice. However, they are temporary bonuses - they’re not permanent enhancements to your gear or your character. When I consider my stats for tanking, I generally include one buff - Blessing of Kings. If all else fails, I know I can throw it on myself.

However, it’s more than likely in a 10-man, and possible in a 25 man, that you’ll be missing some buffs - like Fort, Spirit, Paws, Blood Pact, etc.

Is that a big deal? No. If you can’t perform at the proper level without one of these buffs, then you simply shouldn’t be there. Last night, I died early on Void Reaver, I got a battle res, and I was fine with my single self-buff - Blessing of Kings. I managed to climb Omen and regain aggro, at least once, and survive.

If a Hunter can’t perform his duties of MQoSRDPS without Blessing of Might, then I don’t need him.

In the same TK run, I refused to give the Hunters Might. Why? Because the previous week, one of the Hunters (the one that was now complaining, and apparently the “Class Leader”) pulled aggro when Void Reaver was at about 5% and we wiped due to an enrage. That pulled Void Reaver out of range of most of our DPS, and if he hadn’t pulled aggro, we most likely could have killed him rather than dying at 1%.

When a Hunter is too stupid to feign death early and often, he does not get Might. Why? Because he’s likely to pull aggro again. Throughout the night, I witnessed several of the Hunters pull aggro on trash - and big trash mobs at that. Your wrecklessness is endangering the entire raid. Play better.

I eventually caved and gave the Hunters Might at the request of the Raid Leader, but not until I called the one Hunter out for wiping the raid the week before. I laid it out straight - if you’re gonna screw it up for everybody, I’m gonna leave and take my Might with me. I’d rather let someone else tank through that mess.

Accept What You Get and Move On

What it all comes down to is that you should accept the buffs you have and move on. It will keep the raid moving, and that extra time is worth a lot more than the few extra DPS you’ll do by holding everyone up.

If someone is giving you a buff - like a Paladin or a Shaman - take what they give you and move on. Chances are, there’s a reason you’r not getting what you wanted.

And bottom line, if you can’t perform at an acceptable level without every possible buff, you’re in the wrong spot. Turn around, leave The Eye, and head straight for Karazhan. I think that’s more up your alley. Come back when you’re ready to contribute on your own.

[By the by: I do give Might to Good Hunters. But once you show me that you'll abuse it, you get Salv. And when you complain, I get angry.]

Leave a Comment