Post by cosmicguen
OK, I tend to build a levelling spec with level 80 already in mind, so I don't take the 'useful solo levelling' talents. Fortunately with prot this doesn't really seem to apply.
For level 80 you'll want to be looking at something like
this (probably not exactly the same, but close).
With that in mind I would have
this as my lvl 40 spec. Pretty good groundwork set up for both solo levelling (where your dps is going to be important so you can get mobs down quickly) and for tanking at lower levels. My advice would be to take the arms talents first, just because you won't need the prot talents so early on and the arms talents will give you a good base for soloing.
After 40 I'd probably finish taking the arms talents, and grab a couple in fury, so something like
this at lvl 50. Then at
lvl 60, and
lvl 70.
One thing to note: I would have tactical mastery up to lvl 70. This is because you can't use charge in defensive stance until you pick up the warbringer talent. Until then you're going to have to use charge in battle stance (where most of your prot abilities won't work) and then switch to defensive. Tactical mastery helps you keep the rage generated by charge. Once you pick up warbringer, swap out tactical mastery for heroic strike, since you won't be leaving defensive stance any more.
Again, this is what I would do personally. I find it more beneficial to gradually build up to my 'endgame' spec so I can learn it properly as I level, rather than having a solo levelling build and then swapping to a different one at 80...which I then have to learn all over again :/
Warriors are capable of levelling with very little downtime, so long as you manage your damage mitigation and damage output - so the mobs hurt you very little and you hurt them a lot ;)
One of my two warriors is a JC, so I carry around a ton of those healing statues. They don't heal a lot, but it's usually enough to keep me alive when I pull too many mobs by accident. Potions are your friend, don't be afraid to use them.
Couple of macros I find handy:
/cast charge
/cast defensive stance
Simply charges and puts you in defensive stance with one click. It's more efficient than clicking the stance button and just makes life a bit easier.
/cast last stand
/cast shield wall
The 'oh sh!t' button. When you've pulled too many and it's looking serious, this will hit last stand (increased hp) and shield wall (60% damage reduction) in one click. If you have trinkets with an on-use ability, or a racial ability like orcs' blood fury, then you can modify the macro to include them
/cast last stand
/cast shield wall
/cast racial
/use trinket
Other than that...levelling is so easy these days it's going to be little more than gathering up a few mobs and practicing getting to know your abilities and getting a feel for how it all works. Have fun :)
(sorry...lots of text 0.o)