MMO Friday Fight Round 9: Meta Builds Vs The DIY Character | MMORPG.com

Comments

• Angrakhan Member EpicPosts: 1,869

  January 4 edited January 4

  I don't think DIY and wanting an effective build are mutually exclusive. I often do a DIY build but with the goal of it being highly effective. I don't necessarily buy the fact that the person who put together some build guide explored every permutation of the build and there might be something as or more viable available. It may also come down to play style such as sure the meta build may squeak out a little more dps than mine but it requires a really complicated rotation that manages several cool downs but mine is 99% as effective but is easier to play and play consistently in a variety of situations than just the picture perfect tank-n-spank boss fights where I can run my picture perfect rotation without any interruption.

  
• Scot Member LegendaryPosts: 24,481

  January 4

  I think we need "corpse run" or "no corpse run" next time, no way better to engage the modern MMO audience than with something they do not have a clue about.
• Splattr Member RarePosts: 580

  January 4

  
  

  Angrakhan said:

  
  

  I don't think DIY and wanting an effective build are mutually exclusive. I often do a DIY build but with the goal of it being highly effective. I don't necessarily buy the fact that the person who put together some build guide explored every permutation of the build and there might be something as or more viable available. It may also come down to play style such as sure the meta build may squeak out a little more dps than mine but it requires a really complicated rotation that manages several cool downs but mine is 99% as effective but is easier to play and play consistently in a variety of situations than just the picture perfect tank-n-spank boss fights where I can run my picture perfect rotation without any interruption.

  
  

  
  
  I totally agree. I've gone down the wrong path many times with a DIY build and had to do a major respec, but I've also been able to make some competent builds. And I bet you are right that many players would do better creating their own playable build instead of trying to match a meta build that they, 1, don't ever get all of the gear needed and 2, they never become 100% proficient with the skill rotation.

  
• Splattr Member RarePosts: 580

  January 4

  
  

  Scot said:

  
  

  I think we need "corpse run" or "no corpse run" next time, no way better to engage the modern MMO audience than with something they do not have a clue about.

  
  

  
  
  I'll add it to the list!
• ValdemarJ Member RarePosts: 1,441

  January 4

  Splattr said:

  
  

  Angrakhan said:

  
  

  I don't think DIY and wanting an effective build are mutually exclusive. I often do a DIY build but with the goal of it being highly effective. I don't necessarily buy the fact that the person who put together some build guide explored every permutation of the build and there might be something as or more viable available. It may also come down to play style such as sure the meta build may squeak out a little more dps than mine but it requires a really complicated rotation that manages several cool downs but mine is 99% as effective but is easier to play and play consistently in a variety of situations than just the picture perfect tank-n-spank boss fights where I can run my picture perfect rotation without any interruption.

  
  

  
  
  I totally agree. I've gone down the wrong path many times with a DIY build and had to do a major respec, but I've also been able to make some competent builds. And I bet you are right that many players would do better creating their own playable build instead of trying to match a meta build that they, 1, don't ever get all of the gear needed and 2, they never become 100% proficient with the skill rotation.

  
  

  In most games with viable min-maxing, there are competent people, who do math and testing, that provide excellent builds. Those streamers tend to stand out in a community.

  
  

  In my opinion, DIY builds help players learn mechanics and understand why certain build strategies work and don't. I feel like most players who do learn mechanics can absolutely make viable successful builds.

  
  

  My strategy is to try and DIY and learn at first, then watch videos and compare what I'm doing to theirs and make adjustments where it makes sense. A lot of build guides assume a play style or strategy that I'm not comfortable using so using a hybrid approach works well for me.
  

  

  Bring back the Naked Chicken Chalupa!
  
• Neoyoshi Member RarePosts: 1,502

  January 4

  I fall somewhere in the middle; for some games, I'll rely on guides or find a meta build, but for others, I'll go my own way.
  
  The best games I've played are the ones that allow me to go crazy and construct my own route to success.
  

  
  
  Fishing on Gilgamesh since 2013
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• Digdugger Newbie CommonPosts: 9

  January 5

  I only enjoy DIY.  I've definitely had to recover from mistakes, but I view it like exploring the map.  I find it fun to choose my own adventure even with mistakes.   I've even cursed the gods!  Better than being a drone to the almighty meta. 

  
• Gamer9999 Newbie CommonPosts: 10

  January 5

  For me, it depends on the complexity of the build system, my understanding (or lack) of that system and how easy/hard it is to respec.
  
  I never follow meta builds exactly as detailed by the build creator. What I typically do when trying to get a handle on a build system new to me is read or watch many guides abut the class/build I'm interested in and pick what makes sense to me.
  
  I use that to get my feet wet and when I know what I'm doing, I'll do my own thing
  
  In games with punishing respec systems (thankfully fewer of those around these days) this often means restarting multiple times until I'm happy with my 18th character.
  
  So I guess I'm a meta follower while learning and DIY when I feel like I know what I'm doing.
  
  
• olepi Member EpicPosts: 3,078

  January 5

  It depends on what kind of game it is. For most MMO's and RPG's, any decent build is good enough to have fun with. I'll try out several classes and pick the one that appeals to me, likely by the way it looks and feels as much as how effective it is.
  
  I'll probably make several characters, one for attacking, a healer, crowd control, etc. I especially like "jack of all trades" support roles.
  
  If you have to have a specific build to get invited to teams or to be effective in PvP, I probably won't play that game; the 'R' in MMORPG is role-playing and I want to pick my role for myself.

  

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  2025: 48 years on the Net.
  

  
  
• Splattr Member RarePosts: 580

  January 7

  
  

  Digdugger said:

  
  

  I only enjoy DIY.  I've definitely had to recover from mistakes, but I view it like exploring the map.  I find it fun to choose my own adventure even with mistakes.   I've even cursed the gods!  Better than being a drone to the almighty meta. 

  
  

  
  
  I find that many of the mistakes I have made were due to me misunderstanding how a specific mechanic works or how one skill interacts with other abilities.