Inconsistency

[Gorvena]

Is it just me, or does anyone else notice a huge variance in their numbers from fight to fight? I can hit 6k dps on Belicosa (arcane mage) on one fight and then struggle to make 4k on the very next fight.

Is this an RNG problem? I am using the exact same rotation, blowing the exact same cooldowns, etc (and I realize that some fights come with build in buffs, like the twin valkyr, where I regularly clear 10k).

I just wonder if it's something in my stats or just the dreaded RNG.

[Agnarr]

Doubt the RNG makes -that- much of a difference. Could also be what other people are doing to affect you. Like demonology warlocks that increase the group's spell damage when their demon crits, or one casting curse of elements instead of something else.

I know on my warrior on the same exact fight I was once struggling to hit 2.5k dps (of course, I was the only warrior in the raid actually hitting sunder armor, because someone fucking had to) and then the next time I was like /afk 3.5k with no change in gear or style (except from not having to use Sunder armor that time). And one global cooldown every several seconds shouldn't (in my opinion, at least) make -that- much of a difference.

[Moknim]

Which fights are you talking about?

Could be lag, could be RNG, could be debuffs you/the boss are getting, things that made you move more in one fight that you didn't have in the previous, etc.

If it is a fight of any length, RNG will be the least likely to affect you - if if is a short fight RNG can do a lot.

[Akuje]

The RNG boss can affect my own dps as much as 500dps.

The biggest factor is going to be movement.

On a stand and nuke no gimmick fight I put out 7k+ where as a fight I'm running a lot I do as little as 4k.

So it's likely a mix of RNG and movement.

[Gorvena]

I realize that buffs and movement come into play. I know, for example, that I cannot match my raid dps in a 5-man instance simply due to the lack of Wisdom, Focus Magic, etc.

But I can have two stand-and-nuke fights in a row and have as much as 2k difference. And in these days of raid leaders almost worshipping Recount and WoW-Heroes, I want to be as consistent as I can so I don't lose my spot.

[Moknim]

I realize that buffs and movement come into play. I know, for example, that I cannot match my raid dps in a 5-man instance simply due to the lack of Wisdom, Focus Magic, etc.

But I can have two stand-and-nuke fights in a row and have as much as 2k difference. And in these days of raid leaders almost worshipping Recount and WoW-Heroes, I want to be as consistent as I can so I don't lose my spot.

are you/your guild running logs from this?

do mages have any procs/dots/etc.? If so a log can tell you a lot - if you missed a proc'd free fireball or something (I know nothing about mages), or you only have 75% uptime on some DoT. If you have two world of logs where your DPS is vastly different link them and we could dissect...if not, start doing logs for your guild and then we can figure it out.

[Haldren]

As an arcane mage, it could also be fight length. As you probably well know, arcane is about effective cooldown stacking/management. The bulk of your dps is largely attributed to those cooldowns. The difference of a single minute between the two encounters in question could mean the difference of popping icy veins, arcane power or a trinket (or all three) an additional time. Also, even slight mismanagement on the player's part could prevent additional cooldown expenditures.

The shorter the fight is, the more those extra CD pops are pronounced.

Edit: I don't mean to suggest that this would account for the entire discrepancy, but that it could account for a sizable chunk of overall output.

[Sejarki]

Unless the two fights are identical, it's probably just the fight mechanics. If you're seeing a huge variance in your DPS on the exact same fight, doing it 3 times in a row with the same group, there may be an issue with you. Also pay attention to DPS of similar classes/roles. If the other same spec mage is pulling 7k on both fights, but you're always pulling less on the second, it's a sign it may be you. If the trend's consistent between you and every other ranged DPS that are DPSing the whatever, then don't sweat it.

This really comes down to the specific fights though. But yeah, as has been suggested I heavily recommend logging the fight if someone else isn't, I use worldoflogs.com. Your raid leader should be logging the fight as well ideally to go over it afterwards, it's very helpful.

But no, RNG alone should not attribute to a 33% difference in DPS by any means.

[Lisbet]

Do YOURSELF a favor. Either find out if your guild runs WMO logs on your raids, or go make an account, dl the addon, and do it yourself.

The best way to judge the things your doing differently on given fights is to see it layed out before you in graph form. WMO specifically can let you zoom in on various bits of the fight to see the differences - be they different fights, or the same fight week to week.

I know form a personal standpoint (my ele shaman) I can pull almost 6k on some fights, where as I see bottem barrel dps on others (no higher then 3.5k) depending on if I have to move a lot, or switch targets. Etc etc.

Like - in ToC I do better then in IC, because in ToC there are a number of stand still woop the shit out of something bosses, where as in ICC there are none {Sarfang I switch targets, marrogar and lady deathwhisper I have to move and target switch, etc}


Mind you this is all in 10 man - my computer is dieing and with the improvements to spell graphics and things, I quite litterly get 4fps before heroism in 25 man. Its bad news.


So go set yourself up an account. Heid or Akuje, even Orin, can point you in the right direction - and start logging yourself. It should help tremendously.