I have already covered this

Unfortunately running logs in warzones is not a good idea. There are too many factors in play which will alter the relative performance of any particular spec for an iteration(one game may have many healers, another many tanks, in another you focus on objectives, etc). The only testing that can be done with any remote semblance to reality is on training dummies.

The only purpose of 10 minute iterations is to have a large enough sample size. If you record data on 1 or 2 minute basis' you are more likely to get good or bad luck on any given ability (let's say that every shock HAPPENS to crit with build 2, this is significantly more likely with a sample size of 1 minute than 10). First of all, with a 10% proc chance you are able to proc it when it's off ICD 80% of the time. It doesn't just proc on every one of your direct damage attacks, it has 4 separate chances to proc for every tick of force lightning. Secondly, how does the "dynamic" situation of pvp scenario have anything to do with the proc chance and thus discredit it's value in a pvp build? Please elaborate. This spec is entirely directed at pvp tank sins Yes thrash is the primary way to proc Energize, what I'm trying to demonstrate is that in spite of this a thrash-less build is STILL more dps in a pvp setting. 1. You still proc energize from assassinate 2. Even in a thrash-less build you still use it to set up energized shock + fl burst ONLY if you are popping adrenal, relic, and recklessness. Again, there's no reason you can't do this when setting up recklessness burst on a healer. But using it outside of this situation is a dps loss. You should never be capped out on energy with any of the three specs, you are doing something wrong. Your "feeling" in one warzone is not quantifiable and can't be regarded as an indication of anything. Providing numbers from a combat parser would be a start.

So there has been some discussion amongst myself, some people on sithwarrior.com and a few fellow sins as to some particularities about rotation as a darkness assassin. Here is some data: tl;dr 1. You should spec this: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200bIrozrskdsZoZf0cz.1 2. Your rotation should include: maul, saber strike, force lightning, shock, wither, and NO THRASH 3. Laugh at assassins who thrash Stats Health 18108 Willpower 1638 Power 396 Crit 29.1% Surge 79.35% Accuracy 92.83% Mark of power buff, wp rakata stim No recklessness, adrenal, overcharge or relic usage 6 pieces of WH gear Some notes... 1. Training dummy is unaffected by expertise 2. All fights are 10min in duration 3. Note in addition to increased dps, the burst capability of a maul-including rotation Spec / Rotation 1: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200bIrozrskdsZZf0cM.1 Typical pvp rotation: Assassinate > FL(3 stack HD) > shock(energize only) > wither > thrash > saber strike Log: http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/combatlog/d22ba106-0b76-4274-8e48-d7bea7ad593f/overview#d=0,f=1,t=2,b=1 DPS: 993 HPS: 216.8 Spec / Rotation 2: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200bIrozrskdsZZf0cM.1 Typical pvp rotation: Assassinate > FL(3 stack HD) > shock > wither > saber strike Log: http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/combatlog/e1b97dcf-465e-4e67-921a-93d3dacff330/overview#d=0,f=1,t=2,b=1 DPS: 982.6 HPS: 260.4 Spec / Rotation 3: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200bIrozrskdsZoZf0cz.1 Typical pvp rotation: Assassinate > Maul (duplicity proc less than 4 sec remaining) > FL(3 stack HD) > Maul (duplicity proc) > shock > wither > saber strike Log: http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/combatlog/1c2eb916-f275-4dad-ac54-12ed8b7bb6c0/overview#d=0,f=1,t=2,b=1 DPS: 1036.8 HPS: 245.1 Spec 1 VS 2 10.4 DPS vs 43.6 HPS Spec 1 VS 3 Spec 3 has 43.8 more DPS and 28.3 HPS Spec 2 VS 3 15.3 HPS vs 54.6 DPS Conclusion? The rotation/spec that includes maul and completely excludes thrash has the highest dps, and still significantly more hps than the thrash/no maul build. The no maul/no thrash build has the highest hps but has slightly less dps than the thrash/no maul build. The very typically used darkness assassin pvp spec that includes thrash in it's rotation is the most inferior of the three specs.

Erm, you actually lose dps and hps by including thrash in your rotation. Furthermore, how does recklessness devalue crit at ALL if your crit isn't at least 40%? Same point goes towards the 9% melee crit buff via that talent. Remembering that diminishing returns are applied BEFORE buffs of any sort.

Eh I'll concede that it's possible, but not very common. The reality is you'll pump out more dps and hps(via HD) with a thrashless, energizeles rotation anyways. Also, recklessness does not de-value crit at all unless you have 40% without it.

Yeah your source is a moron. The current plan is for 1.3 to come out within a month. Recently they mentioned as well that they plan on "aggressively releasing content after 1.3".

Made me laugh, thank you. Methinks the problem lies between the computer and the chair.

So, I have been leveling up my lil lowbie pt and over the course of a week have seen at LEAST 5-6 snipers per lowbie wz(total including both teams). There is a MASSIVE wave of sniper alts leveling up who will be hitting 50 soon. Enjoy your solidarity while it lasts

I have eight pieces of WH gear (5 WH sorc boot mods+enhancements ripped out and put into augmented) with all six augmented pieces + full BM and am pretty much capped out on surge with an assload of power. In this gear I have never seen a 5k energized shock crit or anywhere close even with adrenals + relic popped. Hell, not even with bloodthirst popped. I HAVE however seen a 5k medal pop up on several occasions after using wither. IE: I call bs.

There is currently a bug where under a certain set of circumstances wither (a 5 target aoe) is counted as a single hit. Darkness assassins only show a lot of damage towards the end of wzs because they survive well, in reality they don't hit very hard at all(3k-3.5k shock crit is as high as they can go).

Some kind of dev response would be nice

First of all we HAVE a 4 second stun just like operatives and every other class, it's called electrocute. Bioware has been careful in balancing the amount of CC available to every class, and in no case is there a class with over two stuns (keeping in mind that a "stun" is CC that does not break on damage and completely incapacitates the afflicted). While not as powerful as stuns, incapacitates(low slash) are useful in that given the right circumstances they CC for just as long as stuns do(or longer) and accumulate significantly less resolve. Low slash isn't just so you can easily set up a maul, it is useful as a peel or as an interrupt when everything else is on cooldown(it's particularly useful in this regard because of it's relatively low cd).

I should have rolled on the fatman apparently ;x

Huh. Given that incentive you would think that there would be some level of vigilance on their end to pumping them out ASAP.

Eh I don't think it's beyond redemption. We saw how many people came back with patch 1.2(WITHOUT rateds, keep in mind) and the rakghoul event, I can see that repeating when rateds come out. Granted, most people resubbed for 1.2 BECAUSE of rateds (until they found out about their exclusion...).

Interesting. Thanks EDIT That particular interview was from some time ago. Some kind of update would be neat and reassuring.

So have ranked warzones been scrapped entirely? It's been two weeks now since they were recalled with no mention of any sort as to their release date or status ever since. Even a "They're coming soon" on the front page or something of the sort would be nice. If you no longer intend to release RWZ the community as a whole has a right to know. Thank you.

It doesn't work on dots period, unless they have an initial damage component like crushing darkness. Assuming you aren't running 4pc stalker bonus, you'll be able to burn both reck charges on death field before the duration runs out.

There is more itemized towards endurence on the power variant than the willpower varient. If there was an equal amount of power and willpower between the two than it may be possible for the power one to be better, but this is not the case. IE: Get the willpower one.

Erm, the only augmentable "robeless" leg armor in the game for light armor is our war hero legs. Just fyi.

I wouldn't sanction any buffs to deception or madness without first nerfing darkness enough to defeat it's viability as a dps spec.

It seems to only happen while playing as darkness. The prevailing theory is that a particular talent removed during the beta is for some reason still active when specced into darkness.

1. Darkness assassins properly geared are the most powerful 1v1 class in the game, and extremely useful in warzones capable of both high damage and protection output (in addition to our huttball utility). 2. I leveled with Khem Val just fine all the way to 50 as deception. If you are struggling then the problem is between the computer and the chair. 3. We are not "rogues", "shadow priests", any WoW class or anything WoW-related. Balance and more importantly Swtor is completely different from WoW, any comparison or parallels are impossible and meaningless. 4. The three charges are generally spec specific. Dark charge is for darkness, lightning for madness, surging for deception. Lightning charge is not even remotely useless, and is a significant contributor to madness dps in both pvp and pve end-game. 5. It sounds to me like you are leveling your first assassin/have recently finished leveling your first assassin. Generally any impression or knowledge you think you possess about a class while a <50 level is WRONG.