Caveat Emptor:

Please note, the following discussion and associated pic are not intended to represent optimum spell sequences. For example, the paladin is not using a 969 sequence, the druid is not taking Eclipse procs into account, etc. These types of optimizations are endlessly (sometime beneficially) debated on forums like www.elitistjerks.com and are best pursued there. The topic of this post is how to make the best use of the wonderful Rotation Editor provided by GCP. Let's contain discussion to this topic.

Background:

I've been having a heck of time trying to use complicated mixed-team DPS rotations effectively in GCP's rotations, for example:

1. GCP is not designed for timed button smashing (x-taps/sec), so the methods I used pre-GCP are not appropriate.
2. Watching the cast bars and pressing the Rotation button - when any one of my toons has completed casting (per key tap) - requires too much concentration (for me) on the cast bars, reducing my effectiveness in my tanking duties, off-tank setups, pet manipulation, dealing with debuffs, etc. This also results in some team members skipping casts and/or red (failed) cast bars. Also, I'm simply not talented enough to handle tapping a key, then reacting to the need to tap that key again a fraction of a second later, my reaction times are just not that quick (yes, I know, I'm like totally fail!, and stuff. If you're 14 and still have near instantaneous reaction times, while concurrently multi-tasking tanking, off-tanking, debuffs, pets, etc., then paint me green with envy and feel free to skip this post *grin*).
3. Watching the cast bars and pressing the Rotation button – when all of my toons have completed their casting (per key tap) – resulted in a fairly significant lowering of overall DPS when compared to the standard macro-based /click, /castsequence, bunch-o-commas methodology (at least until Blizz nerfs all over it like they did /castrandom). This did help with overall team logistics though, requiring much less concentration on the cast bars, thus allowing more of my (rather limited) brain power to be devoted to combat logistics.

Resolution:

I decided to experiment with the “Space (x)” feature provided by the Rotations Editor. This concept involves arranging columns of spells across all toons, thus aligning the spells with key presses.

This alignment results in several benefits:

1. Significantly reduces the need to concentrate on the cast bars, thus allowing more time for dealing with combat logistics
2. Eliminates red (failed) cast bars (assuming you stick to your alignment timing)
3. Doesn't rely on split second reaction times
4. Better overall team DPS (close to, but still just a little short of, /click, /castsequence, bunch-o-commas methods). If you require absolute optimal DPS, you'll likely need to integrate standard macro-based /click sequences into GCP.
5. Allows better management of non-rotation based actions; CC, cleansing, off-tank, etc. You can perform impromptu actions and then easily return to your normal casting rotation.

How to:

Adding a “Space(x)” is much like adding a spell. You click on a toon's name and the list-o-spells pops up. However, instead of selecting a spell, you just click OK (or Cancel) and another pop-up will appear. Enter the amount of space you want to add (in seconds) and click OK. The Rotations Editor will then convert this to milliseconds (1.5sec = 1500) and insert that amount of time into the rotation for that toon.

Repeat the process until you've aligned all the spells into columns representing a fairly consistent button tap timing. The button tap timing with likely still vary a little bit, but that's ok, because you will have eliminated the need for split second reaction times.

Determining Effects of “Haste”:

Please note that haste buffs, talents, trinkets, etc. will (sometimes significantly) alter your cool-down timings. As you gain levels, buffs, trinkets, etc., you'll probably need to revise your “Space(x)” setup from time to time. To determine how much of an effect this has, perform the following experiment:

• Login you team with GCP. Un-Buff your team completely (except 100% uptime buffs) and make sure no trinkets have been clicked, no potions consumed, no totems, etc.
• Enter broadcast mode (default ctrl+enter)
• Type /gcp export
• Type /rl
• In the GCP utility window, click the “Spells” button
• Click the “Import” button.
• Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the “C:\GameCommanderPro\<team name>” folder.
• Make a copy of the “GCP_Spells.txt” file, naming the copy something like “Before.txt”
• Now go back to your toons in GCP and buff up everything (especially haste buffs), click all trinkets, have shaman drop haste totems, etc. Get all your toons as hasted as possible.
• Quickly, enter broadcast mode (default ctrl+enter).
• Type /gcp export
• Type /rl
• In the GCP utility window, click the “Spells” button
• Click the “Import” button.
• Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the “C:\GameCommanderPro\<team name>” folder.
• Make a copy of the “GCP_Spells.txt” file, naming the copy something like “After.txt”
• Open both the “Before.txt” and “After.txt” using a text editor (Notepad works fine)
• Browse through the files to find the spells you use. The number on each line represents (after casting that spell) the amount of time required (in milliseconds) before you can cast another spell with that toon. This number is based on either the GCD, Spell CD or Spell Cast-Time as appropriate for the spell.
• You'll notice that for some of the spells in the “After.txt” file, the cool-down is smaller than in the “Before.txt” file (sometimes significantly).
• Also note, many of the numbers (even in the “Before.txt” file) will be smaller than the default numbers shown in a spell's “Tool-Tip” due to talent, class, party, etc. benefits.

Dealing with “Haste” issues:

Ok Zwipple, that's errr, an interesting experiment and all, but how does it affect rotation timing?

Glad you asked. If you've created your “Space(x)” based column alignment using maximum (buff, trinket, totem, etc.) haste, and then drop/forget a haste buff, all the work you put into that perfect timing will be shot all to, um, heck. This is because if you loose a bit of haste, some of the cool-downs between spell casts will take longer than you've allowed, and your columns will no longer be in correct alignment, thus negating the whole point of going through all the trouble of aligning your spells into columns.

Ack! Now what do I do? From my experimentation, I've found it best to base my column alignment on my toons having no temp buffs, totems, trinkets, etc. Use only 100% uptime buffs, talents, class, and party granted haste numbers from the “Before.txt” file. Of course if you find that you never drop/forget buffs and trinkets, then by all means use the smallest numbers from the “After.txt” file for maximum DPS.

Ok Zwipple, I've decided on what cool-down numbers to use, now what? Notice in the list-o-spells there is a “Duration” entry field. Make sure that number matches your desired cool-down time. If it already matches, leave it alone and continue on. If not, type in your desired number and click the “Update” button, then add your spell. Note that this will change the numbers in the “GCP_Spells.txt” file, so if you execute another /gcp export, /rl, “import” at some time in the future, you'll need to reset your desired numbers.

Conclusion:

Welp, there you go. I've you're having troubles with GCP rotations (lower than expected overall/toon DPS, skipped/failed casts, can't react fast enough), then give this a try, it may help.

Enjoy!

Zwipple