Yup, Revel > Zavros . . . but if you're doing a DPS build as you seem to be inferring, then Xalek > Khem Val > all other companions

Umm...1st of all, Death Field is a part of this build and is used in the basic rotation. The link you mentioned even stated that CL was only a minor bump in DPS, so the only skill that I'm really missing out on heavily by not using Wrath is Crushing Darkness. Since I'm not putting points into the skill trees to make Crushing Darkness max out its power, I don't see why this is so important. Oh, and please people. I'm not a troll just because I happen to be able to form an opinion outside of the mainstream. If I don't plan on using Crushing Darkness or Chain Lightning, then yes it is better for me to simply place my extra point into the 1% damage reduction bonus where it is doing at least some good. Sure, it's not a huge buff, but it's a filler point. Again, I'm not trolling - I'm just attempting to make a build work other than the mindless drones who keep shouting "YOU MUST DO THIS! IT IS THE ONLY RIGHT BUILD TO MAKE!!" Theorycrafting for best DPS is great and all, but as I said, when you start getting hit with stuns in PvP, having a simpler rotation makes many problems go away. I play war zones quite often and always manage to make top 3 DPS without using CD or CL.

Thank you for the constructive criticism. Now specifically, what is so awful about using a more simplified rotation that focuses heavily on 4 skills, all of which can be activated without a need for a proc, instead of a rotation that uses 6-7 skills, and requires waiting for procs? The smaller rotation means you don't get messed with nearly as much when people are hitting you with stuns. It means 1 or 2 less things you need to be looking out for in a class that already has to remember to use its stuns, force speed for positioning, a blowback when things get too close, a bubble that always needs to be on, and 3-4 CD's to pop in dire situations. So please tell me in more than 10 words, why is that so terrible? Are you saying that Crushing Darkness and Chain Lightning MUST be in your rotation to do good damage? Meanwhile, the skill points not being used to make them stronger (or use them at all in the case of CL) are instead being used to make Affliction and Death Field better.

Whoopsie, yes I did have Madness and just forgot to put it in there! Guess I should've double checked before posting the link. No, I'm not a total noob who doesn't use Madness XD, it's only Wrath that I don't use. I also ended up making some changes. I got rid of the +3% to crits from Seeping Darkness and invested the points into the Madness tree to get the buff for Death Field and Affliction. I also figured that the point into Lightning Effusion wasn't 100% needed, so I took it out and therefore also took the point I had out of Suppression. Also, took advice (for now) about Electric Bindings and got rid of it. Here is what I have right now: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#201oZf0RMbZsrcRsroMc.1 At this point it is now 1/12/28 and I still do not use Wrath for the reasons initially stated in the 1st post, so I still don't use CD or CL and therefore don't invest points toward buffing them. I suppose my question now would be what I should be going for between Seeping Darkness and Creeping Death. Currently that is 1/3, but should I be maxing out the dmg that crits do for DF and Affliction, or should I be maxing out the total crits I have throughout all skills, or should I try a 2/2 distribution between them?

Okay, first off - here's the build: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#201hZf0RRbMzZcrcRcr0M.1 Explanation: The Sorcerer already has a ton of skills that are good for DPS. I have a problem with a 13/28 build and ones like it that depend on proccing Wrath to get off an instant Crushing Darkness or Chain Lightning. The problem I have, is that it just isn't necessary. Yes, it gives higher theoretical damage, but most people will never be able to obtain that amount of damage because the build simply uses too many different skills and players get thrown off the proper order very easily - and that's without even getting messed with by stuns and such. This build cleans up that whole process by simplifying things down while still maintaining very solid DPS. CD and CL are not used in this build, and no point is put into Wrath. It also means you don't need to invest additional points into the skills that make CD and CL stronger, so where can those points be directed? The answer is to skills that simply make the core attacks of the Sorcerer more powerful. This build's rotation uses Force Affliction, Force Lightning, Shock, and Death Field. Those 4 skills are what will be used most of the time, with Electrocute used when not on cooldown, Overload when applicable, and instant Whirlwind for escapes or to take a person out of a fight in PvP. Everything is instant (aside from Force Lightning ofc), and you never have to wait for procs to occur. In Madness, we're looking to buff up all the skills that improve Force Lightning, Shock and Affliction. Instant Whirlwind is useful whenever you need a quick getaway, and 10 seconds off of Electrocute is great in PvP, while Whirlwinding multiple targets is good for PvE. I chose Corrupted Flesh over Sith Defiance as a filler to get up to Force Horrors, but you can choose whichever you like better. In Lightning, Convection is useless to us since we don't use any of those skills for this build, and in the 2nd tier you have to waste a skill point either on Lightning Spire or Subversion, but neither helps the build. Electric Bindings and Lightning Barrage are necessities, but after that you're pretty much free to choose what you want. Suppression, Lightning Effusion, and Backlash are all good choices. I also put 3 points into Seeping Darkness since any extra amount of crit chance is good for this build, but if you want to re-route those points for some more points into the Lightning tree to max out multiples of Suppression, Lightning Effusion, or Backlash then go for it. So, tell me what you think of this build! Edit: I'm also considering taking out a point from Seeping Darkness to nab Deathmark just for the +20% dmg on Affliction, but don't know if it's worth it for just 1 skill, your thoughts? Edit: Update - this is the current build I have after changes posted later in thread: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#20...MbZsrcRsroMc.1

Then you're doing it wrong. Playing a DPS Sorc Khem Val is your only companion (whereas a healer spec would want a DPS companion). Place a Static Field on Khem Val and he becomes a complete ****** who will survive just about anything by the time you DPS down your foes. Even in DPS spec, you can still heal him easily enough while throwing some stuns at the enemy to slow their damage output. DPS Sorc works really well in PvE. Also, if your companion is ineffective, it could also likely be the case you're not giving him good enough gear...

Disintegration and Chain Shock are both better than this imo. I also like Oppressing Force better if only because in PvP having Electrocute CD decreased by 10 seconds is very useful. Also a useful skill if you are still leveling. As was sorta said above - the healing you get from Parasitism is nearly non-existent. 2 points = 1% of total health = 1% of maybe 12-13K at 50 without epic gear = 120-130 hp healed per crit, aka nothing.

Depends. Insta-cast on WW is excellent for PvP so if you're doing warzones or are on a PvP server that is a great way to escape from a losing battle. It is also good for speeding up leveling in PvE a little bit. Either way, you're not going to get to the juicy parts of the Lightning tree for awhile, so if you feel like you're having issues with not enough Force I'd suggest getting a few points into it just to ease your Force worries. Other than that, take your time and you'll get there well enough.

In Lightning tree Reserves > Electric Induction Think like this +50 force is the same as +10% force, so if you put 2 points into it you have +20% to your total force, while putting 3 points into induction gets you only -9% force cost. Your other skills included you should almost never run into Force problems if you do Reserves instead of Induction. I would go: -2 Induction +2 Reserves -2 Suppression +2 Exsanguinate Exsanguinate doesn't just increase the length of Affliction, but also gives it a proportional amount of damage. Affliction is used to proc your 2x faster Force Lightning. Meanwhile, Suppression is a nice skill, but if you wanted your build to rely heavily on CC'ing then you would've also put the points into Oppressing Force. So for you, just having the insta-Whirlwind is probably enough so that you can make quick escapes.

CL is not an insta-cast, and this build does not invest in the skill that can proc it to be an insta-cast. The total damage output for DF is really not that high even if you hit 3 targets, and if I can spend the points elsewhere that will give sufficient enough buffs then I don't see why I need it... Actually, one of the changes I'm considering right now for the build would be to take 1 point out of Suppression and another 1 point out of Seeping Darkness so that I can put 2 points into Face Horrors. But yeah, this build doesn't really use CL or DF since it focuses primarily on the rotation I mentioned in 1st post. Affliction --> Shock --> Force Lightning --> Force Lightning with Electrocute whenever it isn't on cooldown and Overload/Whirlwind when the situation asks for it. I'm giving up a VERY SMALL amount of DPS for a lot more utility, and like I said - I've been just fine making it to the tops of the DPS charts in warzones with this build so unless you can show that I'm missing out on a ton of DPS by not have DF or CL then they're staying out of the build.

Hybrid builds of Lightning and Madness seem very popular and it's what I've been doing.

Do your class quests until you get Khem Val, your companion. Once you have him, it is possible to SOLO all Heroic 2+ quests you come upon (I know, because I was able to). Heroic 4 quests should always be done in a group. Just keep at it - you're only lvl 8, and you'll be getting lots of great skills once you pick your specialization around level 10-12 (as well as getting 500 Force instead of your starting 100 Force).

This is a 3/18/20 build I've been working toward. My thoughts in making it were to have no abilities with activation times in the rotation, never have to worry about running out of Force, and it focuses heavily on Whirlwind and Electrocute, which I consider excellent utilities. http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#201hZf0RrbMMZcrcMsr.1 This build focuses on a fairly simple rotation of Affliction, Shock, and Force Lightning, with Overload thrown in when viable, Electrocute used whenever it is not on cooldown, and instant Whirlwinds are good for PvE and FANTASTIC for PvP in terms of both knocking someone out of the game for awhile, or giving myself the chance to run away from a losing battle. Yes, the build loses out on skills like Chain Lightning and Death Field, and doesn't make use of all the class skills that many on these forums have been highly espousing, but for such a simple build I have been consistently in the top 3 for DPS in warzones, and in PvE haven't found any situation that I couldn't handle with relative ease. I've seen a lot of builds on this forum, but haven't seen 1 like mine and was wondering what people would think of it. Also, if you feel you can improve upon it, please give reasons not just "Duh idiot, make this change or else you're stupid!" Thanks guys!