02-29-2008, 12:14 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-29-2008, 12:15 AM by TriggerHappy.)
Well, I've already changed my spell rotation several times, because the usefulness of spells and their order of casting changes from mob to mob and as levels go on. I don't see myself ever getting locked into one spell rotation even at 70, as after all, I do have a brain.:)
I fully expect, for example, to be opening up with Vampiric Touch and Shadow Word: Pain (DoTs + mana regen) when I hit level 50. Right now the most efficient way is to open up with a Mind Blast. One, because I solo and thus don't have to worry about pulling aggro off the tank with a nuke. Two, because as was mentioned earlier, I move 1.5 seconds of cast time to "out of combat" time. And as SW: P is my second cast spell, I "lose" at most a single tick of it.
As for using Power Word: Shield ... I fully expect it to start scaling less and less well with mob damage in future levels, but at level 35, I've noticed it's more efficient to cast the Shield for 210 mana, not have to heal at all and not have to replenish Inner Fire after 2-3 mobs. Because they do reach me and as I don't yet have Shadow Form, they hit pretty damn hard (after the reach me through Mind Flay). Needing to heal up the damage after a fight, would cost me a minimum of 305 mana for a Heal. Thus I save 95 mana by using shield.
Indeed, often I kill a mob so fast (if I get a crit on Mind Blast) that I move to another mob immediately as my Spirit Tap fades and the new mob is still beating up on the "old" Shield.
But as I said, eventually the mobs will out-scale the shield provided HP, but Shadow Form will compensate for it (15% reduced physical damage takes effect before the shield damage is subtracted, IIRC). And by shielding before the fight starts, I can re-shield again mid fight if necessary.
This allows me to focus on +spell damage, +spirit and +intelligence gear (with the next patch in mind), essentially translating mana into health, and not have to worry much about +stamina gear for PvE.
Lastly, perhaps I'm wrong, but not healing in solo PvE is probably good practice for the time when I get Shadow Form.:)
I fully expect, for example, to be opening up with Vampiric Touch and Shadow Word: Pain (DoTs + mana regen) when I hit level 50. Right now the most efficient way is to open up with a Mind Blast. One, because I solo and thus don't have to worry about pulling aggro off the tank with a nuke. Two, because as was mentioned earlier, I move 1.5 seconds of cast time to "out of combat" time. And as SW: P is my second cast spell, I "lose" at most a single tick of it.
As for using Power Word: Shield ... I fully expect it to start scaling less and less well with mob damage in future levels, but at level 35, I've noticed it's more efficient to cast the Shield for 210 mana, not have to heal at all and not have to replenish Inner Fire after 2-3 mobs. Because they do reach me and as I don't yet have Shadow Form, they hit pretty damn hard (after the reach me through Mind Flay). Needing to heal up the damage after a fight, would cost me a minimum of 305 mana for a Heal. Thus I save 95 mana by using shield.
Indeed, often I kill a mob so fast (if I get a crit on Mind Blast) that I move to another mob immediately as my Spirit Tap fades and the new mob is still beating up on the "old" Shield.
But as I said, eventually the mobs will out-scale the shield provided HP, but Shadow Form will compensate for it (15% reduced physical damage takes effect before the shield damage is subtracted, IIRC). And by shielding before the fight starts, I can re-shield again mid fight if necessary.
This allows me to focus on +spell damage, +spirit and +intelligence gear (with the next patch in mind), essentially translating mana into health, and not have to worry much about +stamina gear for PvE.
Lastly, perhaps I'm wrong, but not healing in solo PvE is probably good practice for the time when I get Shadow Form.:)