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On the syntax debate, it would make the most sense to order by how much each part narrows down your results--since there are the most powersets, a powerset would be listed first, and since PvP/PvE is only two possibilities (tied with Mids' build included/excluded), it would be last. Then again, PvP/PvE are of set length, so it's just as easy to read everything else and easier to read PvP/PvE if you put it at the beginning.
If there were any optional properties (such as a specific purpose), it should be last so as to not interrupt the constancy. Anyway, a "build without IOs included" property would also be a great one to add into the titles for free and premium players. And since people will very rarely, if ever, be searching for a "no Mids' build included", it should be acceptable to leave "Mids' build included" out (but don't leave out "no Mids' build").

PvE Powerset/Powerset Archetype (No IOs, for soloing)

Hurr durr this here forum has been here two days and some people aren't getting replies! Time to call it a failure. /sarcasm

Really folks, let's give this a chance.

Ok, I guess I've got more then one last thought on this forum...

Problems with this forum have been stated. There doesn't seem to be proper "logic" behind this.

If say, I've got a collection of books organized on each bookcase by style, I know where to find that mystery or a sci-fi book. I look on the correct bookcase.

This forum is the equivalent of having someone come along and randomly throw books on a book case. Yeah, eventually I'll be able to find the Comedy I was looking for, but right now I've got to weed through someone else's "Romance Novels" to find the Comedy I'd be interested in reading. (And no, not a big fan of Romance Novels, sorry.)

Oh, and occasionally, but not always, there is a copy of the book on the sorted bookcase. So, instead of looking at one bookcase, now I have to double check both to make sure I didn't miss it on the Random House of builds? Where's the logic there?

As I mentioned earlier, from my perspective, this splinters everyone's attention to builds across more forums then is necessary. And that, in my opinion, doesn't make sense.

I would just like to second(or third, fourth) the request to add/sticky the different ATs to this sub forum. I might even recommend adding the AT's primary sets as a subforum to the ATs.

There are way too many build possibilities. I doubt I will ever get past the third or fourth page.

Also, Is there a way to go back and change the title of a thread? I mean, what if there comes a time where I am not actually interested in any more feedback? What if with the help of my peers the build has achieved perfection? The tittle would be there, mocking people, because they couldn't infact make any constructive feedback?

While we are fixing up the forums, any way we can fix it so I stay logged in? Or because free players arn't as invested in actually going through the log in rigmarole, is the forum logout bug now just being called a security feature? "oh, SD didnt log out before he shut down his browser... lets do it for him!"

*Not actually blaming free players for anything. The bug existed long before I knew there were going to be free players.*

Just want to repeat my suggestion.

I believe it is possible to use vBulletin categories to have threads display in two places. So create a category for "Mids Build" and then any thread created in an AT forum that is categories as a "Mids Build" would also appear here.

Still think having two places to go for the same info is a bad idea. If this forum is a success then the AT forums will suffer.

If it must exist, then you need to set it up for each AT so if someone wants to they can drop it down in the right place and still discuss it in the original place. I agree with previous suggestions, set up the AT sections to show subforums for builds and general info. That makes more sense

I appreciate the attempt to try something new. I'm willing to give this a shot but I'm not sure if this going to be the most effective way to do it. Just looking through what is here right now, it's mostly ATs and power sets I'm not qualified to comment on. IMO there is very little overlap between, say, a Tanker and a Defender and having them in the same forum, along with 10 or so other ATs, is a lot of distraction to deal with. Controllers and Dominators are ATs that seem very alike but have somewhat different purposes and build priorities. I fear we're going to get back into fights about this and that control set being "better" on one AT or another rather than talking about the actual AT the build was posted for.

There are a couple of reasons there isn't a storehouse of builds anyone can identify. One of the biggest is that they are constantly changing. Just this issue epic powers opened up at 35 and we got new travel powers. Prior to that we got incarnate powers proper. Prior to that, the alpha slot. Prior to that, inherent Stamina. I just don't have much worth sharing that for sure is going to still be worth reading about again in 8 months.

Another possible issue is that a person "sharing" a build implies that it is not there to be commented on, but may in fact be not very good and in need of "critique." Or it might be ultra-specific for some purpose or player. Of the people commenting on the Controller boards, we very rarely come to a complete consensus on build goals or design. And pretty much every build comes with caveats about cost, practicality, purpose, and how far the player is willing to dig into incarnate content.

I also have a couple of builds I consider good, but the number of people looking specifically for, say, Ice/Fire Dominators is so low, and the build updated so frequently, that it is IMO more economical to just respond to individual requests rather than put up a post hoping someone finds it.

messy

Alright... I think everyone has found every possible way to word, "This is silly and unnecessary," so I just wanted to stop back in to say that I'm at least grateful that the mods aren't moving every single build thread that pops up in AT forums to this one.

If we were being forced to stop using the more organized and intuitive system that we use already I would be upset. Instead, I'm just slightly confused... A much better alternative.

I do so love to rage against the machine.

Personally I think it makes a lot more sense to have builds consolidated to one area rather than spread out between every archetype sub-forum. Our AT's are not so diverse that someone who typically likes to hang out in the Scrapper forum can't offer good advice on a Brute build. Someone who likes to play Corrupters probably has some good advice for a Defender.

If all your educated builders are in one place that means that they are more likely able to see people who need help. More than this, all our educated people being in one place means that they will be able to learn from each other as well, broadening their perspective, and be even better suited for helping people than they already were.

This is simply a good idea whichever way I look at it.

I must confess I was slightly perplexed by the need for this forum but as others have said, since it's obviously getting some use, then maybe people are feeling some kind of benefit from it.

One thing I've noticed with bulletin boards is they fairly soon settle down to their own level - by which I mean there are some that will be constantly busy, others that won't and some may turn into specialist subjects.

I guess the community team's argument would be simply that because this game is as accessible as they can make it, from a casual to a dedicated player's perspective, then so should the forums be as accessible too. Maybe this is where the new player will look initially... the Build Workshop is kind of self-explanatory. Once they've found their favourite AT and decided to experiment a bit then it'll be time to gravitate towards the AT specific boards. But at the very least, we now have a useful jumping off/on point for a new player and a decent repository of information for the experienced forumite. That's for the cost of one extra board so it's not that big an issue I guess. Those who absolutely don't want to use this board are entirely at liberty to not use it.

Just one thought - a potential suggestion maybe:

Make this the main "AT & Builds" Board and make then AT specific boards child boards of this. That may then turn this section into the "General build discussion" section and then the AT boards... well we know what they do anyhow. I'm not saying that's the best way, but it's one notion that kind of came to me as a possibility.

"You got to dig it to dig it, you dig?"
Thelonious Monk

Well I held back on saying anything til I could see where this is going....

The only way I think this really works is if you break it down into subcategories of AT's. Unfortunately, that's really just bringing us back to where we were, by having the builds back in their respective AT categories!

It's too convoluted. It's a hectic looking page and to make these builds easily accessible, a person shouldn't have to look through a bunch of posts on the FotM to find a.... Gravity/* controller build (for example).