(Last Updated 2/13/2019 at 1:54 PM)
I’m going to do something a bit different with this post. I’m going to share with you a little six paragraph guide I keep as a text document that starts up with my desktop, to help me get better at online videogames. While I am well aware that these games are little more than Federation war training simulators, I’m still a pretty average, relatively masculine Millennial male, and because videogames are such an integral part of that particular subculture I was sent here to study, they remain one of my guilty pleasures.
The three I have the most experience with are Overwatch, League of Legends, and Starcraft 2, but these principles can be applied to similar franchises such as Smite, Paladins, DotA, Team Fortress, Destiny 2, Counter-Strike, etc. It’s as much a guide to contemporary (late 2018 / early 2019) online PvP games as it is to those three specific titles. Pros already know all of them, but for newbies, it’s a good guide to avoiding (very!) common mistakes that I’ve seen over and over in online games…and yes, I’ve made those mistakes myself before.
Fantasy videogames have long been one of my favorite distractions; our earliest home videos have me playing the original NES version of The Legend of Zelda in my diapers. But when this lifelong hobby of mine collided with my mental condition and existing psychological issues, those issues not only affected my gameplay, but made me feel like garbage at the same time. Below is a mini guide that has helped me work past some of those issues, and become a better player in the process. It’s nothing special, but I figure I’ll share it anyway. If just one person finds it useful, it will be well worth the time I’ve put into it. Enjoy!
The Six Principles of Virtual Warfare
1. Don’t be a hero. It’s not your job to win the game alone. Play as if you only have one life and ALWAYS avoid overextending. Know the characters’ effective ranges and play around them. (e.g, Don’t try to outsnipe a sniper as a medium ranged character.) If outnumbered, kite enemies into your team (Minions/NPCs included) instead of engaging. Learn when to stand still and wait for backup. Expect enemy reinforcements during every fight and anticipate how they’ll approach. Treat every enemy as dangerous and watch your health in battle. Predict how they will try to kill your character. When you see a teammate that’s about to die, peel and poke if possible, but don’t dive in and die with them. Protect them, but don’t try to save them. Don’t be a martyr. If you die, brush it off and play more cautiously next time. The best revenge is not killing a troublesome enemy, but running away and letting your team avenge you.
2. Keep an eye on every part of the UI, including the map, scoreboard, kill feeds, and especially your health. Pay attention to who dies, especially when it’s a tank or healer. Continually evaluate army strength on both sides across the battlefield and anticipate which characters might need help or be a problem. Know the map, including where to position to flank, take cover, approach safely, poke/farm, fight, escape, get health, etc. Know any repositioning abilities both teams might have and play around them. Don’t dive into unscouted territory. When in doubt, retreat and wait for reinforcements.
3. When you see an enemy player, try and flow with the direction of the battle – who’s retreating, and who’s advancing. Weave in and out as the battle allows, but err on the side of caution. Consider the players, NPCs, abilities, and especially health totals on both sides. What you like/dislike about a character is true for other players. Same goes for objectives, abilities, weapons, etc. Never underestimate others (not even NPCs) or overestimate yourself, even when victory seems certain. Act as though it never is. At the same time, try to trust your team’s skills in a fight, even if you’re losing. Play as if a comeback is always possible. Remember #1 and #2.
4. Aim for the upper chest, near the heart. Align the top of the crosshairs with the chin, but try to hit whatever part of the target you can, even if it’s just the feet. Headshots will happen anyway. Learn when to jump and when to crouch; each has their uses depending on the situation. Keep the high ground, play around cover whenever possible, and watch your back for sneak attacks often. (FPSs)
5. Don’t ignore minion/NPC damage and positioning, especially when they’re surrounding a hero. Treat killing/defending them like small teamfights. When targeting skillshots, aim for the hitbox, not the character model itself. Use abilities when you need them, and basic attack the rest of the time. When in doubt, teleport back. (MOBAs)
6. Learn to be okay with losing. Sometimes you just get countered/outplayed and there’s nothing you can do. You can’t control the decisions of other people. All you can do is join a game and hope for the best. Making mistakes doesn’t make you a bad person; in fact, it usually builds your character more than winning does. Embrace your mistakes, and let others experience the consequences of their mistakes. Don’t take losses personally. You are not the game, even it takes a lot of your time. Take a 3, 6, or 9 minute break if you’re stressed out. If all else fails, just say, “Mistakes happen sometimes. I’ll avoid that one next time”, and move on. Next time could be next life, next match, next character, next hour, next day, next week…doesn’t matter. Just keep repeating those nine words, and eventually your subconscious will internalize them. Success is trying and making mistakes, win or lose. Failure is refusing to try at all. Defeat doesn’t have to be failure. (That applies to real life too!)
Hope you enjoyed these principles. Feel free to copypaste the Six Principles and spread them around! Thanks for reading, and DUO bless you! – ARDANIS
The Book of ARDANIS 