Being a blogger, we often find ourselves surrounded by people just like us: Supportive, kind and eager to lend a hand when absolutely, positively needed. The flip side to that is that we’re frequently tagged by memes as has happened to me by a certain warlock (yay!) of the affliction spec (boo!). So without further ado, here we go with Arrens’ DPS survey.

What is the name, class, and spec of your primary dps?Arrens, human warlock, Demonology and Arrens, undead rogue, Subtlety

What is your primary dpsing environment? (i.e. raids, pvp, 5 mans)Both spend most of their time doing PvP or arenas, though doing solo things like dailies or farming is where the bulk of my non-RP time is spent. It should be noted for the record that my warlock switches to a Destruction PvP spec when flagged. Sadly, his felguard isn’t around. The voidwalker, however, is.

What dps spell do you use least for your class and why? My warlock is a Shadowbolt spammer after the CoA, Corruption, Immolate rotation is down. Then it’s a matter of tossing SB around until a dot refresh is needed. My rogue is a Hemorrhage spammer, keeping Slice & Dice up and doing the odd Eviscerate as combo points are acquired.

What do you feel is the biggest strength of your dps class and why? Warlocks have cookies. I mean, really. If that alone isn’t reason to want a warlock in your group, you’re insane. They also do crazy amounts of damage. So do rogues, but my chosen spec doesn’t typically lend itself to good PvE utility, which is why I spend any time on him doing battleground or world PvP.

What do you feel is the biggest weakness of your dps class and why? I don’t feel there is a huge weakness with warlocks aside from their squishiness. A well-played warlock, particularly of the Demonology variety, can hold their own and off-tank most trash long enough for a tank to come by and pick up the mob that’s beating on the healer.
As for the rogue, his biggest weakness is energy regen. If what the devs at Blizzcon talked about comes to pass in Cataclysm, this might be a completely different story. But for now, that’s my biggest gripe with the spec.

In a 25 man raiding environment, what do you feel, in general, is the best dps assignment for you? For the ‘lock, I can switch targets easily enough if need be. Being a ranged DPS, I can stand back and toss dots and bolts as the needs change. For the rogue, however, as a melee DPSer, the less running between mobs I have to do, the better off I’m going to be and the more damage I’m going to do.

What dps class do you enjoy dpsing with most and why? The warlock loves elemental shammies and boomkins. Conversely, the rogue prefers enhancement shammiesand kitty/bear druids. Extra damage buffs? Yes, please!

What tanking class do you enjoy dpsing with least and why? The warlock doesn’t care too much for warrior tanks unless they use Commanding Shout for an increase to my health pool which is directly related to my mana pool via Life Tap. The rogue, however? He doesn’t get a whole lot of love from Pallys except Blessing of Fists. I prefer a good bear tank for the static 5% crit increase.

What is your worst habit as a dps? Worst habit? Oh, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad thing to soulshatter or vanish next to a priest when I’ve got aggro and a wipe is imminent. Would you?

What is your biggest pet peeve in a group environment while dpsing? Spamming Recount after Every. Single. Boss fight. Seriously. Stop that shit. Save your epeen for later when you can whisper someone that gives a damn. I have my own version, thanks. I can see how I compare to others. I don’t need you to tell me. Repeatedly. Asshat.

Do you feel that your class/spec is well balanced with other dps? The warlock? Absolutely. The rogue? Less so. Subtlety is and always has been a primarily PvP-based spec, but I find it so much fun to play and dislike Assassination and Combat so much that I don’t want to change. As a result, I have been given the ignominious heave-ho from many a PUG when inspected. Such is the life of someone who plays how they want and doesn’t min/max, I suppose.

What tools do you use to evaluate your own performance as a damage dealer? As I said, I use Recount to see how I’ve compared against others in my group. That said, if the boss is lying on the floor and giving us his shiny loot, that in and of itself is a pretty decent evaluation on our performance as a whole as far as I’m concerned.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about your class? That warlocks have any kind of good buff to give in a raid environment. True story: In Burning Crusade, I was in a Shadow Labs PUG with a mage who asked me for a Fortitude buff. I said, “I’m a warlock, chief. Here, have Unending Breath. Go nuts.” Then I left the group because the other folks were equally as dumb.

What do you feel is the most difficult thing for new dpsers of your class to learn? Timing the dot refreshes is hard. (No, it’s not really. It just requires paying a little attention.)

What dps class do you feel you understand least? Shaman of any persuasion. Those dudes confuse me, but I love grouping with them.

What add-ons or macros do you use, if any, to aid you in dps? Recount and Omen are useful tools. Necrosis used to be, but it ended up bugging me for one reason or another. Nowadays, I just do my own thing and still do enough damage to not be a bottom-feeding scrub…unless I get called upon for a VoA-25 run with everyone else kitted out in Uld-25 or ToC gear…

Strength over other stats or balanced stat allocation, and why? I’m of the persuasion that balance is needed. If I have enough spellpower to burn a hole through someone just by looking at them, but don’t have enough mana to do it twice in a row, that seems silly to me. Or if I have the attack power to punch my fist through a wall but don’t have the hit rating to actually hit the wall, it sort of defeats the purpose. Balance is key, folks.

That’s it. I’m not tagging anyone else unless they want to be tagged. In which case, go for it and leave a comment saying “Hey, you tagged me and you didn’t even know it!” In which case, I’ll go ahead and read it and chortle at my anonymous tagging of you.