Maxa of US Ysera (If you want to Armoy)
This is not a troll. I have been Blood DPS since 4.2. I retired my Ret Paladin and switched to Death Knight. I switched because I was going to go Frost DK since they did more dps in FL and were in more demand. Prior to Paladin changes that made them better and smoother DPS curve. I had vast experience in Wrath as Blood DPS and level a new DK again as Blood. From 55 - 80 I found Blood to be doing more dmg. I told myself I would change over to Frost at 85. However, upon reaching 81-85 I was still great for dmg. Each time while leveling I incorperated changes on each move in how to make it work.
What brings me to the forum today?
After lurking on these forums for awhile and having comparing DPS outputs in threads for awhile, I am more confident than ever it competes. It is a strong competition in DPS for it's current ilvl of 390. I have always felt this, and my own theorycraft and pratice has shown it to myself time and again.
I have utilized several DPS tools such as Recount. A lot of web simulators cannot effectively account or allow me to for optimum gear or priroities/rotation. I have to do a lot of work by hand and in my head to consider gear, and reforging. I have had to roughly figure my own stat weights, and am still consider a lot of "pratice" to see what works in the field when I aquire new gear. An example would be that Max DPS won't let me even set Blood to DPS or edit DPS stats to consider gear. Simcraft just cannot sim it! Mr Robot used to be able to let me edit all the weights and caps to do so before it's revision. Now, if I leave it as blood and edit it to DPS it crashes the web page every time.
Now down to business.
What is my Output in DS? That greatly depends on the Boss. Most prominently is having +10% Haste is the biggest boon I can get in a raid setting. Ulx is 35k-40k depending on 10 or 25. I recently put out a Madness of 57K. However, it was the first time I was allowed there on Normal. I know I am compitent and very competitive DPS. When given a chance I show it and shine. I know I can do more on Madness, given more pratice (of which LFR is not good pratice IMO!).
However, there is bigotry you couldn't dream of that I get. Not only in raids too, but even Heroics where it should matter less. The hate is not even a rare occasion, but every other Heroic where someone goes nuts on me. I've been kicked out of a groups that I'm doing 2x - 3x anyone's DPS and we are more than half way thru... and suddenly someone realizes my spec. I don't even have to say a word to cause this to crop up. I've had stalkers, ignore jumpers, server switchers to whisper me hate, and even death threats. It gets out of hand at times and I have to report. Want to see how fast a GM will respond to me these days because it's real? It's pretty fast, and I'm not kidding. Try to trust me, this hate is beyond what I've even seen on worst forum days. That's why I've only now gotten a Normal crack on Madness.
If you have question how it does it's damage, pros and cons. I'll be happy to answer them. I'll list a few things to begin with.
One key to majority of the Avg DPS comes in the Burst. Getting it right or not can make a 10K difference. The burst is a frontload as high as I estimate from several diff bosses ~80K on single target. Pretty much reminds me of old Ret Burst in 4.2. Major components are DRW, Outbreak, DS, ERW, and helps to have Veng for more.
Fire = Good! Strangest part of the build is I note Veng counts dmg before AMS or IBF. I will take the Fire or other big bad with one or both up and recieve atk power buff. Perfect example is I will purposely eat Hour of Twilight for mere 27K (AMS and IBF both up) on Normal DS. Lets me stay out there longer than others, and I get max Veng in an instant. I learn on each boss what I can and cannot take or what to do to get the bonus. If it plops fire or breathes fire, I might be there.
Survivability. Death Strike. You know the drill. It heals. It really heals. Think what I said above. A healer has the least amount of worry, if any, about me. I can eat the big bad with a CD and recoup any loss. Splash Dmg? Bah, bonus dmg for me, keep it up boss. Hit me and "ME RAGE!". Couple with Bone Shield, IBF, AMS... and Blood Pres in a pinch (Edit: I only do that if solo or tank down and no BRes)
AoE. Turns out Blood DPS is an AoE Monster. I've only seen (not that other classes might do more) in groups I have run with a Rogue do more with those damn daggers. Think about this fellow DKs... DRW + Outbreak + HS with Atk Power of a Frost DK. If ERW is up... If I have Veng... it gets sick in a hurry. From math to pratice, IMO it's #1 or #2 AoE dmg.
So, let's discuss this civily please. I'll explain what I can, when I can. Thank you.