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For the longest time I've been debating whether to make Shionna my DK alt a main-spec DPS or main-spec Tank. Up until now, she's been officially main spec DPS in Unholy (sometimes Blood), with a 2nd Tank spec in Frost (for doing heroics). I realize these days that I (1) rarely DPS with Shionna anymore, (2) thus mostly forget how to DPS as a DK, (3) have been tanking at least once a day for heroics, and (4) occasionally called on to tank random raids. I like DPS more than Tanking, but at the same time, I realize we need some alt tanks that are capable to help fill in.

So, going forward, I want to figure out whether I should switch her from DPS/Tank to Tank/DPS, since Shionna is probably more useful to the guild as a Tank. Especially now that I have enough frost badges to buy gear, I need to figure out if I should invest in DPS or Tank gear. My current DPS and Tank gear are comparable in 4pcT9 with other random pieces of 232/245s. I'm starting to think perhaps I should buy Tank gear.

Similarly, Kanon my warrior faces the same 4 things outlined above, except that she is main spec Tank, off spec Arms. We have 3 mains that are warrior tanks, but no active main spec arms warrior, and I'm kinda tired of playing a prot warrior. Kanon also has 4pcT9 with some random 200/213/219/226/232/245/251s in both specs. Kanon is inferior in terms of gear when compared to Shionna in both specs, especially in DPS spec. I am considering switching her to DPS. But again, how useful is Kanon to the guild as an alt Arms warrior compared to as a 3rd string Tank?

Our lack in tanks seems mostly to be for heroics and the raid weekly, neither of which really require a lot of gear. So as long as you have a tank alt spec you're willing to tote out for the daily and/or weekly, you're more than doing your part in helping lowbies and alts gear up.

This is, of course, coming from somebody who gave up a perfectly good tank spec when he realized he disliked tanking. The normal "play what you enjoy" applies!

Adam

I think of more importance would be to establish your main, and your primary alt.
Admittedly, this is a problem unique to all you altaholics. I hope no one in the guild plays so much they can't figure out who their primary character(s) are.

In general, a good policy is to assume your alt won't be raiding 25 (maybe in 10), and to gear appropriately. A number of people are funneling frost badges from their alts to their mains via p.saronite. That's not a requirement however, and depending on your luck with drops, maybe not even worth it.

I would also like to stress that we have 6 mains that are main spec'd tanks. If we run 3 ICC10s a week, there should not be any alts tanking. If you're in a guild ICC10 run, and you did not do everything in your power to bring 2 non-alt-main-spec tanks along, you're hurting your guild mates, and by extension, yourself.

My main and primary alt has been very clearly established for some time, or at least to those I party with often.
It's just that I don't know what my primary alt's main spec should be. That's all.