So you want to master Bard? 3.5

[Cetonis]

Respect for the effort, but your handwaving of BL, BA and RpS is a poor idea.

As I understand it, what you're effectively describing is a scenario where you toggle off WM for 12-second intervals, in between EA+IJ pairings. Our gain by getting the four auto attacks is 308p.

With modern crit values, the odds of a given DoT tick proccing River of Blood are around 1 in 3. Given that over a 15 second cycle, you're guaranteed at least one BL, your average BL count over the 12 second span is 1.5.

(That's an underestimate too, as I should be accounting for the tick during EA+IJ and am not because it'd be a small migraine adjusting for certain factors there.)

So for now we'll say you lose 225 x .3 = 67.5p on average on the back of River alone. On your five GCDs, assuming no SS proc (there usually will be one), you lose 222 more potency. Add in 9p x 1.3 = 12p on the DoT clip, and we're down 301.5p, just on baseline / underestimated stuff.

Now you can see the problem. Under the absolute best circumstances, what you're suggesting is effectively break-even on average. When you add in - what if SS procs, what if IR or Litany was on the DoTs, what if BA or RpS are up, what if high SkS - it won't do even that well.

It's relevant for Bards to know that you can do something like this for a cycle when you need to - if stutter stepping just isn't good enough for mechanic x - and it won't completely destroy your DPS. WM-off was common for the A7S merry-go-round, for instance. But it's not optimal in and of itself, and should not be standard operating procedure. It -was- optimal in 3.00 with 20% WM if not for the 3s cast, which maybe helps demonstrate why 3.00 WM was completely asinine.

You seem to take a cue from the fact that Krietor lists a "toggle" opener - however, that's driven more by a desire for less potion clipping, and taking advantage of the uniquely precise knowledge you get of the AA timer in an opener situation (you can WM at 4s and you got two autos guaranteed, which is not true mid-fight). The "Rinchan" opener he has at the bottom there is what most top Bards are using presently, or some relatively minor variation of that.

(p.s. your suggestion of that macro undermines your credibility)
(p.s.s. you can circumvent the post length thing by editing your original post)

[chrissun]

OMG! Finally A bard who wants to talk about this, providing solid explanation and reasoning. Thank you so much for your answer.
Most bard will just say KEEP MINUET ON without explaining anything if I asked them about this.

So for now we'll say you lose 225 x .3 = 67.5p on average on the back of River alone. On your five GCDs, assuming no SS proc (there usually will be one), you lose 222 more potency. Add in 9p x 1.3 = 12p on the DoT clip, and we're down 301.5p, just on baseline / underestimated stuff.

I was just done with the calculation.
The DPS gain from 4 AA is 77.01 x 4 = 308p, as Cetonis explained.
*Assuming you have 1000 crit chane, the potency of SS proc under Minuet is 291p and off Minuet is 224p so i get 67p difference.
*Clipping 3s DOTs, I calculate it with the potential to put one more Heavy shot under Minuet thus the calculation becomes Heavy shot - Iron Jaws on hit Potency : (150-100) x 1.3 = 65p
*Let say you proc 1 Blood letter, Blood letter potency off Minuet is 150p and under Minuet is 195p, DPS loss of 45p
Now here comes the tricky part. If you get SS proc, you would only do 4 Heavy Shot. So trying to calculate the worse DPS loss possible, I will use this assumption
*4 Heavy Shot DPS loss 4x45p = 180p
*Blunt Arrow and RpS DPS loss 30+24 = 54p
So it adds up to 411p down instead, in the worst case scenario. Please confirm.

But in the best case scenario, the DPS loss is at 270p

Now, as I said at the very beginning, this guide is dedicated for bards to reach that extra mile. Was it worth it to weave like this or not? After doing the calculation mysef, most probably not. But this is just something that I came up with a few weeks ago and want to see some reaction from the bard community themselves. I also want to point out that bard can turn off their minuet!! Please dont be a black mage and eat AOE, you don't have Manaward LOL. It is also a good habit to practice weaving to push that extra damage.

[chrissun]

(p.s. your suggestion of that macro undermines your credibility)

I use the macro only to test this Minuet weaving. Under normal circumstances, All bard should know never to use this macro because of the possibility that you'll cast heavy arrow under your barrage. This is just to make it easier to get used to and less punishing when mistake do happens.

[AxelDH]

Now, as I said at the very beginning, this guide is dedicated for bards to reach that extra mile. Was it worth it to weave like this or not? After doing the calculation myself, most probably not. But this is just something that I came up with a few weeks ago and want to see some reaction from the bard community themselves.

Your title suggests this is definitely a 100% fool proof way to master Bard! But now you reveal its just a theory you came up with which might not actually work in practice...

You could say it's a guide for bards that want to reach an extra mile... but not necessarily in the right direction!

Anyway, one problem with this idea is that Empyreal Arrow's cooldown gets shorter the more Skill Speed you have. You could go for a 'no skillspeed' build, but then I think you'd struggle to get your opener out; its typically recommended that you have at least 700 to do this optimally. This brings your Emp Arrow cooldown to ~14 seconds, and it would no longer line up with your Iron Jaws usage as you suggest.

Also, its typically a DPS gain to refresh your dots early when you are popping cooldowns, and again just before they drop off; another reason you would struggle to keep EA and IJ usage in synch.