Do you post your build?

I had a discussion recently with a player about builds. The person has not and would not (ever) give out their build, which got me thinking: are builds meant to be a closely guarded secret?

I have come across players like that also. Their builds are the most secret things in the world to them. Especially for PvP builds.

But IMO, after 6+ years, and programs like Mids, every possible primary/secondary has been played by someone, people have number crunched countless times for max rech, def, HP, etc., and solo'd most the hardest content (AVs, TFs, GMs, etc.). With other information like the Wiki, you have access to all the numbers, IO sets, and powers, so it is not like there are mysterious extra powers or IOs these players have access too and not letting us know about.

So, in other words, I find it hard to believe some players have found such an uber build that is has remained secret after all this time. But I do understand PvPers like to keep their builds secret and I respect that. I really don't care if people know my build or my set bonuses. My toons are not either the worst or best I have seen.

I'd say it depends, i usually don't mind but sometimes i think twice about it. Not much about the "secret" thing than the fact some random peoples can come in and copy the build while not understanding anything about it, then end up boasting about a character when they won't have put any work for it in the way of searching and understanding game mechanics.

And a build is a "single player" think as a good build for me is a build that fits the playstyle, theme, and power expectations i have. Almost all my builds have some room where i drop a bit of min/maxing for something i like that fits the theme or character, or just powers i find useful because of how i play.

Ideally i think we should help peoples to make their own build, rather than feeding them with our own builds. I always found discussions like "how to slot that power" always more interesting than "give me XX/YY build pls !".

Yeah, I'd post if asked for any examples.

I agree with PennyPA, I don't think there's really anything new you could do with a build to make that huge a difference.

Once you understand the basics of the game mechanics, and look up the info for IOs and powersets its all fairly straightforwards to figure out how to max out certain aspects of your character or balance between various aspects.

I was hesitant to, but I eventually posted the build for the tank from my video.

A build is like a recipe. You can give the same recipe to 100 different cooks and no two dishes will taste the same.

I don't hesitate to share builds when asked. Being good with Mids isn't something worth lording over people imo.

Besides all my builds are customized to what I like to play so the chances of someone else using the build in the same way or even as well are reduced. Actually come to think of it I wouldn't care if someone took a build I posted and broke the game so to speak. Good for them I say.

The only reasons you don't see me post a build is not because I feel it's some closely guarded secret. It's usually just out of "No reason to." If I needed to to illustrate something, or ask "Can I do something better here," I wouldn't have an issue doing so.

... though come to think of it, I think I have done so to illustrate a use for dual builds.

Besides, most of mine end up being SO-based. The main issue I have with build posting? Someone asks for help with a build and gets sent a multi-billion INF build - which isn't too helpful before 50 most times. (Contrast with the Huntsman guide in the player guides, which gives three slotting schemes - SOs/common IOs, sets, purples, as I recall. Need to see that more.)

See my Guides and Tutorials

If I am asked, i post.

I do so because sometimes I NEEDhelp on a build too, and would hope to get the same kindness.

Unless it's a pvp build, I see absolutely no real good reason to keep a build secret.

I've received much generous help from others- Werner, for instance, gave me two builds to demonstrate the difference between a really top-end build and a cheap build.

I tend to personally be the guy who, when you ask what time it is, tells you how to build a watch. So I'm more likely to ask a bunch of questions and then try to custom-create something around what YOU want.

Which is to say if someone came up to me and said "What's the build for Fulminator?" I'd tell them. But they'd probably get better results building their own thing. (Especially since Fulminator is a fire/elec blaster, and that's all play and no build.)

I certainly don't mind posting builds. I'm too lazy to fire Mid's up (from it's flash drive) and do it that often. I rarely respond to the "I need a xx/xx (usually fire/kin) elite build naow!" posts. But if someone has specific questions and is willing to state what they want the character to do and how they intend to play it, I'm happy to try to work out a build for them.

I can respect not wanting to share one's build. However, the concept of "I'm not telling anyone so no one will figure it out" is quite ludicrous and amusing. There are no "secret builds". There may be billions of possible build combinations mathematically but there are very few options realistically once the general direction of the build is understood. "Secret Builds" simply don't exist.

*Unless one intentionally makes sub-optimal choices to throw people off the trail to their "secret build". That right there is a cunning plan.

I realize that people want different things from their builds than I do (for example, I fit in Hasten/SS and Hurdle/CJ in almost every one of my builds simply because that's the best way to get around 99% of the time, for me, even in PvE), so I'll mention that when I post a build. Generally if someone asks for a build I'll say "post your own" in order to get an idea of what they're thinking, and then I'll tear that build down and change things up a bit. I'm more than willing to share my builds with people that ask, but I encourage people to build their own and compare the two.

I remember one dude, a scrapper I think, that was soloing AVs before it was the cool thing to do, that wouldn't even share his attack chain.

I've occasionally shared builds, but for the most part I'm like others that will just provide feedback on builds others provide. Not because it's a closely guarded family secret, more that I don't think my own builds are so much cleverer.

i give out my builds in the hopes that someone else can make it better, thereby making me better. after all information wants to be spread, its the basis of the internet.