Help Building Confidence for MOBA's

[Jolly Co-operator]

A little less than two months ago, I built my first gaming PC (with help from my fellow Escapist users, actually). Since then, I've been trying out games that just didn't work very well on consoles. This, of course, led me to MOBA's, which aren't very prevalent on consoles. There are currently three that I play right now: Awesomenauts, League of Legends, and DOTA 2.

The long match times, plus the amount of sway just one player can have on a match with so few people, sort of stresses me out, even though I enjoy the games. This isn't much of a problem with Awesomenauts, since the matches are much shorter, and the community is more casual than that of most MOBA's I've seen or heard of.

In League of Legends (the one I play the most, and the first I ever tried), I can usually only bring myself to play one or two games until I get too worried about performing poorly in the next one, and just stop. It's not that I'm bad at the game; I'd say my skills are average for someone of my level, and even when I do somewhat poorly, I'm usually not the worst on the team.

In DOTA 2, I haven't even been able to bring myself to play one match that wasn't with bots. I've just heard so much about how harsh the community can be that I expect to be berated. It also doesn't help that I have trouble with the camera, since it's different from LoL's, which hampers my kiting.

TL;DR: The long match times of MOBA's, plus the amount of responsibility placed on me as a member of such a small team, stresses me out a bit, and I have trouble getting myself to play sometimes, despite enjoying the games. Any tips for overcoming this?


EDIT: I just finished my first real match of DOTA 2, and it went pretty well. We won, although I didn't have the same insane beginners luck I had in my first game of LoL (I think it was something like 18 kills and 1 death, as Karthus). I myself didn't do particularly well (0 kills, 3 deaths, 5 assists), but I'm happy that, at the very least, I didn't feed.

I do have one question though: why was I only allowed to choose from three heroes? I was under the impression that you could pick any of them, provided that nobody on your team is already using him / her. I'd spent all my time practicing with Lich, but ended up playing Skeleton King (who I actually rather like). I'm glad that I got some experience with a hero that I might not have considered, but I'd rather not have that kind of surprise popped on me every game. Does it have something to do with the match type I picked (I think it was called "Solo Draft")?

 

[thesilentman]

How about you play with some of us here then? I currently play with [user]SomeLameStuff[/user], [user]Candidus[/user] and his friends, [user]DrunkOnEstus[/user], [user]General Twinkletoes[/user], and [user]SlaveNumber23[/user] from this site, and we take the games for fun, even if our lanes are horrible. =D

Other than that, I strongly suggest that after each match, you put it out of your mind and take a walk for a bit. A simple one, not one to go outside and walk till the end of the earth, just one to get your mind off of the games.

I also think that you're putting yourself down in a sense. You might be really good, but the stress is just making you nervous. That's okay; we all get nervous, but I think that you should at least reassure some self confidence in yourself. Go practice a hero/champion that you're really good at and see how.

I play DOTA 2 and Awesomenauts, and I'm here to play with if you'd like. I'm pretty sure that most people that come to this thread would also offer to play, and I think that I'll start off: [link]http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198051822252/[/link]

Just take it easy, and you'll be fine. =D

 

[woodsymoments]

The majority of games on DOTA aren't that bad especially starting out as your opponents and teammates will be around you skill so they will just be learning too but you do get the one or two that are mouthy. If you still are a bit weary just get together with a few friends and group up to play togther.

 

[Esotera]

I've only played Dota 2 out of all the MOBAs out there, and my best advice is to just pick a couple of characters & learn everything you can about how to play them, then just gradually apply that to a bunch of other characters. Playing with friends who know more will definitely help (but that's true of any game).

Also Dota 2 roughly matches you against your play level, so it's not like you'll be up against the pros when you're starting out. The community really isn't that bad apart from the odd player, and the reporting system gives you the satisfaction of knowing you put them in low priority.

 

[endtherapture]

Play with a group of friends. Stack as a 5 in Dota 2 and just get into pub games. It's how you learn. Play some games solo, add the friendly players in matches as friends and then play with them. You'll get better.

Focus on fun and easy heroes to play, like Lina and Bounty Hunter at first. Just throw yourself in and don't take anything peopl say to heart because most of them are angry virgins!

 

[Jolly Co-operator]

How about you play with some of us here then? I currently play with SomeLameStuff, Candid and his friends, DrunkOnEstus, General Twinkletoes, and SlaveNumber23 from this site, and we take the games for fun, even if our lanes are horrible. =D

Other than that, I strongly suggest that after each match, you put it out of your mind and take a walk for a bit. A simple one, not one to go outside and walk till the end of the earth, just one to get your mind off of the games.

I also think that you're putting yourself down in a sense. You might be really good, but the stress is just making you nervous. That's okay; we all get nervous, but I think that you should at least reassure some self confidence in yourself. Go practice a hero/champion that you're really good at and see how

I play DOTA 2 and Awesomenauts, and I'm here to play with if you'd like. I'm pretty sure that most people that come to this thread would also offer to play, and I think that I'll start off: [/link]http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198051822252/[/link]

Just take it easy, and you'll be fine. =D

Thanks for the tips, and the offer. Since you also play DOTA 2, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me.

I've been looking through the heroes, trying to pick at least one to main for a while (I'm torn between Lich, Venomancer, Broodmother, and Silencer. Leaning towards Lich). In the role descriptions, I notice that a lot of heroes are listed as "carry". I know that new players probably shouldn't carry, if they can avoid it, but some of those heroes really look interesting. If a hero is listed as "carry", does that mean that the hero will always be expected to carry, or that it merely has the potential to carry? I'm guessing it's the latter, but I just want to be sure.

 

[Glongpre]

A little less than two months ago, I built my first gaming PC (with help from my fellow Escapist users, actually). Since then, I've been trying out games that just didn't work very well on consoles. This, of course, led me to MOBA's, which aren't very prevalent on consoles. There are currently three that I play right now: Awesomenauts, League of Legends, and DOTA 2.

The long match times, plus the amount of sway just one player can have on a match with so few people, sort of stresses me out, even though I enjoy the games. This isn't much of a problem with Awesomenauts, since the matches are much shorter, and the community is more casual than that of most MOBA's I've seen or heard of.

In League of Legends (the one I play the most, and the first I ever tried), I can usually only bring myself to play one or two games until I get too worried about performing poorly in the next one, and just stop. It's not that I'm bad at the game; I'd say my skills are average for someone of my level, and even when I do somewhat poorly, I'm usually not the worst on the team.

In DOTA 2, I haven't even been able to bring myself to play one match that wasn't with bots. I've just heard so much about how harsh the community can be that I expect to be berated. It also doesn't help that I have trouble with the camera, since it's different from LoL's, which hampers my kiting.

TL;DR: The long match times of MOBA's, plus the amount of responsibility placed on me as a member of such a small team, stresses me out a bit, and I have trouble getting myself to play sometimes, despite enjoying the games. Any tips for overcoming this?

Relax man. You don't have to stress, you will never meet the people you are playing with so who cares what they think. If they start flaming just laugh at there awful attempts at it.

 

[thesilentman]

How about you play with some of us here then? I currently play with SomeLameStuff, Candid and his friends, DrunkOnEstus, General Twinkletoes, and SlaveNumber23 from this site, and we take the games for fun, even if our lanes are horrible. =D

Other than that, I strongly suggest that after each match, you put it out of your mind and take a walk for a bit. A simple one, not one to go outside and walk till the end of the earth, just one to get your mind off of the games.

I also think that you're putting yourself down in a sense. You might be really good, but the stress is just making you nervous. That's okay; we all get nervous, but I think that you should at least reassure some self confidence in yourself. Go practice a hero/champion that you're really good at and see how

I play DOTA 2 and Awesomenauts, and I'm here to play with if you'd like. I'm pretty sure that most people that come to this thread would also offer to play, and I think that I'll start off: [/link]http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198051822252/[/link]

Just take it easy, and you'll be fine. =D

Thanks for the tips, and the offer. Since you also play DOTA 2, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me.

I've been looking through the heroes, trying to pick at least one to main for a while (I'm torn between Lich, Venomancer, Broodmother, and Silencer. Leaning towards Lich). In the role descriptions, I notice that a lot of heroes are listed as "carry". I know that new players probably shouldn't carry, if they can avoid it, but some of those heroes really look interesting. If a hero is listed as "carry", does that mean that the hero will always be expected to carry, or that it merely has the potential to carry? I'm guessing it's the latter, but I just want to be sure.

Potential, as in DOTA, it's a lot less set in stone as League is. For example, you can carry with Vengeful Spirit, but her abilities rely on her being a support in teamfights. That's probably the closest analogy that I can give, as a carrying Venge is really uncommon.

Also, anyone can carry (in the strictest definition) in DOTA except if you're only geared for support, something that I've heard Chen as a prime example. It's all down to items and the situation of the game at that point.

If you want more DOTA questions answered, we've got a user group here: [link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/DotA-2[/link]. Come on in, we don't mind if you're a beginner. =)

 

[Glongpre]

Thanks for the tips, and the offer. Since you also play DOTA 2, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me.

I've been looking through the heroes, trying to pick at least one to main for a while (I'm torn between Lich, Venomancer, Broodmother, and Silencer. Leaning towards Lich). In the role descriptions, I notice that a lot of heroes are listed as "carry". I know that new players probably shouldn't carry, if they can avoid it, but some of those heroes really look interesting. If a hero is listed as "carry", does that mean that the hero will always be expected to carry, or that it merely has the potential to carry? I'm guessing it's the latter, but I just want to be sure.

Having played a lot of Dota on warcraft 3, don't worry about maining anyone just play whoever you want to. You won't learn all the heroes if you just play a couple, obvious I know.

Pubs will always think certain heroes are ONLY one role, so if you see randoms using one hero as a carry then they will expect you to also. But they are pubs so tell them to shove it, and play the hero as support if you want. You will figure out the game as you play more, so don't worry so much.

 

[staika]

I really only play lol but really you just have to do research and it's a learning curve that you have to learn through doing it. I played bots for a good while until I was good enough that I could go against other people and do good. I spent a lot of time just reading the champions and what they did and I watched a lot of pro streams.

You have to make time for these games though since you can't quit or pause whenever so you have to make sure you have enough time to play a game. Watching pro streams helps a lot since I see what they do and learn different styles on how to do each lane. I would suggest picking your favorite lane and just try to get real good at that lane and then branch off to other lanes.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I've been looking through the heroes, trying to pick at least one to main for a while (I'm torn between Lich, Venomancer, Broodmother, and Silencer. Leaning towards Lich). In the role descriptions, I notice that a lot of heroes are listed as "carry". I know that new players probably shouldn't carry, if they can avoid it, but some of those heroes really look interesting. If a hero is listed as "carry", does that mean that the hero will always be expected to carry, or that it merely has the potential to carry? I'm guessing it's the latter, but I just want to be sure.

Play Single Draft. It'll force you out of your comfort zone. You really are better off learning a variety of heroes rather than "maining" one. 90% of the difficulty of DOTA comes from contextual/iterative knowledge, and a healthy portion of THAT is knowing what the guy attacking you is capable of doing. And really, I THOUGHT I was going to like certain heroes when browsing through them in the beginning, and ended up preferring a bunch I'd have never considered because I was forced to try them out via Single Draft.

As for the carry question...honestly, carries tend to be pretty noob friendly for the most part, especially guys like Ursa and Drow and Viper, who are loaded with strong passives and are kind of "right click to win" unless they're badly under-leveled or under-geared. I've played pub games with and against teams of five carries, and they did just fine. Some carries are referred to as pub-stompers for a reason. You'll figure out which ones they are pretty quickly. (Spoiler alert - it's the one that's gone 25-3).

 

[Jolly Co-operator]

How about you play with some of us here then? I currently play with SomeLameStuff, Candid and his friends, DrunkOnEstus, General Twinkletoes, and SlaveNumber23 from this site, and we take the games for fun, even if our lanes are horrible. =D

Other than that, I strongly suggest that after each match, you put it out of your mind and take a walk for a bit. A simple one, not one to go outside and walk till the end of the earth, just one to get your mind off of the games.

I also think that you're putting yourself down in a sense. You might be really good, but the stress is just making you nervous. That's okay; we all get nervous, but I think that you should at least reassure some self confidence in yourself. Go practice a hero/champion that you're really good at and see how

I play DOTA 2 and Awesomenauts, and I'm here to play with if you'd like. I'm pretty sure that most people that come to this thread would also offer to play, and I think that I'll start off: [/link]http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198051822252/[/link]

Just take it easy, and you'll be fine. =D

Thanks for the tips, and the offer. Since you also play DOTA 2, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me.

I've been looking through the heroes, trying to pick at least one to main for a while (I'm torn between Lich, Venomancer, Broodmother, and Silencer. Leaning towards Lich). In the role descriptions, I notice that a lot of heroes are listed as "carry". I know that new players probably shouldn't carry, if they can avoid it, but some of those heroes really look interesting. If a hero is listed as "carry", does that mean that the hero will always be expected to carry, or that it merely has the potential to carry? I'm guessing it's the latter, but I just want to be sure.

Potential, as in DOTA, it's a lot less set in stone as League is. For example, you can carry with Vengeful Spirit, but her abilities rely on her being a support in teamfights. That's probably the closest analogy that I can give, as a carrying Venge is really uncommon.

Also, anyone can carry (in the strictest definition) in DOTA except if you're only geared for support, something that I've heard Chen as a prime example. It's all down to items and the situation of the game at that point.

If you want more DOTA questions answered, we've got a user group here: [link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/DotA-2[/link]. Come on in, we don't mind if you're a beginner. =)

Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I'll also check out the user group. Thanks for pointing me to it, by the way. I hadn't even considered checking for one.

 

[LAGG]

The Dreamhack Summer happening this very weekend. Maybe watching a few commented matches can help you.

 

[Aircross]

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never stop me from playing Dota 2.

 

[The Wykydtron]

My guide: Play DOTA: Don't give a FUCK.

Maybe it's just me, but after playing so much LoL, as many gripes as I have (there are a lot of them) with DOTA 2, it's nice to be able to instalock anybody and nobody goes on about gg troll pick.

Literally instalocking Phantom Assassin every game and playing for fun. Don't give a fuck. There are a LOT of disconnecting people though. At least one, perhaps two every game. Not even raging or feeding, they just mysteriously go AFK or never even get into the game to begin with.

I was juking the fuck out of this Invoker. Because lol 6 second cooldown ranged teleport. Jumped to my minion wave that alone got me out pretty much but I then jumped back to his minions, then back to mine, then to a jungle camp, then away. Lololololol

Don't give a fuck, make stupid plays, maybe win game.

Basically I treat DOTA 2 as "It's ok, this isn't ranked": The Game

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

Snip

Honestly, I've had the opposite experience as you. I was told to cut my teeth on Heroes of Newerth, and those people ate me alive and left me as a quivering shell of my former self (not quite literally). I played one LoL match, it felt all wrong to me after HoN, and people threw fits. To date I have not had one negative experience playing Dota, despite being clueless in certain situations and feeding the hell out of my lane. I've played about 30 games of it and it's my Moba of choice, hands down.

Also, I've met some great acquaintances (thesilentman name dropped me for example, I wasn't expecting that), and everyone I've played with that wasn't pub/random has gone out of their way to teach everything they know, even going as far as 1v1 matches in mid lane to teach me lane control and using the towers. Hell, even some randoms have offered advice as opposed to griefing me for what I did/didn't do.

Like thesilentman said, many people and I certainly will happily practice matches with you, join a party with you for bots or public, or answer questions in the usergroup. The whole situation is a beginner's dream really (and I certainly still am one). Above all, just relax, remember that it's just a game, and even if someone does decide to show their teeth, they're just being a dick and it's very probable that you'll never hear them again afterwords. Just remember to enjoy it, it's not a job : )

Edit: I'm sure some 8 hour a day people see that tournament money and consider it a job, but you know what I mean : )

 

[Corven]

EDIT: I just finished my first real match of DOTA 2, and it went pretty well. We won, although I didn't have the same insane beginners luck I had in my first game of LoL (I think it was something like 18 kills and 1 death, as Karthus). I myself didn't do particularly well (0 kills, 3 deaths, 5 assists), but I'm happy that, at the very least, I didn't feed.

I do have one question though: why was I only allowed to choose from three heroes? I was under the impression that you could pick any of them, provided that nobody on your team is already using him / her. I'd spent all my time practicing with Lich, but ended up playing Skeleton King (who I actually rather like). I'm glad that I got some experience with a hero that I might not have considered, but I'd rather not have that kind of surprise popped on me every game. Does it have something to do with the match type I picked (I think it was called "Solo Draft")?

You're playing the game on single draft, that mode randomly selects 1 character from each type (agility, strength, or intelligence)

 

[Elfgore]

I really have a problem with randoms on LoL even at lvl 25. I play the role tied for first to be blamed for every problem in the game. Take a guess? It's support. If top lane gets ganked in the first 5 minutes it's my fault for not warding. You know your team is bad when the junglar complains about no wards IN THE DAMN JUNGLE and then says report me because I don't ward. I am Soraka, if I get caught, I die in about 5 seconds, do not blame me if no one escorts me to Baron and they get it. So I usually just play bots until my friends get on and I don't get blamed for everything.

So really my only advice is... Don't play with randoms, play with friends only. They are a lot more understanding if you make a mistake.

 

[Simskiller]

My guide: Play DOTA: Don't give a FUCK.

Maybe it's just me, but after playing so much LoL, as many gripes as I have (there are a lot of them) with DOTA 2, it's nice to be able to instalock anybody and nobody goes on about gg troll pick.

Literally instalocking Phantom Assassin every game and playing for fun. Don't give a fuck. There are a LOT of disconnecting people though. At least one, perhaps two every game. Not even raging or feeding, they just mysteriously go AFK or never even get into the game to begin with.

I was juking the fuck out of this Invoker. Because lol 6 second cooldown ranged teleport. Jumped to my minion wave that alone got me out pretty much but I then jumped back to his minions, then back to mine, then to a jungle camp, then away. Lololololol

Don't give a fuck, make stupid plays, maybe win game.

Basically I treat DOTA 2 as "It's ok, this isn't ranked": The Game

Insta lock troll warlord.

GG troll pick >.>

Though if you go meepo/timber people MAY be worried about you. But timber's fun. CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP CHOP

I CUT THINGS IT'S WHAT I DO WHAT ELSE WOULD I DO?

WE WON WE WON HA HA HA WHAT DID WE WIN? WHAT?! CLARIFY!

Edit: and how could I forget ogre magi?

*multicasts* OH SKILL SHOT! NOT LUCK AT ALL!

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Best thing to do in League (and any moba, really) is to play with friends. The second best thing to do in League specifically is to mostly play bot matches until you hit level 10, after which you'll have both a basic grasp of the mechanics and be high enough level to avoid all the smurf accounts people make after getting banned. The first few levels are horrid, but after 10 it's pretty chill until you hit 30 and decide to try Ranked.