Post-Questing Data Analysis

BRK » 22 January 2007 » In Addons, Pets, PvE »

DamageMeters is an excellent addon that, I believe, at least all DPS classes should install and use frequently. When I lead a party or raid, I use it to ensure that those people responsible for doing damage are not slacking. On many occasions I’ve had to remind mages that, while sheeping is critical to our success, it’s not their only job. Fury warriors get a gentle reminder that, if they don’t get their dps going, I’ll ask them to put on their shield and off-tank so the mages can concentrate on damage-production. However, using DamageMeters to inspire competition among the rogues, warlocks, and hunters can be counter-productive if they start pulling aggro from the tanks. Judicious use of spamming the reports is recommended.

Remember that Healer Kharma is a wise investment, so throw them a Healing Meter to keep them happy and arguing amongst themselves.

But another use of DamageMeters is to track the ratio of hunter/pet damage. Hunters are split-classes with their damage coming from two sources: the hunter and his pet. If you are a Marksman hunter and your pet is doing as much damage as you are, there is something “wrong”. If you are a Beastmaster hunter and your pet isn’t doing any damage at all, there is something “wrong”. If you are a Survivalist hunter, there is something “wrong” and you don’t need DamageMeters to tell you; I’m doing it now. Respec, I’m begging you.

Yesterday, I turned on DamageMeters to track what Hobbes and Damh were doing damage-wise relative to each other. For an hour or so while I quested in western Zangarmarsh and didn’t party with anybody, I tracked our damage. As you can see from the little bar graph at the top, it was about 2:1 damage for Damh and Hobbes, which is about what I expected. But let’s look at the data in more detail.

Damh is doing just over 65% of all damage, which means BRK is doing 35%. This is a little less that I expect in PvP, (in many cases, I am just kiting while BRK does the majority of the damage), but if we take into account that I specifically did not train BRK with Bite 8 so that he had more training points for defensive skills, then I don’t feel so bad.

What is also interesting is that Damh’s damage-taken is just below 9%, which means BRK is absorbing 81% of all damage. That’s some good tanking, and BRK is supposedly a “dps pet”. It is worth mentioning that that while BRK absorbed all that damage, he never went below 50% health, let alone die. Also, while he was absorbing the vast majority of damage, he was also dodging - an estimation based upon my observations of the combat chat - every 6th enemy melee attack, which is approximately 15%. This does not include parries or enemy mob misses.

So, BRK is holding aggro, doing damage, and easily surviving all encounters. This is, of course, exactly what I hoped to accomplish with my PvE Pet Build. If you don’t have the DamageMeters addon, install it and see how your pet is doing.

Addons, Pets, PvE | January 22, 2007

Comments

3 Responses to “Post-Questing Data Analysis”

Kinless on January 23rd, 2007 9:02 am

I’m really enjoying the insight into the Hunter class here.

Anyway, my Hunter is 60. He’s got 3 pieces of the rare pvp set, the epic pvp shoulders, beaststalker bindings, the stormpike belt, and a fel iron coif he scored off the AH since he can’t get into the Outlands quite yet. (Some say the Fel Iron gear is for Shammies. Hmm. It had good +AP on it, +Int, and the ubiquitous +Sta, so why not?)

I picked up the Crystal Slugthrower because I was never going to accumulate the honor needed for the Grandmarshal’s gun.

Anyway, I’m mostly Beast Mastery. Have been since I created this character over two years ago.

If I’m remembering right, I’ve got 3 points in Survival for Hawkeye (+6 yards range), and 10 points in Marksmanship (for +Crit chance, and … I forget), and Beast Mastery down through Spirit Bond, Intimidation, and Bestial Wrath. This spec worked well to kill Warlocks in the BGs.

As I leveled up my pets to 60, I focused on a bear to be my tank, and a cat to be my battlegrounder. Both have Claw 8.

What I’ve found is that my cat can do as much damage as I can if I get lazy. And he’s easily 70-85% of my damage if I’m working at it.

What’s the best weapon for a Hunter with Beast Mastery? When I told a guildie that I was going for the Grandmarshal’s bow, they said I didn’t need a fast weapon. Which Hunter attack uses weapon damage (like a Rogue’s Sinister Strike)? And fast, slow, what does it matter?

I think you mentioned you’d be doing a Hunter’s weapons post once. Did you?

And just running around, farming some mageweave for my wife’s tailor, I much prefer the cat, since her Dash 3 gets her to the fight so much more quickly than the lumbering bear’s attack.

The next talent points … you’re liking the pet dodge talent?
Damh on January 23rd, 2007 3:21 pm

“What’s the best weapon for a Hunter with Beast Mastery?”

The one that does the most dps.

“Which Hunter attack uses weapon damage (like a Rogue’s Sinister Strike)?”

None.

“And fast, slow, what does it matter?”

If you generate your damage with high crit rates, you want a slow weapon. If you want to use Improved Aspect of the Hawk, you want a fast weapon.

“I think you mentioned you’d be doing a Hunter’s weapons post once. Did you?”

I have put my original Hunter Guide on this blog. It needs a little modification for Outland, but otherwise, I think it just about covers the basics. If you can think of specific question, I’ll certainly address them.

“…you’re liking the pet dodge talent?”

Yes, I like the 9% dodge very much. I have estimated that BRK dodges 15% of all melee damage, and although I don’t know what rogues do, seems pretty high to me. Any way for BRK to mitigate damage is good in my book. If the talent were only 3 points for 3%, then I could skipping Catlike Reflexes. But for Beastmasters, I am beginning to believe that this is a must-have.
mataikan on April 14th, 2007 12:51 am

if u are going to kite - slow range weapons with a big hit are the best.