DotA & HoN

[earthworm48]

Well I've just started playing these DotA based tower defense games and they are fun but I am new, it can't be helped when starting a new game. Well new to me.

Now maybe its just me but I've read what I can of "Newbies read this" from DotA forums etc but still when I go online most people are all OMFG NOOB etc etc which I am, but I do suck to be fair. I'm trying to get better but haven't really got anywhere yet.

What I was wondering is do any EvAv'ers have any tips etc for a newb starting out in these games?

[asimplehero]

I play League of Legends which is a lot more newbie-friendly in my opinion. You can also play with bots and learn different characters and it's free. I haven't played HoN for a long, long time so I don't know how that's progressed.

[brandonjclark]

Do you feel you understand the basic tactic of running in and out of battle, using your pawns as shields?

Have you ever played Monday Night Combat on the 360? That's basically a FPS DotA clone. If you get the idea there, then you've got the premise for combat in LoL or DotA. The power-ups are really just there to enhance your strategy of knowing when to dart in and out of the small battles that arise when the armies clash (be it mobile or stationary).

I never really considered myself very good at these types of games, so I'm sure some EvAv member is grinding his teeth just waiting for this sentence to finish so he/she can "save this guy from his dumb ass".

[Ranhert]

I just recently started playing LoL and have found it very easy to get into but also very deep and fun to learn. There is still the occasional "OMG Noob" but generally it is not towards me as I have picked up quickly and hold my own quite well. I never played DotA or HoN but I played a little MNC and feel that while the strategy is sortof the same, in MNC you rely less and less on following with the bots whereas in LoL that is key.

So far what I have found is that you need to first and foremost be smart about darting in and out of combat with the enemy champions because when you die you hurt your team by not being in your lane and give xp/gold to the enemy.

You have to know what your champ excels at. Some champs carry, some lane, some gank, etc. Finding a champ that works best for your play style is key. Finding a champ that melds well with your group is harder. I have found that in the early levels, players just pick whatever champ they want and therefore some teams are weakly constructed and planned out. However, you can only do the best you can with the champ you have. For instance I have been playing Sivir mostly which is a laner mostly. She can kill creeps quite quickly but isn't great at fighting other Champs. She can keep them at bay quite nicely but that is not where she excels in early levels. So I attempt to cause a stalemate and gain xp/gold. If I constantly ran around trying to gank other champs (which at early levels Sivir is not very good at) then I would not be doing my team any favors.

I think everything boils down to champion selection and knowing your role.

Finally, a lot of bitches play these games. Quite often blaming a N00b on their team is only an excuse for how crappy they are playing also. Don't take it to heart and remember that at least you are trying and not afk'ing like I seem to get a lot of on my team.