Hey guys, for those of you unaware, the World of Warcraft Mythic+ dungeon season is starting today and before I dive in, I wanted to document my pre-season thoughts and perspective. So, here’s what I’m thinking about: 1. ALL BEAR, ALL NIGHT: To support my skill and mastery building as a tank and a Druid, I’ve decided that I will play the bear tank  Guardian Druid “all night” aka the whole of the Midnight expansion*. So from now on it’s ALL BEAR, ALL THE TIME! (* Only if strictly necessary, I will swap to the melee damage spec, Feral Druid, for that instance and then swap back to bear.) 2. TANK TIME: The Guardian Druid specialization is a “tank” specialization; the functional leader of the group. For all group content, the tank starts the runs, initiates all of the fights, and leads the group through the content to completion. This means that leading the group will be my responsibility for the whole expansion. This responsibility is the root of my, and many other tanks’, anxieties around the role, and the largest aspect I’m specifically tackling. 3. PRE-PULL PANIC: A personal challenge of mine is that I struggle significantly with anxiety. This adds some difficulties to my life, which includes my path to tanking mastery. Before queuing for instances, I experience significant waves of anxiety. I get anxious about everything from preparation to game mechanics to group composition and more. HOWEVER, I have made meaningful improvements in managing my anxiety recently, both in general and while tanking. What I’ve learned and practiced so far is this; I (or you) may never be able to get rid of the anxiety, but anxiety is a mental state that can be tamed and worked through. The key for working through it for me has been, first, recognizing the anxiety for what it is; second, treating my anxiety as a cognitive distortion and nothing more (easier said than done); and third, rebalancing my mentality to accept that the state is what it is and that, independent of my feelings, can be worked through with persistence and dedication.

Welcome! I'm Michael Roby, and this is my space dedicated to consistent learning, improvement, and disciplined reflection. Here in The Forge, I'm sharpening three blades: - Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) - Linux Command-Line Interface (CLI) - Tanking Mythic+ in World of Warcraft as a Guardian Druid I'll be sharing resources, insights, tips, and handy tricks — so be sure to join and walk with me as I learn these lessons and grind toward mastery. It's free! And remember: you are the only one who can forge a better life for yourself.