I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm no master of resource management but I do have a decent idea of how my NB performed prior to 1.6. What I did worked for me. I wouldn't make a highlight reel, but I got the job done. My build and tactics were never meant for fighting a resource sustain type fight. It was hit big, hit fast and get out. The first thing that stands out to me is that fact that I can't keep stamina up anymore for a single rotation if it included any sneaking beforehand, or blocking during. About a week before 1.6 went live I started using 2h instead of DW to see how I liked Rally. Well I loved it. So my rotation became one consisting of Focused Aim, Rally (started with Ambush but since the change it just uses too much stamina), Critical Rush, Magnum Shot, Rush, Shot weaving in light attacks and so on until I could begin using Executioner or I needed to bail out. I use tri-pots extensively, well, all pots good in PvP really including detection, invisibility, and some for crit and stamina regen when needed.

My equipment is all legendary, 5 Hunding, Shadow Walker jewelry and 3 pieces of Nightshade for the sneak reduction. I have the first Legerdemain passive, 5.3% stamina recovery from the Lover and stamina reduction glyphs on two pieces of jewelry. I decided to try out 24k stamina when 1.6 dropped for no other reason than it seemed about the right proportion for what I wanted in hits and magicka.

What I've come to enjoy is being a gankers. Vampires are my main dish. Camouflage Hunter was almost always up (a stamina skill used before every fight). I like to cut off reinforcements. Get them to waste time with me or kill them outright. I'm good at kiting so I was very effective at killing someone and getting out or staying out of harms way and knowing when to bug out. I can play "in your face" but it's not my style really. I just mention this for full disclosure here. I did work on it more though since I changed to 2h. My main style in DW was Flying Blade so then I didn't have to get in too close. I did try it again just to copy exactly how I played prior to 1.6 just for an apples to apples comparison. The stamina cost of everything is just too high.

So my point is, I gave it a good shot at reducing stamina the best I could. I will add though that I'm not great at getting in a heavy attack in solo PvP. I've never seen this as a viable method of resource management because it's just too slow. I don't think this is the root of the problem though.

So what is the problem? I have no idea. Are my passives working? Is the new sneak cost too high? Is the new block cost too high for non shield users? No clue. I'm going completely off of feel here. What I did before, I cannot do now. I don't think that is a good way to change a game. I knew I'd have to update my build but this has taken me out of my game completely.

Are others experiencing the same or similar? Thanks for reading!