Curse

tigros · Mar 03, 2008, 08:37 AM // 08:37

Thinking that a lot of people are arguing for "balanced" GvG vs all the gimmicks that see play lately, I would like to gather a repository of "balanced" team builds that people think should be the "standard" for GvG play. I know that there is a thread directory related to GvG builds, but I was thinking that since we're talking balance here, we might draw a general framework to what people would like balanced to look like.

When I am referring to balanced team builds I mean builds that can make it successfully in the current metagame or even any metagame that doesn't favor any strategy more than another (i.e. team builds that can do 8v8, split, flag running, etc). To keep discussion simpler, let's assume that we don't build for a specific map (although if people want, you can factor that detail into your builds as well).

If we get a good repository of "balanced team builds", this could be a great resource for new players wanting to experiment GvG and wanting to know what this balanced idea is all about, as well as give more experienced players food for thought related to builds and who uses them.

If you have anything to change related to someone's team build, please make your own version of the "proper" team build and post it in a message. If you have comments like: "I like this" or "I don't like this" please leave them out of this thread and keep them for yourself, to reduce the clutter as much as possible. If we do this exercise, let's keep it at posting only team builds and the argumentation behind them, and not comments to other people builds (moderators, please see that this simple rule is followed). If you think this thread belongs someplace else, feel free to move it there.

Thank you.

moko · Mar 03, 2008, 08:57 AM // 08:57

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10135810

tigros · Mar 03, 2008, 09:05 AM // 09:05

I will post a "balanced" team build just to standardize a simple format (it's just an exercise of a balanced team build in my opinion).

Frontline:
W/E (shock axe): Bull's Strike, Eviscerate [E], Executioner's Strike, Disrupting Chop, Shock, Frenzy, Rush, Resurrection Signet (14 axe, 13 str, 3 air)
D/Rt (balthazar): Chilling Victory, Pious Assault, Eremite's Attack, Grenth's Aura, Attacker's Insight, Pious Fury, Avatar of Balthazar [E], Death's Pact Signet (14 scythe, 12 mysticism, 6 wind)

Midline:
Me/E (energy surge): Energy Surge [E], Energy Burn, Diversion, Power Leak, Power Drain, Shatter Enchantment, Ward against Melee, Glyph of Lesser Energy (14 dom, 10 fast cast, 10 earth, 2 insp)
E/D (mind blast): Mind Blast [E], Immolate, Blinding Flash, Rodgort's Invocation, Gale, Mystic Regeneration, Flame Djinn's Haste, Fire Attunement (14 fire, 9 energy, 8 earth prayers, 8 air)
R/Mo (cripshot): Crippling Shot [E], Savage Shot, Distracting Shot, Apply Poison, Mending Touch, Natural Stride, Troll Unguent, Resurrection Signet (14 expertise, 10 marksmanship, 10 wilderness, 2 prot)

Backline:
Mo/W (WoH/RC hybrid): Reversal of Fortune, Guardian, Patient Spirit, Word of Healing/Restore Condition [E], Spirit Bond, Dismiss Condition (if not RC), Balanced Stance, Holy Veil (14 healing, 11 prot, 9 divine, 2 tactics)
Rt/Mo (WoR): Mend Body and Soul, Spirit Light, Wielder's Boon, Spirit Transfer, Weapon of Warding, Weapon of Remedy [E], Life, Holy Veil (14 resto, 13 spawn, 3 heal)

Flag running:
D/Mo (pious renewal infuser): Pious Renewal, Signet of Pious Light, Imbue Health, Infuse Health, Vital Boon, Mystic Regeneration, Mirage Cloak, Featherfoot Grace (14 mysticism, 12 wind, 6 healing prayers)

As argumentation, I chose a pressure and a spike frontliner (just to include both variants, not necessary because I will use a format like this), a D/Mo runner (because I liked a lot the versatility of both running and healing support of the Dervish build that popped up lately in the games), different midliners because I wanted to include most classes that people considered closed to being balanced (core classes, such as ranger, mesmer, ele) and a monk and rit backline (just because I would like to see the ritualists being more involved in healing/protting and to use them as an example of possible backline play).

PS Please refrain to just posting balanced builds in your opinion, just like Moko asked for guilds what builds they used in the monthly tournament (i.e., an extension of that thread to actually posting the "balanced" builds used with the details of skills). Moko's link is a thread that is more like a general discussion that I would like to avoid. And no, balance died a long time ago is not an answer

cause you can revive it...

Thank you

JR · Mar 03, 2008, 09:07 AM // 09:07

Moko's link explains it well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infectious

Balanced died a long, long, long time ago. Its the by product of having so many skills any given build will always be leaning in one direction or another. Making a "balanced" build usually means you will lose.

Not really. The two warrior, cripshot, paragon/mindb blast, dom mesmer and rit runner build could very much be described as balanced - and is fairly common. Infact I would argue (with the exception of derv spike) balanced is as strong as it has been in a while. The game is in fact looking pretty good now.

We actually lost to a hex build last night, but it actually made me happy. It was nice to see alternative styles of play that didn't rely on gimmicks or overpowered skills to win. We made some mistakes due to being rusty against hexes, and they capitalized on them.

Izzy just needs to peace out Derv Spike and Sin Split in the next update and I will be very happy with the state of the game... provided he nerfs them properly and doesn't in the process create some other abomination of a build.

Byron · Mar 03, 2008, 05:02 PM // 17:02

This may seem like common sense; it's any build that is able to react and respond to a lot of situations. Non balanced builds, imho, go into a match with one or a set of specific objectives in mind. Spikes are spikes. Dedicated splits are NPC farmers. Pressure builds want to fight and kill 7v7. Etc.

It's mildly interesting to observe the evolution of the balanced build as the game changes, mainly through buffs/nerfs of key skills (crip shot, gale, LoD come to mind). And as certain skills are adjusted in the future, the game will change.

Because of the NPC meta, balanced has taken a turn to split capability. The most common is dR balanced, which puts a utility/shutdown mesmer in the midline and 2 strong split characters, a crip shot and an e/d, in support. The amount of shutdown by virtue of knockdowns and mesmer pressure combined with a great offensive split capability makes it the most capable build out there atm, imo. It is, however, heavily reliant on communication, quick thinking, and game skill.

Assuming Dervishes will be nerfed soon and VoD meta won't be rolled back too hard..

[skill]bull's strike[/skill][skill]eviscerate[/skill][skill]Executioner's strike[/skill][skill]disrupting chop[/skill][skill]frenzy[/skill][skill]rush[/skill][skill]shock[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]*

[skill]bull's strike[/skill][skill]devastating hammer[/skill][skill]crushing blow[/skill][skill]hammer bash[/skill][skill]flail[/skill][skill]rush[/skill][skill]enraging charge[/skill][skill]death pact signet[/skill]*

[skill]glyph of energy[/skill][skill]gale[/skill][skill]blackout[/skill][skill]shatter enchantment[/skill][skill]inspired enchantment[/skill][skill]power leak[/skill][skill]ward against melee[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]

[skill]mind blast[/skill][skill]immolate[/skill][skill]blinding flash[/skill][skill]gale[/skill][skill]rodgort's invocation[/skill][skill]fire attunement[/skill][skill]flame djinn's haste[/skill][skill]mystic regeneration[/skill]

[skill]crippling shot[/skill][skill]savage shot[/skill][skill]distracting shot[/skill][skill]apply poison[/skill][skill]natural stride[/skill][skill]troll unguent[/skill][skill]mending touch[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]

The runner usually depends on the map. If it's ladder play, the Rt/A is probably the best choice.

*Sic - the bloody skill tags don't have body blow or distracting strike.

Of course guilds modify it, but the idea is usually the same. Some guilds out and out pervert the idea by plugging in dervishes and/or 2 e/d and/or an EC mesmer.

The recent alternative was what most people called DF balance. That build was great at team fighting due to the amount of raw damage, and with a few key interrupts it could easily wipe an enemy team. However, it suffered against the strong split teams, and thus fell out of favor in this NPC meta.

It was contructed with 2 warriors, usually axe and hammer, a paragon with party support, a cripshot, a shutdown mesmer/ele with ward and spike capability, and a ritualist runner.

Before that we are talking pre-LoD nerf, which is purely historical and irrelevant unless LoD gets out of the tank.