Curse

Wasteland Squidget · Oct 16, 2006, 02:10 AM // 02:10

Some of the EviL members went to other guilds, most of them left the game entirely.

The top of the ladder is pretty much the same people it was last season. There aren't any amazing up-and-coming guilds or players that I've seen.

Thom Bangalter · Oct 16, 2006, 03:22 AM // 03:22

this could arguably be a decline in the GVG world, since a lot of former top players left the game due to real life or general dissatisfaction with the game, which is disappointing.

sir lockt · Oct 16, 2006, 04:24 AM // 04:24

Ok lets alter the nature of the question a bit then

new "builds" to the top: what kind of new setups suprised you so much? Thom mentioned a quick shift in metagame. I also noticed this season is quite hex-less.

Also Koreans became rare... guess not interested in a free copy? I am sure they will be back when the "fun" season changes to "Nightfalls worldchampionship"

Another interesting response above...:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blame the monks

Another thing I think is interesting is the shifting of power since EviL disbanded. All the korean/japanese guilds seem uninterested this season and American guilds have stepped into the void, even displacing some of the euro guilds.

As of this moment, America makes up only ~28% of all guilds and yet has 3 of the top 5 (60%) and 7 of the top 10 (70%). They also have a disproportionate amount in the top 20, 50, and 100.

If euros dominate halls, perhaps america dominates gvg (post korean, anyhow)?

is america l33t now? or is it just dis-interest of the euro/korean guilds?

Wasteland Squidget · Oct 16, 2006, 05:16 AM // 05:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir lockt

Ok lets alter the nature of the question a bit then

new "builds" to the top: what kind of new setups suprised you so much? Thom mentioned a quick shift in metagame. I also noticed this season is quite hex-less.

Not at all - hex builds have been quite a force this season. Most obvious is Cow's dual-Migraine build, which they've run all season to stay at the top. There have been copies of that build floating up across all levels of the ladder.

As far as new builds, Obs Flame spike is back after a long time away, but it's really nothing that new. The only really original build I've seen recently is the occasional heavy spirit-spam team that gets its kills through degen and spread pressure. They usually set down QZ and EW, then spam Conjure Nightmare, other debilitating hexes, and damaging spirits. The pressure is more than one Heal Party can handle, and it's a difficult build to break at the stand unless you have the right tools.

I haven't seen any top 100 teams running it, and a lot of its power is not knowing how to counter it. It was interesting to see a build that could get kills through pressure without warriors though.

Thom Bangalter · Oct 16, 2006, 05:32 AM // 05:32

hex builds come and go, but every time they start to get really prominent you put purge signet and expel hexes in your build and it's free rating.

As a runner for my guild, what I've been really interested with is the x/a runner, using shadow of haste to teleport back in your base and get a huge flagging advantage. You lose the e/mo heal party spam, which you could theoretically move to the stand, but you can put anything there for your team. I've seen hex spamming mesmers, domination mesmers, and mind shock eles all doing it, and I think I saw a R/A earlier today as well.

However, I think the most interesting thing is how ritualists changed this season. We ran shelter earlier today, and it's still really good, though ritual lord isn't the staple it once was--serpent's quickness is put in it's place and you bring a different elite. Also, offensive spirits have seen some play, as shadowsong, pain, and blood song put some significant pressure at the stand. (I've always liked/hated shadowsong, liked because it truly is a blindbot, hated because it sometimes takes the place of the blindbot, which I run a lot).

The only shift in the metagame that really came about was countering obs flame spike which everyone seemed to run. It's pretty easy to beat and a pretty bad build overall, just like all spikes. Your wins come from people not finding the right counter. Coincidentally, with my guild running it heavily, It seemd the easiest map for us was frozen Isle of all places, because we just held out til vod and beat the teams then.

Dragannia · Oct 16, 2006, 06:47 AM // 06:47

Hex builds seem weaker now. Against the several hex teams we've met, the "new" 20mins VoD is what broke them. The quicker VoD means that your melee-pressure gets a big boost earlier on in the game. Usually against hex builds we just stall and roll them when VoD kicks in. Having Expel certainly helps a lot though.

Wasteland Squidget · Oct 16, 2006, 06:56 AM // 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragannia

Hex builds seem weaker now. Against the several hex teams we've met, the "new" 20mins VoD is what broke them. The quicker VoD means that your melee-pressure gets a big boost earlier on in the game. Usually against hex builds we just stall and roll them when VoD kicks in. Having Expel certainly helps a lot though.

Cow is the only group I've seen play hexes as agressively as they need to be played. They're extremely good at hunting down and disabling your Heal Party, which causes most teams to break even with good hex counters. With your warriors hexed to hell and Distortion mesmers and rangers, it can be extremely difficult to defend your Party-spammer, especially if he also needs to be running flags. Even with hex counters Cow isn't an easy team to beat.

I haven't seen anyone else play hexes in the same way though, and as a result most hex teams fold if you're carrying Expel or Purge.

Thom Bangalter · Oct 16, 2006, 07:12 AM // 07:12

That's why you should bring two heal parties.