So, practicing DotA2...

[E-Dogg]

I've been playing DotA2 for about a month, some friends introduced me. Before i started i read guides, got tought the steps by said friends, and generally having a good time. When my friends were off line i tried a few pub games, used a couple of heroes and did all right.

Before i play a new hero i always either read a guide or get thought the ropes by friends. The problem i've encountered is when i'm practicing new heroes i'm not familiar with, especially melee heroes, and no friends available. I don't wan't to ruin a pub game, so i go for Bot coop. The problem is when the hero has no AoE and is ganking/lvl dependent. I tried a couple of games with Night Stalker, and sucked bad. It was kind of excpected, but people lost their rag completly.

Now, i didn't do anything "rude"; i took the last lane offered, didn't steal kills or push the lane, or any of those things, but still. And i must say i kind of understand: i basically lost the game for our team.

So how am i supposed to go about this? I need practice, but the melee heroes without AoE or escape can be pretty weak when i'm a bit of a noob _and_ unfamiliar with the hero. I don't mind losing bot-games, but some people obviously do, and i seriously don't want to mess up their game. Should i just stay away from those heroes til my KB-control is better? 1 vs 1 bot? Any advice?

 

[IllumInaTIma]

There are many ways to practice Dota 2. First of all, you must try EVERY hero in the game, no exceptions. Dota is the kind of game that demands practice and rewards knowledge, seriously, knowing how much mana hero needs to cast certain spell might be the only difference between successful gank and total failure. Also, you must know your role. If you are carry, be carry! Ignore teamfights, run away like a pussy if you sense gank, and steal, steal, steal! If you are mid hero go to mid and tell everyone else to piss off etc.
Also, ignore whatever rage is directed at you, Dota, as game, promotes this kind of behavior from other players, this is just how it is.
And one little advice, don't try to be good with every hero, KNOW every hero, but don't try to master all of them. Find your role and master all heroes that good in that role, or alternatively find a couple of heroes that you're just really good with. I've been playing that fucking game for more than 5 years now and I have about 15 completely different heroes that I constantly pick.
OH! And also, LEARN TO LAST HIT! Last-hitting is corner-stone of Dota. And practice, practice, practice.

 

[Smertnik]

Just keep practicing. You won't get better at a certain hero if you don't play them and bot games can only do so much. And I wouldn't be too concerned about other people's feelings. Sure, you should try your best and be as much credit to team as possible but it's not like a loss is a huge deal; it just increases a counter nobody but you can see.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Now, i didn't do anything "rude"; i took the last lane offered, didn't steal kills or push the lane, or any of those things, but still. And i must say i kind of understand: i basically lost the game for our team.

So how am i supposed to go about this? I need practice, but the melee heroes without AoE or escape can be pretty weak when i'm a bit of a noob _and_ unfamiliar with the hero. I don't mind losing bot-games, but some people obviously do, and i seriously don't want to mess up their game. Should i just stay away from those heroes til my KB-control is better? 1 vs 1 bot? Any advice?

Just develop a thicker skin. If people rag on you, explain you are new/unfamiliar with the hero. If they continue to rag on you, put them on ignore. Everyone was new at some point.

Besides, who the fuck cares about losing bot games? Seriously. Anyone complaining about that merits very little attention paid to their whinging. Just ignore them and enjoy your practice.