Missions that encourage people to think outside the cookie cutter build.

markus_thom

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

Australia(the land of lesser games)

neptunes grace

R/W

-------In relation to pve---------

I think a major problem in guild wars is that people become so reliant on sticking to a particular build (example the wammo, a warrior with monk skills)that they forget to even try to mix skills and come up with new creative builds to tackle pve environments.

These people are becoming so reliant on these builds they chose to even neglect people that play something different.

Even going as far as not letting a assassin or mesmer into their group and sticking to the simple set up.

The most common classes being accepted into teams usually are the warrio, elem, monk and mm which are necro that focuse on minions.
And even within these groups people are expected to play a certain role.

I Know Anet have brought in some quests such as the captain missions which forced people to think outside the cookie cutter and this is a good sign.
Hopefully with future instalments Anet will give some of the lesser roles in pve more uses and make people start thinking more about experimenting with builds and teaming with other professions.

Start thinking about mobs in quests and start making the mobs use skills that damage and work effectively against certain classes. Because with many of the enemy mobs there really isn’t much thinking involved and the same formulas are being seen over and over again.

Draco Hunt

Draco Hunt

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

The Netherlands

Resistance is Painfull[RiP]

A/Me

In a certain way your right because it is a problem for the unregular proffesions to get trough the game with pugs. On the other hand why change a winning team.
I totaly do agree on the fact that there are to many standart build.
Mostly people go into THK with a general balanced team.
on my monk i joined a all ranger team containing trappers interuptors etc.
There was one more monk next to me but he left just before the keep. But we made it because of the rangers also beeing able to support there own health a bit to releave my pain.(Still thank that group for the geart experience)

Courage that is what is needed these days(and i dont mean the crazy tank that runs 10 miles ahead of the rest(i do it at times if i know i can take it so the rest doesnt get the heavy damage but thats difrent)).

Takkun

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

its a major problem newhere. 70% of all people cannot think for themselves when playing any game, and rely in tips and such to beat it.

Rathcail

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

My cookie cutter team is me and the henchies.

Edge Martinez

Edge Martinez

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

NC

DKL

I recently played that one Luxon mission where you have to protect the baby turtles from the Kurzicks with my ranger/monk. It was the wierdest build I ever played.

I had max wilderness survival, high healing prayers, and high expertise. Basically, I was a turtle tender lol. I trapped around the little ones and healed them as they took damage. Worked excellent.

majoho

majoho

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Denmark

Hmmm, I pretty much always change my secondary to what suits a particular mission the best mostly because I play with henchies, so I'll adapt to the type of char the henchies cannot provide.

Example for the Boreas Seabed mission I took mesmer as secondary on my Warrior so I could have a couple of extra interrupts, I completely owned that (less than 14 minutes) - the last boss only ever cast his devastaing spell once, luckily it has a loong casting time so it's easy to interrupt.

yspark901

yspark901

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

CA

The Vagabond [Roni]

W/E

sometimes, it's pretty fun to just go and try new things.

Paperfly

Paperfly

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

The game's been out for a year (well, half of it has!) so of course there's some solidity to peoples' mindsets.

However, there has been meaningful change every so often - the problem is that said change is then promptly taken on board by everyone and becomes the "new" tired old build!

Seriously - the 55hp monk, the all-Barrage ranger party, the touch ranger, even the IWAY warrior... They're all ideas that took someone clever and imaginative, as well as some honest-to-goodness testing, before they became the boogymen they are today.

Personally, I think in a month's time we'll be sick of groups looking for Earth eles with Ward Against Melee in their cookie-cutter builds*/**. Oh, and Shelter spammin' by Ritualists, but then that's powerful enough that everyone recognized it right away, right?


*One bright spark brought it on his R/E to our B/P group in Tombs today - worked quite well, actually!
**I live in fear of the day when group leaders insist on E/Mes for Echo Warding!

General Surena

General Surena

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

Germany

None

W/

You know, there are actually people who don't wanna think ingame or be creative, genuine. They keep it for work or any other projects they are involved in. They just play to have fun, and that's how a game is supposed to be. Agreed?

NinjaKai

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

UK

Duality Of The Dragon

I am one of those people who enjoys messing around with skill combinations and sequences of use to make a build that works for my play style. But there will always be people who prefer the easy the method.

Sanji

Sanji

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Mo/

People want party members to use staple builds because with strangers sometimes the only thing you can take comfort in is builds you have consistently proven themselves to get the job done.

The object of most mission groups is to succeed, not to have an interesting group composition.

Expressing your individuality via your build is best left to Guild/Friend groups, soloing, or henchmen. That is, with a group you can operate effectively with.

Ira Blinks

Banned

Join Date: Feb 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanji
People want party members to use staple builds because with strangers sometimes the only thing you can take comfort in is builds you have consistently proven themselves to get the job done.

The object of most mission groups is to succeed, not to have an interesting group composition.

Expressing your individuality via your build is best left to Guild/Friend groups, soloing, or henchmen. That is, with a group you can operate effectively with.
QFT.

Calling builds cookie-cutter became even worse trend than builds themselves, and it is getting seriously annoying.
Cookie-cutter builds work because general PvE involves very little communication and coordination and the only way to perform is if every party member knows exactly what his role is. Promblem here that most people who complain about cookie-cutter builds confuse role and primary class.

No offence to OP, but seriously there is nothing wrong with cookie-cutter builds. They used alot because they work well.
If you have a build that you think is better than a cookie cookie-cutter one, test is with friends and post a guide on this forum. If it is really good, people will accept it.

Rent

Rent

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Darkness Within

Mo/Me

I really want to know when cookie-cutter became synonymous with efficient.

Jas D

Jas D

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2006

Oklahoma, USA

None

How about you let people play whatever build they like to play. And stick to your own business.. it doesn't concern you.

I don't even see why you bring this up. Nothing can ACTUALLY be done about what YOU think is a problem. Just another negative thread, I suppose.

XvArchonvX

XvArchonvX

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/

I personally believe that I have seen the missions take a turn to become more diverse and thus bring about the need for more diversity in play style to beat efficiently. Here are a few examples:

Vizunah Square: While at least one if not two MM are next to necessity for a masters, a ranger with EoE can really tear the enemies a new one. This skill does admittedly hurt the minions, but not as badly as it does the enemies.

Boreas Seabed: As pointed out by Majoho, adjusting the team's build to allow interupts really makes a difference here. A ranger that can interupt is generally prefered over a Barrage Ranger here.

Arborstone: This I believe is the best example of a mission that requires the team to go beyond the "cookie cutter" to really excel in. A typical Nuker is near useless for the second half of the mission due to excessive knockdowns. Monks and other casters are also very vulnerable to KD here as well. An excellent solution to this is for the warriors to bring Balanced Stance and/or Dolyak Sig and for the team to get an earth ele with Ward of Stability. When I did this mission with my Ritualist a while back, I actually switched my secondary to Ele just for that skill and had a lot of success. It allowed not only myself to go uninterupted, but also the casters.

Gyala Hatchery: As Edge Martinez said a trapper ranger can really work miracles in this mission since they can slow down enemies before they reach the turtles as well as blind them. A water style ele that has slowdown skills is also very valuable here since slow enemies are more likely to die before they can reach the turtles. Having a group that relies simply on healing the turtles generally fails since they turtles die so quickly, even the fastest monk will see a turtle or two get spiked before he can do anything about it.



Of course in general "Cookie Cutter" builds will be preferred due to their effectiveness as well as the ability to let the group make a basic strategy without spending forever explaining eachother's build to eachother. However there are at least some missions out there that do allow the not-so-common builds to have their moment of glory.

Tookis Elite

Tookis Elite

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2006

Chuck Norris Is The Only True [God]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rathcail
My cookie cutter team is me and the henchies.
lol same

Dien

Dien

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

the great finnish republic

R/Me

Mee <3 henchies. they wont never leave you

DFrost

DFrost

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

Ultima Thule

Legacy of Echovald [Echo]

P/

Well for example Thirsty River encourages it but some players don't want to listen Two monks is overkill, why not try that mesmer who's been shouting "LFG for the love of God, please! LFG!" in the corner ever since your first failed attempt 2 hours ago?

markus_thom

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

Australia(the land of lesser games)

neptunes grace

R/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ira Blinks
QFT.

Calling builds cookie-cutter became even worse trend than builds themselves, and it is getting seriously annoying.
Cookie-cutter builds work because general PvE involves very little communication and coordination and the only way to perform is if every party member knows exactly what his role is. Promblem here that most people who complain about cookie-cutter builds confuse role and primary class.

No offence to OP, but seriously there is nothing wrong with cookie-cutter builds. They used alot because they work well.
If you have a build that you think is better than a cookie cookie-cutter one, test is with friends and post a guide on this forum. If it is really good, people will accept it.
yeah I know they work well thats my point I wanto see more missions that force people to play different stlyes and builds. But I suppose if that happend people would complain lol.

markus_thom

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

Australia(the land of lesser games)

neptunes grace

R/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ira Blinks
QFT.

Calling builds cookie-cutter became even worse trend than builds themselves, and it is getting seriously annoying.
Cookie-cutter builds work because general PvE involves very little communication and coordination and the only way to perform is if every party member knows exactly what his role is. Promblem here that most people who complain about cookie-cutter builds confuse role and primary class.

No offence to OP, but seriously there is nothing wrong with cookie-cutter builds. They used alot because they work well.
If you have a build that you think is better than a cookie cookie-cutter one, test is with friends and post a guide on this forum. If it is really good, people will accept it.
yeah I know they work well thats my point.

I wanto see more missions, quests and mobs that make players think about trying different builds/proffesions rather then the ordinary proffesions and builds that you see people more commonly asking for to join their party. I mean compare the usefullness of minion master or tank to other classes such as the mesmer or assasin in pve. If they were to make mobs that counter mm or tanks and make mesmer assasins more usefull then that might influence people to think outside the square.

After all mesmer is very usefull in pvp but not so mich in pve to me that really says something about the mob layouts no? I think it would be very interesting to vary up the opposing mobs a little so that other builds are needed to prevail after all guild wars is all about making builds to tackle the situation. Maybe the future elite missions should take this approach in which people spend weeks trying to figure a team build to tackle the place. I mean some one had to come up with the barrage build for tombs now didnt they?

Sorry about the double post clicked it and the page wasnt refreshing, comps very hot about to explode!

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

As a Mesmer, I alway change my build to fit for the mission. A well prepared mesmer can beat the Missions easely. No wonder why my friend said when he did Raisu Palace (with his mesmer), he said "Boring Palace".... well, same for me

Quote:
After all mesmer is very usefull in pvp but not so much in pve to me that really says something about the mob layouts no?
If Avarre saw that....

No professions is more usefull than other profession, no matter what if its PvP or PvE. Its the player's skill I count, not the profession.

If I have the choice between a warrior who plays very badly and don't listen or a mesmer he know what he must doing in the mission, I take the mesmer.



Another thing, I vote for the Henchies too for not rage-quit for nothing

dreamhunk

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

:P

E/Me

As a rpg player cookie cuter builds does hurt rpg! RPG player want to play their favrite class! when you force a class out then rpg players get pissed. Un like pvp players who will reroll their charactors. Rpg players will must likely quite the game.

Anet should really start looking into skills and cookie cuter builds because it does effect the game. In rpg all classies should be in important!

Helll is for Heroes

Helll is for Heroes

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

True Cinema

W/

they should make a game like:

Guild Wars: Half-Life

THAT would give GW a proper storyline and would make you think outside the box every single time

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Helll is for Heroes
they should make a game like:

Guild Wars: Half-Life

THAT would give GW a proper storyline and would make you think outside the box every single time
In First Person Shooter

Ira Blinks

Banned

Join Date: Feb 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Francis Demeules
If I have the choice between a warrior who plays very badly and don't listen or a mesmer he know what he must doing in the mission, I take the mesmer.
If I had a choice between decent warrior and decent mesmer I would pick that warrior, and so would you. Lets not compare apples to oranges, because it proves nothing.

Doomlord_Slayermann

Doomlord_Slayermann

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Chicago IL

Dark Phoenix Risin [DPR]

W/P

My best example of this is the Mursaat healer that sometimes pops up in Thunderhead Keep. He has to have at least 20 Healing Prayers and Aura of Faith, so it takes about 20 minutes for a "cookie-cutter" group to take him down. With a domination Mesmer... not so much. Backfire is FTW.

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

Backfire and Diversion.... mostly Diversion to kill Demetrio the Enduring.

Doomlord_Slayermann

Doomlord_Slayermann

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Chicago IL

Dark Phoenix Risin [DPR]

W/P

Quote:
Originally Posted by Francis Demeules
Backfire and Diversion.... mostly Diversion to kill Demetrio the Enduring.
Point is that he is almost impossible to take down without some caster hate, and caster hate is definitely NOT a cookie-cutter build element.

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomlord_Slayermann
Point is that he is almost impossible to take down without some caster hate, and caster hate is definitely NOT a cookie-cutter build element.
But at least you have a mesmer in your team instead the " Quadra Godly profession team" (Warrior, Monk, Ele as Nuker and Necro as MM or SS)

Dont take to seriously on the "Quadra Godly Profession Team". Its the GW players mind in PvE.

Ira Blinks

Banned

Join Date: Feb 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomlord_Slayermann
Point is that he is almost impossible to take down without some caster hate, and caster hate is definitely NOT a cookie-cutter build element.
That’s because outside of the lvl28 double attribute and hundreds AL bosses, caster hate easily substituted by pure damage. This isn’t a problem with cookie-cuter builds, this is a general flaw in game mechanics.

Doomlord_Slayermann

Doomlord_Slayermann

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Chicago IL

Dark Phoenix Risin [DPR]

W/P

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ira Blinks
That’s because outside of the lvl28 double attribute and hundreds AL bosses, caster hate easily substituted by pure damage. This isn’t a problem with cookie-cuter builds, this is a general flaw in game mechanics.
Yes, but I think they should require caster hate in the rest of the game, not just in a few sparse boss fights. Mesmers have to be the most underappreciated class in PvE.

Ira Blinks

Banned

Join Date: Feb 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doomlord_Slayermann
Yes, but I think they should require caster hate in the rest of the game, not just in a few sparse boss fights.
Yes, but untill then I still will pick warrior over mesmer.

inscribed

inscribed

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jas D
How about you let people play whatever build they like to play. And stick to your own business.. it doesn't concern you.

I don't even see why you bring this up. Nothing can ACTUALLY be done about what YOU think is a problem. Just another negative thread, I suppose.
Its all good and well to want to try a new build, but good luck trying to get into a pickup group with it. When I put together a team, your build is my business. I'm looking for people to fill specific roles, and I look for the people who can fill those roles the best. That means a couple monks for healing, a couple warriors for tanking/physical damage, and some mix of rangers/nukers/mm/etc. It works efficiently and requires very little communication.

Doomlord_Slayermann

Doomlord_Slayermann

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Chicago IL

Dark Phoenix Risin [DPR]

W/P

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ira Blinks
Yes, but untill then I still will pick warrior over mesmer.
I will ALWAYS take a Mesmer in a mission if I see one looking for a group. Having one (not more than one) always seems to help.

duanstar

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Ohio

Three Meaningless Initials

Mo/Me

I usually try to avoid mesmers, not because they're not powerful or not useful, but because most of the time, they're just really bad. I still get the Leeryoing IW mesmer occasionally, or the one who decides that Chaos Storm is a l33t! skill. I've found that when you ask for a nuker or a barrager, they usually know what they're doing because the build is commonly learned and easy to play. If you ask a mesmer what type of build he is and he replies with "domination", he could be an e-surger or a wastrel's worry spammer.

With mesmers, you never know how well the mesmer will be, and most times, he not playing a build that's well tailored to the mission at all.

Doomlord_Slayermann

Doomlord_Slayermann

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Chicago IL

Dark Phoenix Risin [DPR]

W/P

Quote:
Originally Posted by duanstar
I usually try to avoid mesmers, not because they're not powerful or not useful, but because most of the time, they're just really bad. I still get the Leeryoing IW mesmer occasionally, or the one who decides that Chaos Storm is a l33t! skill. I've found that when you ask for a nuker or a barrager, they usually know what they're doing because the build is commonly learned and easy to play. If you ask a mesmer what type of build he is and he replies with "domination", he could be an e-surger or a wastrel's worry spammer.

With mesmers, you never know how well the mesmer will be, and most times, he not playing a build that's well tailored to the mission at all.
I should mention that I always ask for builds before deciding if a member is staying in the party. IW or CS are pretty much an instant kick, just like the idiot that won't respond to the question. Sure a bad mesmer is just as ineffective as any other class played poorly. Assuming a certain amount of skill though, I welcome a good Mesmer to my party.

Francis Demeules

Francis Demeules

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada, Qc

[Holy]

Me/Mo

Useless to tell Nuker and Barrager against Shiro the Weak....

And these mesmers wont get far either for those who dont play correctly as a mesmer. I mean, I play as a mesmer but I'm not always as a Anti-Caster. I mostly play an anti-physical attacker. In missions, I play on what the mission is based. For an example, Signet of Midnight against Zhu Hanuku because it can do like 150 dmg normal attack without Jade Fury (50 knock down and 150 by Jade stone in face from JF)

Sanji

Sanji

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Mo/

In occurs to me that even if they made new missions that require players to "think outside the box" or whatever the heck, that's not going to last. It'd only be a matter of time before the strategies on what builds you should bring pop up.

Creativity is only going to last until people figure out what builds are most efficient in doing what they need to do. Whether it's new missions, farming spots, or PvP rebalances. I mean, we don't dig with a spoon or eat ice cream with a shovel for a reason.

GloryFox

GloryFox

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Good ol' USA, where everyone else wants to be

Now Plays World of Warcraft on Whisperwind

I find it fun sometimes to run a Blood Necro with high Degen skills. Especialy when people get mad becasuse they think Im a Minion Master. I've even had people leave once they find out; only to finnish a mission without them.

Try new things be original...

0mar

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

The problem is that PvE is beatable by pretty much using Ctrl-Spacebar. It's too easy to warrant thinking.