Ghostcrawler reiterates the DPS hierarchy
by Eliah Hecht 
Mar 4th 2009 at 7:00PM
I don't want to invoke BTPNTC again, but it's a common perception that one of the goals in class balance in Wrath has been to bring the damage various DPS specs more in line with each other. This, in turn, has raised questions like "if a feral druid does as much damage as a rogue, what's the point of the rogue?" This question is arguable, but fortunately, that lovable crustacean Ghostcrawler has laid bare the developers' goal for how the classes should be positioned relatively in terms of DPS.
Here it is:
- Hunters, mages, rogues, and warlocks.
- Everyone else.
It's important to note that the gap between 1 and 2 is meant to be quite small, and that it will probably be swallowed up by gear, player skill, and the particulars of individual encounters in most cases. As GC puts it, "If you know your class cold, I mean really know it, then there is no reason you can't be topping meters."
I think this is a good design goal. The pure classes have a slight edge, but skilled players of any class should do well. Of course, we're not quite there yet, class balance being a perennially moving target, but they're working on it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
epsilon343 Mar 4th 2009 7:04PM
And I shed a silent tear for that lone dark blue bar dead center in the DPS chart...
Zalvi Mar 4th 2009 7:13PM
i feel your pain
epsilon343 Mar 4th 2009 7:17PM
I should probably preface my comment by saying that I'm Resto 90% of the time but I did do a few raids as Ele and it was so disappointing.
elvendude Mar 4th 2009 7:26PM
My tear, and I feel the truer tear, is shed for the light blue bar that is keeping it company.
Is there really any reason that and the orange shouldn't be switched?
Angry Joe Mar 4th 2009 7:40PM
@elvendude
Death.
Ashvoyager Mar 4th 2009 8:39PM
Elemental shamans are one of the few specs that are doing particularly well at the moment. Clearly you have your information off.
Schadow Mar 5th 2009 12:21AM
Um, that's just a graphic the author used as an illustration. It has nothing to do GC's post.
Max Mar 5th 2009 12:49AM
the light blue bar also feels your pain
Draelan Mar 5th 2009 1:45AM
You're kidding, right? The highest DPS in my guild is an Enhancement Shammy. He tops the charts about 75% of the time, and when he's not top spot, he's second. A well played Shaman can really tear things up.
PeeWee Mar 5th 2009 5:56AM
"Is there really any reason that and the orange shouldn't be switched?"
Skill.
Ryan Mar 5th 2009 8:15AM
If you're a shaman and are at the bottom of the meters, don't blame Blizzard.
PEBKAC
Lab Monkey Mar 5th 2009 12:21PM
As a Seahawks fan I'm surprised you have any tears left to shed.
SINisterWyvern Mar 5th 2009 1:38PM
It's me as an afflock, then an ele shammy and arcane mage all over the top spots in our 10 mans for the most part.
While the ele shammy does outgear me by incredible amounts they're at no horrible low point as it's made out to sound.
Elvrag Mar 6th 2009 12:13AM
3. Tank
4. Healer
5. Noobs
6. ....?
7. Moonkins =(
Zeplar Mar 4th 2009 7:06PM
If they want rogues and warlocks at the top, they have some work to do. I've seen a couple skilled rogues get decent numbers, but they're not passing the death knights and hunters, and I've yet to see a warlock in the top 5. Maybe a skilled one could get there, but in that case they might as well be hybrids.
Zeplar Mar 4th 2009 7:08PM
Maybe I mis-remember the colors, but is that a druid and a shadow priest topping the meters there?
Moonkin's decent and all, but in my guild at least hunters rise to the top.
AyaJulia Mar 4th 2009 7:19PM
"Maybe I mis-remember the colors, but is that a druid and a shadow priest topping the meters there?"
That's correct.
komamura Mar 4th 2009 8:02PM
@Zeplar
As a feral druid i can top meters in my guild 25. im not sure if that says more about the class or my guild tho=/
Devant Mar 4th 2009 9:00PM
Rogues and Warlocks are the two least played classes at level 80 now. True story.
http://www.warcraftrealms.com/census.php?serverid=-1&factionid=-1&minlevel=80&maxlevel=80&servertypeid=-1
There is no place for us in this world of bring the hybrid not the dps. It's only going to get worse with dual specs. Without a serious advantage in dps the two classes that contributed next to nothing else are obsolete.
Mr Magoo Mar 4th 2009 9:45PM
@Devant
I think it is situation dependant. They certainly have MORE chance because they have the ability to fill more than one role. (druids and pallys especially)
But then they would have to be geared for it. Would you bring a rubbish druid DPS in the off chance you might need him to heal on his main spec later? Probably not.
But you definitely would if he had equal/better DPS on his offspec than the other DPS around. (something that happens in my guild for example) And if you needed a healer you would consider him in the same way again.
Certainly not clear cut though. The fact remains that unless you make druid specs completely unviable, they will always have more utility than a one-purpose class and thus more chance of an invite overall. But situations and individuals vary so much so it is never clear cut.
I sometimes wish I played a druid so that I could play all three main areas of the game. This is never when I am looking at that green bar sitting at the top of recount.
I am hoping this does not change to much because my hunter has NOWHERE TO GO. Literally. I can spec pokemon, retardsman or survival. DPS/DPS/DPS. It would suck to have no options and be nerfed into irrelavence. (and no, "replenishment" is not enough to stop this.)