Pretty much this, except for the highest ends of raiding that are pushing for firsts this is a non-issue. DRK has some issues to be sure but ever speck of content can be cleared using them with no hassle.
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Average players really need optimization to succeed at doing something you know.
I compare to other tanks because that is the only thing to compare them to. And that 3rd tank is US.
Paladins have ways to delay their TP decay. Shield Swipe, and their other casted abilities now. They're in the same boat with a Defiance warrior in that they have enough GCD abilities, or casts in their case now, that offers more time for them to regen TP.
In a Pld's case, group support or swipe procs (Which you seem to be forgetting about).
In a Wars case, high damage at only the cost of Wrath. Those kind of things do make a difference.
And it was less for the point of comparison, and more for the point of describing how fast they could burn their TP.
Shield Swipe regens a massive 10 tp every time you use it. Only works when you are MT. You do not get THAT many casts off, (either as MT as they can be interupted very easily in raids, or OT because by the time you finish a clemency cast --the target has been filled up on HP by other tanks). It is also flat out not great---using it means your goring blade or rage debuffs will fall off, and you are doing much better damage simply doing your RA combo. It's not without purpose, but you dont just smack it cause the button lights up (infact--you very seldomly smack it at all) If you are running out of tp--you are better served just not hitting a buttons to regen tp to throw at another combo since they all have better returns on damage (both as combo averages as well as potency to combo ratio).
If you want a point of comparison, you can spam unmake --it costs mana and does a healthy 150 potency, during which time you will regen quite a bit more than shield swipe. While shield swipe hits for an extra 60 potency, it also only can be used while tanking. A DRK can manage their tp /while/ dpsing as an OT. The only way a Paladin can is by stopping to dps every once in a while to cast a slow 3 second cast, generally for little good because it all becomes overhealing (unless say, a healer is dead).
DRK have tp management, you just arnt using it correctly. You have tons of excess mana, and your unmake at 150 is nothing to sneeze at, since you are regening 100% tp for that spent GCD.
Yep...as a MT
Casting a spell means no auto threat generation, no shield blocking or parry. Its a LONG spell and easy to interrupt.
As an OT, most of the time the spell ends up being 80% over healing cause healers are far far faster, and you are not dpsing.
Dark knight can use unmake for 150 potency, spam it, still be attacking (since its 'instant') and regen a full gcd worth of tp during that time period. Thats far superior as MT or OT to say, shield swipe (the amount of tp you gain vs the damage (free for 150, or 40 for 210).
I would take a DRK over the other two tanks, when the player playing the DRK is good.
Player skill > class
this topic is about when would you take a drk over a pld or war.
MythToken view is that they believe player skill > class.
They answered the topic with their own answer, from their own personal view they believe skill is more important.
There is no room to expand on a person personal view point.