- no reason to have "preferably" over 400 haste. The "soft cap" is like 341, so anything above that is good enough. It's the softcap because at that point you can get 2 full MF rotations in-between MBs. Of course, pending DoT refreshing etc, it's not often that you just spam MF between two MBs, but it does happen enough to make it worthwhile. If you have 4pc t8 it's even less of a problem. The extra haste beyond the softcap just means you can get that extra spell in faster while MB is off CD (like if you need to MF, VT, SWD). Regardless of that though, crit is more worthwhile than haste for dps. Albeit an RNG stat, it's still mathematically proven to be better. Some people argue that since you move so much in some encounters that haste will help you get more dmg in before you have to move again. I say bullshit. The only boss that is truly like that is hodir, but crit is stupidly amazing on hodir, so fuck haste and stack crit for hodir. If you move too much then you just need to learn how to stand still better without jeopardizing the raid.
- to start your rotation, try giving it one of these: VT, DP, MB, MF. Getting that MB in there is more dps than MF3 to SWP to MB. You never want your hardest hitting spell to sit off CD that long, even in the beginning of a fight. Sure, you'll get one extra "stack that doesn't stack" of shadow weaving, but trust me, it's better dps.
- in addition to the point above, don't get into a habbit of always opening with VE. There are some fights where having VE up right away is a waste of a full opening GCD. XT is a perfect example. Wait until your first "dead time" where you would normally place a SWD in order to prevent wasting GCD time. Well instead of using SWD, just throw your VE on the boss then (for XT this even has more benefit which I'll let you figure out on your own if you want). If, somehow, your haste is at a certain value or something and you don't get one of those "dead times" before the first earthquake tremor aoe thing.. then just waste a GCD on VE. This won't happen, though, trust me.
- you didn't post your spec because you posted that you use the "basic" spriest spec. Well, IMHO you should consider how every single encounter in ulduar plays out (EXCEPT general HM, whole different spec for that bro). Think about the last time you were actually threatened of running OOM. Now think about why you have those points put into the talent that reduces mana cost by like 5% of some spells. Now consider what would be better, always having over 40% of your mana, or healing yourself (and the party) by a bit more with VE. TLDR: in ulduar, i believe it's more beneficial to have points in imp VE for survivability and utility, than whatever the fucking talent is that reduces mana cost of MB and some other spells by like 5%. (focused mind)
But yea, you definitely seem to know what's up, and a shadow priest is MUCH needed. Just wanted to give you a few things to consider, things that are kind of "more advanced" tactics that almost all non-pro shadow priests ignore. It really separates good from great.
Regardless, a new shadow priest means I won't feel bad for being the last raiding shadow priest to sort of step back from raiding (even though I never applied to be a core raider in the first place
). When I finally can raid again, and if there is room, I can't wait to raid with you!Fuck this turned into a TLDR. Sorry.
edit: focused mind is the name of the talent you could drop a point (or two) in for imp VE.