Isn't he cute? I couldn't help myself. He looks a lot like how I look when I'm playing Skyrim. I think right now, he's dealing with that Draugr in Saarthal. You know the one I'm talking about, the one at the top of the stairs! :D

Welcome back for our third installment of Builders Discuss. You can access past discussions in our new Archives thread. 

This week, we go off on a branch that is similar to Topic One, but address Other builds specifically. How do you use other builds in the Vault in your own creative process? Whose builds do you use? Do you use them as templates? Or do you branch from their concepts into your own ideas? Or do you play them? Read them? How much do other builds factor into your own creative process?

I have my opinions on the subject, as does Vargr, but first and foremost, Varg'Ette wants to hear from you, the members. And it doesn't matter your experience level, all input is welcome. 

Have fun and we look forward to hearing what you have to say. 

Well, first up I have to honestly say that to this day (after being a member of the Vault/Blog for 3 or 4 years) that I've only played a single build to completion. I tried to finish Mason's Sorcerer as part of an event a couple of years ago, but I really struggle with playing a character that someone else has created. For me that's their character, and it doesn't have the same meaning as my own... If that makes any sense, it kind of feels a bit shitty to say that, but when I make a build it tends to be rather personal, I suppose. I do read an awful lot of builds, less than I'd like and most of the time it's in their incomplete form (WORKSHOP FOR THE WIN) but I do read a tonne of them, and I need to catch up on a few.

As for using builds, well I very rarely use them for inspiration. I have done it before, notably with some of ShinJin's builds and, man I can never remember who posted it but the Orc Shaman King is perhaps the single piece of work that I've taken the most inspiration from (I had 2 builds based off of it for Skyrim and another 2 or 3 in other games) because that was my first build. Other then that, I generally just use people's builds as a guideline to figure out what's been done before. I rarely make characters that I think are too similar to another build.

My main inspiration for creation is in fact other folks work, early days I played build after build by other people, and lurked on the site before becoming a member, I reeived a lot of help from a very kind person who was so patcient with a total newbie, and the resulting build did quite well in the rankings..  I use anothers formatting and other people artwork, not for selfish reasons but because Google is quite character specific.

I also use examples from other builds for the write up to prevent me from overdoing it, (waffle). I am also concious of not repeating playstyle which makes producing anything new very difficult, and if I have to I always give credit to the original, perhaps I should go to building school.

I remember I have played exactly two builds on here that weren't mine: Karver's the Hermit, and the Bloodthirster, though I don't remember who it's by. Mostly I use other builds for inspiration. The concept of the build itself might give me an idea, or it might be as specific as an interesting combination of game mechanics the builder used for an ability. And Noodles has been a big inspiration for build presentation and style.

Have to second the Ponty and ShinJin calls...Ponty's ability to present the character always impressed me. Shin's creativity is astonishing. Take a look at his Dark Purveyor and tell me what other person comes up with a concept like that and can actually pull it off. Can't say if I directly was influenced by either, but their presentation skills and conceptual stretching have left a deep impression for sure. I'd also throw Paul in there too. His builds always feel extremly well thought out, nuanced and written up to perfection. Check out his Atmoran series for examples.

I have also played through numerous builds from others. I quite enjoy it. I like to see how the character feels and performs in the world. Notable ones that I remember were The Shade Mistress (Karver/Kael), The Whale (Paul), and Henson's Necromancer. 

Lastly...I've def built of of other's mechanics.

My Darth Sentinel used the Vampiric Glitch in Human Form as seen in the Shade Mistress and Kinetic.

My Holy Ghost and Storm Samurai used the Advanced Atronach and Magicka Battery via Gaurdian Circle, from Mason's Obsidian Sentinel (and others).

I always try to credit (if known) where the inspiration came from in the write-up. I think that's important. Although, new builders need not feel like they should know these connections to mechanics...the game has been around a while after all :)

I attempt to play other people's builds all the time, but that's probably because the character for me is all about the RP, a build is just what the character is wrapped in, so the fact that it's essentially someone else's character doesn't bother me.

And likewise, builds always inspire me to make my own characters if I don't directly use them - an armour combo here, a gameplay trick here, I'm doing it constantly.

In conclusion, they're a massive part of my process, which is how it should be in my opinion.

Seems like I'm the Vault's freakshow... I read 'em and I PLAY 'em. 

I really couldn't list all the builds from this site that I have played over the years. If there's a concept or a vibe to a build I read that captivates me... I play it--usually with some slight modifications that make it appeal even more to my liking, but without losing the spirit of the original build.

Basically, if I'm not working on a build of my own, I'm probably playing one of yours... just too many great ideas from too many great builders for me to pass up! xD

Not a freakshow Shin, just one of the most imaginative, and talanted builders we are fortunate enough to have on our community

[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Bonelord]Bonelord[/url] said:[/b]

Not a freakshow Shin, just one of the most imaginative, and talanted builders we are fortunate enough to have on our community

[/blockquote]I'm blushing! That's high praise coming from one of the co-creators of The Twilight of Meridia (another build that I have played and enjoyed... immensely ;D)