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- RESEARCH POST -
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Blastwave Kickback Range
Patch: Beta 3.0.2 Build 8962
Target: Zombies from the Terrokar quest "The Dread Relic" ( http://thottbot.com/q10877 ) area
Spec: Fire to Blastwave
Level: 80
Methodology: Screenshot a target before and after blastwaving, measure approximate distance with AoE reticules


http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_1.jpg
Shows the AoE range of Flamestrike


http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_2.jpg
Notes that Melee targets sit on the inner ring


http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_3.jpg
Even ones that will actually survive a Blastwave

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_4.jpg
Flamestrike reticule again, this time just before a Blastwave, we start here

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_5.jpg
End there, just behind that log.

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_6.jpg
Turning around to face the camera at the log (the corpse directly above the text was at melee range when it died, so effectively exactly where it started) with a blizzard reticule.

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_7.jpg
Targeting around where it landed with a Blizzard reticule, note that the edge of Blizzard is just about where it died.

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_8.jpg
Targeting around where it landed with a flamestrike reticule.

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/blastwave/?action=view&current=BW_Dist_9.jpg
Conclusion, Blastwave kicks back around the radius of a Blizzard.

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/aoetest/?action=view&current=aoe_ref_blizz.jpg
From earlier tests (Moving AoE radius increase), and measuring floortiles in IF with Blink, every tile is approximately 7.5 yards (two tiles is 15 yards). So the radius of Blizzard is about 10 yards.



EDIT: Further testing:
Credit: Help from Beta Mage Frozensolid
Patch: 8970
Method: Using coordinate macros and some spiffy geometry and graphing stuff, record a base casters coordinates, and start and end points of blastwave throws, and see how far it is

Macro:

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Q u o t e:
/script posX, posY = GetPlayerMapPosition("player")

/script DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage("X = ("..posX..") Y = ("..posY..")")

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The Spread:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/graphs/blastwave.png

Shows convincingly that the direction of travel is a straight line away from the caster.



http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r120/nkthrasher/graphs/blastwave2.png

Shows that it seems the farther you are from the caster, the further you travel from your start point? More data required.

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Q u o t e:

I don't know yet if the distance you get kicked is related to how close you are to the caster, or if kicking from the very edge of the spell moves you less / more or what have you. I'll need a PvP target to confirm that with any degree of certainty.

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I just need to update my beta... I'm 77 though, will that be a problem?

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- RESEARCH POST -
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Missile Barrage Test
Patch: Beta 3.0.2 Build 8970
Target: Dr Boom

Spec: Arcane to Abar, including Netherwind Presence

Level: 70
Haste on gear: 63

Method: Cast until a Missile Barrage proc, measure cast time using a macro, compare to un-procced cast time.
Macro:

/script spell, rank, displayName, icon, startTime, endTime, isTradeSkill = UnitChannelInfo("player")

/script DEFAULT_CHAT_FRAME:AddMessage("Cast time of ("..endTime - startTime..")")

Un-procced macro returned 4536, with 63 haste and 6% from Netherwind Presence, we expect:

5 / (1.06 * (1.0 + (0.01 * (63 / 15.76)))) = 4.5356 second cast

Which confirms Netherwind Presence stacks multiplicatively with normal haste. Procced macro returned 2268, if we assume that Missile Barrage just changes the base cast time before haste:

2.5 / (1.06 * (1.0 + (0.01 * (63 / 15.76)))) = 2.2678 second cast

Therefore:

- Missile Barrage simply sets your base cast time to 2.5 seconds with a 0.5 second frequency of missiles, haste is then applied as normal.
- Netherwind Presence stacks multiplicatively with other haste effects, as normal.



Warlock AoE Caps Test
Patch: Beta 3.0.2 Build 8970
Target: Zombies from the Terrokar quest "The Dread Relic" ( http://thottbot.com/q10877 )

Spec: Deep Destro and demonic sacrifice

Level: 80
Method: Start the quest, blow up the zombies, pull extra normal mobs from the local area to make it work if needed.

Combatlog: http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/warlockaoecaps_8970/WoWCombatLog.txt
Parse Script: http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/warlockaoecaps_8970/parse.pl
Parse Script Output: http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/warlockaoecaps_8970/output.txt

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Q u o t e:
Seed of Corruption number 1 hit 28 targets for 1786 each cap calcs at 50008.
Seed of Corruption number 2 hit 28 targets for 1785 each cap calcs at 49980.
Seed of Corruption number 3 hit 28 targets for 1785 each cap calcs at 49980.
Shadowflame number 1 hit 29 targets for 224 each cap calcs at 6496.
Shadowflame number 2 hit 30 targets for 217 each cap calcs at 6510.
Shadowflame number 4 hit 28 targets for 232 each cap calcs at 6496.
Shadowflame number 6 failed to cap out at 3 targets, did 1720 extrapolated total damage.
Rain of Fire number 1 hit 29 targets for 1176 each cap calcs at 34104.
Rain of Fire number 8 hit 29 targets for 1438 each cap calcs at 41702.
Rain of Fire number 9 hit 34 targets for 1439 each cap calcs at 48926.
Rain of Fire number 11 hit 34 targets for 1439 each cap calcs at 48926.
Rain of Fire number 13 hit 37 targets for 1352 each cap calcs at 50024.
Rain of Fire number 14 hit 6 targets for 1438 each cap calcs at 8628.
Hellfire number 1 hit 29 targets for 669 each cap calcs at 19401.
Hellfire number 3 hit 29 targets for 858 each cap calcs at 24882.
Hellfire number 7 failed to cap out at 33 targets, did 26888 extrapolated total damage.
Hellfire number 10 failed to cap out at 33 targets, did 26719 extrapolated total damage.
Hellfire number 13 hit 29 targets for 858 each cap calcs at 24882.
Hellfire number 14 hit 32 targets for 782 each cap calcs at 25024.

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Insure what happened with hellfires 7 and 10, was able to get several readings consistent with 32 and 33 targets following the test.

Summary: Hellfire, Rain of Fire, and SoC follow the 25000 capped DPS structure, Shadowflame conspicuously does not.

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Q u o t e:
I just need to update my beta... I'm 77 though, will that be a problem?

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Are you going to be around late tomorrow night eastern as well? I'll likely be getting started putzing around at around 0200EST, and could definitely use assistance on it. Level is not of consequence, just need someone to either stand still and blastwave me, or get blastwaved and record data to pass to me.

Anything everyone wants to know right here!
P.s. Zal's amazing.

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Q u o t e:
Anything everyone wants to know right here!
P.s. Zal's amazing.

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Well, not quite anything... Infact.. If there is anything you would like to know, post, and I'll devise a test to show how it works.

<3, keep it up

No need to test on my account, but any word on if the "ghost hit" for frostbolt is still active in beta?

I can sometimes be something of a math geek, but poring over lines and lines of data is very tiring for me. The only request I have the moment is if at some point you, or anyone else for that matter, could synthesize the data and maybe give a breakdown in more layman's terms what talents/spells are the most efficient or worth taking. For example, this topic, http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=93940162&sid=1 although old now is pretty simple to understand but still has some detail. I'm not ragging on your work, I appreciate what you've done but this is just an addition to your work is all.

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Q u o t e:
No need to test on my account, but any word on if the "ghost hit" for frostbolt is still active in beta?

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i just tested this by mindlessly spamming 480 frostbolts for you and i am sad to inform you that it's gone!

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Q u o t e:
i just tested this by mindlessly spamming 480 frostbolts for you and i am sad to inform you that it's gone!

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SON OF A ....

thanks for testing :(

Nice Zaldinar, keep up the good work!

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Q u o t e:

And if anyone has any questions on how stuff works feel free to post them and I'll post the results of a test about it.

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can i get some math on where babies come from




/salute

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Q u o t e:
I can sometimes be something of a math geek, but poring over lines and lines of data is very tiring for me. The only request I have the moment is if at some point you, or anyone else for that matter, could synthesize the data and maybe give a breakdown in more layman's terms what talents/spells are the most efficient or worth taking. For example, this topic, http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=93940162&sid=1 although old now is pretty simple to understand but still has some detail. I'm not ragging on your work, I appreciate what you've done but this is just an addition to your work is all.

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For WotLK that will come in an updated Mage FAQ (or if Tominator updates his, we'll see). I try to stay away from making qualitative judgments like that if I can, and stick to pure research and scientific neutrality if I can at all manage it.

However, a summary of the state of LK when it is set to be released is in the cards for my plans of future posts, I'll keep your request in mind when I get to this point.

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Q u o t e:


i just tested this by mindlessly spamming 480 frostbolts for you and i am sad to inform you that it's gone!

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Did you happen to /combatlog the test by chance?

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Q u o t e:
can i get some math on where babies come from

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This may apply a very dangerous social timestamp to me, but I believe the general equation used between a male and a female (or female and male) is:

You + Me  = Us

And then it goes from there into some more complicated multiplication, I think Muphrid might be better suited for that question, it involves some Calculus ( Kudos and joint suffering for whomever can recognize that reference )

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Q u o t e:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e253/Friday31/ofghosthit.jpg

Performed my own test just a few hours ago.

Does indeed seem ghost hit is no longer with us... :'(

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Sadness. Good data collection though. Consider yourself an official credited researcher.


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- RESEARCH POST -
------------------------------

"Ghost Hit" Test
Credit: Tashre, Baelgun US
Patch: Beta 3.0.2 Build 8970
Target: Level 83 target dummies
Spec: Frost to EP
Hit Rating: 107 (4.04%)
Level: 80
Method: Cast Frostbolt on the dummy target and observe miss rate.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e253/Friday31/ofghosthit.jpg

Shows an unhappy 10% miss rate over ~1k samples. Vice 7% expected if EP still gave 6% to Frostbolt.

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- RESEARCH POST -
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Frostfirebolt + Empowered Fire Coefficient Test
Patch: Beta 3.0.2 Build 9014
Target: Target Dummies in Theramore

Spec: Fire to Empowered Fire, avoiding Firepower / Playing With Fire

Level: 80

Fire +damage: 1508
Frost +damage: 1508
FFB Tooltip Damage: 722 - 838
Method: Cast FFB until a good range based on tooltip damage output has been achieved, solve for coefficient

Combatlog: http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/ffbcoeff_9014/WoWCombatLog.txt
Parse Script: http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/ffbcoeff_9014/parse.pl
Parse Script Output: http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/ffbcoeff_9014/output.txt

---

Q u o t e:
Coefficient calculation for Frostfire Bolt

Tooltip Min: 722
Tooltip Max: 838
Plus Damage: 1508

Datapoints: 213
Min Observed: 2241
Max Observed: 2357
Expected Spread: 838 - 722 = 116
Observed Spread: 2357 - 2241 = 116

Coefficient Formula: (Observed Value - Base Value) / Plus Damage
Coefficient by Min: (2241 - 722) / 1508 = 1.00729442970822
Coefficient by Max: (2357 - 838) / 1508 = 1.00729442970822

Proposed Formula: (3 / 3.5) + 0.15 = 1.00714285714286
Delta from Min Coefficient: abs(1.00729442970822 - 1.00714285714286) = 0.000151572565365798
Delta from Max Coefficient: abs(1.00729442970822 - 1.00714285714286) = 0.000151572565365798

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- RESEARCH POST -
------------------------------

Living Bomb Coefficient Test
Patch: Beta 3.0.2 Build 9014
Target: Target Dummies in Theramore

Spec: Fire to Living Bomb, avoiding Playing with Fire and Firepower
Level: 80

Fire +damage: 1508
Method: Cast Living Bomb with and without gear

Combatlog: http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/lbcoeff_9014/WoWCombatLog.txt

Single Target Tick without +damage: 345
Single Target Tick with +damage: 647

Coefficient: (647 - 345) / 1508 = 0.20026

Kaboom without +damage: 690
Kaboom with +damage: 1233

Coefficient: (1233 - 690) / 1508 = 0.360079

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Q u o t e:
http://zaldinar.bounceme.net/research/wotlk_beta/lbcoeff_9014/WoWCombatLog.txt

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Wow, this doesn't work but others do. File isn't there.
By aoe with Blizzard per wave, what is it to per wave?

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Q u o t e:

Wow, this doesn't work but others do. File isn't there.
By aoe with Blizzard per wave, what is it to per wave?

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Hmm. Sonofa. I'll have to recreate that log file, for some reason the upload script didn't fire.


And are you refering to the AoE caps? If so, yes, each wave can do at most 25000 combined damage.