How do you do controlled AoE tests?

Glodd · 11/12/08, 11:29 PM

I have been wanting a way to test AoE abilities in a controlled and repeatable fashion. I would like it to be as good for AoE as target dummies and Dr Boom have been for single targets, but I dont think that is likely.

What do you all do to test AoE's in a controlled fashion? I'd like to be able to easily and repeatably test things like AoE damage caps and the like.

ihvon · 11/13/08, 2:35 AM

There are 6 or so target dummies in theramore packed in aoe range, outside the fort building in the town. Could use those maybe. Too few for cap though.

Northerner · 11/13/08, 2:51 AM

I am honestly not sure why you would feel the need beyond the obvious. There is a wealth of data from Hyjal parses and the ilk to determine base mechanics and although I salute the spirit, we've never seen any encounter that involves AE and is even remotely in need of real AE dps min-maxing. Again, if you are only interested for academic reasons then I sympathize but do not have an easy answer beyond the dummies or a tank and a healer that are really bored.

I do indeed think that AE mechanics are very well understood at this point though and wish you luck regardless.

Jheherrin · 11/13/08, 2:53 AM

Unless there is something that I have missed, probably the best way would be to take a large group of friends to either Gurubashi or Dire Maul arenas.

The only difficulty here is that it requires the cooperation of lots of people for something that most in the group probably wont see or understand the benefit of, and will therefore be bored silly.

Wump · 11/13/08, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by ihvon

There are 6 or so target dummies in theramore packed in aoe range, outside the fort building in the town. Could use those maybe. Too few for cap though.

Those dummies are Level 1 and probably wouldn't return the best results. My characters are all melee so these dummies are pretty much off-limits for me. I'm not sure if it matters for casters.

Xelopheris · 11/13/08, 11:26 AM

The only thing a level 1 will benefit for a caster is increased crit chance. I can't think of a single AoE situation in the game that is +3 levels, so hit rating is irrelevant.

solbergb · 11/13/08, 12:52 PM

Traditionally for AOE caps what you do is get a really big pull in a low level dungeon full of mildly durable monsters. Like the cathedral in Scarlet Monastary. You keep pulling till you see your damage flatten, then you multiply by the number of mobs and you get your damage cap. This was done pretty early in TBC beta and the new caps are well understood, at least for mages.

For many classes "AOE" is actually "I hit 2-4 critters instead of one" and you theorycraft it just like single target DPS, test it on individual target dummies, since the number of enemies doesn't change the outcome. If the AOE caps are high enough (and they seem to be for now) then you can do other kinds of AOE that way too.