How to Use a Spreadsheet: Maximizing DPS (Updated 1/18/10 New Spreadsheet EZ to Use)

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Table of Contents
Part 1: What is this spreadsheet that everyone keeps telling me to use, why do I want to get one, and where can I get one?

Part 2: OK, I’ve downloaded the thing. Now what?

Part 3: Spreadsheet DPS Display

Part 4: Tabs & How to Use Them

4.a: Equipment
4.b: Settings
4.c: Gear (Tab 3)

Part 5: Maximizing DPS

Part 6: Picking a Rotation

Part 7: OK I got it. What now?

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Part 1

What is this spreadsheet that everyone keeps telling me to use, why do I want to get one, and where can I get one?

The spreadsheet is a tool created by other players to estimate your character’s DPS output based on gear and other variables. It consists of a complex series of workbooks that will accurately estimate your maximum DPS output under various in-game conditions. It will allow you to determine accurately if an item that drops for you is actually an upgrade or not.

Edit: 11-8-09 add 3.2 versions of the spreadsheet.

As such, it is in your interest to obtain one of the spreadsheets available for rogues if you are serious about maximizing your DPS for endgame content. The one I am going to champion here has been provided to us by Aldriana at the Elitist Jerks website and can be downloaded by the links below:

Mutilate: http://elitistjerks.com/f78/t39136-combat_3_2_mutilate_3_1_spreadsheets/p54/#post1397179

Combat: http://elitistjerks.com/f78/t39136-combat_3_2_mutilate_3_1_spreadsheets/

Edit: 1/18/10

note to the latest posts. The spreadsheets are designed to min/max endgame raiding preformance, so low level gear is left out. If your upset about it, post on the EJ forums and get laughed at or learn to add it manually.

Also for some more lazy people out there someone has created a java app that will upload your items from the armory automatically and run your dps output assuming all 25 man buffs are present and you have BiS enchantments (there is usually only one choice for these anyway and the buffs/debuffs and enchants arent editable yet). Its pretty accurate and the EJs guys have been helping the author fix up the code so give it a shot.

Its very intuitive to use and gives excellent advice on gemming your gear (it actually models all possible gemming configs and tells you the best gem to use in that slot).

Here is a link to the applet evolution on google: Rogue DPS Java App

Here is a link to he discussion forum on EJs: Java App Discussion Thread

Anyway, hope this helps you guys up your dps.

And the app does not contain much low lvl gear but is editable to add it, it is explained how to do it in the discussion thread, but as others have stated, if you are in that low level gear stop reading these forums and go farm heroics.

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Part 2

OK, I’ve downloaded the thing. Now what?

Edit: 11-08-09 added some new info and links.

The spreadsheet is an .xls file, which means you will need Microsoft Excel or a compatible program to run this spreadsheet. It is about 4MB in size. A free program that runs these files is called OpenOffice. You may obtain this program from here: http://www.openoffice.org/

It is initially opened in a read-only format. This is intentional to prevent anyone from altering the original spreadsheet so that it becomes inaccurate. To adjust any values in the spreadsheet you must first open the spreadsheet and do a "File > Save as..." to save an editable version. You can also right click the original file and select properties. Once that window opens you may deselect the read only option.

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Part 3

Spreadsheet DPS Display

The first thing to notice is the framed workbook at the top of the equipment tab that shows your DPS output. This is the window that will update your DPS depending on your items and/or buffs. Pay attention to this while adjusting items in the spreadsheet.

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Part 4

Tabs & How to Use Them

Edit: 11-8-09 Updated the tabs info to reflect Aldriana's spreadsheet.

Is the spreadsheet complicated?

Yes it is.

Be thankful that the players out there, like Aldriana, have taken the time to essentially reverse engineer the mathematical programming that was implemented into rogue DPS.

This section will now be broken down into sub-sections based on each tab.

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4.a

Equipment (Tab 1)

This is the meat of the spreadsheet. You will use this tab to enter in information about your spec, glyphs, gear, gems, and enchants. Every cell that is alterable is changed with a drop down menu giving you a list of selectable items. Currently the gear in the spreadsheet is mainly gear available from Ulduar and ToC, if your gear does not appear you should input it manually into the gear tab.

This tab also list an EP value chart for you character showing what stats will optimize your DPS as well as notifying you if you should gem for a socket bonus or not.

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4.b

Settings (Tab 3/4)

This tab has settings for your party/raid composition for you to fill in what buffs/debuffs will be available for you to buff your DPS. Everything here is easily changed by the drop down menus you found on the first page.

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4.c

Gear (Tab 2 muti sheet only)

This tab is all about gear. I’m going to go ahead and let you know that not every piece of gear in the game is represented here. If your particular piece of gear is not here you need to check for an updated version of the spreadsheet (this is especially true if your gear is new or was updated in a recent patch). If the updated version doesn’t exist then your gear is probably too low for end-game content and should be replaced by items that can be found in the spreadsheet.

If your hell bent on seeing your gear in the spreadsheet you can add it manually, however I don't know how to do this. If someone else knows how and could add this info I'd appreciate it.

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Part 5

Maximizing DPS

First, fill out your character’s information in the spreadsheet on tab two and three.

Second, fill out any expectant buffs on tab three. If you do not group with a consistent party or raid it can be helpful to set all these values to "FALSE" except ones you know that you can give your self (i.e. elixirs or flasks) so that you can determine your (mostly) unbuffed DPS. This may be used to help determine if you are ready for various dungeons or raids.

Thirdly, adjust tab four so your abilities with cooldowns accurately show how often you will be using them during a fight. Once again, it can be helpful to turn values that you are not capable of alone, such as Bloodlust, to false so that you can determine your unbuffed DPS.

Finally, return to tab two and adjust the rotation drop down menu until you find the one that will maximize your DPS. Each rotation will give you a different DPS output and when you find the one that gives you the highest output, use it religiously.

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Part 6

Picking a Rotation

You can select between rupture and rupture less rotations here but that is all at the moment. These setting are found on the top of the Equipment tab.

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Part 7

OK I got it. What now?

Save the edited version as a new spreadsheet so that when you come across new item you can put it in the spreadsheet and see if it is actually an upgrade for you. Just remember to re-add gems and enchants as necessary. That's it!

If there are any questions please post a reply.

-CK

Changes:

1/20/2009 - Added links to abilities and formatted the post to be more user friendly. I also added an index and changed some of the section titles.

1/21/2009 - I moved the post to a new thread and added links to the index to make navigating the post easier.

1/23/2009 - I added a few comments to Part 4d and Part 6