[Paladin] Ability Mechanics
 

<Work in Progess>

The way I'd like this to work: Ask questions about any paladin-related mechanic in this thread and post evidence/methods if you have an answer. Please keep speculation to a minimum, as I'd like this thread to focus on hard data and analysis.

The following sections will be fleshed out after I finish collecting data on my first two items: 2.3 SoV coefficients and the BoL downranking penalties


Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Seals and Judgements:
   1. Seal of Vengeance
   
   
3. Healing:
   1. Blessing of Light

1. Introduction


2. Seals and judgements
Seal of Vengeance
20 Procs per Minute
Each proc of this Seal applies a stacking DoT that stacks up to 5 times. When 5 stacks of the DoT are applied, additional procs cause instant damage instead. This DoT lasts 15 seconds and is refreshed by itself

When judged, the judgement deals 120 base damage per stack of the DoT and 43% of your +dmg. If there is no DoT on the judged target, no damage is dealt.

Coefficients:
DoT - 17% per tick @ 5 stacks or 5.67% of +dmg as DPS, 1.13% of +dmg per stack
instant damage - Deals around [1.13% of +dmg * weapon speed] in damage.

3. Healing

Question: Any easy way to format these vB posts? I want to make these posts readable, but manually adding formatting tags is a PITA.

Seal of Vengeance coefficients & mechanics testing

Test parameters:
2.3 PTR
15/0/46 spec w/ 2H spec/Vengeance/Vindication, no Crusade

Test Method:
Blasted Lands Servant was used as a target dummy
For data collection, Vengeance was clicked off if it was active.


Observations:

• DoT damage depends on active buffs (vengeance, etc) at first application (unchanged from live)
• 2h spec does not affect SoV DoT damage. (unchanged from live)
• JoW does not seem to be triggered by SoV's instant damage proc (unchanged from live)
• JotC will affect DoT damage immediately - it provides a bonus to DoT damage when applied and removes the bonus when removed. (unchanged from live)
• When "SoV resist" occured at the 5 stack - sometimes the instant damage would proc on a resist, other times it wouldn't.
• SoV/judgement refresh/vindication seems to trigger Spellsurge
• [unrelated] No JoW double procs were observed, so it appears Vindication does not trigger JoW.

With 0 +dmg:
1h weapons

Club (1.9 AS) - 19 damage at 5 stack
Unarmed (2.0 AS) - 20 damage at 5 stack, 23 w/ Vengeance;
Shortsword (2.6 AS) - 26 damage at 5 stack, 30 w/ Vengeance

2h weapons - 150 damage w/ no Vengeance

Bastard Sword (3.0 AS) - 30 damage at 5 stack
Large Club (3.2 AS) - 32 damage at 5 stack

With JotC (219 +Holy):
1h weapons

Club (1.9 AS) - 24 damage at 5 stack
Unarmed (2.0 AS) - 25 damage at 5 stack
Shortsword (2.6 AS) - 32 damage at 5 stack

2h weapons - 209~210 DoT w/ no Vengeance

Bastard Sword (3.0 AS) - 37 damage at 5 stack;
Large Club (3.2 AS) - 42 damage at 5 stack

Max +dmg tests:

Gavel of Unearthed Secrets (2.7 AS) @ 700 +dmg: 48 damage, 269 DoT damage @ 5 stack, 900 JoV
Gave of Pure Light (1.9 AS) @ 601 +dmg: 32 damage, 252 DoT damage @ 5 stack, 858 JoV
Hammer of the Naaru (3.6 AS, 2H) @ 551 +dmg: 58~59 damage, 244 DoT damage @ 5 stack, 836 JoV

Max +dmg tests, using +328 Holy JotC:

Gavel of Unearthed Secrets (2.7 AS) @ 700 +dmg: 58 damage, 326 DoT damage @ 5 stack, 1041 JoV
Gave of Pure Light (1.9 AS) @ 601 +dmg: 39 damage, 308 DoT damage @ 5 stack, 999 JoV
Hammer of the Naaru (3.6 AS, 2H) @ 551 +dmg: 72 damage, 300 DoT damage @ 5 stack, 977 JoV

Calculations:
Base damage for instant damage procs is based off of weapon speed * 10

Weapon speed / Change in +Holy / Change in instant damage / dDamage as % of dHoly / %dDamage of dHoly vs. weapon speed
1.9 / 219 / 5 / 2.28% / 1.2
2.0 / 219 / 5 / 2.28% / 1.14
2.6 / 219 / 6 / 2.74% / 1.05
3.0 / 219 / 7 / 3.20% / 1.07
3.2 / 219 / 10 / 4.57% / 1.43

1.9 / 328 / 7 / 2.13% / 1.12
2.7 / 328 / 10 / 3.05% / 1.13
3.6 / 328 / 13~14 / 3.96~4.27% / 1.1~1.19


Weapon speed / Change in +spell only / Change in instant damage / dDamage as % of dSpell / %dDamage of dSpell vs. weapon speed
1.9 / 601 / 13 / 2.16% / 1.13
2.7 / 700 / 21 / 3.00% / 1.11
3.6 / 551 / 22~23 / 3.99~4.17% / 1.11~1.16


Weapon speed / Change in total +spell (includes JotC) / Change in instant damage / dDamage as % of dSpell / %dDamage of dSpell vs. weapon speed
1.9 / 929 / 20 / 2.15% / 1.13
2.7 / 1028 / 31 / 3.02% / 1.11
3.6 / 879 / 36 / 4.10% / 1.14



Conclusion
The new instant damage proc coefficient is roughly 1.1% * weapon speed, which favors slower weapons.


The formula for calculating instant damage is:
(1.1% +dmg + 10) * [weapon speed]

The DPS formula, assuming 20 PPM, would be:
(1.1% +dmg + 10) * [weapon speed] * 20 PPM / 60 seconds
= (0.367% +dmg + 3.33) * [weapon speed]


Some more testing should be done with various weapon speeds and levels of +spell to narrow down the exact coefficient.

Any chance anyone has tested the new BoL penalties? Be nice to have some data so we can model a formula or something.

HoW Coefficient Testing
Method:
Toss HoWs at a Blasted Lands servant every 6 seconds; record min/max values. Some min/max points used crit values divided by 2.

Base damage (tooltip)
HoW R1 - 316~348 / avg 332
HoW R2 - 412~455 / avg 433.5
HoW R3 - 519~572 / avg 545.5
HoW R4 - 672~742 / avg 707

222 +dmg
HoW R1 - 391~421 / avg 406 / gained 74 -> 33.3%
HoW R2 - 498~538 / avg 518 / gained 84.5 ->38.1%

613 +dmg
HoW R1 - 531~546 / avg 538.5 / gained 206.5 -> 33.7%
HoW R2 - 652~690 / avg 671 / gained 237.5 -> 38.7%
HoW R3 - 788~829 / avg 808.5 / gained 263 -> 42.9%
HoW R4 - 935~1001 / avg 968 / gained 261 -> 42.6%

613 +dmg & 286 JotC
HoW R1 - 647~667 / avg 657 / JotC gained 118.5 -> 41.4%
HoW R2 - 772~807 / avg 789.5 / JotC gained 118.5 -> 41.4%
HoW R3 - 905~954 / avg 929.5 / JotC gained 121 -> 42.3%
HoW R4 - 1075~1107 / avg 1091 / JotC gained 123 -> 43%


HoW Mana costs to coefficient
R1 - 235 | 33% -> 5.5% +dmg/DPS @ 39 MPS
R2 - 290 | 38% -> 6.3% +dmg/DPS @ 48 MPS
R3 - 340 | 43% -> 7.2% +dmg/DPS @ 57 MPS
R4 - 440 | 43% -> 7.2% +dmg/DPS @ 73 MPS



Vindication Proc Rate Testing
Method:
Autoattacking Blasted Lands Servant with JoL. Counted number of swings to 10 Vindication procs.

1.9 AS - 29 attacks /
2.7 AS - 20 attacks /
3.0 AS - 20 attacks /
3.6 AS - 20 attacks /

2.3 Blessing of Light Coefficients
Method:
Cast 4~5 heals on self, recorded min/max values.

Talents:
3/3 Healing Light (+12% healed by FoL/HL)

Data Set 1: 1058 +heal:
HL R4 - 762~802 / avg 782
HL R5 - 1081~1117 / avg 1099
HL R6 - 1402~1467 / avg 1434.5
HL R7 - 1797~1892 / avg 1844.5
HL R8 - 2217~2329 / avg 2273
HL R9 - 2742~2833 / avg 2787.5
HL R10 - 2873~2984 / avg 2928.5
HL R11 - 3348~3551 / avg 3449.5

FoL R1 - 305~311 / avg 308
FoL R2 - 384~398 / avg 391
FoL R3 - 498~519 / avg 508.5
FoL R4 - 616~639 / avg 627.5
FoL R5 - 757~779 / avg 768
FoL R6 - 904~943 / avg 923.5
FoL R7 - 1023~1072 / avg 1047.5


Data Set 2: 1058 +heal & BoL (+580 HL, +185 FoL); compared to Data Set 1
HL R4 - 1067~1117 / avg 1092 / gained 310 -> 53.4%
HL R5 - 1452~1510 / avg 1481 / gained 382 -> 65.9%
HL R6 - 1866~1924 / avg 1895 / gained 460.5 -> 79.4%
HL R7 - 2324~2404 / avg 2364 / gained 519.5 -> 89.6%
HL R8 - 2831~2982 / avg 2906.5 / gained 633.5 -> 109.2%
HL R9 - 3345~3473 / avg 3409 / gained 621.5 -> 107.2%
HL R10 - 3498~3595 / avg 3546.5 / gained 618 -> 106.6%
HL R11 - 3964~4178 / avg 4071 / gained 621.5 -> 107.2%

FoL R1 - 393~403 / avg 398 / gained 90 -> 48.6%
FoL R2 - 493~502 / avg 497.5 / gained 106.5 -> 57.6%
FoL R3 - 639~651 / avg 645 / gained 136.5 -> 73.8%
FoL R4 - 775~798 / avg 786.5 / gained 159 -> 85.9%
FoL R5 - 943~970 / avg 956.5 / gained 188.5 -> 101.9%
FoL R6 - 1117~1148 / avg 1132.5 / gained 209 -> 112.9%
FoL R7 - 1233~1274 /avg 1253.5 / gained 206 -> 111.4%


Date Set 3: 1058 +heal & BoL & Libram of Saints Departed (+105 FoL/HL on BoL'd target); compared to Data Set 2
HL R4 - 1123~1147 / avg 1135 / gained 43 -> 40.9%
HL R5 - 1537~1561 / avg 1549 / gained 68 -> 64.8%
HL R6 - 1932~2016 / avg 1974 / gained 79 -> 75.2%
HL R7 - 2415~2487 / avg 2451 / gained 87 -> 82.9%
HL R8 - 3005~3079 / avg 3042 / gained 135.5 -> 129%
HL R9 - 3516~3602 / avg 3559 / gained 150 -> 142.9%
HL R10 - 3649~3786 / avg 3717.5 / gained 171 -> 162.9%
HL R11 - 4146~4318 / avg 4232 / gained 161-> 153.3%

FoL R1 - 449~453 / avg 451 / gained 53 -> 50.5%
FoL R2 - 558~569 / avg 563.5 / gained 66 -> 62.9%
FoL R3 - 710~723 / avg 716.5 / gained 71.5 -> 68.1%
FoL R4 - 863~884 / avg 873.5 / gained 87 -> 82.9%
FoL R5 - 1042~1067 / avg 1054.5 / gained 98 -> 93.3%
FoL R6 - 1224~1264 / avg 1244 / gained 111.5 -> 106.2%
FoL R7 - 1355~1405 / avg 1380 / gained 126.5 -> 120.5%


The data shows that BoL gets a downranked penalty that's correlated to the spell level. Finding the exact downrank penalty formula would require a bit more data collection than I did here. To further reduce the variables, it'd be nice to use 0 +heal for such a test run.
(I used +heal gear for this test run so that I'd have a decent size mana pool)


The greater than 100% coefficients can be explained by Healing Light and the small sample sizes for each data set. (I generally did 5~10 heals per rank, until I felt I had enough of a range for that rank) I would definitely like to investigate the 150~% HL coefficients seen for the Libram of Saints Departed.

Not sure if this is a good place to ask but i couldnt find any other good spot so here it goes.

So if you generate 30% less threat does that mean you will be able to deal 30% more damage without pulling aggro? and yes i know common sense says yes, but the argument i keep getting from people if you learn to control your aggro with other blessings you will deal more damage. as a rogue i use energy to decrease aggro which means im wasting energy for moves i could be dealing more damage with like 1500-2500. can anyone point me to a equation or have some proof of which one si right?

Let's say the amount of threat you can have before you overaggro is 10000. At a 1 damage:1 threat ratio, that's 10000 damage. If you have 30% reduced threat, it's 10000 / 0.7, or 14285 damage to reach 10000 threat. So 30% reduced threat allows for 42.8% more damage. Two 30% reductions, in the form of the ret talent and salvation, stack multiplicatively rather than linearly, resulting in 51% threat reduction, or 20408 damage to reach 10000 threat.

So 30%: +42.8% damage.
30% x2: +104%.

If your threat is high enough that you are constantly feinting and holding back, salvation is better. If you are very rarely actually reaching a threat cap, might/kings would add more. Typically speaking, I salvation rogues as the first priority on blessings, except when I fully expect to have a large threat lead for some reason.

Seal related question -
Anyone know the damage penalty Seal of the Crusader imposes in return for its AP and attack speed increases?

I'm curious which would be better for a relatively low damage, low AP set with a 2hander. (Hitting things in tank gear after my mob is dead.) If I had AP or higher +damage, I'd obviously use SoB or SoR, but as it is I've been looking at SotC and I can't find what the penalty is anywhere.

Part 1 of your question - 30% threat reduction actually increases the damage done per threat by 43%.

For example:
If it takes 1000 threat to pull aggro on Deadly Kobold, and 1 damage = 1 threat, then you can deal 1000 damage before pulling aggro.

If you have BoSalv for 30% less threat, 1 damage = 0.7 threat, and 1000 damage deals 700 threat. For you to pull aggro now, you must deal 1000 threat * (1 damage / 0.7 threat) = 1430~ damage.


For part 2, threat reduction only increases your DPS if you're threat capped and pulling aggro will reduced your DPS (such as getting killed by boss aggro, for example). Whether threat reduction will increase your DPS depends on your tank's ability to generate threat, and the type of encounter, but generally threat reduction just makes things smoother.




SotC provides no % DPS gain. You swing 40% more often, but your damage per swing is scaled down so that DPS is the same.

The only DPS added by SotC is from the bonus AP.

ie: Rank 7 SotC adds 474 AP. The DPS added by the seal is 474 / 14 = 33.9 DPS (mitigated by AC, does not scale with gear)


Since they buffed SoR in TBC, there's 0 reason to use SotC as a DPS seal. (Unless they've changed the mechanics since I last tested this)


In tank gear, SoR (SoV if you're alliance) will probably be your best damage seal. Either use JotC for max damage (especially if you have the +3% crit talent), or use JoW/JoL for the raid's benefit.