Shots Fired: A Machinist Guide

[SasakiNori]

I placed Rapid Fire later rather than earlier so that it'll line up with Wildfire later. Reassemble does line up with Reload for the guaranteed Clean Shot crit, here is a document with when the buff cooldowns are available. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing

Reassemble CD is 60 seconds.

[Cascadi]

Reassemble CD is 60 seconds.

My bad, I put down the wrong CD for the document. Let me check in game on a dummy the difference in damage between preparing Reload beforehand and having a lower CD on it and using Reassemble whenever Clean Shot is also available VS having it available for a guaranteed crit on Clean Shot. If the damage turns out to be higher I'll modify the rotation to include Reload to line up with Reassemble at the start of pull as you mentioned.

[ZariusMorris]

I'm only going up to 40 lvl but right now I have a feeling, that Split Shot isn't needed - it only garbages our rotation.
You can only fire Slug shot -- Clean shot (proc) and it will have almost the same result. It's potency slightly lower, but in 50% cases (100% with ammo) potency will be higher. So overall it wont change.
In other words, you can drop Split shot completely and still have the same result.

Where am I wrong?

[Cascadi]

I've tried both openers, going for the same length of time (120 seconds), each one 5 times, so it is a small sample size, but from the results I obtained, you get an average 2~3% increase in damage if you start with Reload pre-pull and using Reassemble whenever it's up in conjunction with a Clean Shot procced compared to using Reload after Lead Shot and having it available to line it up with Reload.

If someone else can also test and see what the results are, that'll be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Changed opener again so that Reload and Quick Reload is up in the opener while you start with 5 stacks of ammunition, pretty sure that is as good as is possible, also lines up the Reassemble and Reload perfectly.

[Cascadi]

I'm only going up to 40 lvl but right now I have a feeling, that Split Shot isn't needed - it only garbages our rotation.
You can only fire Slug shot -- Clean shot (proc) and it will have almost the same result. It's potency slightly lower, but in 50% cases (100% with ammo) potency will be higher. So overall it wont change.
In other words, you can drop Split shot completely and still have the same result.

Where am I wrong?

Nope, Split Shot is 140 Potency + Slug Shot 180 Potency = 320 Total Potency
Slug Shot alone is worth 100 Potency + Clean Shot 200 Potency = 300 Total Potency

If both procs happen, Split Shot > Slug Shot > Clean Shot, then it is 140 Potency + 180 Potency + 200 Potency = 520 Total Potency
If you just do Slug Shot > Clean Shot > Slug Shot, then it is 100 Potency + 200 Potency + 100 Potency = 400 Total Potency
And both have a 50% chance to proc, so it's worth using Split Shot > Slug Shot > Clean Shot over Slug Shot > Clean Shot.

[ZariusMorris]

I suppose there was a flaw in my calculations

[Ryaz]

I've actually been slowly figuring this out myself. After playing both DRG and NIN, MCH's play style is so different I've had to unlearn bad habits. For example, ninjas lose their combo if they do something like refresh mutilate, so you HAVE to finish a combo off or you lose DPS. Combos are also very specific so depending on timing, you can lose extra dps from having to reapply DE or SF. With MCH, it's much less about comboing and more about prioritizing. The 20 extra potency from Reload/QR doesn't really give you a lot, but if I've got Clean Shot ready and Reassmeble is up, I might pop it and Reassemble for the extra damage gain. There's much more situational awareness when it comes to abilities. Unfortunately, this can keep your eyes off the battlefield at times, especially if reload is cooling down, waiting for slug to proc.

I'm 37 now and I do feel a bit gimped without my turret. Hoping that changes when I hit 40.

[Saggo]

The point of Promotion is to ensure your party can keep fighting and dishing out DPS. Yes you are a DPS class and yes you need to be doing sufficient damage but if you're out of TP or MP or any of your group are then you're losing a lot more DPS by waiting for regen.

I know what it does. It's still a measurable DPS loss for your character for potential long term gain.

My point was your DPS is measured by you and your pet. No one says a SMN's DPS stays the same of the pet dies. I think it's appropriate to apply it to MCH too.
It's just a wording thing.

[Ryaz]

I know what it does. It's still a measurable DPS loss for your character for potential long term gain.

My point was your DPS is measured by you and your pet. No one says a SMN's DPS stays the same of the pet dies. I think it's appropriate to apply it to MCH too.
It's just a wording thing.

Yes, MCH losing its turret's damage is pretty much the same as BRD getting the 15% reduced damage from their songs. I'm not 100% sure if the turret was balanced against that or not, though Square has been pretty good at keeping things level.

[Yuri_Hyuga]

Why do you waste Rapid Fire on Hot Shot + Lead Shot prep?

Wouldn't it be best served while Wildfire is active?

Also, holding a proc is optimal under one circumstance...

"6 ammo phase" (staggered QR+R firing spree).

Why you ask? Higher probability.

580 (1a 2a* 3a*) ... " "
160 (1a) ... " "
200 (2a*) ... " "
160 (1a) ... 220 (3a)
200 (3*) ... 140 (1c)
180 (2*c) ... 180 (2*cc)
200 (3*) ... " "
=1680 ... =1680

1 = split shot
2 = slug shot
3 = clean shot
a = ammo-use
* = procced
c = 50% to proc next
cc = 25% to proc next

Same potency, one has better odds.