Mosh
12-28-2004, 04:59 AM
Reposting form US Board:
I've been doing some testing on CoS, finally, and I've mapped how the spell works.
First of all, I'd like to thank a few people for helping. Specifically ZP, Deathstrider and Karodock for helping me get to the following results.
All DD spells are, as we know, affected by resistances. I'm not talking about higher level resistances here, I'm talking about the kind you get from gear and skills to protect yourself.
A Warlock, for instance, get's Shadow Resist through Demon Skin. But what exactly does having resistances mean?
I've finally managed to put together a formula showing how resistances affect the damage done against you.
eDPS = bDPS * (1 - 0.15(dRes / aLvl))
eDPS= effective DPS (actual DPS)
bDPS= base DPS
dRes= defender's resistance
aLvl= attacker's level
Example:
I am a level 60 Warlock, my opponent has 30 Shadow Resistance, and I shoot Shadowbolts at him for a base DPS of 150:
My effective (real) DPS against him would then be 150 * (1 - 0.15*(30/60)) = 150 * (1 - 0,075) = 138,75.
This is of course not good for us. Which brings Curse of Shadow into play.
Let's assume our opponent has 15 shadow resist base. That's -60 resist with CoS rank 2.
This gives me an eDPS of 1.15 times my regular DPS.
The DPS of Shadow Bolt with talents is 222.
This gives you a bonus DPS of 255,3-222 = 33,3.
The DPS of Curse of Agony is 36,5, and that's only if you let it run the full duration.
Imagine if your opponent does NOT have 15 base Shadow Resist. CoS beats CoA.
Now, you ask, does this work in "real life"?
Here's the results of testing
Average damage of Shadow Bolt with Mastery, without CoS: 529. ((558+500)/2)
Average damage of Shadow Bolt with Mastery, with CoS: 604,3. (Tested and found average over many bolts).
Now to find out if the theory works:
529 * (1 + 0.15(-65**/60)) = 529 * 1,1625 = 615
The above formula says a DPS of 615 is to be expected in this situation.
615 / 604,3 * 100% = 101,77%
The results from testing are only 1,77 percent off what the formula shows should happen.
**: Tested vs an Undead Character, hence -65 and not -75.
Another side-effect of this is super-high damage crits. A Shadow Bolt can potentially hit for 2678 damage. This is how:
Base max damage: 558.
"Hidden" critical strike through negative resists: 1116 dmg.
If that bolt also crits with Ruin: 2232.
If one of your previous bolts was crits, with Imp SB talent: 2678.
I have to emphasize though, that this will VERY rarely happen in game. It requires on of your previous 4 Bolts to be crits, as well as needing to roll both a hidden resistance crit and a real crit, and of course do base max damage. If anyone can get me a screenshot of a 2678 dmg Shadow Bolt, that person will forever be my hero.
To boost this even more, there's an Elixir of Shadow Power, + shadow damage items and Shadow Vulnerability.
All this and 2.5 seconds cast.
Another aspect to CoS is the change to Fear.
What you need to know about Fear is that is has two different chances to break:
1. Break on damage.
2. Break randomly. (Like Enslave Demon and other CCs).
We can't do much about 1. apart from not attacking, but 2. can be helped.
The resist roll done every second or so when feared, is affected by resistances as well.
WITH CoS, rank 3 Fear lasted on average 19 seconds. Without CoS, rank 3 Fear lasted on average 12,67 seconds. Yes, I ignored Fears cast under the effect of diminishing returns, so these results are correct.
Conclusion
Curse of Shadow is our 'new' best curse. It adds DPS and utility, and it costs less mana and lasts a lot longer than most other curses.
I've been doing some testing on CoS, finally, and I've mapped how the spell works.
First of all, I'd like to thank a few people for helping. Specifically ZP, Deathstrider and Karodock for helping me get to the following results.
All DD spells are, as we know, affected by resistances. I'm not talking about higher level resistances here, I'm talking about the kind you get from gear and skills to protect yourself.
A Warlock, for instance, get's Shadow Resist through Demon Skin. But what exactly does having resistances mean?
I've finally managed to put together a formula showing how resistances affect the damage done against you.
eDPS = bDPS * (1 - 0.15(dRes / aLvl))
eDPS= effective DPS (actual DPS)
bDPS= base DPS
dRes= defender's resistance
aLvl= attacker's level
Example:
I am a level 60 Warlock, my opponent has 30 Shadow Resistance, and I shoot Shadowbolts at him for a base DPS of 150:
My effective (real) DPS against him would then be 150 * (1 - 0.15*(30/60)) = 150 * (1 - 0,075) = 138,75.
This is of course not good for us. Which brings Curse of Shadow into play.
Let's assume our opponent has 15 shadow resist base. That's -60 resist with CoS rank 2.
This gives me an eDPS of 1.15 times my regular DPS.
The DPS of Shadow Bolt with talents is 222.
This gives you a bonus DPS of 255,3-222 = 33,3.
The DPS of Curse of Agony is 36,5, and that's only if you let it run the full duration.
Imagine if your opponent does NOT have 15 base Shadow Resist. CoS beats CoA.
Now, you ask, does this work in "real life"?
Here's the results of testing
Average damage of Shadow Bolt with Mastery, without CoS: 529. ((558+500)/2)
Average damage of Shadow Bolt with Mastery, with CoS: 604,3. (Tested and found average over many bolts).
Now to find out if the theory works:
529 * (1 + 0.15(-65**/60)) = 529 * 1,1625 = 615
The above formula says a DPS of 615 is to be expected in this situation.
615 / 604,3 * 100% = 101,77%
The results from testing are only 1,77 percent off what the formula shows should happen.
**: Tested vs an Undead Character, hence -65 and not -75.
Another side-effect of this is super-high damage crits. A Shadow Bolt can potentially hit for 2678 damage. This is how:
Base max damage: 558.
"Hidden" critical strike through negative resists: 1116 dmg.
If that bolt also crits with Ruin: 2232.
If one of your previous bolts was crits, with Imp SB talent: 2678.
I have to emphasize though, that this will VERY rarely happen in game. It requires on of your previous 4 Bolts to be crits, as well as needing to roll both a hidden resistance crit and a real crit, and of course do base max damage. If anyone can get me a screenshot of a 2678 dmg Shadow Bolt, that person will forever be my hero.
To boost this even more, there's an Elixir of Shadow Power, + shadow damage items and Shadow Vulnerability.
All this and 2.5 seconds cast.
Another aspect to CoS is the change to Fear.
What you need to know about Fear is that is has two different chances to break:
1. Break on damage.
2. Break randomly. (Like Enslave Demon and other CCs).
We can't do much about 1. apart from not attacking, but 2. can be helped.
The resist roll done every second or so when feared, is affected by resistances as well.
WITH CoS, rank 3 Fear lasted on average 19 seconds. Without CoS, rank 3 Fear lasted on average 12,67 seconds. Yes, I ignored Fears cast under the effect of diminishing returns, so these results are correct.
Conclusion
Curse of Shadow is our 'new' best curse. It adds DPS and utility, and it costs less mana and lasts a lot longer than most other curses.