The Off-Topic Thread

[TotalyMoo]

Heyo!

This is the place where we should try to take off topic discussions if they risk derailing another thread. Please don't be scared to accidentally off-topic, as things can always be moved, but try your best to direct the discussion here.



Like this (and I put the link to this post in the original thread).

I used to work with Heroes of Newerth, shoutcasted for a few years, but later moved over into Dota 2 as I find it to be the superior game. Nowadays I mostly play all-random non-ranked games because I can't take it seriously with all the rage and tryharding. Just playing to have fun, hehe.

Tried my fair share of LoL but it's too casual for me, and I can't stand the fact that the games economy is built on more money = more power, in which LoL is unique to any other MOBA.

That's pretty cool. Shoutcasting is just one of the employment opportunities opened up by doing journalism, so that would be a pretty awesome career to get into for me.

Re LoL, how is more money = more power? In terms of buying champs and skins with RP/real money, or do you mean team advantages (gold from objectives like towers, dragon and baron snowballing one team far further ahead)? In the last season, Riot nerfed snowballing to the ground. It's pretty common for games to last longer than 40 minutes because teams that are behind can always turtle in base.

I have a feeling that I'm slightly off topic.

The issue I see in LoL is that items scale upwards in power the more money you spend on them, instead of the other way around.

For example, in Dota 2, you can buy a "branch" for 50 gold giving you +1 in all stats - but an Ultimate Orb for 2100 gold gives you +10 in all stats. So 210 gold per 1+ all stat versus 50 gold per 1+ all stat.

Whilst in LoL it's the other way around, the more you spend on an item the more stats per gold it will give you. Don't have the time to find item examples here as I don't know them by heart (and I'm at work after all )

This emphasizes the importance of farm and it's the reason snowballing is such an issue in LoL. Many competitive teams have mentioned this in that the first teamfight(s) almost always decide the game.

 

[matlockman]

Heyo

This emphasizes the importance of farm and it's the reason snowballing is such an issue in LoL. Many competitive teams have mentioned this in that the first teamfight(s) almost always decide the game.

Fair enough. Lately it's been a little less bad, but season three (2013's season) was by far the worst. The smallest disadvantage meant almost certain defeat for teams, even in the early games. Nowadays a team can still fight back even after multiple failed fights. Riot has done a lot of work toward fixing this (although it almost certainly will not disappear due to the inherent structure of the game).

All very interesting points you've made. I'm very unfamiliar with DoTA (played it last back in 2010) and DoTA 2 apparently is very hard to learn. Might give it a go.

 

[TotalyMoo]

Fair enough. Lately it's been a little less bad, but season three (2013's season) was by far the worst. The smallest disadvantage meant almost certain defeat for teams, even in the early games. Nowadays a team can still fight back even after multiple failed fights. Riot has done a lot of work toward fixing this (although it almost certainly will not disappear due to the inherent structure of the game).

All very interesting points you've made. I'm very unfamiliar with DoTA (played it last back in 2010) and DoTA 2 apparently is very hard to learn. Might give it a go.

Do it! They recently introduced the 6.82 update which is pretty much the biggest update to hit Dota 2 since launch. It's going to take some time to get used to because it's not remotely as forgiving as LoL, but I'd gladly assist if you want someone to play with

 

[Victor Cortez]

I must be the only person on earth for whom DOTA has 0, zero, none appealing at all.

 

[matlockman]

Do it! They recently introduced the 6.82 update which is pretty much the biggest update to hit Dota 2 since launch. It's going to take some time to get used to because it's not remotely as forgiving as LoL, but I'd gladly assist if you want someone to play with

Thanks. I'll give it a go tonight after it stops updating.

I must be the only person on earth for whom DOTA has 0, zero, none appealing at all.

We all like different things I guess

Anyone here watching the LoL World Championships?

 

[TotalyMoo]

I must be the only person on earth for whom DOTA has 0, zero, none appealing at all.

Nope, lots of people are like that. It takes a special kind of person to enjoy Dota (or most MOBA type games to be honest) as it's learning curve is more like a learning wall.

 

[Victor Cortez]

For me it's all the fantasy thing that kills any sort of interest.

 

[TotalyMoo]

For me it's all the fantasy thing that kills any sort of interest.

You're not a fan of fantasy/sci-fi overall or just not the over the top high-fantasy we see in Dota?

 

[Victor Cortez]

You're not a fan of fantasy/sci-fi overall or just not the over the top high-fantasy we see in Dota?

I can't stand fantasy/sci-fi in any form unless it's done very, very well.

 

[matlockman]

I can't stand fantasy/sci-fi in any form unless it's done very, very well.

That's interesting. What are your thoughts on movies like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars? Is that very well done fantasy/sci-fi?

 

[Victor Cortez]

That's interesting. What are your thoughts on movies like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars? Is that very well done fantasy/sci-fi?

Right, you might as well prepare the firing squad.

Both, the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars either bore me to death or make me fall asleep before that.

 

[Sarius1997]

Anyone here watching the LoL World Championships?

Yeah, i do. Still sad that all EU teams are out now.

 

[matlockman]

Yeah, i do. Still sad that all EU teams are out now.

I'm a TSM fan myself, but I don't think they'll get too far unfortunately. The skills of the Chinese and Korean teams are simply unparalleled.

 

[TotalyMoo]

I'm a TSM fan myself, but I don't think they'll get too far unfortunately. The skills of the Chinese and Korean teams are simply unparalleled.

For a LoL comp-scene pleb, which would be the ONE game - if any - I should watch to see the creme de la creme of comp LoL?

 

[Sarius1997]

I'm a TSM fan myself, but I don't think they'll get too far unfortunately. The skills of the Chinese and Korean teams are simply unparalleled.

Well, TSM is probably my most favourite team still remaning in the tournament. But i think they are somewhat overhyped, and will hardly stand a chance against White.

For a LoL comp-scene pleb, which would be the ONE game - if any - I should watch to see the creme de la creme of comp LoL?

The upcoming semi-final between Samsung Blue and Samsung White, probably.

 

[matlockman]

For a LoL comp-scene pleb, which would be the ONE game - if any - I should watch to see the creme de la creme of comp LoL?

As mentioned earlier, Samsung Blue versus White (if TSM and C9 lose to both teams).

All of the European teams have been eliminated, but I think North America still has two teams still in the comp (TSM and C9). Basically the entire comp is being dominated by Korean and Chinese teams.

Some of my non-LoL-playing friends came over last year for the season 3 world final, and they told us LoL players that even though they had no idea what was going on, the atmosphere and the hype of the grand final was truly impressive. A lot of people write off eSports as a fad and unimportant, but it seriously is becoming huge globally.

 

[TotalyMoo]

As mentioned earlier, Samsung Blue versus White (if TSM and C9 lose to both teams).

All of the European teams have been eliminated, but I think North America still has two teams still in the comp (TSM and C9). Basically the entire comp is being dominated by Korean and Chinese teams.

Some of my non-LoL-playing friends came over last year for the season 3 world final, and they told us LoL players that even though they had no idea what was going on, the atmosphere and the hype of the grand final was truly impressive. A lot of people write off eSports as a fad and unimportant, but it seriously is becoming huge globally.

But that's a game that hasn't happened yet, how do you know it will be good? I was more aiming for a replay, a game considered to be epic, the best of LoL, pretty much

And yes, large eSport tournaments have incredible atmosphere. It's the reason I still try to attend every DreamHack.

 

[TotalyMoo]

By the way, I really don't get why the rest of the world feel the need for drinking at all times.

Because it's a socially acceptable way to get "out of yourself" without being judged by others. It's like putting on a shell that pretty much everyone has worn, with a silent agreement that if you're in this shell you're "untouchable" in the sense that all your actions are affected by a substance and thus you aren't "yourself". People are stressed and like to relax, pretty much.

Then of course there's a feel good aspect to it, but I think a large part of this is perceived/placebo. A lot of people only drink because their vicinity does, which is why you often hear and see people stressing others to get more drunk, do shots, whatever.

As you can see I'm not an active advocate of alcohol usage more than the occasional Friday beer at work (beer is damn delicious, so is high quality tequila).

Or did you mean drink as in consume liquids?

In that case it's because it's damn nice. I almost constantly drink something, but then it kind of "replaces" a lot of eating. So almost no chips, candy, munch et cetera.

 

[Victor Cortez]

I was referring to people drinking non-alcoholic beverages when streaming or on TV. I find it' mildly bad mannered.

One thing that puzzles me is how Top Gear for example always mention whether a car has a cup holder or not, while I've never used one in my life.

 

[TotalyMoo]

I was referring to people drinking non-alcoholic beverages when streaming or on TV. I find it' mildly bad mannered.

One thing that puzzles me is how Top Gear for example always mention whether a car has a cup holder or not, while I've never used one in my life.

Hah, darn, well at least I took that into consideration

From my personal streaming experience I have to say it's mostly because your throat gets very dry when speaking for extended periods, especially if you're not super comfortable socially.

As for cup holders they are awesome, I suppose you're not the "drink coffee on the way to work"-type then?