What is "Sustained DPS"?

[Pells]

Lol.. how technical can u get dude.

When defining technical jargon, such as 'sustained dps'? As technical as I need to be.

[Duuude007]

Most people I play with consider it the average damage output over the span of 3-5 minutes of attacking a single target, with no externally applied buffs or debuffs. Not just burst damage, but auto-attack, dots, and everything in between, added up. Food, pots and FC buffs are allowed.

TLDR: What is your solo dps average (over 5 minutes) against a lvl 60 sparring dummy?

[Madrone]

Parse a dummy for 10-15+ mins. If you make a few mistakes, that's ok, but try to keep your rotation ideal. Your dps will average out. You will minimize outlier lucky proc/crit streaks or unlucky no-proc/crit streaks. This is sustainable dps in a vaccuum. Battles add mechanics and down times that will tend to reduce your dps further, unless you can abuse damage vulnerability phases, aoe or multi dot on multiple targets, or buffs from party members you can't get by yourself on a dummy..

[Gunnie]

Isn't the general idea that sustained DPS means DPS you can do over a longer time (Your average DPS) and burst DPS the peak moments you tend to have with DPS cooldowns active?

[ashwich]

I don't believe most classes have a different "burst dps" rotation. The closest thing is the opener.

Sustained dps in my opinion, by relevance, is your ability to maintain your optimal rotation/cooldown management throughout an encounter, while handling mechanics.

So you have a BRD who, for example can do 2k+ opener and that's your "burst dps"? he would end the fight with 1300, and that's sustained? I guess I'm not sure what the end goal is here, why do you ask?