Rework thief fullblocking guide

Courtesy of Juko

2 files changed, 89 insertions, 114 deletions

diff --git a/blocking/blocking.tex b/blocking/blocking.tex
index 34228ee..1eff07e 100644
--- a/blocking/blocking.tex
+++ b/blocking/blocking.tex
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
 \documentclass[a4paper]{article}
+% Select correct tikz driver so we get good output pictures in the HTML files.
+\ifdefined\HCode
+   \def\pgfsysdriver{pgfsys-dvisvgm4ht.def}
+\fi
 
 \input{../preamble.tex}
 \usepackage[normalem]{ulem}
 \usepackage{kondou}
+\usepackage{tikz}
+
+\usetikzlibrary{shapes,arrows}
+
 
 % Metadata
 \title{Triple Trouble Eggblocking Guide}
 \author{Peter Parker IV \& others}
-\date{2020-04-11 \color{gray}{r0}}
+\date{2021-05-07 \color{gray}{r0}}
 
 \hypersetup{
 pdftitle={Triple Trouble Eggblocking Guide},
@@ -725,7 +733,7 @@ You can use \skill{CA}{4}{\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Rejuvenating_Ti
 
 \subsection{Thief}
 
-Thieves can block all eggs reliably, and with a lot of extra work and luck, also husks.
+Thieves can block all eggs reliably, and with a bit of preparation, also husks.
 
 As for your egg blocking skills, you have access to \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Smoke_Screen}{\uskill{Smoke Screen}} and \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Seal_Area}{\uskill{Seal Area}} (after using \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Prepare_Seal_Area}{\uskill{Prepare Seal Area}}).
 
@@ -748,38 +756,22 @@ Additionally, the cooldown starts after you prepare it, not after you use it, wh
 Therefore, the combination of \uskill{Smoke Screen} and \uskill{Seal Area} is enough to block all eggs, given that you remember to prepare the seal area whenever you have time.
 
 
-\subsubsection{Hardcore Mode - Full Blocking}
+\subsubsection{Advanced Mode - Full Blocking}
 
 \textbf{Note}:
 The following guide was written and contributed by Juko.
 Any questions regarding its contents should be directed to him, as he's the only one familiar with it.
 
-Thief full blocking is possible but it is considerably harder than Mesmer and Elementalist due to its fundamental differences in execution and RNG based components.
-It is extremely beginner unfriendly and therefore shouldn't be tried before you've mastered either one of the professions mentioned earlier.
-This specialization is purely for showing off your blocking skills and not because it is reliable, it's just a flex.
-
-Thief has access to three skills to handle the eggs:
-\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Smoke_Screen}{\uskill{Smoke Screen}}, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Seal_Area}{\uskill{Seal Area}} and \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Dagger_Storm}{\uskill{Dagger Storm}}\footnote{
-  You can actually have access to a fourth projectile block skill if you pick the Deadeye specialization, in the form of \skill{Rifle}{4}{\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Sniper\%27s_Cover}{Sniper's Cover}} (while kneeling).
-  However, having Deadeye removes your ability to full block due to the change of stolen skills pool, making you lose access to \uskill{Drink}.
-} and one invulnerability skill to block husks which they have to Steal: \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Drink_(stolen_skill)}{\uskill{Drink}}.
-This is enough to full block.
-In this guide, you only use \uskill{Seal Area} for egg spits\footnote{
-  \uskill{Smoke Screen} is no competition to \uskill{Seal Area} and therefore doesn't hold up while \uskill{Dagger Storm}, being a three seconds reflect, can't cover a full spit and would have a recharge time way too long regardless.
-} and \uskill{Drink} for husk and e/h spits.
-
-\uskill{Drink} being a stolen skill acquired from the Covington Pirates near the kegs spots\footnote{
-  50\% chance, based on a study involving Stealing 113 Covington Pirates on Laughing Gull Island.
-  Yes, someone spent an evening Stealing Pirates.
-}, it is only doable at the Cobalt wurm\footnote{
-  Statistically speaking, it would be possible on Crimson and Amber given you can get out of combat to port to Laughing Gull Island, get \uskill{Drink} and come back fast enough to the sweet spot to block husks but for the sake of your commander's sanity and your own, don't mess with statistics and loading screens times.
-}.
-
-Thief full blocking relies mainly on one trait but it will often not be enough and would be more considered to rely on four traits, scattered among three specializations of core Thief.
-
-Your main trait is \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Improvisation}{\trait{Improvisation}} which will allow you to use \uskill{Drink} twice to handle the e/h -- e/h sequence with vital supporting traits being \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Swindler\%27s_Equilibrium}{\trait{Swindler's Equilibrium}}, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Lead_Attacks}{\trait{Lead Attacks}} and \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Sleight_of_Hand}{\trait{Sleight of Hand}} to reduce Steal recharge.
-There is another assortment of recommended traits for execution convenience in the build but they will not be commented on as their utility will be fairly obvious further in this guide.
-Your main hand weapon must be sword and for off-hand, dagger is recommended for a built-in evade skill with the sword-dagger dual wield.
+Who would have thought, fullblocking on Thief is possible\textellipsis
+And not only is it possible, it is actually fairly simple!
+It requires just some minor preparation beforehand.a
+
+This build exploits a non-intended interaction between \uskill{Steal}, the \trait{Improvisation} trait and structures.
+The glitch is simple, stealing from a structure while having the trait equipped and one token of any stolen skill left recovers another token of this skill.
+As such, this is technically an exploit, which may get patched in the future so care should be taken when reading through the release notes as it is basically what is holding Thief's blocking potential together.
+
+In order to full block, you should have at the very minimum the \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Improvisation}{\trait{Improvisation}} trait equipped (Deadly Arts, last column middle), not have the Deadeye elite specialization selected and \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Seal_Area}{\uskill{Seal Area}} and/or \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Smoke_Screen}{\uskill{Smoke Screen}} equipped.
+This is basically all that is required.
 
 \kondou{images/thief-fullblock-build.png}{Build for Thief fullbocking.}{
   Thief
@@ -789,108 +781,91 @@ Your main hand weapon must be sword and for off-hand, dagger is recommended for
   -s "withdraw"
   -s "prepare seal area"
   -s "scorpion wire"
-  -s "prepare shadow portal"
+  -s "smoke screen"
   -s "dagger storm"
 }
 
-Before the wurms spawn, you should presteal a Drink from a Pirate enemy.
-You can find Crafty Corsairs on the set of islands north of \emph{Firthside Vigil Waypoint}.
-Which will be a good time to practice one of the three key components of Thief full blocking.
-
-These components are
-\begin{enumerate}
-  \item Timing and management of blocking skills
-  \item Moving back and forth between pirates locations and the sweet spot
-  \item Optimizing Steal attempts
-\end{enumerate}
-
-The first component is common to all blocking classes and Thief is no exception.
-
-For Thief, the skill to block eggs is \uskill{Seal Area}.
-In order to get the best out of it, use \uskill{Prepare Seal Area} as soon as the wurm comes out of the ground on the sweet spot.
-You don't need to nail the placement as the radius of Seal Area allows for a slight misplacement.
-
-From then on, you should always have a \uskill{Seal Area} ready to be procced which means that whenever you use it to block eggs, you should reuse \uskill{Prepare Seal Area} as soon as possible on the sweet spot.
-\uskill{Seal Area} is an instant cast skill and can be activated from anywhere on the map, which you will see the convenience of after further reading.
-
-Your skill for blocking husks and e/h is \uskill{Drink}.
-The tooltip states that it grants invulnerability for three seconds but it actually lasts for four seconds, enough to cover a full spit.
-It has a cast time of half a second, it is then used in the exact same way as Mesmer's \uskill{Distortion}.
-Place yourself on the sweet spot and start casting it during the wurm spit wind up animation to block husks or eggs effectively.
-Since the trait \trait{Improvisation} grants you the possibility of having two tokens of \uskill{Drink}, covering a e/h -- e/h sequence will not be an issue using the checking trick.
-
-You may also block some AoEs if you are confident enough, by using one \uskill{Drink}.
-You can afford it right after a husk spit if you have a spare stolen skill or before if you are confident about knowing that there will be no e/h spit coming.
-
-Unlike other classes however, you don't have any way to block spins or stationary dodges, you must dodge the spin and come back in place in order to block\footnote{
-  This statement is actually not completely accurate since \uskill{Dagger Storm} is a stationary dodge but it is better used for other situations.
-  The utility skill \uskill{Shadowstep} with \uskill{Shadow Return} or \skill{Sword}{2}{\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Infiltrator\%27s_Strike}{Infiltrator's Strike}} would seem to be good picks to evade the spins (teleport out of range of the spin and get back once it's over) but they are inconsistent on the teleport back, slightly misplacing you.
-}.
-
-If you are already taken aback by that statement\textellipsis you may not like what follows\textellipsis because only Thief requires you to do it.
-
-The second component will come in place once you don't have enough tokens of Drink to make sure the following husk spit doesn't get through.
-And this is where Thief blocking breaks the mold of full blocking.
-You'll have to run, all the way from the sweet spot to one of the three kegs spot Pirates, to get new ammos of Drink.
-This is where \uskill{Seal Area} is convenient since it doesn't always require you to be on the sweet spot.
-Another skill that will be excellent to have is \uskill{Shadow Portal}.
-It is similar to the Mesmer's portal but it only goes one way.
-Whenever you go for the Pirates, make sure you have a \uskill{Shadow Portal} ready to be used so you can get back on the sweet spot to replace your \uskill{Seal Area} after using it while you're away.
-Keep in mind that portals destroy the kegs so try your best to not put it in the way of keg runners.
-Ideally, it would be perfect if you use \uskill{Prepare Shadow Portal} just on the right time so its cooldown is over just after the wurm spits eggs so you can get back and replace it at the same time as \uskill{Seal Area}\footnote{
-  On Preparation skills, the cooldown applies on the setting up of the skill.
-}.
+For beginners or for people who want to go for the drools as well, I would recommend adding the traits \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Lead_Attacks}{\trait{Lead Attacks}}, \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Sleight_of_Hand}{\trait{Sleight of Hand}} (both in Trickery) and \href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Swindler%27s_Equilibrium}{\trait{Swindler's Equilibrium}} (Acrobatics, middle column middle) while wielding a Sword/Pistol set.
+Note that in order to fully block the drools, it is down to wether or not the wurm starts spitting husks but also not every single trait listed is required (Daredevil with \trait{Improvisation}, \trait{Lead Attacks} and \trait{Sleight of Hand} can do it with ease).
 
-\begin{figure}[ht]
-  \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{images/pirates-map.png}
-  \caption{
-    Reachable Pirates locations with \uskill{Scorpion Wire} equipped.
-    The yellow dots are Pirates on ground floor and the red dots are underwater Pirates.
-  }
-\end{figure}
+So here is how Thief blocking works:
 
+\begin{itemize}
+  \item
+    Acquire the Stolen Skill \uskill{Drink} from Pirate or Ooze hostile NPCs.
+    Pirates are north of \emph{Firthside Vigil Waypoint} and Ooze are in the caves further west from the yellow extractor at Crimson.
+    The tooltip of this skill states that it grants you Invulnerability for 3 seconds.
+    The tooltip is actually wrong, you have Invulnerability for 5 seconds, enough to prevent a full spit from slipping through.
 
-It is important, as you run away and as you are working on the last component, that you keep track of what Cobalt is doing so you can use \uskill{Seal Area} in time of an eggs spit.
+  \item
+    As for other fullblockers, when the event starts, position yourself in the sweet spot (cf. \hyperref[ss:mesmer-class-guide]{Mesmer fullblocking section}).
+    If you've equipped \uskill{Seal Area}, you can put down the Preparation as the boss spawns.
+    Dodge the spin(s) and block the first spit by using \uskill{Drink}.
+    If you have a Sword/Pistol set equipped, you can use skill 3 to dodge as the flurry attack has unstated evasion frames.
+    Next step depends on what you blocked.
 
-Before you go to a spot where there are Pirates, you would need to make sure there are, indeed, Pirates there.
-Try your best to not go in the general direction of the zerg since you will most likely not be able to steal more than once from them before they get killed.
+  \item
+    If your first block is a husk, don't do anything, don't move until the Wurm is done spitting.
+    Then Steal/Swipe from it to recover your used \uskill{Drink} token.
+    The next spit will be eggs so for this one, you use your projectile destruction skill, \uskill{Seal Area} or \uskill{Smoke Screen}.
+    After these first two spits in this scenario, you have two uses of \uskill{Drink} available for you so you may use one to block the upcoming drools.
 
-Remember you have a decent distance-coverage skill as \skill{Sword}{2}{Infiltrator's Strike} which you can also use for retreating.\footnote{
-  Mounting up to get to the plank or to cover distance is not a good idea since mounts have bad interactions with Preparation skills and may set them off on mounting or dismounting.
-}
+  \item
+    If your first blocks are eggs, use \uskill{Smoke Screen}/\uskill{Seal Area} and immediately \uskill{Steal}/\uskill{Swipe} from the wurm to get your wasted \uskill{Drink} back.
+    Then block the husks spit which comes right after.
+    You should be left with only one use of \uskill{Drink}.
+    DO NOT use it to block the drools.
+    That would immediately strip you from your fullblocking potential and force you to find Pirates or Oozes on the map to get \uskill{Drink} from.
+    It is relatively easy to recover from this on Cobalt but not on the other two.
+    \uskill{Steal}/\uskill{Swipe} from the Wurm when your skill is back off cooldown.
 
-It is advised to use \uskill{Scorpion Wire} to drag a certain Pirate from the group at beach spot or extract them from the water at jumping puzzle and mast on to the shore so you don't need to travel to the plank or go in the water\footnote{
-  Since Preparation skills are not selectable underwater, going into your underwater build destroys all your preparations and their subsequent skills.
-}.
+  \item
+    If the spits timers coincide after a burn phase, make sure your \uskill{Steal}/\uskill{Swipe} is off cooldown and two tokens of \uskill{Drink} available.
 
-Once you have a Pirate close enough for stealing and the zerg will leave them alone, it is time to work on the third component.
-Optimizing your Steal uses and cooldown.
+  \item
+    Remember the timers so you can know what skills to use to block the spits that correspond to eggs or husks.
+    If you can block drools with confidence that no husks will be coming by the time your \uskill{Steal} is off cooldown, you may go for it but don't forget to \uskill{Steal}/\uskill{Swipe} from the wurm after using your \uskill{Drink}.
+    The eggs and husks spits have respectively a 50 seconds and a 100 seconds cooldown at Amber and Crimson and a 45 seconds and a 90 seconds cooldown at Cobalt.
 
-And this is where Thief's blocking efficiency becomes controversial.
-How hard it will be for you to get Drink is RNG based and therefore extremely inconsistent.
-All you can do is bringing the odds to your side as much as you can.
+  \item
+    If the eggs and husks may come in random orders after a burn, make sure you have 2 tokens of \uskill{Drink} and \uskill{Steal}/\uskill{Swipe} off cooldown by the time the first spit is coming.    
+\end{itemize}
 
-When you steal from a Pirate, there is a 50\% chance that you get the skill you are looking for.
-If you don't, then this is where dodging will become important as \trait{Swindler's Equilibrium} will make you recharge Steal considerably faster.
-You'll have to alternate between Steal and dodging attacks until you get \uskill{Drink} before you get back on to the sweet spot.
-The suggested build has a lot of dodges and vigor uptime to assist you in that regard.
+You can find a small graph to help your decision in figure \ref{fig:thief-flowchart}.
 
-Since you have no reason to be on the sweet spot besides covering husk spits, you can usually fully commit to the acquisition of \uskill{Drink}.
-Be careful though, in case of the e/h -- e/h sequence for which you must go back to be ready to cast Seal Area twice.
-Once you have \uskill{Drink}, you can go back to the sweet spot and then it's rinse and repeat.
+\begin{figure}[ht]
+  \centering
+  \begin{tikzpicture}[every node/.style={fill=white}]
+  \tikzset{
+    base/.style={draw, align=center, minimum height=4ex},
+    proc/.style={base, rounded corners, fill=lime!20},
+    triang/.style={base, regular polygon, regular polygon sides=3},
+  }
+  \node (Spit) [proc] at (0, 0) {Spit is either eggs/husks};
+  \node (Drink) [proc] at (0, -2) {Use drink};
+
+  \node (LeftUseSA) [proc] at (-2, -4) {Use SA/SC and Steal};
+  \node (LeftUseDrink) [proc] at (-2, -6) {Use Drink};
+  \node (LeftDont) [proc] at (-2, -8) {Don't block};
 
-Given you have 50\% chance to get Drink per Steal and you can pull off around 7 Steals between husks spits with perfect execution, there is around a one in 128 chance to not get the skill in time.
+  \node (RightStay) [proc] at (2, -4) {Stay in place and wait};
+  \node (RightSteal) [proc] at (2, -6) {Use Steal and SA/SC};
+  \node (RightBlock) [proc] at (2, -8) {Can block};
 
-Full blocking doesn't usually require any specific gear.
-However, Thief may be the very exception since it's the only class that will actively get in trouble with hostile NPCs and should be able to tank some hits if you have trouble evading.
-\href{https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Minstrel\%27s}{Minstrel's} would be the best suggestion since it grants great tanking, extra boon uptime and some good heals in times of need.
-Going down while you are trying to get \uskill{Drink} is the worst thing that can happen to both you and the commander since finding you is considerably harder as you could be literally anywhere in the Cobalt arena.
+  \draw[->] (Spit) -- node {First spit} (Drink);
 
-As you can see, Thief full blocking is unnecessarily and considerably more complicated than any other full blocking classes in this guide with lower efficiency --- it can only full block at one head and it is not even guaranteed --- and therefore holds the status of meme.
-If you are growing bored of other full blocking classes and want a bit of spice, you could give Thief a go but not before that point else it will be an embarrassing disaster.
+  \draw[->] (Drink) -| node[xshift=-1em] {Blocking eggs} (LeftUseSA);
+  \draw[->] (LeftUseSA) -- node {Second spit} (LeftUseDrink);
+  \draw[->] (LeftUseDrink) -- node {Coming drools} (LeftDont);
 
-Thief blocking should always have a back-up blocker in case the blocker goes down at unexpected places or can't get the stolen skill in time.
-If a back-up is not found, the blocker should switch to a more reliable class unless specially allowed by the commander to solo block.
+  \draw[->] (Drink) -| node[xshift=1em] {Blocking husks} (RightStay);
+  \draw[->] (RightStay) -- node {Second spit} (RightSteal);
+  \draw[->] (RightSteal) -- node {Coming drools} (RightBlock);
+  \end{tikzpicture}
+
+  \caption{A flowchart of skill usage for Thief blocking.}
+  \label{fig:thief-flowchart}
+\end{figure}
 
 
 \subsection{Warrior}
diff --git a/blocking/images/thief-fullblock-build.png b/blocking/images/thief-fullblock-build.png
index ccd95b3..2a961ca 100644
--- a/blocking/images/thief-fullblock-build.png
+++ b/blocking/images/thief-fullblock-build.png