"Ideal" Tanking Rotation

[shiz98]

I wrote a quick 'n dirty rotation simulator for some theorycrafting relating to DW/Rend (thread (http://www.tankspot.com/forums/f14/41760-slow-weapon-deep-wounds-math-challenge.html)), and figured I might as well post the numbers for the "ideal" (such as it exists) rotation. I hope they're of some use :)

These numbers are the average time between each ability use - sort of like the real-world CD of the ability. They've been calculated over a simulated 230400 GCDs (that's 4x 24-hour days) at three different hit/expertise levels. I believe the rotation I used (described below) is what most of you are using. If it's not, let me know and I'll run the numbers again.

Notes: This doesn't account for Conc. Blow's lower GCD (very slight impact overall, and the data is noisy enough that it shouldn't be a problem). It also assumes infinite rage, and zero lag.

Rotation
The rotation used was a Survivability > Threat priority system. I've ranked the abilities here with the highest priority ability at the top, and the lowest priority ability at the bottom.



Thunderclap
Demo Shout
Shield Slam
Shockwave
Concussive Blow
Revenge
Devastate

I put SS above Shockwave/Conc Blow because of S&B procs (which are fully simulated, in case you were wondering). The simulator keeps TC/Demo shout up constantly (but also most efficiently), assuming the abilities don't miss.

Case 1
-5% to hit, -15% Parry/Dodge


Thunderclap: 28.8s
Demo Shout: 28.5s
Shield Slam: 5.44s
Shockwave: 21.55s
Conc Blow: 30.55s
Revenge: 6.62s
Devastate: 2.37

Case 2
-3% to hit, -7% Parry/Dodge


Thunderclap: 29.2s
Demo Shout: 29.1s
Shield Slam: 5.34s
Shockwave: 21.55s
Conc Blow: 30.55s
Revenge: 6.62s
Devastate: 2.37

Case 3
-0% to hit, -0% Parry/Dodge


Thunderclap: 30.0000s
Demo Shout: 30.0000s
Shield Slam: 5.27s
Shockwave: 21.77s
Conc Blow: 30.53s
Revenge: 6.62s
Devastate: 2.37

Ok, great, but how do I use it?
Honestly, if you're asking that question, you probably don't need to be using it :)

However, this can be of some use for determining what you need to work on in your rotation (for lack of a better word). Once you get past the initial sundering-up/debuffing phase of the pull and start into your tanking rotation proper, the highest threat output you can achieve while maintaining highest survivability will give you the above numbers. You could actually take your WWS and divide the time in seconds by the number of times you used each ability to compare how you do vs. how the ideal tank.

Of course, this is not without its limitations (the ideal tank does not need to blow CD's!), but it might be of some help :)

[Xav]

You have to remember the Dodge cap is pretty low, we're of the understanding that it is about 6%, and the parry cap is much higher, at least around 14%. Thus to have 2% attacks being dodged and 5% attacks being parried would mean the parry cap in your example is much lower, which doesn't seem to be the case. Erlaya is running some numbers right now to re-confirm the Parry cap, but just so you're aware.

[shiz98]

Yep, the parry I used has no basis on reality. In the end it doesn't really matter, since TC/Shockwave can't be parried OR dodged. It really should be a Hit/Expertise thing instead of the three categories, but I wanted to display it as a -% rather than a +%.

I originally planned to have parry/dodge be equal, but I decided against it for form's sake :)

Edit: I went back and simplified it a bit to avoid confusion.

[thanatas]

Glyph of Blocking also would put Shield Slam above above shockwave (you have it this way, but its another reason)