Curse

The Fallen One · Nov 22, 2006, 10:14 PM // 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom

IV. Counter phase. As popularity increases, predictablity becomes a major liablity. While people on the forum complain about having to bring counters for XYZ, teams running these standard metagame builds are at an increasing disadvantage. By now everyone knows the inevidable weaknesses every build has and are experienced in employing tactics against a build type. It is no longer enough to just be mediocre at employing an uber-build, instead players will need some skill to deal with inevidable counters.

This is one of my favorite parts of your cycle, in regards to metagame. What happened when Iway came out and you knew that at least one of three teams at the very least was going to be Iway? Everyone started loading in Wards and Aegis chains into their builds to couteract. The same thing goes for the recent Paragon (imo OP) siutation, though it seems not to have worked many of our hex teams now utilize the skill Vocal Minority, to attempt to shut down the Paragon.

My point in this is that "metagame" builds have that Major liability. There are some also something things I'd like to point out though that still frustrate me with the current state of the game in almost all cases.

1)Metagame in its pure form. Something so completly over powered that you run it and come to a standstill, sometimes still dying to people with less skill with you for mistakes easily made while engaged with the same classes. Perhaps though you're running a thought out balanced like a true GW Patriot, you could still lose, this version has a lot to do with Anet balancing skills when they release them. Things like, lets say those RaO people.
2)Copying metagame. How many times have you seen those Mo/E with Aegis running around the GvG field now-a-days. I can't remeber exactly who but I beleive some high level guild started this and it has quickly gone through the process (Much like in Thom's post) to the point where if you're not seeing the original BL/Divert combo you're seeing that Aegis chain coming off. KGYU's old condition build seeped around like wild fire back in that day, and so did Melandru's/Apply Poison combos though I feel those were more in HA than in GvG.

I know it's only two ranches of metagame, but they get to me all the same. Also Arenanet's lack of consideration of their older(meaning having played Guild Wars longer) players, though I know it's hard for them since they're trying to make as much money as they can on these things, I still feel that they have to spot obvious flaws in these thigns that have emerged not even a month (I haven't been counting I might be wrong) after Nightfall has been realeased. Rampage as One, Avatar of Grenth, Paragons with Energizing Finale and the skills that match with it in general are all shows of this. I know that they're going to get the nerf bat when Wintersday comes to a close, but I still don't see why they are introduced to begin with.

I also sympathize with Squidget, I barely ever feel like player skill was as much as it was to winning the battle. But rather what build are the individual teams running? Only in top twenty or so guild battle do I really see the skill play out as the split & positioning become more apparent to the victor of the match.

My conculsion on metagame then is that I feel that it still needs balancing, before the game comes out in the first place, or expansion. I feel this way because Anet screws every ladder or season with some skill or another that is becoming the obvious meta. (Looks at really long post) Sorry if your eyes fall out.