Black Mage Sanctuary - A Guide to DPS

[Xenitan]

Regarding Ice phase, (spell speed) can allow you get into Fire phase quicker.

Not really. I think we can both agree that we're looking to get two ticks, each of which happen 3 seconds apart from each other. So we're guaranteed to be locked in for at least 3 to 6 seconds no matter how much spell speed you have.

(Even more math, Black Mage DPS is such a fascinating topic)

There are 3 "rotations" for Black Mages that I want to bring up.

1) You cast, in quick succession, Blizzard 3, Blizzard 4, Fire 3
2) You cast, in quick succession, Blizzard 3, Blizzard 4 but then have to wait a period of time before casting Fire 3
3) You cast, in quick succession, Blizzard 3, Blizzard 4, a filler spell and then Fire 3.

At some point during your Blizzard 4 cast you will know how long you will need to spend at a minimum in umbral ice on that 3-6 line.

To optimize DPS we want to understand when you should be doing either of the the three rotations. We understand rotation 1 is the highest DPS of them all and so from 3 to a point A on the 3-6 interval we cast rotation 1 where A is the point early enough to where you can get two ticks of mana even while chain casting your ice spells.

We understand that, given an infinitely small but still positive value e, At the point A+e Rotations 1 and 2 are indistinguishable. Given that Rotation 1 is greater than rotation 3, this yields the fact that Rotation 2 is greater than rotation 3 on some interval on this line. We need to find B the break even point where rotation 2 and 3 are equal.

This is actually easier to find than you'd think. When you cast Blizzard you are "assigned" the length of time you'll need to spend in ice. When you finish blizzard you are given the option of waiting W seconds or casting the filler spell. If you cast the filler spell, you will have spent a length of time longer than necessary in umbral ice equal to that spell's cast time minus W. The question you ask is if that value is worth the extra potency you'd get from the filler spell. In other words, we're considering that spell in two parts: the part you'd be obligated to wait anyway (where you produce 0 potency) and the extra time. We want to find the potency per second value of that spells potency over that spell's extra time. If it is equal to the expected potency per second of rotation 1, that's the break even point. It can lie anywhere from A to a value beyond 6 (that value meaning you never cast a filler).

Spell speed messes with all these values, obviously. But it doesn't do so at the same rate so we don't factor these values into the direct multiplier for DPS you get from spell speed. It can increase DPS in this way, but this way is much harder to quantify (and, in fact, we haven't). But it is only in this hard to quantify way that spell speed is "better" on longer partitions of time for rotations. What it doesn't do is affect how often you spend as little time as possible in Umbral ice. What it does do, if anything, is make you more likely to spend more time in Umbral Ice.

[Darkwand]

My biggest concern is that Piety or Max Mp is a huge factor. The opener I am currently using on single target only leaves enough mp for a Blizz3 after my F4's. Getting to that quicker with SS will not affect your damage output. My point is Max MP and Refresh Rate of Umbral Ice are fixed and not affected by SS. My current theory is that for us BLM, we will have a "SS Cap" much like an Acc Cap, a floor that is necessary to maintain our current rotation. Other then that it seems SS will only give us some flexibility to catch up if we need to move, etc. Now I don't discount the importance of this flexibility, but in reality will not improve our dps as much as a stat that makes the fixed number of casts hit harder (det/crit) I think SS is going to drop in value.

[Niryco]

My biggest concern is that Piety or Max Mp is a huge factor. The opener I am currently using on single target only leaves enough mp for a Blizz3 after my F4's. Getting to that quicker with SS will not affect your damage output. My point is Max MP and Refresh Rate of Umbral Ice are fixed and not affected by SS. My current theory is that for us BLM, we will have a "SS Cap" much like an Acc Cap, a floor that is necessary to maintain our current rotation. Other then that it seems SS will only give us some flexibility to catch up if we need to move, etc. Now I don't discount the importance of this flexibility, but in reality will not improve our dps as much as a stat that makes the fixed number of casts hit harder (det/crit) I think SS is going to drop in value.

It is true that max mp is a huge factor (makes me wonder would people invest into peity melds in the future)but I feel that increased spell speed can warrant a different approach to our rotation. I won't claim that other methods of refreshing AF are currently optimal, but if the spell speed were available to try them out maybe we could make a more flexible/mobile rotation that trades a bit of burst dps for a better sustained dps.

Call me idealistic, but in the long run i would expect spell speed to become a BiS for a different type of sustained rotation due to the piety restrictions, though the rotation itself maybe really long and drawn. Just my two cents.

[Aikaal]

Mp does not affect Spell Speed until Enochian isn't up after 3 rotations which I'll assume it will never happen.

[StouterTaru]

PIE got a huge nerf in the expansion; to get enough MP for an extra F4 in the rotation would take an extra what, 180+ PIE now?

[Aikaal]

Something like that. I actually sinned today, although I bought multiple fantasias. I went Duskwight Elezen to get more Intelligence for A4S. That's how much DPS you need. I feel you need to be in the range of 1200-1300 DPS as a DPS. I lucked out pretty hardcore in my group and I'm iLevel 206 and it still feels it is not enough.

There is nothing to be done with Piety really.

[StouterTaru]

I went Duskwight Elezen to get more Intelligence for A4S. That's how much DPS you need.

The 2 INT and 41 HP isn't worth looking that damn ugly.

[Aikaal]

I tried my best to look decent, that,s what I got. Sadly 2 Int can be a factor. To be honest, I would be an Elezen if they had proper neck and head.



Also, look what I did with the weapon and gloves :3 I'm proud of myself.

[SaucepanKaoz]

wow aikaal, whats wrong with you. Meanwhile im elezen... wildwood




fakes get out

[PSirebral]

Hate to derail the discussion but I had a real quick question regarding card priorities with astros. To keep it simple arrow or balance? I understand there is a lot of things to be taken into consideration but I'm just looking for the quick dirty answer if there is one. Thanks