Hunter DPS analyzer now online
by Eddie Carrington 
Jul 14th 2009 at 5:00PM
A few weeks ago over on Scattered Shots I reviewed many of the different tools available for Hunters to improve their game. In that post I highlighted two of the most popular tools, The Hunter DPS Spreadsheet by Wertez over at my site The Hunting Lodge and the WOTLK Spreadsheet by Shandara on Elitist Jerks.
Knowing that both spreadsheets are good at what they do, there is one fundamental issue, both require you to have Microsoft Excel running on Windows or some selected Mac systems. Using this as a good excuse to become more familiar with JavaScript and Ajax, Zeherah took the challenge and created Zeherah's Hunter DPS Analyzer.
When I asked why she decided to pick up such a daunting task, Zeherah responded, "I was particularly interested because as a Mac user my ability to make use of the spreadsheet has always been limited, I don't have a Windows Excel and many features like the stat values and armory import don't work in the Mac version. This kept me motivated, but it also makes parts of this project extra challenging since I've had to try to figure out how parts of the code in the spreadsheet worked without actually being able to use or test them myself."
As with all any DPS modeling tool, this won't give exact DPS numbers. But being based on Shandara's DPS Spreadsheet, and using the bulk of the formulas and logic found in it, you will get a pretty good idea of how making changes to your gear, talents and glyphs, buffs and debuffs, as well as your pet will impact your DPS.
Taking the cue from Shandara, Zeherah has also enabled a PTR option on her site. So whether you're on the PTR or if our just wanting to see what might be in store for you in Patch 3.2, I highly recommend heading over to Femaledwarf.com and giving it a try.
(Update: To make sure your bugs are addressed you can either fill out the comment box on the site or visit the Online Hunter DPS Analyzer Development Discusson at The Hunting Lodge forums.)
Filed under: Hunter, Analysis / Opinion, News items, Talents
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
subrandom Jul 14th 2009 5:16PM
you know they make excel for mac
Kyol Jul 14th 2009 5:23PM
Yeah, but the current version of OSX Excel doesn't support the VB macros that the spreadsheet needs, so you can't use the spreadsheet unless if you have an older version of excel hanging around. Frustrating. MS will re-port VB macro support in the next version of Excel due to just this sort of problem. (You start to find macros _everywhere_ once you don't run them any more..)
Clay Levering Jul 14th 2009 6:59PM
Yes, but there is no Macro or VB Support in the Mac version
kiln Jul 14th 2009 5:20PM
wow this is amazing ^^
is there anything like this for mages?
Tori Jul 14th 2009 5:23PM
Very cool!
I'll have to check this out more in-depth when I get home from work, but from what I can see a lot of work must have went in to making this.
This will be a very handy tool, and major thanks to the one who put it all together!!
Inexorability Jul 14th 2009 5:29PM
Microsoft also makes an Excel reader available for those who don't own the full version of Excel (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1cd6acf9-ce06-4e1c-8dcf-f33f669dbc3a&DisplayLang=en). Or you can just get Open Office for free (www.openoffice.org).
Fluffywumpki of Kilrogg Jul 14th 2009 5:49PM
Again, though, neither of those supports VBA on the Mac.
Melissa Jul 14th 2009 5:48PM
As most people who want to use the Hunter DPS spreadsheet know, it is NOT compatible with Open Office. Not all of the functions work correctly, just like what Zeherah found when she tried to use it on her Mac.
Rugus Jul 14th 2009 5:33PM
Nice. No one will ever be able to demonstrate that it *really* or *really not* matches the ingame numbers :=)
Camden Jul 14th 2009 6:18PM
Very cool tool - I'll certainly be playing with this for awhile.
Thanks for putting it together
Ailian Jul 14th 2009 5:53PM
Ahh. Yes. An easy to use spreadsheet for lazy hunters such as I. :D
Saxondog Jul 14th 2009 5:56PM
This is awesome. Now I don't have to take the spreadsheet to work to use it since I use Open Office at home. Thanks :)
Josh Jul 14th 2009 5:59PM
Psh, my spreadsheet tells exact numbers for Hunter DPS: Average everyone else and add 1000. If the Warlock is within 1000 DPS, add another 1000 just to spite them.
Wulftracker Jul 14th 2009 10:20PM
Too bad that the java based one is level 80 only.. doesnt do much for those trying to improve before 80.. says the level 74.
Slog Jul 14th 2009 6:33PM
Very sweet indeed. Major props to Zeherah .
MCL.
Ophelos Jul 14th 2009 6:36PM
the hit rating info in this spreedsheet are wrong.. i got a 191 hit rating + 3/3 Focused Aim which comes to 8.82%.. The site says i'm below hit cap by 0.707..
Zeherah Jul 14th 2009 6:49PM
I can't reproduce the issue you're reporting Ophelos. If you save your settings and send me feedback on the site with the name of the saved settings I'll be able to test better to track down the issue.
Wildcat, I've added the glyph, thanks for letting me know.
wildcat0695 Jul 14th 2009 6:41PM
The Glyph of Mending is missing as a choice for major glyphs.
Tyras Jul 14th 2009 7:04PM
No it's not.
Arlen Jul 14th 2009 6:49PM
Probably because the spreadsheet and online analyzer are about maximizing your dps, which the major glyph of mending does not do.