Monday 16 November 2009

What is the name, class, and spec of your primary DPS?
Everwrath, Destruction Warlock

What is your primary DPSing environment? (i.e. raids, PvP, 5 mans)
Raiding. I do a lot of 10 mans, a few 25 mans and I’ve had a couple of cracks at hard modes.

What is your favorite DPS spell/ability for your class and why?
Hmm, hard one. Could be the immolate/incinerate bread and butter for constant high damage. Could be Curse of Doom for the big numbers. Could be the Ritual of Doom, which brings my little friend out to play. I think however, it's most likely the functionality and utility of Demonic Teleport. Before any of you complain that it's not a DPS spell, consider this. If I'm back in position and casting spells while you're still running 35 yards behind me, who's doing the most DPS?

What DPS spell do you use least for your class and why?
Would have to say Curse of Tongues, as it is extremely situational. The only time a RL has asked me to apply it (specifically) is on the trash before Magtheridon - and that was a LONG time ago...

What do you feel is the biggest strength of your DPS class and why?
Before teleporting to instances, I'd say the ability to summon. After this, I would guess the biggest strength is survivability (at range) - being able to keep replenishing mana from life, and draining life from victims. Even more so for Affliction Locks. Having plenty of hit points and demonic armour makes tanking casters fun too.

What do you feel is the biggest weakness of your DPS class and why?
Threat generation. Nuff said? In a Tank and Spank battle with a good view of the target and very little movement, a warlock's threat generation for the SAME dps as a mage or hunter vastly outweighs the both of them. Couple this with the fact that we have one aggro reduction move on a long cooldown compared to two or three complete drops and misdirects for other classes, threat and the Warlock tend to go hand in hand. A little aside now... shard bags. They are useless. We should have a separate ammo slot.

In a 25 man raiding environment, what do you feel, in general, is the best DPS assignment for you?
stay out of the fire and hurt things. Single target damage needs a good threat lead on the part of the tank, and AoE is done better by other classes. Realising this is what makes a good Warlock better. Keeping CoE up when there is no Boomkin or DeathKnight (in a 25 man raid??? Doubtful) loses DPS - in fact we have no unique in-battle buffs left. Wrath totems, Faerie fire, commanding or demoralising shouts, divine spirit etc. all replace what utility we had back in the day...

What DPS class do you enjoy DPSing with most and why?
I like ret-paladins, as they can take a few slaps if the tank loses threat. By the time order has been restored, I'm usually still on my feet.

What DPS class do you enjoy DPSing with least and why?
Hunters. Well, to be precise, the hunters who have very little pet control, or decide they can "handle things" and pull groups of trash while the tank is AFK or the healer is drinking...

What is your worst habit as a DPS?
After each pull, or boss, I tend to tap back to full mana, fully expecting to sit and drink when a large heal lands. Then the healer tells me off for tapping when I should be drinking. It's a habit I'm into because I tend to have more food than drink, especially small buff food that I'd never use for anything else.

What is your biggest pet peeve in a group environment while DPSing?
Tanks that move packs of mobs out of my AoE. My AoE uses a LOT of mana, and in turn does a LOT of damage. When I'm raining fire, please do your best to stand still and let it run it's course. If you're going to gather 2-3 packs or more, please indicate this, and let me know when to open up the gates of Hell.

Do you feel that your class/spec is well balanced with other DPS?
Apart from threat, yes.

What tools do you use to evaluate your own performance as a DPS?
Recount and World of Logs. I like to know that in boss-fights, I have my buffs and trinkets active as much as possible, I avoid the avoidable damage as best I can, don't clip my dots and don't get bogged down with the detail.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about your class?
Lock DPS is overpowered. Really, it isn't. It is simple to achieve moderate DPS, but to push it up to where combat rogues, enhancement shamen and overgeared mages are AND survive... that's another skill altogether.

What do you feel is the most difficult thing for new DPSers of your class to learn?
What used to be a "standard" rotation is now pretty much a priority list. Refresh the high DPS dots, cast nukes after a proc, and fill with whatever you have available.

What DPS class do you feel you understand least?
Shamen. Totems confuse me. When two shamen are raiding together they tend to have a good long discussion about which totem to use, all of which going over my head...

What add-ons or macros do you use, if any, to aid you in DPS?
Essential for any Warlock is a Dot Timer, Omen and Deadly Boss Mods. Everything else (like Necrosis shard management) is now pretty much eyecandy.

Spellpower over other stats or balanced stat allocation, and why?
There's a great "gemming guide" for locks online - kinda like a flowchart. For a start, until you're hitcapped, extra spellpower isn't worth the effort. Once you have 17% hit (even with 3% talented and a Drainy) then stack spellpower unless you need to activate a meta. And +Hit should come from gear really. Sockets are worth so much more with the nice red shinys in them!