What are you playing now?

[FrieChamp]

FrieChamp,

My experience is that whatever moba you start out with is most likely going to be the one you'll stick with I'd wholeheartedly recommend dota 2 of course, especially because its made by valve<3 and not Riot.

I played LoL for about 18 months then got annoyed at all their bullshit patches. I moved to DOTA2 and I much happier on that side of the fence. The learning curve is certainly a lot higher though.

I still play LoL rarely.

The folks at my office play LoL - that's why I picked it over DOTA2. Is DOTA2 still in closed beta by the way? I remember that they were handing out beta keys like candy not too long ago, but I'd still need to ask someone. Any other key diferences between the two games (aside from the developing studio)?

[Thurnip]

FrieChamp,

My experience is that whatever moba you start out with is most likely going to be the one you'll stick with I'd wholeheartedly recommend dota 2 of course, especially because its made by valve<3 and not Riot.

I played LoL for about 18 months then got annoyed at all their bullshit patches. I moved to DOTA2 and I much happier on that side of the fence. The learning curve is certainly a lot higher though.

I still play LoL rarely.

The folks at my office play LoL - that's why I picked it over DOTA2. Is DOTA2 still in closed beta by the way? I remember that they were handing out beta keys like candy not too long ago, but I'd still need to ask someone. Any other key diferences between the two games (aside from the developing studio)?

DOTA2 is still closed... but last week i received 15 keys (!!!) and i have played 3 matches since i received my own key...

Game is hard. I die and have no idea wtf happened.

oh, now i remembered what i was about to say: if anyone want a DOTA2 key, let me know

Edited February 25, 2013 by Thurnip

[Sentura]

yea i got 24 keys sitting around doing nothing.

[Skacky]

I finally have a decent enough rig to play The Witcher 2, and so far I like it very much. Lots of in-game cinematics though, but the gameplay is satisfying enough I don't really care. I liked the combat system a lot in The Witcher, and I also like The Witcher 2's combat. It's easier, simpler and requires less rhythm. The interface is pretty bad though, compared to the previous game.

[Skjalg]

Theres even a bot that hands out keys, you just have to friend it on steam. http://steamcommunity.com/id/dota2bot

Also you can give it your keys and it will hand em out for you.

Anyways, the biggest difference between the two games long term is depth (in favor of dota 2) and the learning curve (in favor of lol). In dota you lose gold when you die and you can keep your enemy from getting gold by last hitting your own creeps (denying). Also the lane towers are not so strong i dota compared to lol, which makes your first 100 games a hell of a lot harder compared to lol.

But once you learn the basics of not dying in dota, you will end up more satisfied long term I think.

But you should definitively play the game your friends play, because mobas are not so cool to play alone imho.

[selmitto]

As at this moment I can't afford both Bioshock Infinity nor Crysis 3, I took that Deus Ex: Human Revolution pretty promo on steam and wtf, I can't stop playing it! I'm with 23~hours of gameplay and still hooked! I can't sleep anymore, I think this game has trapped my soul. At least my soul will be augmented.

About Dota 2, I'm also addicted to it. I played a lot of DOTA in the old days, but never got 101% addicted to that because I didn't have many friends who could play that, and I found really difficult to grab "almos every heroe's mechanics", the good order to purchase item sets and so on.

I played LoL when it was in Beta state but never continued. Then, VALVe released (?) Dota 2 and I took a peek and got insta-captured. The game suggests which items you should buy on every hero, so the learning curve is not so harsh anymore. And with the recent patches, it's possible to create hero builds and share them witht he community while you are playing it. Really good for newbies!

After all, most of my time with Dota 2 opened is thanks to the watch feature, which let's be cheer at the PROs playing. It's so entertaining!

[AlexM]

FrieChamp,

My experience is that whatever moba you start out with is most likely going to be the one you'll stick with I'd wholeheartedly recommend dota 2 of course, especially because its made by valve<3 and not Riot.

I played LoL for about 18 months then got annoyed at all their bullshit patches. I moved to DOTA2 and I much happier on that side of the fence. The learning curve is certainly a lot higher though.

I still play LoL rarely.

The folks at my office play LoL - that's why I picked it over DOTA2. Is DOTA2 still in closed beta by the way? I remember that they were handing out beta keys like candy not too long ago, but I'd still need to ask someone. Any other key diferences between the two games (aside from the developing studio)?

That's cool. It's always more fun to play the one your friends/co-workers are playing. It's a heavy team game.The main reason I haven't quit LoL entirely.

It's one of those games where on the outside the games are quite similar but on the inside they are different. Essentially DOTA2 practices positive reinforcement. If you do well you get rewarded for it, if you don't do well you get penalized. LoL tends to try to normalize the game to a point where putting in a good early game doesn't benefit your team as much.

//begin rant

One issue I have with LoL is that a lot of the balance patches are knee-jerk reactions or based off designers preferences For instance the lead designer Morello has said many times how much he hates Irelia and Eve and they have suffered for it. They took everything unique away from Eve and for 1 year essentially annexed her to underpowered, only to patch her after that year taking away everything that was fun about her. In DOTA2 they have Rikimaru (similar if not more profound ability set) and the game is fine.

I remember there was a pattern, Guinsoo designers a unique fun character then Morello removes everything fun and unique about the character.

//end rant

Edited February 25, 2013 by AlexM

[Sentura]

riki was always underpowered, but then stealth is generally a problem in dota. it's too easy to detect with the right instruments, too hard to play against without those instruments. i generally think they should just overhaul the stealth system to make it work better

[Erratic]

riki was always underpowered, but then stealth is generally a problem in dota. it's too easy to detect with the right instruments, too hard to play against without those instruments. i generally think they should just overhaul the stealth system to make it work better

After just having a dogshit game as riki I want to agree with this but I don't think it's broken. There's interesting mind games that come out of knowing that the other team is actively dusting/using gem to detect you and then acting accordingly by targeting gen hero or not initiating or avoiding team fights where you can be dog piled easily, etc.

It fucks up your swing of things for sure tho.

[Sentura]

i agree on the mindgames, but to have stealth as is only for the mind games would be enabling terrible design for the offshot chance that you can juke or bait people around with it.

those same mindgames are already enabled without stealth and can be done with just juking anyway.maybe stealth should have tiers, so that you can disguise yourself better. level 1 stealth requires 1 item, level 2 requires a recipe + item etc. i think this would perhaps make it more worthwhile lategame, since it would scale a bit better.

[AlexM]

Yeah one good thing about stealth is it can be used to cause the other team to spend gold on wards etc. It's kind of a money sink for the other team.

That is my point though it's not overpowered. Eve in lol was like a weaker Riki and they still nerfed her to hell because low levels weren't smart enough to spend money on wards.

[Sentura]

i think that's one of the best things HON did: balance only after highest tier players. and sure it's a money sink, but effective use of a gem on a really tank hero (bristleback) renders a stealth hero completely useless lategame, which works contrary to e.g. riki.

[Skjalg]

icefrog is also notorious for balancing according to the top tier players, but the top players just isn't european/american (they are chinese).

Gems come in a very short supply (which means you can just kill the carrier and destroy the item (or pick it up and use it yourself), and it costs 700g, which can make a dent in your economy if you buy it early). I would not say stealth is broken, its just an ability that is commonly used for heroes that are good early to mid game. Late game it is only viable in certain situations but any good stealth player learns to always check who has the gem/ward/dust on the other team to stay far away from them.

Also, a team with a stealth carry/ganker would do well to focus the one with the gem first. Or the stealthy hero just cant join team battles early, which isnt that terrible as long as they join the battle at some point.

[Sentura]

i'd agree with you skjalg, but the point is that most heroes with stealth abilities are late gamers, and for someone such as riki, he even uses his ultimate and best skill on only getting free stealth. it's not as easy as just focusing the person with the eye, refer to my previous example with bristleback, who can literally kill your entire team because he can just soak up the damage like it was nothing. i think balancing it out so it takes more than just one item to see through all kinds of stealth would be a step in the right direction, more so than just leaving it as is. the whole fact that you can counter a heroes ultimate skill, supposedly the best skill for a hero, with a 700g item is just silly. stealth isn't fine, it's never been fine and it needs a severe overhaul. it's by far one of the biggest gripes with dota/hon

[Skjalg]

You're wrong. Most heroes with stealth as their main mechanic (such as bounty hunter, nyx assassin, riki maru and maybe broodmother) are all roamers which all peak mid game and then fall off. Only carries are really what you'd call late gamers. There are a few other heroes that has stealth but this is mainly used as an escape mechanic such as Sand King, Broodmother, Phantom Lancer. Mirana who can stealth her entire team kind of falls outside of this.

Which leaves Lanaya who can stealth when standing still, which makes her a surprise when she appears, but after she is mainly a carry that doesn't need that skill late game as it is much more needed early to mid game (Where stealth is dangerous).

Also, I wouldn't go so far as to say that rikis best ability is his stealth, its by far his smoke screen which silences, slows, and makes them miss. Absolutely horrible to be up against as a support player, and it synergizes really well with his other abilities. And even if he is spotted he can in most cases smoke screen and blink strike away to safety.

Now compare this stealth ultimate to bristleback's ultimate which makes him run faster, but only if he casts a spell.. +ms is all he gets... Not so great. Its the syngergy with the rest of his abilities that makes it killer. Also, he is a super great tank yes, which you should never chase, but other than that you should just ignore him in team fights because unless he is really fed he has no damage output compared to a carry...

Also, you forget that stealth is largely tweaked around fade time and visibility range and line of sight of the gem/wards.

Edited February 26, 2013 by Skjalg