The Paladin rune Aegis, at it’s core is the later version of the talent redoubt. This by itself is not honestly the issue, although the placement (aegis vs divine storm or martyrdom? c’mon) is suspect, the rune itself also has a fundamental flaw.
The rune is a replacement for a talent you still have to take. Since the rune overrides the talent (aegis > redoubt) and they do not stack, all 5 points in redoubt are effectively wasted. My suggestion is to add a positive interaction between the talent and rune. Since the rune is competing with some heavy hitters (threat-wise) My suggestion would be to give it a boost per point in redoubt.
My suggestion would be something like this :
Aegis:
Increases your block value by 30% and damaging melee and ranged attacks against you have a 10% chance to increase your chance to block by 30%. Lasts 10 sec or 5 blocks. Effect not cumulative with Redoubt. Each point in Redoubt increases all threat you generate by +2% while a shield is equipped.
Now obviously this could be tuned higher/lower or changed to +block chance or + damage.
Just something to make the points in redoubt not a complete waste.
The strangest thing is that the way the runes were designed, it’s as though they are trying to make you actively avoid the protection tree. Aegis replaces redoubt+shield spec, Hand of Reckoning gives you the improved threat from ImpRF.
It’s… weird.
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I disagree. I think the runes overwriting talents makes the game more fluid and opens up more builds.
“I put my talent points in Protection so I am tank” is retail stuff. This is classic. Paladins can tank, period. Where you put your talents should be a matter of personal preference - and with the way that runes are currently designed, that’s actually how it works.
For paladins specifically, sure. Except paladins specifically have always had that option, same as warriors, same as druids.
A warrior can tank just fine with 0 points in prot, then and now.
A druid can tank with 0 points in feral, then and now.
A paladin can tank with 0 in prot, then and now.
Feral has no runes that invalidate talent points.
Warriors have no runes that invalidate talent points.
Paladins… well they kind of do.
The closest would be Skull Bash, a feral rune that basically replaces feral charge (shared CD, shorter CD but also shorter range). The difference is that feral charge is a completely optional talent. it doesn’t build into another and is not a core point needed to progress the talent tree.
I think the main issue with it is that it’s competing with Martyr and Divine Storm.
It just isn’t worth it whatsoever compared to those two unless you are REALLY struggling. And at that point I would say it’s more of a gear/play issue.
the reason you still get redoubt, even if you use aegis is to get the 30% block value talent as well. it is a bit goofy but even having them both together aint too bad.