Does Dragoon need a cooldown for quicker access to Life of the Dragon?

[foehnweisz]

Arguments For:

-Gauge filler cooldowns seems standard across the board. Tanks (GNB-Bloodfest) (DRK-Delirium), Melee (NIN-Mug) (SAM-Ikishoten) (RPR-Plentiful Harvest), Ranged (MCH-Barrel Stabilizer) (BLM-Amplifier) (RDM-Manafication).

Might have missed some as the above is only from what I've played. I realize that most of those cooldowns have only one to three attacks to push as a follow up, versus LotD which is a whole cycle. But those few attacks usually have the potency to backed it up, or skips their rotational buildup.

-Allows DRG's to access their full kit during openers, as is the case seemingly with most if not all other tank/melee/ranged Jobs. Since DRG is behind on numbers, allowing for a stronger opener (really just one Stardiver + Nastronds) might help.

Arguments Against:

-Adds even more oGCD's to the already packed opener. Although I've tested doing an opener with one eye at the ready, it is still perfectly doable to fit all buttons within the buff window. Added benefit of auto-alignment with the next Lance Charge as well so no more delays.

-Points given to DRG's unique need to build up to their payoff, other jobs require instant access cause they are not as fulfilling. Stand out from the crowd of burst dependent jobs.

Currently:

It is still consensus that the optimal DRG rotation done by the top parsers is to delay LotD until the 2nd Lance Charge mainly so in alignment you can get off two Nostronds in one buff windows.

I don't imagine this is intuitive for new or average DRG players to blueball your red dragon mode. Also the concern of more eyes will shift rotation after opener, which can be solved by an out-of-combat only buff casts like MNK/RPR.

Want to discuss thoughts on current state.

[Kabooa]

I wonder what adding a mirage dive to Dragonfire Dive would do.

It's a 2 minute cooldown, similar to other gauge fillers, but I wonder if it just completely !@#%s things up down the timeline.

[foehnweisz]

After openers and 2nd buff window, LotD have 50% uptime as is. Having more eyes beyond that during combat would probably throw off things too much.

Out-of-combat mediation like buffs for +1 eye is the only thing I can think of. Improves openers/allignment and nothing else.

For flavor, can do +1 eye on out-of-combat spineshatter dive. So we can initiate with a jump attack for once like sir Estinien =p

[Kreyd]

High Jump 2 stacks would make LotD possible for openers but not change DRG's rotation in the long run.

[foehnweisz]

High Jump 2 stacks would make LotD possible for openers but not change DRG's rotation in the long run.

I'm kind of wary of adding more High Jumps. During double weave any oGCD with jumps is bound to clip.
If we were to get LotD during opener, I don't think you can then fit the 2nd Nastrond into the buff window whilst High Jumping 2x + mirage 2x.

Read somewhere suggesting that we start with 2 eyes ready, like how Paladin's start with max oath in EW. Seems like clean solution that doesn't interrupt later rotation.

[Duskane]

Dragon sight could grant you an eye.
kinda make sense

[Kabooa]

High Jump 2 stacks would make LotD possible for openers but not change DRG's rotation in the long run.

Some change along this line seems like the way to go.

+1 eye per encounter instead of +1 eye / rotation.

[Ransu]

Definitely need a second ability that procs mirage dive so that holding onto LotD stops being a thing.