Bard - they broke my job

[rappa]

I'm curious about this one. Isn't the tick server based, though, so all DoTs tick at the same time anyway? Or am I missing something?

All dots you put are doing damage the same time. But not all of them crits and trigger the river of blood trait.

In our rotation, we put GCD weaponskill > Empy > weaponskill because Empyreal arrow hasn't GCD per se. Sometimes you can't use bloodletter because you have to use Iron Jaws after Empyreal arrow and you see the bloodletter proc refreshed.

[RiceisNice]

All dots you put are doing damage the same time. But not all of them crits and trigger the river of blood trait.

In our rotation, we put GCD weaponskill > Empy > weaponskill because Empyreal arrow hasn't GCD per se. Sometimes you can't use bloodletter because you have to use Iron Jaws after Empyreal arrow and you see the bloodletter proc refreshed.

And just to add on, each enemy has their own global dot tick as well, which is also why you'd see multiple refreshes in one GCD window rather than one every 3 seconds.

[Inferiae]

All dots you put are doing damage the same time. But not all of them crits and trigger the river of blood trait.

In our rotation, we put GCD weaponskill > Empy > weaponskill because Empyreal arrow hasn't GCD per se. Sometimes you can't use bloodletter because you have to use Iron Jaws after Empyreal arrow and you see the bloodletter proc refreshed.

I'm still confused about it. If all my dots are doing damage at the same time, doesn't it mean that, regardless of the time difference in between them, the ticks will always be at the same time?

I'm trying to clarify but it's hard, I just don't see the difference in the dots being 3 seconds apart from eachother or going at the same time, since the ticks happen at the same time anyway.

And just to add on, each enemy has their own global dot tick as well, which is also why you'd see multiple refreshes in one GCD window rather than one every 3 seconds.

I put my dots on all three striking dummies we have in our FC house and they all ticked at the same time. Is it because it's a small sample, so I couldn't really see the difference?

[rappa]

#Inferiae That is the problem. All ticks are hitting at same time. And that is reason i say we lose BL procs

Rotation Example vs 1 mob

Empyreal arrow
Bloodletter
Heavy shot
windbyte
venomous bite
(dots tick) Bloodletter proc, is not used
heavy shot
Empyreal arrow
(dots tick) Bloodletter proc, is not used
Iron Jaws.
Bloodletter
Heavy shot
(dots tick) Bloodletter proc, is used.
You could use before Empyreal arrow, but delaying this weaponskill is a dps lost.
You could use after Empyreal arrow and before Iron Jaws. It's risky and depends Dots time remain, less than 4 secs is not worth it or you could lose both dots.

Against two mobs or more, it's more annoying.

[RinchanNau]

I won't say that I'm a great bard, but I seem to do okay. Honestly, I gladly delay weaponskills for Bloodletter procs. Sure you're delaying a GCD/Empyreal Arrow slightly at times. And sure, it can at times be a DPS loss. But often times it is a gain or you will at least break even and save TP at the same time. The TP savings is very helpful given that a BRD with BiS skill speed will not even reach their 2nd invigorate with no downtime. Especially if Selene is present.

In your example you could have used Bloodletter both before and after Empyreal Arrow instead of leaving it unused for so long. In your example that would have been a DPS gain.

I know this sort of goes against everything people think about GCDs, but BRD is a bit unique in that way. If you're sitting on procs and seeing multiple resets before using Bloodletter you should probably consider spending those procs more quickly.

[rappa]

I delay Heavy shot and Straight shot because BL has more potency or similar and you don't spend TP.

The fact is, sometimes you get a free BL when you are casting and BL was up.

One example:

Empyreal arrow > sidewinder > bloodletter > heavy shot.

Edit: About the rotation i posted, i was thinking in the opener with double Empyreal where if you delay the second one, you will not get an Iron Jaws full buffed.

[RinchanNau]

But the two Bloodletter procs you missed in your example are 300 potency in let's say 1 - 1.2s. That's higher potency per second than 1.5s for a 220 potency Empyreal Arrow. So if by chance using just those two procs net you one less Empyreal Arrow in an encounter it should still be a DPS gain.

Edit: saw your edit. My recommendation to fix your opener issues is to not use a double EA opener. It's too restrictive along with being a probable DPS loss compared to a more standard opener. http://pastebin.com/i0gMaCAi In a more standard opener you are able to use procs to your advantage. They do not sit there unused til your buffs fall off.

[rappa]

But if i count well, you don't use or you need a better connection to chain Iron Jaws with potion buff. I was in Canada being from Spain and double empyreal was necessary because latency screws up my rotation.

4s: (Quelling Strikes) (Battle Voice) (Hawk's Eye) (Blood for Blood) (Raging Strikes)
0s: (Bloodletter/Rain of Death)
2.5: Straight Shot (Dex potion) '15 sec left'
5.0: Windbite (Internal Release) '12.5 sec left'
7.5: Venomous Bite (Flaming Arrow) '10.0 sec left'
11.0: Heavy Shot (Barrage + Empyreal Arrow) '8.5 sec left'
12.5: Heavy Shot (Sidewinder) '6.0 sec left'
15.0: Heavy Shot (Bloodletter) '3.5 sec left'
17.5: Iron Jaws '1.0 sec left'

Following Ninja openers: They use Trick attack during 7-9 secs after pull. Disembowel is fine. Both buff would be active when barrage + empyreal are used.

Double Empyreal:
-4s: (Quelling Strikes) (Battle Voice) (Hawk's Eye) (Blood for Blood) (Raging Strikes)
0: Empyreal arrow
0.5s: (Bloodletter/Rain of Death)
3.0: Straight Shot (Dex potion) '15 sec left'
5.5: Windbite (Internal Release) '12.5 sec left'
8.0: Venomous Bite (Flaming Arrow) '10.0 sec left'
10.5: Heavy Shot/Bloodletter (sidewinder) '8.5 sec left'
14.0: Heavy Shot/Bloodletter > (Barrage + Empyreal Arrow) '5.5 sec left'
16.5: Iron Jaws '2.5 sec left'
18.0: (Straight shot proc) over (bloodletter) over (heavy shot)

With double Empyreal i delay 0'5s - 1s Barrage + Empyreal but i hit with a empyreal arrow buffed with Raging + hawk's eye + b4b but without 10% crit from straight shot and IR. Other fact is you are sure disembowel and Trick attack will be up.

If you do correctly Double empyreal, you don't need track dots because once you use Empyreal Arrow is followed by Iron jaws or bloodletter/Iron jaws.


I think i fixed timers and others mistakes. Both rotations are similar maximizing buffs + dots buffed + empyreal combo. Once of them use a prepull empyreal. Both could switch one bloodletter over Heavy Shot.

The combat where your rotation is better, is A4S, we start far away from the target or our Foe will pull and you have to move to range, where using bloodletter/rain of death is more useful than move and cast Empyreal.

BTW: I will test your rotation, one thing is theorycraft and other one is test by myself.

[RinchanNau]

GCDs are 2.5s. Not 1.5. :x

Here. It was difficult on my phone but I took a few screenshots from this week. I could link footage or better screen shots from better pulls when I get home. But eh. This is fine.

TA timer when Barrage + EA is locked in http://i.imgur.com/O8XkyHY.jpg

Pot timer when IJ is locked in: http://i.imgur.com/Fo33iVM.jpg

Your numbers are a bit off. And based on testing your buffs are locked in .5s before the cast ends. The same time you can slide cast.

[rappa]

I fixed timers. i was stubborn to think 1.5 secs = recast

Checking the second picture, your Iron jaw is near to be casted and Potion buff is 0. A delay due connection and you will fail to apply them.