How to Dragoon Per Second: A DPS Paradigm

[Thendiel]

Here's a theoretical model for Geirskogul use that I threw together, assuming a GCD of exactly 2.5 seconds.

HT -> ID-Dis-[BotD]CT -F&C -> [Geirskogul] Phleb -> TT-VT-FT-WhT (17.5 seconds remaining) -> HT -> ID-Dis-CT-F&C (20 seconds remaining) -> Phleb -> TT-VT-FT-WhT (22.5 seconds remaining) -> HT -> ID-Dis-CT-F&C [Geirskogul] (15 seconds remaining)-> Phleb -> TT-VT (one minute has transpired; new BotD is available) FT [Geirskogul] (BotD expires) WhT -> (entire pattern repeats)

While this squeezes in 3 Geirskoguls in just a little over a minute, it also involves BotD downtime at the very end of the move set (between Wheeling Thrust and the next Dis-CT opening for BotD). But it seems like there might be some awkwardness in reapplications of BotD in general, since the buff (I suppose) would have to wear off before you reach Disembowel or Vorpal Thrust in your rotation. I'm not sure how we'll work around that.

Off the cuff, I hypothesize that a GCD of 2.3 seconds or less might enable us to better optimize Blood of the Dragon, since we could reach the final Wheeling Thrust and extend the cooldown timer before 60 seconds have transpired.

[Leananshee]

Sweet work on the Thread hun Gief 60 naow!! So hyped for tomorrow #inlove

[seekified]

For GCD clipping and such, remember that it's been said that they're reworking the animation locks on jumps again to make them more fluid.

[Dervy]

If I've calculated Geriskogul and BotD ticking correctly with my updated model, the rotation should go like this. You guys are gonna be shocked at the DPS numbers this is gonna spout out. This might seem confusing, but bare with me.


My model calculates BotD with increases/decreases depending FC/WT/GK. Now, the timer also takes into consideration the "Animation lock", as the timers aren't updated until after you've activated the skill, not prior. Let's use a GCD of 2.40, as that's on the tooltips of the images shown and one can only assume that will roughly be the levels of Skillspeed we'll be working with.

The first BotD will be activated at 4.80s, with a 60s duration, the next time BotD will be available will be at 64.80s, naturally. 64.80/2.4 = 27GCDs between this period. 27th ability with a GCD of 2.4 is a Vorpal Thrust. So the second you use Vorpal Thrust, you should (tightly), be able to weave in your next BotD.

Because of this fresh reset of BotD, you'll have 26.7s left on your timer, when you activate your next Wheeling Thrust, after the Full Thrust combo, allowing you to execute another Geirskogul. Because of this, you have a unique relationship where you'll first use Geirskogul after FC, then each BotD refresh will rotate GK after the alternate combo, kinda like what we do with Life Surge and CT/FT.

Because of this, the rotation will go like this:

HT - ID - DI - (BotD) - CT - FC - (GK) - PH - TT - VP - FT - WT

Then the next application of BotD, at 64.80s would look like this:

HT - TT - VP - (BotD) - FT - WT - PH - IDCF.

Then again at 129.6s, it'll go back to the beginning. You will also end up with 1-2 GCD downtime of BotD when you approach the refresh window.

As for the rotation numbers.... Using my stats of:
WD: 58
STR: 646*1.03 = 665
DET: 422
CRT: 572
SS: 46

2.55:
PPS: 179.5596718322
DPS: 632

3.0:
PPS:206.9941142740
DPS: 689 (With a 1/3 hit to AA's DET scaling)

That's with Battle Litany, Jump Buffs, Geirskogul abuse, BotD uptime, not missing any WT/FC positionals and playing it perfectly in a vacuum, not accounting for Critical Hit Damage, Life surge, or Skillspeed DoT adjustments. Just, broken. I hope I've messed up somewhere, because that's too much DPS...

Again, this is all just theory and we'll have to see the actual numbers when we get in-game. But if this is all correct... Dragoon is one scary Job.

EDIT: SquareEnix have done a fantastic job literally squeezing every last drop out of this rotation. It's so fragile when at high-skillspeeds. I think the highest we'll ever go is 2.40... Anymore might/could break us, to the point we might consider using BotD before Disembowel instead... Idk. I'll have to go over and check all my timers are correct.

[Jollyy5]

One of my biggest questions is: "Where do I stick all those new skills so that I'll have no trouble including them in a rotation fluidly?"

I'm pretty sure that by now DRGs are at least close to being as difficult to play as Monks, even if just because of the sheer volume of buttons we need to press, while they only get some quality of life improvements while their rotation stays pretty much the same.

Also: What do you mean by "Too much DPS"? The change doesn't look -that- big, and it was bout time DRGs ascend from being "sorta-okay-melee-DPS"

[MercuryD]

One of my biggest questions is: "Where do I stick all those new skills so that I'll have no trouble including them in a rotation fluidly?"

I'm pretty sure that by now DRGs are at least close to being as difficult to play as Monks, even if just because of the sheer volume of buttons we need to press, while they only get some quality of life improvements while their rotation stays pretty much the same.

Also: What do you mean by "Too much DPS"? The change doesn't look -that- big, and it was bout time DRGs ascend from being "sorta-okay-melee-DPS"

I agree on the buttons. My xhotbar is filled already...

[EllPii]

I reckon. I need to find a way to stick these skills on my g600 to hit them fluidly.

[seekified]

Again, this is all just theory and we'll have to see the actual numbers when we get in-game. But if this is all correct... Dragoon is one scary Job.

Well, that's actually surprisingly comfortable - the way our current rotation works it still takes three full rotations to get DFD back to where it was at the beginning and four rotations to get BFB back to being available after the second GCD where it is the first time around. This will be similar and looks quite fun to do.

Also: What do you mean by "Too much DPS"? The change doesn't look -that- big, and it was bout time DRGs ascend from being "sorta-okay-melee-DPS"

Increasing PPS by that amount while changing nothing else is quite impressive, really. Scaled with gear, this'll become quite insane. I have to say I think DRGs are much more than "sorta-okay" at the moment either though, if played correctly, but then I am biased.

As for the crossbar issue, personally I already jump between three different bars to execute everything I have in a rotation, plus potions and Limit Break. That RB + A/B/X/Y motion has become very practiced these past two years. Yoshi did say he's got a plan though.

[Faltrask]

You don't know what you're talking about, we barely know anything about what the rotations are gonna be for all dps, and you already calling out DRG will be OP? xD Cmon, let's wait a few month for that, let's focus on finding out a good rotation for dragoon instead.

EDIT: and you don't even know which kind of mechanics we gonna deal with on new content...

[ChaozK]

Guys, why are you all still mere lancers? Time to become a Dragoon

On topic, we still have to see how much off a boost other jobs get. The casters look to get a significant dps increase with all their new stuff, Bard (and MCH) will dps harder too with its caster stance.
Now when it comes to MNK and NIN its hard to tell. MNK doesnt seem to get its ceiling raised much outside of a 220 pot 30s off GCD but then again he seems to benefit a lot from the system changes. NIN doesnt seem to get too much of an increase either but then again NIN is pretty badass right now, so that might be some sort of re-balancing.