What Does Your Chosen Character Build in an RPG Say About Your Professional Style

Featured article by Calvin Paige, Independent Technology Author

A lot of IT professionals also enjoy playing video games, whether on their PCs or consoles, and large, open world RPGs like the Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchises tend to be among the most popular with people who want to escape from daily life and relax after work.

One of the main features of these types of games is the ability to build characters that focus on using different abilities or strengths to change the way you approach different obstacles or quests within the game.

Most people, when they really love one of these games, will experiment with different builds to get new playing experiences after they have completed the game the first time, but most gamers do have one prefered style of player character they do their first playthrough with, and this is something personal that varies from player to player.

Here is what your chosen starting build says about you!

Melee and Unarmed Builds

Those who favor melee or unarmed builds, where they do most most of their combat at close range using swords, axes, clubs, knives, bare knuckle fighting or, in more futuristic settings like those seen in the Fallout franchise, hi-tech melee weapons or modern tools like golf clubs, tend to be people who are bold and extroverted. This style of combat build suggests someone who doesn’t want to get straight to the thick of things, and doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, or being seen taking action.

Ranged Builds

Ranged builds typically use guns, or variations thereof that fit the setting, such as bows and arrows in Skyrim or long range magic spells. These tend to be favored by people who are more thoughtful and deliberate, and also like efficiency. Ranged fighters vary between those who have some of the boldness of melee fighters and come out all guns blazing, and the more patient, perfectionist types who favor sniper style attacks.

Stealth Builds

Stealth builds aren’t always the most practical option in games with a range of different types of encounters, and so they tend to be chosen by people who are smart, patient, and love a challenge. A good example is a Fallout New Vegas stealth build, which offers some benefits in terms of sneaking weapons into places where they are not allowed, but where there are many situations where players may wish they had put the points into more damage focused stats instead, making the game much harder.

Area of Effect Builds

Combat builds that do damage over an area, buy using things like grenades and bombs, or in fantasy settings devastating wide area spells, are popular with people who like the satisfaction of dealing with a problem quickly, even if at some risk to themselves. AOE builds can be impractical, but a lot of fun, and so they tend to be chosen by those who value enjoyment in everything they do, and are willing to take a gamble sometimes.

What is your preferred starting build, and do you think these descriptions apply to you?