Dragoons: A Rotation Reborn

[Ayvar]

Generally speaking, clipping the CT itself is not a problem. The problem is when the first one is buffed and the second won't apply at all -- this will only occur every BFB cycle. Adding any GCD to the "IDC" rotation lowers the base DPS -- the only purpose here is to make sure the CT sticks.

For the H IDC P TTT H TTT // P IDC H TTT P TTT rotation, you only need to inject 1 Fracture (or any GCD attack) like so:

H IDC F P TTT H TTT // P IDC H TTT P TTT

That will delay the unbuffed CT by 1 GCD so that it sticks properly, and it only needs to be done once every 80s (or however often you are using BFB in the fight).

IR also causes DoT clipping. This rotation also increases the gaps between the initial HTs by an extra GCD as well, and you also don't get either of your DoTs started until after your first four abilites, which can really hurt you if you have to disconnect early. You also still have a 12 ability gap between the final and initial CTs, this isn't as big of a problem though.

I re-wrote this to get a better handle on it:

HP IDC TTT
HP TTT TTT IDC
HP TTT TTT

This has extended the gap between the 2nd and 3rd H/P to 11 abilities, costing you an added 2 GCDs where both HT and Phlebotomize are missing.

[EasymodeX]

IR also causes DoT clipping.

Hmm, good point, and I'm personally too lazy to hold my IR to time it with the BFB. <quick analysis>. It would also be either even on average DPS or a tiny loss on DPS to hold the IR to time it with BFB as well.

This has extended the gap between the 2nd and 3rd H/P to 11 abilities, costing you an added 2 GCDs where both HT and Phlebotomize are missing.

You came up with it; I only noted that it's similar to the original one and performs better.

Edit:

It's too bad the game won't let you clip buffed DOTs. It's actually moderately annoying.

[Ayvar]

You came up with it; I only noted that it's similar to the original one and performs better.

Except mine don't have large gaps between HT/Phlebotomize in the middle of your rotation. The end of the rotation isn't as important since you are less likely to loop back around considering boss mechanics.

[EasymodeX]

Except mine don't have large gaps between HT/Phlebotomize in the middle of your rotation. The end of the rotation isn't as important since you are less likely to loop back around considering boss mechanics.

I'm not gonna pursue this tangent. It's exactly what you posted except starting at a different point in the rotation to be more legible.

More relevant to the discussion, injecting the F to each IDC (or anywhere else in the rotation tbh):

H IDCF P TTT H TTT
P IDCF H TTT P TTT

Is still leading until you hit a 2.3s GCD (+200 skill speed, supposedly, or a combo of less skill speed and team buffs; IIRC a scholar has a SS buff).

At the 2.3s GCD, the other adjustment you mentioned leads (although I would use the F and P together, rather than H and F, but it doesn't matter):

HF IDC P TTT HF TTT
P IDC HF TTT P TTT

Note that it is generally similar to, but does slightly more damage than:

HFP IDC TTT
HFP TTT IDC
HFP TTT TTT

Because of better buff timing.


Edit:

So the real question here is how realistic is it to hit a 2.3s GCD.

[xyaie]

Just tested it, you cannot replace an IR DoT with a non IR DoT.

[Ayvar]

Just tested it, you cannot replace an IR DoT with a non IR DoT.

xyaie! I expected more from you, you should already know this!

I am disappoint

[EasymodeX]

No one's going to eyeball their timing down to the second with OGCD jumps to make sure CT doesn't clip while spamming attacks 100% of the time.

[Zenmaku]

No one's going to eyeball their timing down to the second with OGCD jumps to make sure CT doesn't clip while spamming attacks 100% of the time.

Personally I always eyeball the debuffs that are currently on the boss to keep track of what's going on (because often we have to spend a lot of time disengaging to engage adds etc). The rotation itself is just muscle memory, so keeping track of the timers would seem pretty natural for anyone proficient enough in their rotation. If I end up on CT and there are still a couple of seconds left I literally just pause my attack for 1-2 seconds (or I throw in an extra off-GCD like stacking IR + BFB back to back).

*shrugs* works for me, I haven't had any issue with DoTs clipping each other.

[EasymodeX]

Pausing for 1.0 sec is a DPS loss greater than any rotation change.

In addition, when you eyeball the debuff timer versus your attack execution, you need to accurately compensate for the animation of the CT (e.g. the debuff is not applied exactly when you press the button), and you need to theoretically do so 3 GCDs before the event (e.g. you need to estimate whether or not your CT will clip before you use ID, based on the usage of Jump and delaying the train of GCDs).

Just change the rotation an' prez teh buttonz.

*If you're already in the situation where you've used DE then yeah, you don't have much choice other than to fill the 1s gap with a DFD or SSD or something, but from an optimization perspective, you don't want to be in that position in the first place.

Edit:

Someone make SE enable DOT clipping regardless of DOT strength.

[Zenmaku]

Pausing for 1.0 sec is a DPS loss greater than any rotation change.

Are you joking?

So you are saying that NOT pausing for 1.0 seconds and NOT applying CT DoT which is 200 potency is better?
When it's time to hit the combo, you don't have a choice, you either wait to be able to use CT or use it and not apply the DoT on the enemy. The ONLY thing you can do in that delay is use off-GCD abilities. There is no other option.

If you change the rotation, you also risk the other problem that you were discussing of not always having all the DoTs on the enemies at any given time.
I seriously doubt you can calculate this perfectly to account for the inconsistencies of our GCD delay from Jumps and server lag etc. Do not even try to pull out math here, it doesn't work when facing those inconsistencies. The ONLY thing you can do is wait that extra second or not have the 200 potency DoT applied and decide not to wait.

EasyMode, just stop pulling out the numbers all the time, as a fellow lategame DRG you know just as well as all of us that it NEVER works like that because of many factors (sometimes you just cant move to the flank of the enemy because an AOE circle is placed on top). In order to play this class effectively you HAVE to eyeball, HAVE to adjust for inconsistencies, and just use your rotation the best you can in the meantime