I believe 8-10k dps is the standard for someone just hitting level cap. 6-8k is pushing the low end, and anything under 6k is completely unacceptable.

If you're hit capped for heroics, and you get your rotations just right, you could maybe eke out 12k I'd guess, especially on a quick fight as arcane where your arcane power buff would be up for a higher percentage of the fight.

Oh that's alright then ^^

I'm pushing about 8k now (and broke 10k on last boss of VP normal but I think that was lucky FoF procs), thanks for the guesstimate it's made me less self-conscious about playing a dps :)

EDIT: I thought I mentioned somewhere but guess not, I'm level 83 hence why your post has made me a happy mage ^^

Your stat weights (and thus, DPS) will change dramatically once you hit 85. I'm just warning you, so that you don't think you're doing something wrong if your DPS is cut in nearly half once you hit the level cap. Collecting mats for good crafted gear while you're leveling is a great idea; I personally had an alt with a ton of Embersilk Cloth and volatiles and had someone craft me the full 377 PvP set. Yes, it's PvP gear, but you're still going to do decent enough DPS until you find replacement gear.

Ah you're right my crits gunna plummet :(

Then again JP buys you 378 gear now won't take long to gear up ;)

It's AV weekend! You can go cap honor now and buy JPs for when you ding 85. If you cap honor and jp before 85, that converts to 6500jp. That's my plan anyway. No futsing around in cata reg dungeons for me. Adios grim batol!

Hmmm, Peebers, that's pretty clever. I might just do that and use the JP to buy Rings/trinkets and hope to replace my PvP gear with drops/valor.