Ideas for Fixing Deception Assassin PVE DPS/Complexity/Rotation

Fixing Deception PVE:





One of the problems with assassins is that it feels a bit too random. It is very difficult to memorize ANY part of the rotation without staring at your bars. This isn't necessarily a problem, but the randomness, I'm sure, adds a layer of difficulty to balance, along with making it harder for beginners to understand the class. My intention is that these changes would have net virtually no effect on PvP, although that's not up to me to say and I'm sure Bioware would have to get the details.



I'm not really trying to make it easier, so much as more regular.



So, with my proposed changes, this is what our priority system would look like:



1. Discharge

2. Maul

3. Low Slash

4. Assassinate

5. (Spike when stealthed, although personally Id prefer if its damage was low enough to not be worth using in PVE)

6. Shock (2x Voltage)

7. Voltaic Slash



Here's why this priority system would make the class feel more fluid and logical. Single-target DPS fix





The class would become much more regular. Use discharge if you can, do what you can to get a duplicity maul, otherwise VS, VS --> Shock.



I would propose accomplishing this by changing the Voltaic Slash trait. 2 stacks of voltage from Voltaic Slash now resets the cool-down on Shock. Voltage is consumed in the process.



This means that, as a basis, the normal assassin rotation will be Voltaic Slash x 2  Shock. Lower the damage of shock accordingly and make it only worth casting with 2x VS. You don't have to look at your bar, you know based on feel that the cool-down on Shock has been reset when you use your 2x Voltaic Slash.



However, the damage lost from Shock will be added to low slash and duplicity, which will become the HIT THIS EVERY TIME YOU CAN buttons. Damage numbers for all of the items in the priority listing would have to be tweaked to make that the priority to follow.



So the Deception Assassin will follow a r VS, VS  Shock, but will intersperse mauls whenever possible.



Another option is to change the Voltaic Slash talent and remove voltage as a proc. Instead, add Induction now additionally. And add the normal effect of voltage. This just removes one less buff from the assassins bar to have to be staring at by combining them into one. Would be a tiny buff since it would now proc off of other things.



AoE Fix:

Duplicity now applies to lacerate. However, when lacerate is used with duplicity, 50% of its damage is applied as a stacking DoT over 10 seconds.