Today I got my first question via this blog. It comes from Mama Druid and sounds like this:

I hope you have some time to help me with a few questions. I’m leveling a protection paladin - she dinged 40 over the weekend.

I think I’ve done ok with my talents, but at these low levels the right kind of gear is difficult to come by. Spell damage seems only attainable via expensive enchants, and I think block rating is more of an Outlands stat. From what I understand about the basic stats, strength increases my block rating so I figured I need a good amount of strength.

Gear wise, and leveling before Outlands wise, are strength and stam stats I should be stacking… combined with any +def/br/spell dmg I can find?

It seems as though I block attacks from all attackers, not just the one I’m hitting… can you verify this to be true?

Is a faster one hand weapon preferred, for faster health regen with SoL (especially when Reckoning procs)?

Thank you for your assistance.

First of all, I want to thank you for being the first to use the Contact Form. It gives me great pleasure to know that people are actually following me and I can communicate and help them.

Regarding your question(s), let’s start from the top.

I’ve looked at your armory link (which I didn’t post, I didn’t know if it was ok or not) and you invested your talents very well until now. Keep going for Improved Holy Shield and then go for One-Handed Weapon Specialization. On the way, don’t forget to pick up Blessings of Kings.

Gear wise, unfortunately, there isn’t much love for us before Outland so we’re forced to share the same tanking loot as warriors. So yes, stack Stamina, Strength and Defense. Also, for spell damage, you can use some Wizard Oil.

About the blocks, yes, we block attacks from all attackers that are in front of us, not only those of the mob we’re hitting.

Fast one-handed weapons are the way to go. I’ve read some time ago that 1.6 attack speed would be the optimum value for that (don’t ask me where, I can’t remember). Fast attack speed = more damage when SoR is up (especially of Reckoning procs) = more threat. This should be your first priority, not to loose aggro because we know how people don’t trust Paladin Tanks (especially at low levels).

Other than that, my advice is to keep faith and don’t let yourself discouraged by the others. Have fun playing your Prot Pala!