Dragoons: A Rotation Reborn

[Mantrus]

I have a few questions.

- How is critical damage calculated? Most games it's like double damage, but that doesn't seem to be the case in FFXIV.
- Is determination better to get over skill speed, even when they contribute the same quantity of stats according to the strength equivalency table? It seems like having skill speed has the liability of DoT clipping and such.
- Does it matter if I use my high damage off-GCD actions (mostly jumps) before or after Disembowel? I usually use my lower damage off-GCDs early in my rotation and save my high damage ones for after I get my buffs, but this doesn't seem to be focused upon in the write-up, so I'm wondering if it matters.

[Ayvar]

I have a few questions.

- How is critical damage calculated? Most games it's like double damage, but that doesn't seem to be the case in FFXIV.
- Is determination better to get over skill speed, even when they contribute the same quantity of stats according to the strength equivalency table? It seems like having skill speed has the liability of DoT clipping and such.
- Does it matter if I use my high damage off-GCD actions (mostly jumps) before or after Disembowel? I usually use my lower damage off-GCDs early in my rotation and save my high damage ones for after I get my buffs, but this doesn't seem to be focused upon in the write-up, so I'm wondering if it matters.

1) From my experience crits are 2x damage, there is just some variation around all damage in the game so it wont be exactly 2x your full damage each time. If a hit can vary from 90-110 you might crit for 180 sometimes or 220 others. There also might be issues with some buffs falling off prior to whatever ability you are critting. However, this could be wrong and someone else can feel free to use math to defeat me.

2) Dunno how you got DET and SS as equal given stat weights, DET is at 0.22 and SS at 0.146, so DET is worth a good deal more.

3) Aim to use your best damage abilities (PS/Jump, Life Surge) after Disembowel. It isn't focused on, but is implied by the off-GCD rotation in the first post.

Yikes lots to absorb for a newbie,
Drg sounds like a class for those that are experienced. I was going to switch from Gld to this, now not 100% sure. Great write up.

It's actually quite an intuitive class as the GCD ability rotations can only ever consist of three groups of abilities. Either your True Thrust Combo, Impulse Drive Combo, or Heavy Thrust/DoT(s) "combo". Once you get in that mindset it flows quite well. Also I love this thread because everything is here, you don't have to scour multiple websites/resources for your answers. And anything that isn't here you can feel free to ask and you'll receive a speedy reply from the very helpful (and mostly knowledgeable) Dragoon community!