tl;dr.
I'll be back tomorrow to read it.
I'll be back tomorrow to read it.
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I fully agree with the majority of this post. Item builds that only express 6 core end-game items don't fully give an explanation of what to build first.
I feel that when a user comes to MOBAFire and looks for a build, they're looking for a few things in terms of itemization - how to build the champ early game, what the final item build should be, and what priority your items should be in.
However, as the OP mentioned, items need to be highly flexible, and therefore a "cheat sheet" representing items cannot be fully applicable for each and every single game, ESPECIALLY if you are a tank.
I mean, look at the two builds in my sig - one consists of just Boots-Sunfire-Banshees while the other one is Boots-Heart of Gold-Aegis-Randuin's. And I've gotten numerous downvotes because of people who say "only two main items lol bad". Therefore I agree with the OP in that allowing a standardization of item diversity in a guide would be incredibly useful, since item builds are never static.
Another issue is, as the OP mentioned, builds that give the 6 core items and only that. If your, say,
Nasus build says Sheen-Aegis-Triforce, a lot of people won't know what the hell to start with. Sapphire Crystal? Doran's Shield? Ruby Crystal? Cloth Armor? At least put down what items you get out of spawn.
But this does bring up another issue - sometimes, not always, but sometimes, the starting items for a champ are variable. If you're playing an aggressive lane with Sion, you may want to start with Sapphire Crystal - if not, then perhaps a Doran's Ring.
In order to remedy this, there are a few options, one of them being the OP's "itemization tree" that is collapsible and re-expandable - certainly, this is a great thing to have.
But another thing that caught my eye is from Solomid's champion builder, where in their item section, they let you free-write about which items. Therefore you're at perfect liberty to say "Start with THESE ITEMS" in THIS SCENARIO. Then build THESE OTHER ITEMS in THESE OTHER SCENARIOS.
Example:
http://www.solomid.net/guides.php?g=1
But the tree suggestion is just as good.
Regarding the issue of a priority item section, I don't think that it would be too useful considering that if a user would want anything in-depth as that, they would be able to take the time to scroll to your section on situational items and read about it there.
Very good post though, offering some great suggestions.
I feel that when a user comes to MOBAFire and looks for a build, they're looking for a few things in terms of itemization - how to build the champ early game, what the final item build should be, and what priority your items should be in.
However, as the OP mentioned, items need to be highly flexible, and therefore a "cheat sheet" representing items cannot be fully applicable for each and every single game, ESPECIALLY if you are a tank.
I mean, look at the two builds in my sig - one consists of just Boots-Sunfire-Banshees while the other one is Boots-Heart of Gold-Aegis-Randuin's. And I've gotten numerous downvotes because of people who say "only two main items lol bad". Therefore I agree with the OP in that allowing a standardization of item diversity in a guide would be incredibly useful, since item builds are never static.
Another issue is, as the OP mentioned, builds that give the 6 core items and only that. If your, say,
Nasus build says Sheen-Aegis-Triforce, a lot of people won't know what the hell to start with. Sapphire Crystal? Doran's Shield? Ruby Crystal? Cloth Armor? At least put down what items you get out of spawn.But this does bring up another issue - sometimes, not always, but sometimes, the starting items for a champ are variable. If you're playing an aggressive lane with Sion, you may want to start with Sapphire Crystal - if not, then perhaps a Doran's Ring.
In order to remedy this, there are a few options, one of them being the OP's "itemization tree" that is collapsible and re-expandable - certainly, this is a great thing to have.
But another thing that caught my eye is from Solomid's champion builder, where in their item section, they let you free-write about which items. Therefore you're at perfect liberty to say "Start with THESE ITEMS" in THIS SCENARIO. Then build THESE OTHER ITEMS in THESE OTHER SCENARIOS.
Example:
http://www.solomid.net/guides.php?g=1
But the tree suggestion is just as good.
Regarding the issue of a priority item section, I don't think that it would be too useful considering that if a user would want anything in-depth as that, they would be able to take the time to scroll to your section on situational items and read about it there.
Very good post though, offering some great suggestions.
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So first and foremost, I've been a long time 'reader' of Mobafire but only had the chance of joining/commenting over the past month, trying to provide as much constructive criticism as I can. That being said, there has always been one thing that has always been a little thorn on my side that I feel can be improved greatly upon on the website - the way Items are displayed in guides. I'll go over the main reason why it does then dive into some suggestions that I feel could ease or be adapted into for current/future guides.
The Main Reasons Why the Item Sections in Builds Bother Me:
After looking through countless numbers of builds, it seems that every build contains either one of three 'item' scenarios.
1)Only Stating The Core Item Build As It Is [6 MUST GET ITEMS]
2)Each Item Specifically Mentioned [SPECIFIC ORDER]
3)Too Many Items/Too Little Items [which is then explained further in the Item Section]
*NOTE* In case you're confused about what I mean by the Item Section, I'm talking about the top part of the build that shows the items the build uses under the runes/skill sequence/summoner spells. I'm not talking about the Item Section in the guide which goes into more intimate details.
Edit: Otherwise known as the 'Purchase Order'
Now, I don't have any problem with these builds, the only thing I may suggest is that there is that lack of consistency among each and every single builds. Now I have a suggestion that might make it easier for both the MobaFire staff as well as potential Guide Writers
MobaFire Staff:
Sometimes it is a great thing to be able to see how a player builds their items in what specific order, seeing which items they build first in preparation for higher tier items mid-late game, unfortunately, builds that do this also gives players who are looking through builds (who just want to have a quick overlook of the items) the trouble of having to decipher which main items they have.
I understand that you guys already have a way to counter that by highlighting the higher end-tier items with a white font and the lower ones with a greyed out text.
I'm suggesting that there should be an option that's standardized across all builds that shows which items to get in the specific order that the guide creator chooses, but readers have the option to minimize them so they can quickly look at the main core item build.
If the above doesn't make much sense I'll try providing a visual representation:
Booshido's AD Ezreal
This is a build that shows the bare minimum of the Purchase Order, where people who are browsing builds can get a quick overview by having the items there, now compare it to:
SixSonata's Hybrid Tank/Support Taric - for this one scroll down the item section where it shows each specific item.
I feel like having the option to expand and collapse a large purchasing tree like that would allow for readers to have an easier time browsing.
THAT BEING SAID...
I understand that not everyone may build a character the same way, just by looking at the crazy amounts of builds here is proof enough, after playing so many games I know there are situational items that are needed and aren't usually factored when looking into builds, but this is where I'd like to go into:
Guide Writers:
This is more of a personal itchy topic that seems to bug more than it should with most builds. While most builds now contain a core item build, some of the really great builds have provided Alternative/Situational items section that show a greater understanding of a character with an exploration into most items and when to get them.
I noticed now on the majority of new builds, mostly with the AP Caster builds (but this is still the same for most AD/DPS/AS builds, is that they usually build in the order of damage first, and defense mid-late game dependent on the enemy team. Most of these involve rushing Mejai's/Sword of the Occult/Trinity Force/Leviathan, while I'm a big fan of this and definitely agree that builds should be played like this - there will eventually be teams where you have to build backwards, defense first then attack (think of going up against a crazy CC team [Nunu, Amumu, Kat, Ryze, Galio] - Penta Ulti Domination) - that was just one example of the top of my head, but this can apply to even not having the lead at all until mid game.
I feel that writers have to utilize a new system of explaining how items should be bought, while there's many discussions on which items are more beneficial on whatever character, it all eventually comes to how the way you build your items stack up against how the enemy is. Hence why I'd like to suggest to you all an idea (which you don't have to utilize, I'm only suggestion):
A Priority Item Section:
While it may seem like an everyday nonchalant idea of common sense, you'd be surprised how many people don't actually attempt to understand why certain items work and certain items don't - and just dive into a game trying a build without reading a guide fully (I'm guilty of this) - and no matter how much skill or awesomeness you may have, there will always be those games where you just turn downright stupid.
I feel like this might be very very difficult to explain without any form of visual representation, so I'm going to list an item build I use for Swain (which I'm writing a guide for, but don't expect it anytime soon), then attempt to give you a visual example of what I'm trying to say:
Item Build For Swain:
Doran's Ring, Mejai's Soulstealer, Sorcerer's Boots, Archangel's Staff, Abyssal Scepter, Rylai's Scepter, Rabadon's Deathcap
Now the Priority Would Go Like This:
Sorcerer's Boots> Rylai's Scepter> Abyssal Scepter> Archangel's Staff> Rabadon's Deathcap> Mejai's Soulstealer> Doran's Ring
Why is this the priority shaped like this? I just want all of you to know that the priority queue is not necessarily the order you buy items in, it is the order in which provides the most survivability benefit for each and any character, with damage being the least priority.
Now some of you would argue "No wayz dudez, your a carry - you got to stack up *insert expensive item/snowballer here* and destroy", YES, I understand that some builds require you to be uber fed and make such snowball items top priority, but that's not what the priority queue is trying to explain - which items, in which order, will grant your build survivability.
Now how would readers be able to interpret this? Like this:
The way items are usually built, boots are always one of the first three items, because you need that extra movement speed and not be a turtle giving off free kills, so hence why boots will always be no.1 priority to your survivability. Now how you proceed to build your items is dependent on how your team is doing in comparison to the other team, if you notice your team kills are lower then their team kills (aka your team don't have the upper hand), you should stop whatever item that you were building on the lower end of the priority queue and start looking towards the middle or higher levels of priority queue.
Get it?
So if the above mentioned Swain just finished making Sorcerer's Boots, but didn't finish making Mejai's Soulstealer, but rather has an Amplifying Tome - starts noticing his team is losing early game at about 4-10 (team kills), even though most players would finish off Mejai's and then build the next offensive item, they should just stop their building and save their cash for the an item that grants superior survivability (hence the higher priority)
Now the only thing wrong with this is when there is a situational item that you might desperately need, like getting Quicksilver Sash or Banshee's Veil, in which will take over a certain items place in the priority queue (and possibly changing the order)
But then again this is just something to think about, I hope this suggestion helps someone.
EDIT: I have this bad tendency to ramble on and on when I have an idea I like to share, and what has started as a small suggestion, I realize, has somehow blown into a huge unneeded possible idea of theory craft. Moderators, if you feel like the second part of the post really does take away from the core suggestion, please PM me and I'll remove it and move that section to Theory Crafting.