Black Mage Sanctuary - A Guide to DPS

[frostfirefawcett]

This is the opener I have been using:

Sharp F1 > Eno + RS > F3P > Ley Lines > F4 > Pot > F4 > F1 > F4 > (F3P )SC F4 > Convert > F4x2.

The difference between this opener and the F4x3 > F1 opener is that it guarantees 6 F4s while also having that nice F3P > SC F4 > Convert if you get a proc vs the non weaved F3P at the end of the other opener.

[Garotte14]

This is the opener I have been using:

Sharp F1 > Eno + RS > F3P > Ley Lines > F4 > Pot > F4 > F1 > F4 > (F3P )SC F4 > Convert > F4x2.

The difference between this opener and the F4x3 > F1 opener is that it guarantees 6 F4s while also having that nice F3P > SC F4 > Convert if you get a proc vs the non weaved F3P at the end of the other opener.

You will benefit greatly by moving Ley Lines to right before F1. You then move the potion to where Ley Lines was. This allows you to bypass almost all of the long potion animation lock.

Also, as SS increases this becomes more viable. But the downfall is if you don't get the proc, you are casting 4 Fire IVs in a row without refreshing AF. This is reasoning behind doing Fire IV x 3 > Fire.

[frostfirefawcett]

Also, as SS increases this becomes more viable. But the downfall is if you don't get the proc, you are casting 4 Fire IVs in a row without refreshing AF. This is reasoning behind doing Fire IV x 3 > Fire

4 x F4s in a row is perfectly doable after the AF/UI duration buff. Even at sub 850 SSPD, I have no problems doing this opener.

[Garotte14]

4 x F4s in a row is perfectly doable after the AF/UI duration buff. Even at sub 850 SSPD, I have no problems doing this opener.

I'm not at all saying it's not doable. It's definitely better if you get the proc. Without the second Firestarter proc, the PPS would be exactly the same. With the Firestarter, you gain around 5 PPS so its really nice. Only downfall I could see would be not getting the proc and then getting targeted by an AoE. If you have to move you could lose AF which would be bad news. This could lead to a full hardcast of Blizzard III and then not enough mana to cast Thunder or Blizzard IV. I would consider it risk reward, but on fights where you know you won't have to move, I would recommend that opener. I'll put that into the guide since, with the proc it becomes highest PPS. But make sure to precast Ley Lines and weave that potion. Will be a big increase for you.

[Judge_Xero]

Point being, this opener could be higher PPS, but any opener incorporating TC is going to heavily rely on RNG.

Thank you very much for looking into it.

Is there any way you think it could be improved upon if it has potential?

I know it is RNG based but it is nice how often you get a F3 proc or extra T3 proc during UI or both.

[StouterTaru]

I understand that part, but it's a flawed logic. To say that lower dps for longer could be better is correct, but that's only because you stop doing damage in the first place.

As I said in the post, the numbers were exaggerated and made for easy math for the concept. Starting an opener with B3 gives you an opener with a longer duration

Imagine this opener has more PPS than yours, while being considerably shorter:
Eno > QS > LL > RS > Potion > F3 > F4 x3 > SwiftFlareConvert > F4 > B3 > T1 > B4

If this opener did more PPS than yours, then why wouldn't this one be superior?

[Garotte14]

As I said in the post, the numbers were exaggerated and made for easy math for the concept. Starting an opener with B3 gives you an opener with a longer duration

Imagine this opener has more PPS than yours, while being considerably shorter:
Eno > QS > LL > RS > Potion > F3 > F4 x3 > SwiftFlareConvert > F4 > B3 > T1 > B4

If this opener did more PPS than yours, then why wouldn't this one be superior?

Honestly, I do apologize if I'm misunderstanding you in some way. If that opener did more PPS, then it would be superior. That is my exact point. A Blizzard III opener does not do more PPS. It is a good 4-6 seconds longer than a Sharpcast opener. As such, you are doing roughly the same damage but spread out over a longer period, resulting in lower damage per second. The point is to do as much damage in as short amount of time as possible.

To use another metaphor, if I'm understanding the logic correctly, you are comparing it to a foot race. In which person A starts off strong but runs out of steam, while person B keeps a steady pace and ends up finishing ahead in the end. If that is how I'm understanding your point, then it is an incorrect way to compare to DPS.

In reality, using the same example, person A (Sharpcast opener) would start off stronger and take a commanding lead. Person B (Blizzard III opener) would keep a steady pace and gain slightly as person A starts to slow down. But then both would settle down to an even pace for the remainder of the race, with A always remaining in front.

[Garotte14]

Thank you very much for looking into it.

Is there any way you think it could be improved upon if it has potential?

I know it is RNG based but it is nice how often you get a F3 proc or extra T3 proc during UI or both.

Looking at it, I can't really see a way to improve on it. You are effectively using oGCDs in the best position. It's a pretty risky opener with RNG, but could pay off if server ticks line up and additional procs happen. Again, regardless of what you do, this opener will be less damage because you are not using a potion. Adding a potion will put you about even with the sharpcast opener and only slightly better under perfect circumstances. Just keep that in mind. I know a lot of people don't use a potion which is fine. I only recommend that for raiding anyhow. I would say keep on doing what you're doing and you shouldn't have any issues.

In a raiding scenario where you are trying to optimize damage, I would not recommend a Blizzard III opener at all. The reason being is Battle Litany. Battle Litany is a DRGs second GCD. Its a 20 second CD and you aren't at full steam until a good 6-7 seconds into it. Meaning you are losing out on 2-3 buffed spells under that cooldown. And as we all know, a buffed crit on BLM is ridiculous. I had a 17k crit Fire IV the other day.

[MagiusNecros]

stuff

I think it's more person A does a lot of damage but eventually drops off or slows down while person B also does a lot of damage but is able to sustain it for much longer in effect climbing ahead over a period of time.

And if Person B crits on everything they will definitely outpace Person A who is solely relying on their burst and party support to punch in their numbers.

[StouterTaru]

A Blizzard III opener does not do more PPS. It is a good 4-6 seconds longer than a Sharpcast opener. As such, you are doing roughly the same damage but spread out over a longer period, resulting in lower damage per second. The point is to do as much damage in as short amount of time as possible.

It's far from the same damage, when you toss in that Thunder, ~47% shot at a ~740 potency TC, and guaranteed FC vs 40% chance FC.