Long post. Need help. Many questions, too few answers.Follow

Gotta say, I've always wanted a high level rogue. I watch them work sometimes in PvP and just sit in awe, mouth agape. So, I finally started to level one up some time ago. I've got him to 68 now. I'm combat, I have ****** gear, but I will be putting on all my wonderfully easy-to-attain scourge event gear when I hit 70, for which I am already wearing one piece..

Pay no attention to the name.

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Gnomeregan&n=Zomglookout

I've finally come to a realization. I know NOTHING of the class. I know nothing of the subtleties, I know nothing of rotations, and worst of all, I know absolutely NOTHING of how to DPS in an instance.

First question is my talents. I had blade twisting, but I respecced and forgot to put it back in. I'm guessing that will help instead of weapon expertise. ><

Now, second question is my rotations when leveling. Thus far, I never stealthed and simply ran up to mobs and SSX5/Evis(or less SSs depending on mob health). After reading the forums and seeing how important stunlocking could be, I've changed to CS/SS/SS/KS --> SS/SS/Evis. Don't have to stop as often and I am finally picking up lockboxes along the way. I've also found that SS/SS/Killing Spree/Evis works real quickly too. I also pick up two mobs occasionally and Blade Flurry/Adrenaline rush, or Blade Flurry/Evasion+Trinkets or Blade Flurry/SS/SS/Killing Spree/Evis, depending on what cooldowns are up. Really just try to look at my cooldowns and and weave them in together, but most of the time, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel like I'm missing something, or that there is a "best" rotation I am not doing.


Also, someone please explain to me hit rating? All I know is that I'm low, I need more, but I don't understand the mechanics. I know it reduces my chance to miss.(I read the sticky). What I don't understand is how much hit rating will increase my DPS in comparison to additional Agil/Crit/AP. Is there a site or place I can enter my numbers and see how much of an increase I will get? Or even a bad understanding of the mechanics so that I understand how much of each will increase my DPS by 1%?


Last but not least, this is the real reason I'm here making this post. I'm so sick and tired of being so low on DPS when instancing. People pull out their charts and I'm never near the top. I know my gear is bad, but I feel like this is really bad. When mobs are going down so quickly and I only have time for 3SSs and an Evis, I kinda get flustered in what I'm supposed to be doing. Most of the time I overuse my energy and don't even get the Evis out, or am hammering it when the mob is at 1% already. I have no idea on when to use what openers or what cooldowns. I usually just save the cooldowns for bosses. I don't know how to go all out DPS and simply Vanish midfight either without having the mob go to another DPS(I've really never tried for fear of wipe/death).


I don't consider myself bad or unable to learn. Even after doing BGs for a bit at 39 for a MH weapon and goofing around a bit, I'm still on route to hit 70 with under 8 days played(He was 62 when the exp reduction in OLs patch came through). I love to play him and will continue to try improving, I'm just doing horribly in group settings and feel like I could be doing a bit better solo. Looking for advice to improve before grouping up again...

I totally blew by the links section. I'll take a look at it now. Not sure if all my answers will be found, but I'll try.

One thing I notice looking at your gear, and I don't think this is gonna turn your entire DPS around, but you have stamina gems, and there's really no reason for that. Don't socket for bonuses unless you can do it with red and yellow gems. Really, you should have, at most, two blue gems, and that should be because of metagem requirements.

While this post is now, technically, out of date, most of it's information still applies, and I think it's ~the~ starting point for really understanding rogue's in a group setting.
http://elitistjerks.com/f31/t16940-roguecraft_101_a/

And, as everyone else said, stickies. I understand it can be a bit daunting when you don't know what, exactly, you're looking for, but read everything.

Another thing to consider when you're looking at charts is gear level. If you're doing instances with 70+'s, your gear may be playing a bigger part in it than you think. You really can't be expecting quad digits on your dps here.

Been reading that link. I'm wondering, does this still apply?



I have a 2.1 speed offhand sword. If I can't find a nice quick sword, should I try looking at a dagger?

My god though, just reading that thread... I've learned so much. I'm guessing I won't find out anything about rotations outside of "sustained DPS cycles", but I'm glad I got to know them too.

Thanks a ton everyone.

I knew that when I put it on, but I never knew the importance of a fast offhand. I thought it was just something to help you get a few more poison procs, so I simply went for the best DPS sword I could and became less and less caring of the speed. I told you, I knew NOTHING of the class. I'm just getting started now.

Thanks a ton for the suggestions and help.

I would be running Black Morass/Dark Portal as often as I can if I were you, in order to get http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=28189;source=live and http://wow.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?witem=28034;source=live

Both of these items should serve you well into Northrend. The speed of the sword is huge, and will trump many of the quest items you'll see for awhile for that alone. The Hourglass is one of the best (Maybe THE best) pre-raiding trinket that The Burning Crusade had to offer. I never had much luck with trinkets dropping and I'm still using it in Northrend.

hehehe