It'd be pretty simple to make imp sprint baseline and remove vanish from prep.

Its not clear that either Garrote or Ambush is significantly more energy-efficient than Sinister Strike. I mean, they *might* be, but its in no way obvious to me that that opener will be significantly better than opening RvS->SS->Whatever. And in particular, its in no way obvious that its *enough* better to be worth taking Subterfuge over Shadow Focus for a free extra Sinister Strike.

Of course, really, I'd like to see both those talents (or at least, Shadow Focus at minimum) removed entirely, because vanish as a DPS cooldown is generally a bad idea; but that's a story for another time.

Yes, Subterfuge does allow you to keep using abilities that you can only use in stealth.
This allows for a sub/assassin rogue to garrote -> ambush -> ambush assuming you have enough energy to do this. You can only get in max of 4 gcds before the Subterfuge buff (it appears when you go into combat and buff counter starts at 2 seconds) fades with 4 cheap shots in assassin spec.

I doubt it is effective for a combat rogue to spam ambush for their opener, "ambush the target, causing 245% weapon damage plus 902 to target (355% plus 1305 if dagger is equipped). Awards 2 combo points.". So costs 2 gcd and 120 energy to get 4 combo points. If you pop AR or timewarp at the beginning, you could get 6 cp in 3 gcds. On the downside, bandit's guile doesn't build up.
However, RvS + SS + SS + SS= 120 energy and 4 cp in 4 gcds and bandit's guile will ramp up by the time you eviscerate (assuming no cp procs) with shadow focus. Someone else who's better at probability will be able to model the average expected number of cp procs to see if it is worth it.

I think that with the predictable nature or bandit's guile plus allowing a total of 10 CP , the new opener will be RS+SnD+SS to 7 cp to get moderate insight, then your first eviscerate/KS to do 20% more damage. At least with combat. But depending on the player, they could do Ambush -> Ambush -> SnD -> KS -> normal rotation as well if they just want KS to be done asap.

Can anyone verify whether Shadow Focus gives one or more free abilities in Shadow Dance (I am not on the beta yet)?

The glphyed/unglyphed functionality of hemo was reversed in the most recent build.

I saw this and felt the need to mention that Serrated Blades is now a passive learned at level 60 when you specialize as Subtlety.

You sir, are mistaken. imgur: the simple image sharer For a SS of my passive spellbook in sub spec. Was banging on a target dummy and do constant 5 cp eviscerates, and no refresh on rupture or hemo dots.

Glyph: "Your hemorrhage ability only causes lingering damage over time to targets that were already afflicted by a Bleed effect."

Hemo: "An instant strike that deals 100% weapon damage (145% if a dagger is equipped). When used on a target that is bleeding, opens the wound further to deal an additional 40% of the direct strike's damage over 24 sec. Awards 1 combo point. Replaces Sinister Strike."

That is the current mouse over text on the abilities, which is why I mentioned it in my previous post that when glyphed, hemo will put a bleed up on the target regardless if there is already a bleed.

Just copy another character over that's in a different spec on live.

I did some testing with shadowstep and at the moment it's quite interesting.
1.) You can step behind enemies, friendly players and pets (even if ther're not in your group), but no NPCs.
2.) When you aren't targeting anything shadowstep will set you a bit backwards from your current location and activate the 2sec runspeed buff.
3.) Until a certain altitude when you use step in the air you will be teleported to the ground instantly without any falling damage. If you're to high you just resett your fall like the mage blink spell.

Just some quick thoughts from the small testing Ive done on beta as Subtlety. Subterfuge doesnt count when coming out of vanish, so while at the start of a fight it gives you a good damage increase (Ambush hits much harder than BS for me currently, as well as the increased duration on FW) it will then offer nothing over the rest of combat. For any stand and nuke fight therefore imo where you want prep it may work out as a DPS gain to take Shadow Focus.

Also interested to see if anyone have maths on ShS vs Prep for fights. Obviously anything Ultraxion/Baleroc prep wins, but for fights like Zonozz or Hagara, ShS should win? I cant see BoS competing in a PvE enviroment its cost is too high, and ShS will get you there quicker.

On utility front, I think Cheat Death or Elusiveness would win over leeching poison, the ability to survive or take less damage from a sudden nuke would be more valuable in raiding than a constant small heal.

Those second and third points are you shadowstepping yourself. Really hoping they leave that in.

And I'm able to shadowstep a number of friendly npcs, not all though.

From some limited testing with my druid, it seems any npc I'm able to buff, I'm able to shadowstep.