Ototo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:20 pm
Still missing the point of why BOrk is rated above Chosen in WB environment. In the worst possible scenario they are the same tier, and definitely same tier than KotBS, both bringing exactly the same utilities to WB environment.
Look at it this way: Would you rate SM above KotBS? Cause that is very close to what you are doing. You are rating an insanely useful small scale tank above the top WB scale mechanic, auras.
S + A are both the "backbone" of the warband, S is just best of the best, when it comes to picks, IMO.
What BORK brings;
-Block channel (100% block + dmg reflect shield on demand)
-Corp debuff (stacks with zealot)
-CD decreaser
-absorb bubble
-morale pump + M3 1200 5s aoe silence
-even more massive wounds potential than any other tank
-WS buff to mdps
-armor debuff for mdps assist (stacks with zealot)
-Skullthumper for assist mdps on priority targets
-resistance bellows, so can do same as Chosen Aurabot
-spamming Big Swing + Waaagh to proc Sorc procs + DoK procs ; generally more AoE pressure output than a Chosen can generate
The Chosen main purpose is to be the aurabot. But we can alternatively get resistance buff from zealot, Shaman, BORK, so it's not end of world if party is missing chosen. Toughness aura more often than not becomes a null sum game, where one party does X debuff and other side Y buff, and they mostly converge around + - 0 effect, or anyways relatively abysmal different. Sure its good to have it, again not too much of a issue if not. 3rd aura option is then either the AP aura (zealot AP ritual + DoK AP feed tactic), -25% heal aura (zealot hdbuff, don't stack), cast time increaser (mara aoe interrupt, and again you expect the enemy heals to be scattered anyway and running their own cast time decreasers, so again minimal effect). Or minor self heal aura. Magic dmg reflect aura shines vs BWs for sure, again not too many order wbs out with proper BW balls.
AoE stagger is good, but again often wasted due to all the aoe dmg flying around, and you have mara anyway going for the AoE KDs. AoE Woundsdebuff is nice, but end result is that it mostly just negates the WP woundsbuff.
Now I'm not saying Chosen is bad by any means, it's very much A-tier class; I'm just pointing at all the stuff BORK has, that brings even more value to the warband.
Ideally a wb setup it 4 chosen 4 borks, but if we start deviating from that, I'd prefer with 5 borks 3 chosens as next best alternative.
Both are very durable tanks, Bork just takes the "im da best" spot when it comes to extreme durability + utility package.
Also, I'm rating SM below Kotbs. Again both are S/A tier picks, SM brings Whispering Wind and absorb shield. And AoE knockback when its needed, or possible M2 Wings of Heaven utility with snare.
However Kotbs does bring a crit buff to party and also +15% healing to party, which has perfect synergy with RP+WP heal increase modifiers to make them must have in any party. Kotbs Vigilance is absurd good as well, and SM doesn't have the self block increaser that BORK hits to become immortal. There is also excellent synergy between Sorc-zealot-Bork corp resis debuffs + output, whereas SM lost their chance to debuff all resis and help BWs to face far less resis.
SM is excellent tank and I prefer playing it to my Kotb, but Kotb is IMO slightly better than SM when it comes to maxing warband tankiness and utility. (M3 1200, M4 solar flare option) Ideally you have however 4 kotb 4 Sms in a warband. But 5 kotbs 3 Sms is still pretty good pick as second best alternative.
Stagger has more value on kotbs due to Chosen vs Mara stagger vs KD immunities sharing. KOTB also gets Dirty Tricks + Focused Mending and a proper M3.