Curse

Orinn · Jun 06, 2007, 04:18 PM // 16:18

Metagaming is anything that can affect the match that goes on outside the parameters of the match. Technically, selecting a build is metagaming, because you do it with certain expectations of what you will be facing, and what counters you will need/what counters you can expect.

The metagame shifts constantly, evolving into a very complex thing. The very top-tier players know the ins and outs, the good players know at least the most common variants, while lower-tier players might not even recognize it for what it is (even the most obtuse player plays it a bit, though)

Unfortunately, the metagame ALSO encompasses changes to the game itself. Every time there is a skill balance, the metagame shifts to accomodate the new relative power of builds. On certain other forums, some people have taken to calling for nerfs constantly, because if they can convince ANet to change a skill, they have successfully changed a portion of the metagame to benefit themselves.

In theory, everything that a player does that is not part of a match, but is related to PvP, is a part of the metagame. From watching countless hours of observer mode, to reading the forums for insights, talking with friends, testing and retesting builds, practicing, none of them a PART of the match, but any one can be the determining factor in whether a match is won or lost.

As another definition, playing the ladder can be metagaming: staying just low enough to be a threat, while being able to avoid climbers who might challenge you for an important match. Playing the ladder to manipulate your win/loss record, or to manipulate your standing on the ladder, is metagaming. It's akin to a top-ranked team in pro sports playing the lower-ranked teams over and over with no other purpose than to inflate their win percentage. Playing certain matches and avoiding others is metagaming: playing the game outside the game.

linh · Jun 06, 2007, 04:19 PM // 16:19

http://www.answers.com/metagame?method=24

Wildi · Jun 06, 2007, 05:59 PM // 17:59

pve is the metagame

minor · Jun 07, 2007, 01:27 AM // 01:27

to try and summarize it briefly. The meta game refers to what is likely to be seen, or played in a particular battle, in guild wars this usually means gvg. Right now hexes are the meta, meaning a lot of people run them and you better bring counters for it. Once upon a time hexes were not so meta so teams didn't bring as many counters.
EP was the number one guild for a long time way back when before they left GW. They were quoted as saying "We are the meta." Which was somewhat true, since if a team everyone knows is good uses a build its suddenly run by everyone else in week. Ok not everyone else, but you can expect to see a lot of it.
And a 55 is the meta in UW ecto farming.

Kool Pajamas · Jun 07, 2007, 06:57 AM // 06:57

I know everybody has pretty much covered it but I'll cover it too.

Metagame is the most common type of build being run. Also the most common strategies could be part of the meta too which is usually part of the build. Like splitting, ganking that type of stuff.

Cebe · Jun 07, 2007, 07:18 AM // 07:18

Thanks all for your responses, it's cleared it up somewhat.

Thomas.knbk · Jun 07, 2007, 08:15 AM // 08:15

hexes and pve

Lord Mendes · Jun 07, 2007, 01:06 PM // 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxBat

GW wasn't meant to be a game consisting solely of gale warriors, boon prots, esurge mesmers, prodigy runners, and nothing else. Even if thats what you had the most fun with. Get over it!!!

That was when I believe gw was at it's PvP prime. I don't care about what it was meant to be, I care about what is best.

Saphatorael · Jun 07, 2007, 01:25 PM // 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestial Beaver

Thanks all for your responses, it's cleared it up somewhat.

Have you unlocked Heroes' Ascent yet (asked you quite a while ago ^^)?

If so, just stand in International 1, there usually are quite alot of people asking for the same players (LoD monks, RC Prots, SF Ele's, Shadow Prison sins), easily showing what meta is, which I would define as 'the most common build used because of its effectiveness in its field of play'.

It sometimes 'shifts' when people go in against the metagame, by playing an effective build against it, sometimes even creating a new metagame. Then the process repeats itself when people are making up builds against the newer meta.
Obvious example of this is in pre-Factions HA, also known by the veterans as Tomb of Primeval Kings, namely the 'smite teams (E/Mo smiters who abused Ether Renewal before it got 'fixed'), who ran into the infamous IWAY teams.

EDIT: Sometimes, ANet influences the used skillsets to affect the meta. At a certain moment, you saw almost nothing but 'bunny thumpers' (R/W with a hammer and a pet) in HA, supported by smiters. ANet lengthened the recharge of Irresistible Blow, and lowered the duration and recharge of Rampage As One.
Another example would be the aforementioned Ether Renewal 'fix', the Air of Enchantment minimum Energy cost, or the fact that Zealot's Fire drains 1 energy each time you cast a spell to slightly reduce the synergy between AoE and ZF.

lacasner · Jun 07, 2007, 01:28 PM // 13:28

Quote:

Games like guildwars and M:tG will always have a meta, because there will always be types of builds that work better than others. Even if the skills are completely balanced the meta would be a "balanced" meta, with balanced builds being the most common and effective builds.

How is this so, if the skills were completely balanced people could take varieties of builds. People don't just run spikes just because they are overpowered, some people genuinely like them

Cebe · Jun 07, 2007, 02:00 PM // 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saphatorael

Have you unlocked Heroes' Ascent yet (asked you quite a while ago ^^)?

No, still not yet....I've unlocked Team Arenas...I think I need a Pro to help me unlock HA..

Mr. G · Jun 07, 2007, 02:08 PM // 14:08

Quote:

No, still not yet....I've unlocked Team Arenas...I think I need a Pro to help me unlock HA..

aww really? =[

if you ever need any help simply ask

Gawayne · Jun 07, 2007, 04:36 PM // 16:36

I don't really understand why people complain so much about Guild Wars balancing. If you ever played another mmo with PvP you'll know that Guild Wars is like the MMO PVP Balancing Heaven.

There's absolutely in no given time a build that can WTFPWN any other build without breaking a sweat, this is good balancing. We'll always have builds that are better than others, and we'll always be too lazy to crack our skulls thinking for days or even weeks just to come up with an original build that's better, so we'll just copy that nice little build the guys from TOP-10 are using, maybe tweak a little, maybe not. Then, after 90% of the serve is running that build for some months comes A-Net and nerf it, forcing us to create another best build, and then the community will just borrow those best builds again and it keeps going and going. It's not Guild Wars that's umbalanced, is the human being that's lazy or just don't have the time to spend on a game.

Of course the GW balancing isn't perfect, but nothing is. A-Net is always trying to keep it the more balanced as possible. Perfect balance is something that doesn't exist and will never exist, and i'm not talking only about GW.

The skills and the balancing of Guild Wars is what keeps it going. You can have THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of builds, and they just keep coming and coming, the cookie cutter build of yesterday isn't the one of today. You'll see combos and team-builds that, even after two years playing, you never ever tought about, even after two years you still can find completely new builds that uses only Prophecies Skills and works very well. Jesus, you don't see THAT in absolutely ANY other MMO out there.

So, i think i should say "Thank you metagame. You give me everyday a different reason to play this game.".

Altough i don't think the OP was criticizing the Metagame, she just wanted to understand it better.