ASTM D7189 is the specification that auto makers use to determine the mileage of a vehicle, which is then conveniently placed on the above sticker for would-be auto shoppers. You are probably asking yourself what this has to do with WoW Hunters.
THL DPS Spreadsheet, and Shandara’s spreadsheet too, are just like ASTM D7189. Now I’m not going to bore you with the intricate details of ASTM D7189, but I will tell you it is a great read right after lunch time as you are preparing for your afternoon nap. I will also tell you that it is a standard, like any other standard, meant to define a consistent set of conditions to be used in comparison of an unknown variable.
The key word there is comparison. The standard defines a scientific method to maintain a controlled environment so the only variable left is gas mileage. The answer obtained by testing per the spec may not be the mileage the end-user of the vehicle may achieve in harsh stop-n-go driving, but relatively speaking the driver will get more or less mileage depending on how well the car performs against the standard.
Replace “mileage” above with “DPS” and you now understand how the hunter DPS spreadsheets work. The DPS spreadsheets are a simulation of best case scenarios that allow a 1-for-1 comparison of gear, talents, pets, buffs, and shot rotations. The spreadsheets maintain the constant so the only variable left is DPS. This may not be the actual DPS recorded by the end-user in game, but it provides a relative comparison of the above mentioned controls.
If we keep the spreadsheet exactly the same, then any change in gear or buffs you select would always generate the same DPS difference and you would be 100% guaranteed of a DPS increase or decrease in in-game performance. The difference in DPS may not be the same value as shown on the spreadsheet, but if the spreadsheet said it was a DPS gain, you would have a DPS gain in-game. The problem is that Blizzard changes things and there is a complex interaction of stats that must be accurately simulated. If the relationship is modeled wrong in the spreadsheet, what may appear as a DPS increase theoretically could result in a DPS loss in-game. (This interaction is most notable with raid buffs.)
We take great pride at The Hunting Lodge to make sure our spreadsheet is very close to actual in-game DPS numbers for situations that meet theoretical best. In other words, tank-n-spank fights like Patchwerk or even a target dummy. Comparing base stat calculations against armory paperdoll is one way we verify spreadsheet accuracy. The other way is through Recount or WWS reports. No, we can’t model every boss fight. No, we can’t create options to simulate every boss fight. No, we can’t guarantee 100% accuracy. We are only human and WoW is a complex game that is constantly being changed, often without public announcement. But, we are always striving for additional methods, settings, and tweaks to imitate as many encounters as possible to give you the most accurate representation possible. If the spreadsheet states a certain piece of gear is an upgrade, there is a high level of confidence that it truly is.
Yes, errors happen. But there are many great users of the spreadsheet providing feedback to the developers. The Hunting Lodge even has a dedicated forum for discussing ways to improve the spreadsheet. Is it the end-all be-all of min/maxing? Of course not, but it is an important piece to that puzzle.
