What they don't tell you upon hitting 70

Every paladin should know that they are generally viewed to be healers upon hitting 70. This comes to a shock to a few, but its the truth. Granted, there are a few places that will accept a tanking or retribution paladin, but those are the exception.

I switched to healing out of the desire to contribute to a guild that had some turn over just as I was hitting 70. My coworker left along with several senior members to a different server/guild. I choose to stay out of a desire to see if I'd be able to contribute and in order to give the guild a chance.

I learned we are indeed great healers. Upon being decently equiped, i've healed through kara with only 1 other paladin. That's pretty impressive, no fortitude buffs, etc. Just kings and light generally...it has worked out well.

However, I believe there is a huge dark secret that isn't shared with people that ding 70. This secret will set you back months in acquiring gear in what you most likely enjoy doing the most the first 69 levels (tanking/dps).

Upon hitting 70 and venturing into Kara, the best location for gear/badges bar-none...there are two types of plate. Plate that the warriors want, plate that the warriors don't want. If you take the high-road and respec to holy, the guild & these warriors will breath a sigh of relief...since you will be removing yourself from 66% of the drops.

Let me explain.

Plate falls into 3 categories. DPS. Tank. Spell.

Since warriors don't ever want to use the last, its called "Pally armor". However, that Pally armor is worthless to you if you desire to tank or DPS. It truthfully should be considered healing armor.

By being the 'good' team player and going holy, you will get the items that you would have gotten anyway had you remained DPS or Tank. The warriors will never want that stuff.

Meanwhile, *any* tank or DPS armor will always go to the warriors. If one is tanking, they get the dibs on the tank armor, plus the DPS will be for their 'off-set'. Trying to speak up that you need the DPS just as much as the warrior will fall on deaf ears the majority of the time.

So there is the dirty secret. Had you remained DPS (which you probably should have leveled as unless you instanced a lot) you'd be getting some nice DPS armor, sometimes defense (if tank already had it), and always the healing armor.

However, by going to healer you lose out on all by the paladin armor.