pixel
so for all my #guildwars2 playing fediverse friends, can you all do me a huge favor?

I'm gonna be writing snowcrows' build guides for willbender, and I would love to know what builds (on snowcrows or otherwise) you think are particularly good build guides. Do you have any that stands out to you as a good build guide, or any examples of useful features in other build guides? Links appreciated :)
Jul 26, 2023 at 5:04pmWeb
Show threadSlothJul 26, 2023
@pixel
I usually learn on video rotations and practice, but I'll signal boost this to my guildies and pass on any responses I get :)
Show threadpixelJul 26, 2023
@bass appreciate it much!
Show threadEmmiJul 26, 2023

@pixel For me personally, although I know Metabattle is perhaps one of the more questionable sources, I really appreciate how their build guides give you a quick overview of everything - what gear to use, traits to slot in, what utility skills to take, what consumables work best and an idea of rotation priorities for any given situation (e.g. https://metabattle.com/wiki/Build:Mechanist_-_Celestial_Alacrity_Support)

tl;dr - assume I don't know what I'm doing
(if I knew I probably wouldn't be looking up a guide anyways)

Build:Mechanist - Celestial Alacrity Support

Fractal and Raid build for Mechanist in GW2 that focuses on Condition Damage, Healing and Support. This is a test build.

MetaBattle Guild Wars 2 Builds
Show threadpixelJul 26, 2023
@emmi That's good advice, thank you!!
Show threadmikaiah 🌸Jul 26, 2023
@pixel I like when the guides explain the rotation theory/concept, like noting the "money" buttons (like scepter 3 on Scourge), how certain traits trigger (idk dhuumfire procs or perso buffs like fencers finesse), or if there are pairs of buttons where the cd often aligns so you always smash em together
For the gameplay guide it's helpful to note why we're taking each trait in a traitline, alternative options/variations, or which traits to swap for certain fights (and why).
Show threadpixelJul 26, 2023
@mikaialia This is super super useful thank you so much for the thoughtful response :)
Show threadmikaiah 🌸Jul 26, 2023
@pixel Yeah, honestly I don't play power guardian a ton but when I was a dumber noob (years ago) looking at Radiance vs Virtues Dragonhunter I was like "hm virtues does more dps must be better" without realizing that dps is dumpster tier without aegis uptime and I should have gone radiance instead. Or had a friend not realize most Condi Willbender dmg is coming from slapping the keyboard with F1 active.
Show threadpixelJul 26, 2023
@mikaialia fun fact about virtues rn, even with 0% virtues uptime virtues wb and virtues dh are better than radiance :)
Show threadmikaiah 🌸Jul 26, 2023
@pixel damn that was not the case like two years ago (i literally made fb and never played dh again) LOL. Good thing I'm a healer main now :')
Show threadpixelJul 26, 2023
@mikaialia can i spread the good gospel of our lord, Willmender (heal willbender)

its not great but it IS funny and that's important
Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023
@pixel @mikaialia is willmender viable outside of HT CM? (I still think it is super weird that the hardest fight in the game has so little healing pressure...)
Show threadmikaiah 🌸Jul 28, 2023
@Lucinellia @pixel idk I probably wouldn't play it on like VG but I remember using it on Ankka NM and other low healpressure fights. 0/10 tank though since f2 probably makes it turn lol
Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023
@pixel I used the Druid and Tempest healer guides when putting together the Heal Specter one, kind of aiming for the best bits of both.
Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023

@pixel I found it really useful to approach people with two examples that were close (so I guess two other DPS guides) and then ask people what they'd like about each and what they felt didn't work.

I also reached out to a lot of people and let them know they could approach me (you might have seen this on the Thief channel), considered and integrated suggestions and credited.

Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023
@pixel One of my biggest gripes about SC builds and recommendations in the past (like 2017 time lol) was that they weren't clearly community sourced so I recommend ensuring diversity of input and voices!
Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023
@pixel oh, and provide drafts for people to see!
Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023

@pixel the specific thing that I want in a build is to know it actually works and for the advice to be both practical and useful.

Taking the metabattle and hardstuck heal specter guides as examples, the metabattle one was useless even when it was in date because the suggested manner of healing didn't work.

Looking at the in date hardstuck one, it gives advice that clearly hasn't been tested in actual fights.

Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023
@pixel what this might mean for a DPS build is that recommendations for getting good golem numbers aren't necessarily immediately applicable to actual fights.
Show threadpixelJul 27, 2023
@Lucinellia this is one of the first things I did, recommending how to leverage the strengths of wb to perform above expectation on some fights rather than just playing for your bench rotation. I hate when GW players get way too in the weeds about theory it's real frustrating lol
Show threadLucinelliaJul 27, 2023
@pixel yes! Completely agree! The game doesn't lend itself as readily to metrics that are pronounced in other MMOs.