DRK math for Media Tour information

[mcspamm]

So many hero pulls a healer would panic, only for me launch into DA-DD and then a DA-DP and watch the misses pile up.

It will be missed.

I see what you did there. ;^)

RIP evasion tanking in dungeons.

Personally, I'm more annoyed that DRK is losing a combo, which essentially turns them into 2.0 PLD with a handful of oGCDs.

Power Slash isn't used much at high levels of play, and now that SE combo was buffed to presumably make up for losing Delirium, there's still no reason to Power Slash after establishing aggro on the pull (which on its own would have been fine - it's rather annoying when off-tanks spam enmity combo without regard to ripping hate).

Coupled with the removal of Scourge, the core single-target GCD rotation looks like it will be something akin to (not accounting for Blood Gauge):

Power Slash combo > SE combo > SE combo > SE combo > SE combo > SE combo, ad nauseum.

I find level 50 PLD rather boring, so even with periodic uses of Bloodspiller and oGCDs to weave, the removal of Delirium and Scourge strike me as oversimplifying DRK, making it seem bland and boring compared with its 3.x self.

Also, tanks will have access to Shirk (AKA Shadewalker) as a role skill, so the need for and therefore use of enmity combos will be further deterred.

While I understand and appreciate the need to remove, simplify, and/or merge excess abilities both to make room for new ones in 4.0 as well as reduce the skill floor of the job, I find myself concerned with some of the choices that were made on how to achieve this for DRK.

I really hope DRK is more fun to play in 4.0 than it currently sounds on paper, but I'll reserve judgement until I try the finalized version in 4.0.

[Xenosan]

Power Slash combo > SE combo > SE combo > SE combo > SE combo > SE combo, ad nauseum... Also, tanks will have access to Shirk (AKA Shadewalker) as a role skill, so the need for and therefore use of enmity combos will be further deterred.

But DRK does not ever want to Power Slash, those GCDs have a very negative impact on the kit. Not so sure Quelling Strikes on all DPS is going to help much, since people are lazy. With the tank DMG nerfs Power Slash combo will maybe need to be used more, despite being complete cancer to DRK productivity. Removing Darkside's drain helps, but regardless it is still a loss. Disappointed they did not adjust/buff PS at all, hope they will still consider it. (Like adding Siphon's MP restore to Spinning Slash at least).

A DRK fighting for enmity is very ugly, @minimum iLVL in SB (first round of lvl70 dungeons) I think DRK will have the worst of it.

[mcspamm]

But DRK does not ever want to Power Slash, those GCDs have a very negative impact on the kit.

Yeah, I get that, but I find that when MTing on DRK, a minimum of one Power Slash combo on the pull is a necessary evil, even with a NIN handy.

Not so sure Quelling Strikes on all DPS is going to help much, since people are lazy. With the tank DMG nerfs Power Slash combo will maybe need to be used more, despite being complete cancer to DRK productivity. Removing Darkside's drain helps, but regardless it is still a loss. Disappointed they did not adjust/buff PS at all, hope they will still consider it. (Like adding Siphon's MP restore to Spinning Slash at least).

A DRK fighting for enmity is very ugly, @minimum iLVL in SB (first round of lvl70 dungeons) I think DRK will have the worst of it.

Good call. I forgot to account for further tank damage (and therefore enmity) nerfs when our AP weightings are changed again.

With regards to dungeoning, the nerf to Unleash doesn't help either.

Personally, I'm going to wait to see if aggro gen and/or aggro maintenance is an issue at level 70 for 4p, 8p, and 24p content.

Hopefully the devs will be receptive to player feedback after we extensively try out the new changes.