I need help understanding dirge AAs

[Coffee_Hound]

I need help understanding dirge AAs -

As I was leveling, I primarily selected AAs based on which improved my ability to buff my group mates or debuff encounters.  I skipped over AAs that improved my combat abilities since I doubted anyone would invite me for my personal DPS.  I thought I made good selections, but I have recently been looking at other dirge’s AA builds, and I am finding that some of the AAs I considered a ‘no brainer’ to take are skipped over by most other dirges.  

For example, I maxed out Minstrel’s Melody AA to increase the DPS buff of Relentless Tune.  I figured since dirges boost melee DPS, everyone would expect me to take this.  As I have been looking at what other dirges take, surprisingly few take that AA.  I’m sure they know more than me, but I still can’t figure out why. 

Another example is the Heroic AA endline.  I took Songspinner’s Note because of the groupwide MA bonus, but in looking I haven’t found another dirge that has taken it. 

I’m guessing that I am looking at dirges that are built for raiding, and that their needs are different than I’ll ever need (I only do heroic content).  Or not… I don’t know.  I’ve seen dirges without raid gear with the same specs.  It could be that they just copied a raiding dirge’s AA, but again I don’t know. 

I’m hoping someone could educate me on what a non-raiding dirge needs for AAs.  I want to make sure I have the abilities that are expected in a dirge when a heroic group chooses to invite me.  An example of a heroic-content only build would help, but I am also hoping for some better understanding too. 

Thanks in advance!

[Jemoo]

It is true that Dirges are invited to groups to buff and debuff, but that's not our only job.  We're also there to DPS and can do pretty decently.  There are a lot of places that putting points into our personal DPS outweighs improving group buffs.  I personally use this but I know a lot of Dirges don't like my bard tree.  Most Dirges will use something more like this.

Even in heroic zones, it comes down to little numbers here or there that change how much we help the group.  Just trust where points are, either of these specs work, though my personal one is set up for grouping with a Warden who has a better blocker so mine was rarely needed.  My Bard tree would look more like the second if I didn't have the Warden with me 75-90% of the time.

[Coffee_Hound]

First off, thanks for the reply!  With the low activity of the dirge section, I was afraid no one would respond.

I looked at both builds, and now I am even more confused.   

In the dirge tree, why Enhance Noxious Symphany?  I haven't even used that song yet.  Also, why not Enhance Bria's?  I thought people wanted dirge's power regen, so I put 5 in that.

Why only 2 or 3 points in Elegy of Reawakening?

In the heroic tree, why not Expertise for more potentcy?  Also, increasing ability reuse didn't seem that good to me, and if it is, why not take points in Accelerando?

For non-raiding, non-HM heroic, do I really need block or AoE avoid AAs?

A groupmate (tank) I talked to in game said to take Magnetic Note, but both of your builds doesn't take it.  I suppose I should dump it?

Thanks again for the help!

[Jemoo]

Coffee_Hound wrote:

First off, thanks for the reply!  With the low activity of the dirge section, I was afraid no one would respond.

I looked at both builds, and now I am even more confused.   

In the dirge tree, why Enhance Noxious Symphany?  I haven't even used that song yet.  Also, why not Enhance Bria's?  I thought people wanted dirge's power regen, so I put 5 in that.

Nox Symphony and Bria's are both crap right now, I only put points in Nox because I will use it occationally if there's a lot of hard hitting Nox AoEs during a fight, but that's very rare.  Dirges are brought along for DPS and Tank buffs, if the group needs Power they'll get a Coercer, or if they're really desperate, an Illy.

Why only 2 or 3 points in Elegy of Reawakening?

You only put 2 points here (the 3 in the other build is a mistake) because with the points above you only need 2 pionts to give our Rezzes 100% health and power.

In the heroic tree, why not Expertise for more potentcy?  Also, increasing ability reuse didn't seem that good to me, and if it is, why not take points in Accelerando?

Potency is ok, but it only affects CAs and Spells, Crit Bonus affects our Autoattack (40-60% of our damage) as well as CAs and Spells.  I put points in the straight reuse because it's 10% reuse vs 5 reuse and 15 casting speed.  Not all Dirges will do this, but I find it helps me more.

For non-raiding, non-HM heroic, do I really need block or AoE avoid AAs?

The blocker is nice is all cases except soloing.  It's 30 secs of no AoEs for everyone but the tank.  This is super helpful in Skyshrine instances because many mobs have a spell called Cataclymic Catalyst that hits very hard.  If you're group isn't in raid gear, many of you may get one-shot by this.

A groupmate (tank) I talked to in game said to take Magnetic Note, but both of your builds doesn't take it.  I suppose I should dump it?

Magnetic Note is a 6 sec target lock for the tank, but unless you're playing with a bad or undergeared tank, they shouldn't need this.  It's also more work than necessary to coordinate the usage of this.  It's the same reasoning that a lot of other Dirges wont run with Lending Shield from teh Bard page.

Thanks again for the help!

[Coffee_Hound]

Thanks again!   Time to respec!

[Coffee_Hound]

Ferk,  I'm posting on this thread because I don't want to pollute your new guide post with my stupid questions.

First, thank you for the help and the new guide!   Now on to my question -

I respec'ed and took Bladedance, but I don't have a clue on when to use it.  Should I lead off combat with it, or should I wait for some indicator that an AoE is incomming?  I have a lot of AAs tied up in getting that ability, but I don't think I have used it correctly even once.

[Jemoo]

I would suggest using it right at pull to start. Once you get a hang of the bosses or by the suggestion of someone who knows the fights a bit better, you can start timing it for certain AoEs. If you're using the standard UI, I don't know if they've added an enemy casting bar to it, but most custom UIs have one. You can watch that for things like Cataclysmic Catalyst, and cast Blade Dance when you see that start to cast. A lot of the time, casting it at pull will most likely catch at least a quick one.

[Fairin]

i'll offer some advice as well. once you get to know encounters you'll realize "thats when i shoulda hit blade dance!" like ikitars (UD Wyvern boss) 50% killing curse, or the droag + golem boss vile prison on the tank + aoe death meteor

as for AA's and spec's the best one if the one you make not copy. but be aware somethings are pritty on paper but in reality dont do anything worthwhile. example - with full skyshrine everyone has 600ma, and dont need you to give them 15 more. the bria's is another. increases your mana regen song. sounds great but a tick is.. 3 seconds? whoopie 30 mana a second to a manapool of 40k?

and contrary to other peoples beliefs . its my personal motto. your first job is dps, then buffing. i'd much rather have a dirge doing 200k and maybe missing a second or 5 between CoB casts than one doing 100k and not missing their "buff" for a second

also, im a troub i know the pain when people only ONLY look at your personal dps parse. regardless of how much you made the raid do.

also heroic tree, ability mod 10 pot 10, reuse 10 , RO/VC 10 , VoS 8, and of course deadly dance

and i'd like to point out that dirges get good bonuses from reforging to spell reuse like a troub, however i dont have precise numbers for dirges so i can only suggest it from the outside looking in, on knowing how the mechanics work