Dragoons: A Rotation Reborn

[Dervy]

Screw forum etiquette about double posting.

Ricky messaged me earlier this week wondering if there's any difference in the placement of BFB in the opening rotation. My initial result is that yes, the damage difference in using BFB before CT and getting 9GDCs in (So that's CT, PLB & x2 FTs) is a huge damage boost in the initial opener over using BFB before DE, or ID (let's say). I think someone posted this AGES ago in this thread and whilst I knew this to be true, I've never had the time to look into it. Well... I did.

I made 4 different models.

• First was the standard model I use to calculate the Dragoon Weights, this would be my control.
• The second one contains my BFB rotation, where I use BFB before ID.
• The second uses BFB before DE.
• The third uses BFB before CT.

Each model used the exact same Critical Hit Rating, SkillSpeed and Internal Release modifiers, so the rotations PPS without BFB is exactly neutral. Each model also had 391 SkillSpeed and was set-up so you'd always achieve 9 GDC's in one Full Thrust, similar to the model I made for Warriors who were interested in 9GDC Berserking (I dunno if you guys read that thread).

Here's the potency results of using BFB at different intervals

1st BFB:

• Using BFB before CT: 4623 (expected)
• Using BFB before DE: 4324
• Using BFB before ID: 4286

2nd BFB:

• Using BFB before DE: 4680
• Using BFB before CT: 4630
• Using BFB before ID: 4380

3rd BFB:

• Using BFB before ID: 4680
• Using BFB before DE: 4630
• Using BFB before CT: 4286

4th BFB:

• Using BFB before ID: 4184
• Using BFB before CT: 3990
• Using BFB before DE: 3897

The model I used ran for 294.29 seconds @ 391 SS or 2.452 GDC.

Looks like using BFB before DE comes out miles ahead in the long run ehh? Think again.

Before CT: 4624+4630+4286+3990 = 17530 / 294.29 = 59.5670936831017 PPS

Before DE: 4324+4680+4630+3897 = 17531 / 294.29 = 59.57049169186857 PPS

Before ID: 4286+4380+4680+4184 = 17530 / 294.29 = 59.5670936831017 PPS

So if you really care about 1 potency after like 5 minutes, or 0.00339800876687 PPS, use before DE.

If you want more burst, use before CT

If you don't care about w/e, use BFB whenever you feel like.

I'm still doing more testing and going to make my model run for MUCH longer to get more accurate results... But in all honesty, if after the 4th BFB all damage normalises, I cannot be bothered to go through all of the work.

NOTE: These results only work with 390+ SS and being able to do 9 GDC's in one Blood for Blood. This means nothing to you if you're using it below 390 SS (370~ with incredible ping) and unable to get 9 GDCs in BFB.

Oh. You can use these numbers if you want to "cheat" on Dummy parsing results as well. If you're doing 3 minute parses, just add up the values of 1st, 2nd and 3rd BFB intervals so you find the highest one (I think it's CT).