Quote Originally Posted by Shurrikhan View Post
DoT ticks are affected by Spell Speed, but at a lesser rate, even, than Determination, iirc. Spell Speed still wouldn't be any better in itself; it's just that more of your damage would be GCD-based (or, less oGCD-based).
Speed stats are weighted on two scales. The actual increase, and the amount of damage it affects.

Using arbitrary numbers, let's say the example is is Determination is worth 1% damage and Speed is worth 1% haste, for the same rating.

Speed scales differently than flat damage%. Speed is parabolic increase. 10% Speed is worth 11% more damage (11 actions take 9.9 gcds, 10 actions take 10. 10% damage is always 10% damage. This is why if you've ever seen a black Mage get improved arrows while leyline is active, they skyrocket. 15% + 15% on a multiplicative return is somthing like 28% speed, or about -40%- more damage.

But currently you cannot get to stupid speed levels without heavy buff stacking.

Using Red Mage specifically, any if you completely geared for Spellspeed, I think the highest natural point you can reach via gear is about 14%. About 16% more GCD based damage.

Using non-echo #1 Chaos Red mage, this Red Mage has a damage distrubition of about 82% GCD, 18% OGCD.

But wait, it's more complicated than that. The weaponskill combo is obviously not affected by Spellspeed. While more spell speed means you do the combo more often, that combo is suffering as it does not directly benefit from spellspeed in terms of damage. That's nearly another 18% damage that doesn't benefit from Spellspeed - After all, the advantage is more GCDs, but these GCDs are unaffected by that.

So the 14% spell speed you built for only benefits 64% of a Red mage's damage. This spellspeed number is built at the detriment of other stats as well.