Do you create and use your own builds, use pre-existing builds, or a combination of both?

UGotBenched91

So, the other day I got some heat from some guild members because I announced I use builds I find online. So, this conversation got me thinking to how many people create their own builds in comparison to those who use pre-made builds. Please include a short description of why you create your own or why you use existing builds.



I use pre-made builds (sometimes switching minor skills around) because outside gaming my life is very busy. Gaming is a hobby and I don't have the time to create and tweak builds while learning different crit percentages etc. I admire those that can and do but it's not for me. Using Alcast or Dottz builds works just fine for me and I'm perfectly ok with that.

amm7sb14_ESO

I create and use my own builds

I create my own builds based on what seems fun for me, and what fits my character theme / concept. I have little to no use for meta builds, and personally have no interest in someone else making builds for me. The biggest aspect of fun for me is putting together my own themes and builds.

The only thing I used YouTube builds for was early on, just to see what job duties I would be expected to fulfill for group content. Otherwise, I will build my characters in my own way to fulfill that role.

I main a Breton Necro tank who is also a vampire with Crimson, Grave Guardian, and Lord Warden. My makes me a walking aura of curse and destruction for my enemies (Crimson, Angry Totem, Unnerving Graveyard), and an aura of absorption and healing for me and my allies (Crimson healing, Grave Guardian, Angry Totem, Enduring Undeath)

I have a Wood Elf stamina Nightblade with Aegis Caller, Unleashed, and Domihaus. My teleport strike procs 3 different effects - the AOE aegis, a DOT from Unleashed, and the damage boost from Domihaus.

I have a Wood Elf Warden tank, with Brands of Imperium, Combat Physician, and Chokethorn. The character was originally a healer that I converted to a tank, but still maintains some supplemental off-healing capabilities, as well as acts as a damage shield generator for myself and my allies.

I have an Argonian vampire Necro "frenzy bomber", that uses Sated Frenzy with Phoenix set to detonate and blow myself up into a massive AOE explosion, with a big burst heal and damage shield to go along with it.

My healers are probably my most "typical" and closest to anything resembling meta, one is a Dark Elf Sorc using Spell Power Cure / Jorvuld's / Symphony of Blades, the other is a High Elf Necro using Hollowfang / Worm's Raiment / Earthgore.

Araneae6537

A combination of both

I will at least look at recommendations and try to understand the choices. I will try and probably level the skill so that I have it as a ready-to-go option if needed, but ultimately go with what feels right for me.

Mayrael

I create and use my own builds

I play solo open world PvP on magblade (no, not a healer), there are very few good builds out there available because it's poop PvP class so 99% of a time I end up with my own setup.

BlackSparrow

I create and use my own builds

All my characters are my own builds... but this is with the caveat that I am by no means interested in making my builds competitive or high-end. I'm an RP player, so I tend to craft each character's skills and gear to best fit their personality/background/etc, not based on what would be most helpful in Trials. The fact that I enjoy puttering around my houses more than I enjoy running endgame content gives me a LOT of leeway to make the silliest, most inefficient, most fun-for-the-sake-of-fun builds possible.

That said, I don't think either way is superior. As you said, a lot of people are busy and/or don't get that much fulfillment out of building a character from scratch. And especially if someone is trying to be competitive, in either PvP or PvE? Building from scratch to hit the best combo possible is a LOT of research that you may not even be able to find the resources to do, even if you do have time. It's hard to keep track of what sets work for what, even without the occasional buffs and nerfs, as happened in the last patch. So yeah, if carefully crafting your character isn't fun in itself for you, there's no reason to do it when you can modify a build you find online.

Pink_Pixie

I create and use my own builds

I tend to create my own, however my main build which I did set up ages ago has suddenly been appearing on websites. Perhaps it was made meta, I don't know. But I tend to still have a few differences to the meta of my main, like skills, weapons and so on.

In truth I play one character my alts are just glorified daily writ workers.

Ittrix

A combination of both

I generally recommend new players to use builds, but I encourage them to ask questions rather than blindly copy and paste. Eventually, they'll be able to give a reason for it. They can use those reasons to put their own builds together in the future. Or, hey, alternatively they *can't* find a reason for it and they make a change to the build for the better.

Once you've got it down yourself, making your own stuff is just plain funner.

Shantu

A combination of both

When attempting harder end game trials, I like to get a sense of what good players who are really into theory crafting use. I'll usually go with that for the most part. As to dungeon content, I just use what I think is fun and interesting.

colossalvoids

A combination of both

I read patch notes and act accordingly, it's just that. Sometimes I'm looking into other ideas discussed on PTS related boards on discord so I use other's ideas obviously if it worth it or not my field of competence to start with.

Lady_Scorp72

A combination of both

I love cooking and enjoy searching for recipes that look good and get good ratings, and then I'll add my own twists or modifications. However, coming up with recipes totally on my own? Not really interested, because it requires a lot of trial and error that to me feels like wasted time. I'd rather start with something that I know has worked for others, and build on it from there.

It's the same for me in ESO. I enjoy researching pre-made builds as my starting point, and then changing them according to my preferences and playstyle. Some of my favorite builds are hybrids that evolved from "meta" builds somewhere else. It's a process that works well for me.

In other words, I'm grateful there are people who love theory crafting and diving into the minute details, because it means I don't have to bother with that and can just enjoy new builds while feeling confident I'm starting off with something viable.

phwaap

A combination of both

I'm with you OP and I do have time if I wanted. Usually start with Alcast on major changes and tweak over time to suit my play. There are a few recommendations this patch I probably would never have considered, e.g. Deadly Strike on my stamplar, breaking up monster sets or not running any with two arena weapons, etc.

Belegnole

A combination of both

I will often look at builds online from people I believe have better game knowledge than I have. If say I'm starting a new toon of a class that I'm not used to, I may just carbon copy the build as I level. Once I get them up to 50 and see how it plays, I will often tweak it to make it mine.

jaws343

A combination of both

For PVP, I use pre-existing builds for inspiration or as a jumping off point. But I also try my own builds out to varying success.

For PVE, I mostly use meta or slightly off meta builds, which results in matching or nearly matching most builds you find online. No point in losing damage or theory crafting in PVE imo, minus a few tweaks to fit my playstyle.

Rogue_WolfESO

A combination of both

For those of you using AlcastHq's cp 2.0 build guides, is it better to max out the stats of the listed perks up to your current cp level, or take a bit of everything they have listed as recommended for your build? I'm currently cp 890 and have to make a decision.

Lisa

I create and use my own builds

I have a theme that I've tried to stick with for both my healer and tank. Admittedly, I research armor specs online and try to incorporate the best recommended set with the sets I want for my theme. I want to be effective in my roles, but I also want to be a little unique.

Nagastani

A combination of both

For the most part I do my own research and use my own designs. Some of these include proc sets however for the most part I only use sustain proc sets for performance while sometimes utilizing them for damage as well. It largely depends on the vision for the build which has always been separate from whatever the accepted meta is for that particular time because there is a unique vision for each character.

However, there is also nothing wrong with seeing what works for other players as well as leveraging existing resources from content creators such as Alcast. Especially with as much work as others have put into their builds, including the monetary resources as well as all the time required to get the gear itself, plus testing.

And its for this reason I think it's essential for players to be able to choose for themselves what works for them and to learn from using different sets. I think cutting proc sets out of the game as a whole does not really help anyone and really limits the community to using only a handful of useful set combinations as well as prevents those of us with the know-how from being able to compensate for class weaknesses, thus hindering our ability to use skills.

Otherwise why have crafting and why have different sets in the first place right? And before the 6 months are up that's what it will come down to, everyone running the same 2 or 3 setups.

Klad

I try to figure out what is going to *** off those who group with me and go with that....

WHAT?

Kalik_Gold

A combination of both

I create and use my own builds. I do not farm gear, or dungeons based on Meta. I work with I have or can craft since I have a max level crafter. If I get some things from PUG trails, PvP or random Vet dungeons, great! I love theory crafting and building my own player characters.

I still selected, "combination of both" because I won't lie, I do watch the build videos. Sometimes I see an idea and implement something similar. Do I mimic an entire build, never.

Ceejengine

I create and use my own builds

Pre-made PvE tank builds are

64 into health
Ebon Armory
Battalion Defender
Lord Warden
1h+S & Lightning Staff

Its such a boring, low impact meta. You can be way more proactive and still clear harder content. You are almost entirely passive, aside from self sustain and lightning blockade.

I started out using that build and quickly realized how boring it was. I also realized that the meta is incredibly hyped up.

I have my own builds that I'm progressing through vet HM dungeons right now. I understand that it's more of a struggle than the passive meta builds, but I feel that as I get better as a player, I surpass performance expectations consistently.

I can also take all of my characters from dungeons into battlegrounds. Only major change is that I swap Leeching for Frozen Watcher on my warden.

My NB build Emo Kid
54 Health, 10 Stam
Nightflame Head / Shoulder
Crimson Twilight Body
Drake's Rush Weapons + Jewels
1h+S FB & Bow BB

My DK build, the Protein Stain
54 health, 10 stam
Grothdarr head / shoulder
Yolnahkriin Body
Hiti's Hearth weapons + Jewels
1h+S & 1h+S

My Warden - Iceberg Lettuce
34 Health, 30 Magicka
Earthgore head & shoulders
Leeching Plate body (Frozen Watcher in PvP)
Winter's Respite Weapons & Jewels
Ice Staff + Ice Staff

I feel like each of my 3 guys play completely unique to one another and bring their own strengths and weaknesses and I'm never bored queueing up for stuff.

All three can deal great overland damage, have high sustain, decent mobility, and extremely unique feeling.

I'm probably going to change up my DK from 1h+S x2 and give him a maul on the backbar, and maybe swap him to Infernal Guardian since with Brawler + Igneous Shields he should get the damage proc often enough that it isn't trash. I'm also considering swapping out Yol for either Imperium or Seventh Legion. I'm leaning towards 7th legion because I think he's got enough shielding potential as is.

Agenericname

A combination of both

There's usually a reason that someone arrived at any given conclusion. I do not automatically discard the information simply because I may not like the source. I think it's more of an issue when they're followed blindly, but as long as it works for people, who am I to say it's wrong?

It's a game, have fun.

ForzaRammer

I use pre-existing builds (YouTube, streamers, friends, etc.)

Why would i bother? There is no plagiarism in gaming.

poodlemasterb16_ESO

I create and use my own builds

I make my own stuff. Now I have a complete set of leveled crafters, so its not something that is hard for me to do.

I do take advice and have watched a few vids, but mostly I wing it. Now I use the internet to answer any questions I might have and go from there. As I have a complete list, well hopefully, of all the Crafting Stations and can take my people anywhere I want, I can produce complete coordinated sets of whatever I think is best for any particular char.

As I can make not only the Clothing, Armour and Weapons, but a also set of Enchants for any particular set, any Potions I might want and of course any Food or Drink I might need, I hardly need the crap I can pick up.

Hapexamendios

A combination of both

I'll use pre existing builds as a base and make adjustments for my play style and armor choices.

FaylenSol

A combination of both

I think about concepts and theory craft. Once I land on an idea that seems viable and I like I look up guides to existing builds to see what is proven to be good. I don't usually use everything they use, but I do take notes and apply what I've learned.

CrashTest

A combination of both

Both bc theorycrafting is fun, and I like to see if I can improve by checking what others have made.

Ryuvain

I create and use my own builds

I make my own builds. I really don't like copying others, but I will take tips and notes from other players/builds.

LalMirchi

A combination of both

In the beginning I followed the internet guides but now I have more confidence to make my own builds.

preevious

A combination of both

I get inspiration from online builds, and then tweak them a lot to my preferences.

Chilly-McFreeze

A combination of both

preevious wrote: »

I get inspiration from online builds, and then tweak them a lot to my preferences.

This. What good is the mathematically best build if you can't handle it?

Beside that I absolutely miss the nerves to farm vet trials for the few pve content I do in between.

oddbasket

A combination of both

I use guides which are always informative as to which skills are performers and which are useless after major patches, but I still come up with my own builds. CP 2.0 however has killed several of them because I tend to build for versatility and CP 2.0 is more about funneling into meta roles.

zaria

A combination of both

phwaap wrote: »

I'm with you OP and I do have time if I wanted. Usually start with Alcast on major changes and tweak over time to suit my play. There are a few recommendations this patch I probably would never have considered, e.g. Deadly Strike on my stamplar, breaking up monster sets or not running any with two arena weapons, etc.

This, I don't really understand the new CP system so here I mostly copy, with the benefit that if I get to stuff I really don't bother with I just put in less points and go down the list, much the same as I did with the old CP system.