#1 - July 14, 2012, 8:04 a.m.
Rotation Energy and all that jazz:
8 energy per second: Since we can no longer gain 4 chi prior to entering combat (except if you use Chi Brew), My rotation ends up flat lining around 30seconds into the fight. This is with the use of Energizing brew. In order to combat that flat line I am forced to throw FoF into the rotation ON CD which is very bad for most of the boss fights introduced thus far, due to the channeled aspect of it. Even using FoF every time it is available, I still end up having massive downtime between using 4 chi and jabbing twice.
13 energy per second: 13 energy per second enabled WW monks to completely disregard Energizing brew which should be used almost every time it is available. This energy level also allowed monks to completely disregard FoF seeing as how it was inferior to BoK on single target (even with the "ignite" dot that is still broken).
Proposed Solution:
As stated above, 8 energy per second is too little and 13 energy per second is too much. In an Ideal world, A WW Monk would want to be at 13 energy per second at THE END of the expansion in full best in slot gear. In order to get there I believe there are 2 solutions:
1. Lower the energy cost of jab to 30 (build it into the spec i.e ww jab now costs 30 energy and provides 2 chi per use)
2. Increase the base energy regen to 10 per second
I believe that either of the proposed solutions will balance out this spec. These solutions will not allow monks to blatantly disregard the use of Chi Brew, Energizing Brew and powerstrikes; However this will allow us to use these abilities at our discretion providing WW Monks with less downtime and more engagement within the spec. The solutions listed will also provide monks with an achievable break point in which we can choose to lessen the use of FoF and use more BoK.
2-4 Add fights:
Say blizzard was to implement one of the two proposed solutions above, we still have 1 area in which WW Monks are greatly underpowered. This would be when there are 2-4 "cleave" mob fights. When 2-4 targets are available, the use of FoF is great but that only lasts 4 seconds... so for the next 25 seconds you have no viable ability to out put damage on multiple targets. Spinning Crane Kick does less damage than if you were to continue single target dps going between 2-4 mobs.
At 2 mobs up SCK is less damage than a single target rotation and does not provide chi to keep up other abilities.
At 3 mobs SCK provides chi but still does less damage than a single target rotation.
At 4 mobs SCK provides chi and does comparable damage as the single target rotation.
When we get higher than 4 targets SCK is a great ability. So far in the raid/dungeon designs, we are consistently seeing 2-4 mob fights. Enough to be concerned about the severe lack of an ability to "cleave".
Proposed Solution:
Make Tiger's Eye Brew allow temporary 2-3 target "cleave" of Black out kick, rising sun kick, tiger's palm and Jab. This will allow Monks to choose between Using TEB to cleave or using it to gain a damage bonus... each of which will be useful in certain situations.
Please feel free to add on to this post or discuss what I have mentioned above. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope everyone can realize that I am just trying to provide useful feedback.
Regards,
Rab of TM