Curse

Wasteland Squidget · Jun 12, 2006, 03:19 AM // 03:19

Watching Obs mode and looking over builds, there seem to be a lot more Trappers around lately. I've always felt that they were a decent character who's often outshined by other things, but I haven't seen them in builds much until recently.

So why the sudden increase in trapper population? Is there some change in build, tactics, or the metagame which has made trappers more viable? What are they doing now that they wouldn't have done a month ago?

saneo · Jun 12, 2006, 03:27 AM // 03:27

trappers focus, more available traps, it just makes traps a bit more annoying.

Patrograd · Jun 12, 2006, 06:52 AM // 06:52

I have always liked trappers as they have a dual purpose, good for both defence and attack. Dust trap is an awesome defensive skill if placed near your monks, as is barbed trap (any ground control skill is worth looking at in a build imo).

As to why there is a sudden resurgence, my opinion would be that the previously highly popular adrenal spike is having difficulty with ritualist spirits, and teams are looking at ways that they can make degen/pressure work, as degen completly bypasses these spirits, taking one enemy character out of the game for the most part. Trappers are extremely efficient degen machines, as well as having nice defensive utility as said.

Vanquisher · Jun 12, 2006, 07:30 AM // 07:30

Nature's Renewal.

JR · Jun 12, 2006, 11:00 AM // 11:00

I have personally always liked trappers; the same gound controll as a Warder, but with an offensive twist that can also be applied very easily to defending your backline. With the variety of snares and Warrior hate they can inflict, they are appealing. And Spike Trap is pure ownage.

General Typhus · Jun 12, 2006, 11:11 AM // 11:11

In no way is trapping equivalent ground control to wards. Wards are enduring defense whereas traps come in a burst or two and can be set aside by a simple martyr or RC.

JR · Jun 12, 2006, 11:15 AM // 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Typhus

In no way is trapping equivalent ground control to wards. Wards are enduring defense whereas traps come in a burst or two and can be set aside by a simple martyr or RC.

They are ground control, just in a different way. You run up to an opponent and lay a trap; most of the time their reaction will be to kite away from it. This allows you to influence the movement of the other team. Fill up a chokepoint with traps, suddenly it doesn't become very appealing to push through it. A snare trap can definately be compared to a Ward vs Foes; the same AoE, basicly the same effect. The difference is one causes a condition that can be removed, the other has a much higher energy cost.

Remember; this is GvG, not tombs. There is no Healing Seed, and hardly ever Martyr or RC.

General Typhus · Jun 12, 2006, 11:17 AM // 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR-

They are ground control, just in a different way. You run up to an opponent and lay a trap; most of the time their reaction will be to kite away from it. This allows you to influence the movement of the other team. Fill up a chokepoint with traps, suddenly it doesn't become very appealing to push through it.

Remember; this is GvG, not tombs. There is no Healing Seed, and hardly ever Martyr or RC.

Oh, my mistake, I didn't realize this was the GvG area. Yeah, trapping is quite a bit more effective ground control in GvG, especially with the flagstands.

Patrograd · Jun 12, 2006, 11:56 AM // 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Typhus

Yeah, trapping is quite a bit more effective ground control in GvG, especially with the flagstands.

The thing that appeals is that if you lay a spike and/or barbed trap in the kind of areas their monks will kite into, then you have made your warrior's jobs easier. If you lay a dust and/or barbed trap in an area where your monks will kite into then they have quite a bit of protection from enemy warriors. If you also throw into the mix the other kind of skills that rangers are good at bringing, such as blackout, distracting shot, or spirits and, as JR says, the ability to deny certain parts of the map to enemies, or even make them think twice about entering an area, then I think you have a strong character in certain build types and on certain maps where control of chokepoints is key to victory (jade, burning, meditation come to mind)