Alacrity and the GCD

[LB_StorM]

(12-11-2011 01:46 AM)LagunaD Wrote:  a) Alacrity reduces the GCD for cast-time abilities, or
b) The GCD for cast-time abilities *is* the cast-time (which is reduced by Alacrity)

Agreed, which would explain why LS would have a GCD of less than 1.5.

[Takira]

There seem to be three types of abilities:

a) Abilities that don't override the GCD

These are usually buffs - the force potency of the jedi consular is one example for these.

b) Abilities that override the GCD with the value of -1

Many of the player's abilities have this set - the lightning strike ability of the sith inquisitor is an example for these abilities. -1 might indicate these abilities are triggering a GCD that is not static.

c) Abilities that override the GCD with a different value

Usually found on abilities used by npcs (in particular bosses). It is probably being used to prevent npcs from performing abilities during other abilities that take a long time. One example is the missile salvo ability of the annihilation droid in the eternity vault. It has a GCD of 30 seconds and a CD of 34 seconds.

[Kaedis]

Circumstantial evidence in favor of the idea that GCD = cast time if 0 < cast time < 1.5: if you have a single point in the skill Haunted Dreams (T4 Madness Sorc), this reduces the cast time of Whirlwind

Whirlwind
Sith Inquisitor

Force: -20
Range: 30m
Activation time: 2.0 secs
Cooldown: 60 secs
Mirror: Force Lift

Traps the target in a whirlwind for 8 seconds. Damage causes this effect to end prematurely.

to 1.0 seconds. With my 0.84% alacrity, this reduces it further to 0.99 seconds. When cast, the GCD is very visibly only ~1 second long, as I can chain another spell immediately after the cast of Whirlwind.

[Spren]

I would agree Kor. I'm 50, and unfortunately out of town, but when I use various alacrity boosters on my sorc an spam LS at ~1.1 seconds its clear there is no delay between the end of cast 1 and start of cast 2.

[lostdummy]

This is not related to GCD, but it is to Alacrity:

Does alacrity influence DoTs, and how?

Some possibilities:
1) it does not
2) reduce duration
3) duration remains same, but add ticks (similar to wow)

[Kaedis]

(12-24-2011 07:17 AM)lostdummy Wrote:  This is not related to GCD, but it is to Alacrity:

Does alacrity influence DoTs, and how?

Some possibilities:
1) it does not
2) reduce duration
3) duration remains same, but add ticks (similar to wow)

This is going to be extremely difficult to test. The hardcap on Alacrity is only 30%, and it's difficult to get more than 10-15% at 50. Without a combat log to test actual tick intervals, I'm not sure this can actually be accurately tested.

[Spren]

Kor, is the 30% cap include abilities that bump it? For example the Lightning Sorcerer ability that gives you 20% Alacrity for 10 seconds. If you had 15% and used that, would it cap you at 30%?

I was going to try to mix power/alac and crit/alac stats (couldn't find a power/crit enhancement) but I don't wanna waste any either.

[Ezmode]

the 30% cap is only from Alacrity rating, and does not include talents or ability procs.

[LagunaD]

(12-24-2011 07:17 AM)lostdummy Wrote:  Does alacrity influence DoTs, and how?

Some possibilities:
1) it does not
2) reduce duration
3) duration remains same, but add ticks (similar to wow)

My money is on #1, but #3 seems easy to rule out. Affliction can be talented to have a 21-second duration (7 ticks). If you can get 15% or so from Alacrity Rating, and another 20% from the Inquisitor ability, you should certainly see more than 7 ticks if Alacrity affects the DoT.

And with video capture, you can certainly time the interval between the first and last tick well enough to test #2 (the difference would be several seconds if Alacrity is reducing the duration).

[Strobelight]

I read this whole thread. It seems to me like we know alacrity lowers the GCD on heals with an activation time but we don't know if it affects an instant cast?