Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaching ourselves LoL matchups]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-summoners-guidebook-teaching-ourselves-lol-matchups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-summoners-guidebook-teaching-ourselves-lol-matchups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-summoners-guidebook-teaching-ourselves-lol-matchups/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Teaching ourselves LoL matchups
I'm always looking for things to teach players in the Summoner's Guidebook. We have, however, covered a lot of the low hanging fruit in one way or another. In League of Legends, and virtually every other asymmetric competitive game, matchup knowledge comprises the huge bulk of information that is truly useful to read about. This week was originally going to be a counter-Ryze guide, but then I decided to cover a broader topic to help reach more people.

I don't really like discussing specific character matchups largely because the character you're using matters almost as much as your opponent's. What does Ryze do against Kassadin in lane, for instance? The answer is not a whole lot if the Kassadin is decent. I could write a counter-Kassadin guide, but a lot of it wouldn't be usable by Ryze. Instead, this week we'll discuss how to think about the opponent's kit and develop a strategy to win on your own (or at least survive).

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teaching ourselves LoL matchups originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook How do assassins work in League of Legends
In case you didn't notice, the title of this week's column is a question. It's not because I know the answer; it's because I've been thinking a lot about it lately and don't have a really good answer.

Assassins are in a strange state when it comes to teamfights. In League of Legends, there's a period when teams tend to group up to fight over objectives. This marks the midgame in Summoner's Rift, it happens after altars unlock in Twisted Treeline, and it occurs anytime both teams know where the other team is on the Crystal Scar. We've discussed teamfights a lot already, but what is troubling is the presence of assassins in these fights. Assassins are best when they're able to jump in and kill an unprepared target, ideally before a teamfight starts. Once that's done, their team can jump in with a numbers advantage and take the objective or wipe out the enemy.

When both teams are grouped up ahead of time, assassins lose a lot of their might. Assassins can't kill without exposing themselves to heavy risk, which makes them a liability to their team until they jump in. After they jump in, they're still likely to be the first ones to get focused down.

What do we do about this? What's the solution? I don't have a clear answer -- but I can still share my observations.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: How do assassins work in League of Legends? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Playing LoL's new ARAM mode
Many of you already know what ARAM is -- it's a phenomenon that is hardly exclusive to League of Legends, and even in MOBAs where there isn't a map built for it, ARAM matches are played. Before the 3.6 patch, I tended to play ARAM matches either before or after my normal play sessions. I typically played a couple of games of Classic or Dominion, with a game or two of ARAM either before or after. As I've mentioned in the past, I enjoy ARAM as a way to unwind and practice without stress.

Patch 3.6 changed this by removing the Proving Grounds, replacing it with the Howling Abyss, and making ARAM a dedicated gametype with its own matchmaking. Now I play probably twice as many games as before, typically 8 to 10 ARAM games with no other matches. As it turns out, even I'm vulnerable to casual fun. The 3.6 patch also added in quite a few cool features that make ARAM much, much better than the pick-up custom games. I think that it's a great addition to League of Legends, especially for those who aren't particularly hardcore.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Playing LoL's new ARAM mode originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing
Out of all the roles in League of Legends, support is the most misunderstood. People expect supports to be similar to healing classes in other games, the kinds of characters who knit sweaters and cook dinner while the real warriors go out and fight on the front lines. When people first learn about the metagame, they often have the mistaken impression that because the support doesn't farm, there are fewer expectations of the playstyle.

However, supports are less like MMO healers and more like the shortstop in baseball. He's not a baseman, but that gives him flexibility to be where a baseman can't be. He's constantly in the thick of the action, and his team regularly relies on him to make plays. In League, the support's freedom from farming gives her the freedom to roam, to fish for aggressive opportunities and shut down the enemy. She can even wander into mid lane or the enemy jungle in search of these opportunities. Far from a shrinking violet, the support is one of the biggest playmakers on her team.

I got my start in LoL playing support, and it's a role I inherently understand well. I'm not really happy making aggressive lane plays and would prefer to relax and let my mechanics win my games for me (hence why I like ADC), but when thrust into the role of playmaker, I do reasonably well. For team leaders or just people who like to make others play by their rules, support is the role of choice.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook It takes skill to right click stuff in League of Legends
I've mentioned in passing that my favorite role on Summoner's Rift is ADC, otherwise known as "AD Carry" or "ranged DPS." This might be a bit of a surprise for some of you. Typically in League of Legends, the jungler is the playmaker, and if not, the support is. The playmaker roles seem like more suited to me, especially because I write guides on how to make plays. The ADC is the opposite of a playmaker. She's incredibly reactionary, relying on others to start things so she can finish them. Bruisers, tanks, junglers, mages, and supports all have tools to make things happen, but not the ADC.

I didn't learn to love carrying right away. It was sort of an evolutionary process, moving from support to mid to never-playing-SR-again to top to jungle to ADC. One of the things I love about ADC is that you can't be good at it starting out. You can be better than the people you're playing against, but you can't be good at it at all. The huge technical curve, more than anything else, is what attracts me to the role.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: It takes skill to right-click stuff in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Reworking three League of Legends champions
The Karma rework was probably one of the most-anticipated events to happen in recent League of Legends history. Karma was a character that was well-liked by the whole community but was almost universally seen as bad. With a surprising change to her model and lore as well as her ability set, Karma has risen from the ashes as an entirely different character. The changes to Karma are similar to the changes to Evelynn, in that Riot completely removed an old character and transplanted someone else that superficially resembled the old character in her place.

However, I was really surprised when Riot decided to rework two additional champions as well. The studio took Trundle out of the jungle and into the frozen mountains of Freljord, reworking his kit to reflect the changes in his lore. Sejuani, on the other hand, was much like Karma: a champion that didn't mechanically fit. Little changed about her lore, but she decided to put on some clothes and storm off to Summoner's Rift as a new woman. But are the changes to these three characters good for the League, or were the characters better off staying the same?

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Reworking three League of Legends champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Dealing with emotional stress in LoL
League of Legends is a frustrating game. As much as I portray myself as an unfeeling robot in the Summoner's Guidebook, I am not a paragon of precise execution and flawless decision-making. I've mentioned that I experience rage at my fellow players just as much as the next person. In fact, I probably get upset when I play more frequently than a typical player does.

As many of you have probably noticed, I take League of Legends pretty seriously. I don't screw around or play oddball characters. I don't like the idea of "playing for fun," even though I like to have fun as much as the next person. Saying "I play for fun" is just an excuse to dodge responsibility for my failures, and I don't like to play that way. I like to think that my contribution in a game matters, and two to four other people are counting on me to play my best. Even though that responsibility is hard to carry sometimes, it's better to shoulder it than to mindlessly mash my face on the keyboard and expect a win.

The problem is that sometimes it wears on me. I will frequently play only one game in a day if that one game ends up causing me a lot of frustration. It isn't about winning or losing; it's about dealing with the emotional frustration that comes from a game outside my control.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Dealing with emotional stress in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends
In League of Legends' Classic mode, jungling is my second-most preferred role. I prefer ADC first, since it is very taxing on attention and raw skill matters more than strategy. However, as a jungler, I can impact the game more meaningfully. While being ADC allows me to usually win the game in spite of awful teammates, jungling helps me prevent those awful teammates from throwing the game away.

When I'm going for a gank, there's nothing worse than someone mucking it up for me -- except when I screw it up myself. It's frustrating when I ping for a gank and my mid lane proceeds to engage and die to his opponent before I get there. It's even worse when I run through a place that I know is warded, attempt a gank anyway, and get jumped by three opponents. Sometimes a gank wasn't meant to be, but most of the time, we botched it all on our own.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' hardest choices
Sometimes League of Legends gives us hard choices. As a jungler, I'm frequently tasked with the difficult decision of whether to gank or counter-jungle and where I should do so. After a lost teamfight, you also have to make a lot of decisions about how to turn the game around. Should you buy elixirs? Should you try to farm and stall the game out or force another teamfight in a better position?

These are all difficult choices. However, most players have to deal with the toughest question of all: Which champion should I unlock next?

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' hardest choices originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends
The chips are down and you're behind. The enemy has only two turrets down, and your inhibitor turrets are barely standing. Your own jungle is warded, and the only thing that lets you know your enemies aren't going for Baron is that you can see them charging up your mid lane.

We've all had those kinds of games in our League of Legends career. While I'm a big advocate of surrendering early, there are those who want to fight until the bitter end. Is there any chance of winning? Maybe, maybe not. This week, we'll look at how to win games when you've probably already lost.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook The little stories League of Legends creates
Recently, one of you guys asked to see more personal stories showcasing my experiences in League of Legends. Normally I'm not as fond of doing that sort of thing unless there's a moral in the story somewhere. I like teaching, so that is what the Guidebook does a lot of. The column's name is the Summoner's Guidebook for that reason, after all!

However, I was thinking about it when I was playing last week, and I ended up playing a really great unranked, blind pick game. The outcome was very close, and the overall dynamics of the game were a firm reminder of why I play League of Legends. There was no "mid or feed." It began with good communication by our team and good sportsmanship by both teams at the end. In my mind, that makes this story one worth sharing with you.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The little stories League of Legends creates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook LoL melts special snowflakes
Never let it be said that I don't listen to feedback. Recently, one of you readers suggested that I write about following the metagame, and I thought, "Hey, why not?" This was largely spawned by the Penny Arcade comic suggesting that somehow, a player should pick the champion he wants without regard for what his team needs.

Who actually believes that this is a good thing to do? League of Legends is a team game. Characters in LoL are designed with strengths and weaknesses. It is not only important but natural to pick characters that fit together. The natural evolution of this thought process is the metagame: a series of standard roles that characters can fill on a team. I've talked about meta before, and you guys seem to have differing opinions than I do. "Meta is for the sheep," you say. I don't think that picking the right man for the job makes you a sheep. I think of it more like running with the pack rather than being a lone wolf.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: LoL melts special snowflakes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Punishing common LoL laning mistakes
This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we're getting back to the basics of League of Legends. Laning tactics are an incredibly broad topic, and they're also a springboard to developing good teamfighting skills. When you can take your narrow laning focus into a teamfight and think broadly about a situation, you'll know that you've really made a big leap in skill.

Although the header suggests we're talking about mistakes, this week's column is largely on the topic of counting cooldowns. We've already talked a bit about positioning mistakes, so the only option left on the agenda is timing mistakes. By the time you're finished reading today, you should have a good grasp on how to make an opponent waste a useful skill and take advantage of that skill's cooldown to punish him.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Punishing common LoL laning mistakes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook Our least favorite LoL champions
Everyone has preferences. We're naturally attracted to the aesthetics of certain characters, or perhaps we really like a character's gameplay or even his voice actor. For instance, everyone knows that I really like Poppy, but I'm attracted to a lot of other characters. I tend to like the "mature" seductive women like Ahri, Nidalee, or Zyra, for instance. I also really love Jax and his overconfident fighter attitude (plus "Pizza the Champ" jokes), and I really love Udyr and Sona's stance mechanics. Everyone loves Riven, too; the combination of a shy, talented warrior woman with really cool, combo-oriented gameplay tends to make her a favorite of many summoners.

League of Legends is a big game and has a lot of characters, though. Not all characters are equally loved. This week, we're going to look at some of the champions I personally can't stand, generally because I hate fighting against them.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Our least favorite LoL champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disliked-characterdravenf2pfeaturedfizzfree-to-playgarenhatejaycekatarinaleagueleague-of-legendsleast-favorite-characterlolmobanamiopinionriotriot-gamesshacosummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktryndamerevarusThu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Winning LoL games takes good decisions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/the-summoners-guidebook-winning-lol-games-takes-good-decisions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/the-summoners-guidebook-winning-lol-games-takes-good-decisions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/the-summoners-guidebook-winning-lol-games-takes-good-decisions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Winning LoL games takes good decisions
Decision-making is a broad topic, so I am a bit hesitant to cover it directly. It's the little things that contribute to victory in League of Legends, and decision-making is not a little thing. It's a big topic with a lot of ground to cover. As I've said many times in the past, experience is the best teacher, and I can only tell you what to look for.

However, I wanted to bring the column back around to talking about what it takes to step up your game. By now, you've heard me talk at length about mechanical things -- things like last-hitting or aiming skillshots that you can sit down and practice. I've talked more on narrow things like how to make a good team composition or execute ganks. Now I'm going to begin to put everything together and talk about what things you should think about before you click to move on the minimap, place a ward, or ping your team to go for dragon. Good decisions win LoL games, and whether you're a pro or an amateur, you can improve on the choices you make.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Winning LoL games takes good decisions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>decision-makingdecisionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankgankedgankergankinggood-decisionsits-shen-babyleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesshensummoners-guidebookteamteam-playerteam-playingteamfightteamfightingthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: A year of summoning Guidebooks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/the-summoners-guidebook-a-year-of-summoning-guidebooks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/the-summoners-guidebook-a-year-of-summoning-guidebooks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/the-summoners-guidebook-a-year-of-summoning-guidebooks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook A year of summoning Guidebooks
It feels sort of strange to be writing the one year anniversary of the Summoner's Guidebook. On the one hand, it feels like yesterday since Shawn asked me to do more MOBA coverage and I pitched the idea of a League of Legends column to him. On the other hand, it feels like I've been writing about League for ages. I've grown tremendously as a player; from a guy who stomps pubbies in low-Elo games to a guy who gets stomped by experts in high-Elo games. I have no illusions about going pro, but I've made a lot of progress up the skill ladder.

I don't chalk up this advancement to chance or aptitude. I know I didn't get here on my own. I have you guys to thank -- faithful readers who have read my column, either silently or vocally in the comments, who force performance upon me. I can't just be a hypocrite and tell you to practice a skill. I have to practice what I preach! When my authority in this column falls on my ability to execute on the battlefield, I need to step up my game. This week's Guidebook is my love letter to all of you.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: A year of summoning Guidebooks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycompetitiondominiondominion-strategyduo-queuef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankgankinghigh-elokassadinlast-hittingleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlollol-world-championshipslow-elomid-lanemlg-pro-circuitmobaopinionpoppypracticepro-gamerpro-gamingriotriot-gamesself-improvementsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: The perfect LoL gank]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/the-summoners-guidebook-the-perfect-lol-gank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/the-summoners-guidebook-the-perfect-lol-gank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/the-summoners-guidebook-the-perfect-lol-gank/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook The perfect LoL gank
We've talked a lot about teamfighting lately, but that's not the only kind of engagement in League of Legends. In truth, a large number of kills in most non-professional games occur long before teams ever group up to take an objective. Even in a teamfight-focused gametype like Dominion, smaller skirmishes are frequent. The most successful skirmishes are those where one team outnumbers the other. In cases where the numbers advantage is only apparent after it's already too late, it's called a gank.

Ganking is a critical part of LoL. You can put an enemy team out of commission long before the midgame starts by having many successful ganks. While it's common in Summoner's Rift to have the jungler be the ganking linchpin of a team, ganking is not confined to junglers. Roaming supports and mages are also quite effective, and in a gametype like Dominion, anyone who can approach undetected and deliver burst damage or CC can make an effective ganker. This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we'll talk about setting up for ganks and some ways to make them pay off more effectively.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The perfect LoL gank originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystal-scardominionf2pfeaturedfiorafree-to-playgankgankergankingjunglejunglerleagueleague-of-legendsleonalolmobaopinionrengarriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-crystal-scarthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches
Two weeks ago, I talked about zoning in League of Legends. One of you mentioned in the comments that I should focus more on teamfight positioning and less on laning, since there is more complexity in that. I agree, but there's a caveat.

It is extremely difficult to explain how to position properly in League of Legends. It is one of my greatest disappointments that I learned this skill purely through practice and experience. Positioning is a fluid thing; no guide can tell you exactly what you should do in the situations you find yourself in. Mistakes are the greatest teacher. I can do only so much.

However, it was a request, so I will do my best to convey my instincts on this. I had to play and watch a bunch of games just thinking about this to try and put my feelings into words. I hope it will help you out, if only a little bit.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-random-all-midaramclg-eudont-get-caughtf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgiving-matches-awayguideguidesleagueleague-of-legendslollol-world-championshipsmobaopinionout-of-positionpositioningriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteamfightteamfightingthe-summoners-guidebookworld-championshipsworld-elitezoningThu, 17 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Cleaning up after your LoL messes
Two weeks ago, we covered initiation in the Summoner's Guidebook, and last week we covered zoning. Those two elements comprise the early and middle parts of a teamfight, but if you want to win in League of Legends, you need to finish strong.

As a fight winds down, wounded players begin to disengage in order to lick their wounds. Some characters just want to pull out early to wait out cooldowns, while in other cases it's purely a matter of health. Sometimes a player will get zoned out of a fight so far that she cannot contribute meaningfully to the teamfight at large. At this point, tough decisions start to crop up. Do you split off and give chase, taking away a large chunk of health from your team to secure the kill? Or do you allow the enemy to get away, giving away potential gold and/or allowing the enemy team a chance to come back?

This decision is a non-question for a lot of players, but we should really be thinking about it when we are fighting. There are a lot of questions we should be asking ourselves before we drop out of a fight to chase, but all too often our eyes get filled with the sight of blood and everything else vanishes. I know you can do a little better than that.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-playchasingchess-analogydecision-makingdont-chasedont-chase-shacodont-chase-singeddont-chase-teemof2pfeaturedfree-to-playgiving-chaseknight-threatens-queenleagueleague-of-legendslolmistakemobaopinionpvpriotriot-gamessmart-playsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 10 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Controlling space in League of Legends
Zoning is a concept that's been covered quite a bit. The concept of space control is something central to most competitive video games, and Shurelia already made an excellent video on zoning that is very specific to League of Legends.

While Shurelia's video is well worth the watch, there are some areas she didn't cover and a few things that could be explained in a little more depth. I would consider this more of an addendum to her excellent tutorial, and you should watch it before you continue on.

Controlling space effectively is incredibly powerful in League. Skillful use of zoning can lead to lots of free damage, and even if your opponent is good at avoiding you, zoning can allow you to last-hit in lane or win a teamfight. If you've ever wanted to drive your opponent completely out of the lane, continue on. We've got a lot of ground to cover.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodging-skillshotsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguideguidesleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpractice-makes-perfectpracticingpunishing-mistakesriotriot-gamesskillshotspace-controlstutter-step-microsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookzoningThu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Teaming up to fight in League of Legends
Grouping up to fight enemies together is a concept that is old as history itself. Numerous treatises on group warfare have been written, ranging from small unit tactics to battle strategies involving hundreds of thousands or millions of combatants. A lot of the same principles of combat that are used in warfare are applicable to games and especially to team-based PvP games like League of Legends.

It might not be readily apparent how ideas like the mission of a Marine rifle team might apply to a five-player team in LoL, but there are more similarities than you think. The tools are different -- for example, games use different means to suppress the enemy than real soldiers -- but the tactics are surprisingly similar.

This week, we're going to cover the beginning of a fight. Starting a fight at an advantage is important element in victory, as the opening seconds of a battle matter the most. If you can leverage an advantage early on in a fight, you can snowball that advantage into a decisive win.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowd-controlf2pfeaturedfighting-togetherfree-to-playgroup-pvpinitiationleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesstarting-fightssummoners-guidebookteam-fightteam-fightsteamfightteamfightingteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 27 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances good or bad
If you've played League of Legends for a while, you were probably shocked at the launch of all the new Season 3 changes. They're absolutely crazy! When I first saw them, I couldn't make heads or tails of them. What's the new best item builds? What's the best path to making them? I seriously had no idea.

Things have settled down a little, but items are still a little chaotic, and MLG is already hosting Season 3 qualifiers. This can't be right! I've covered before why tossing around the metagame is bad, but hosting tournaments that will affect entry into the Season 3 Championships with the game in this state is outrageous. I'm sure LoL will recover and things will get iterated on, but what are things going to be like in the meantime?

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad?

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceblack-cleaverblackfire-torchcleaver-metaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playimbalanced-itemsitem-guideitemsleagueleague-of-legendslolmajor-league-gamingmlgmobaopinionpatchpatch-changespatchespvpriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteemoteemo-imbateemopocalypsethe-summoners-guidebookThu, 20 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/the-summoners-guidebook-one-lady-fights-for-equality-in-the-le/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/the-summoners-guidebook-one-lady-fights-for-equality-in-the-le/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/the-summoners-guidebook-one-lady-fights-for-equality-in-the-le/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends
If you recall from a few months back, we covered gender equality in League of Legends. The general outcome of that column was that women are under-represented in the tank and melee fighter roles and are very over-represented in the support role. Furthermore, women are heavily objectified in LoL, and there's really no dispute over that. Some girls in the League stroll into combat with little more than underwear and a smile, and most of them wear some kind of overly sexualized outfit.

However, one woman fights against the tide. She wears her conservative armor proudly and fights in a rather unladylike manner. She doesn't utter seductive remarks while she runs around the map in high heels. Everything about her is direct, practical, and in-your-face. She's Poppy, and she's my favorite character in League of Legends.

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diplomatic-immunityf2pfeaturedfeminismfree-to-playgender-equalityleagueleague-of-legendslollolimobaopinionparagon-of-demaciapoppyriotriot-gamesstrong-womansummoners-guidebookthe-iron-ambassadorthe-summoners-guidebooktomboywomens-rightsThu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-summoners-guidebook-ipls-league-of-legends-a-paragon-of-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-summoners-guidebook-ipls-league-of-legends-a-paragon-of-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-summoners-guidebook-ipls-league-of-legends-a-paragon-of-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments
I feel a bit tuckered out from League of Legends tournaments. I love the game, and I love the pro scene, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood to watch hours and hours of gameplay and then try to digest it all. As a columnist, I have to watch tournaments with a different eye than a normal spectator, which can be exhausting, so I wasn't really looking forward to IPL 5. My favorite team (Dignitas) wasn't playing, and all my tournament hype was spent watching the Season 2 finals.

However, IPL did a lot to keep my interest. Normally, I'm not really into IGN's LoL coverage, as it's heavy on entertainment and presentation value and low on information. This time, not only were the matches interesting, but the format was excellent, the commentary was good, and the space between matches was filled with tons of informative content. I really couldn't have asked for a better LoL tournament to end the year. Every other tournament this year paled in comparison.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-tournament-everevent-coveragef2pfeaturedfree-to-playignIGN-pro-leagueiplipl-5ipl5leagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktournamenttournament-coverageThu, 06 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/the-summoners-guidebook-roaming-the-jungle-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/the-summoners-guidebook-roaming-the-jungle-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/the-summoners-guidebook-roaming-the-jungle-in-league-of-legend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion
Although players often consider jungling to be a role exclusive to League of Legends' Classic gametypes, proper exploitation of the jungle is vitally important to success in Dominion as well. At the lower levels of play, players often feed too much information to the enemy and allow their foes to move through jungle areas unmolested.

Never do this! When you're ahead, the most important thing you can do in Dominion is secure your lead further by limiting the enemy's movements. The only way to do this is to control the jungle. If you're familiar with the idea of warding the enemy jungle to limit enemy movements on Summoner's Rift, controlling the jungle on Dominion will likely be familiar to you.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dominionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playjunglejungle-controljunglingleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlolmap-awarenessmap-controlmap-objectivemobaobjectivesopinionriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 29 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Why play League of Legends Dominion?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-summoners-guidebook-why-play-league-of-legends-dominion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-summoners-guidebook-why-play-league-of-legends-dominion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-summoners-guidebook-why-play-league-of-legends-dominion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Why play League of Legends Dominion
Lately, there's been a bit of doomsaying about League of Legends' point capture gametype. Red posts on the subject have mentioned that while the dedicated Dominion playerbase is slowly growing, the lower-level playerbase is shrinking. This is unfortunate because a lot of LoL players just don't seem to get Dominion. I don't actually understand this because Dominion is a less complex game than Summoner's Rift even though it maintains similar levels of strategic depth. Top players have been pushing for ranked since Season 2 started, but the devs have pushed aside their requests, saying "Dominion needs more time."

RiotNome mentioned that one of the biggest problems Dominion currently faces is that there's not enough propagation of information. That means that if we want new Dominion players, we have to show them why Dominion is great and what the basics of the game mode are. It'll be no surprise to regular readers that it's my favorite gametype, so I'm ready to do my part.

Why play Dominion? Because it's fast and fun.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Why play League of Legends Dominion?

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Why play League of Legends Dominion? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capture-pointsdominionf2pfast-and-funfeaturedfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesseason-3summoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookwhy-play-dominionThu, 22 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' revamped 3v3 mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-revamped-3v3-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-revamped-3v3-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-revamped-3v3-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' revamped 3v3 mode
I really liked playing on the Twisted Treeline prior to the recent revamp. It felt like Summoner's Rift lite: a way to practice the key SR skills in a gametype that didn't require quite as much map awareness. Now, League of Legends' 3v3 mode has taken on a different face, and it doesn't feel much like SR -- or any other map, for that matter.

I didn't want to comment right away on the new direction for TT. The game mode is new, and the metagame is in its infant stages. People are trying new strategies and builds, and while initially strong tactics have already been discovered, there's no telling whether those tactics will last into the start of Season 3. Any competitive game has points in time when different things are overpowered, and as people discover new counters, the true metagame will start to surface.

This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we'll look at my first experiences in TT and what I think of the new mode. It's starkly different from the old version, and the strategies are not obvious. Is it as broken as the detractors say, or is the meta still coming together?

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MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' revamped 3v3 mode originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackfire-torchcompetitive-playcreep-scoref2pfarmingfarming-goldfeaturedfree-to-playgetting-aheadgoldjunglerjunglinglaneslaninglast-hittingleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpvprevamprevamped-zoneriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteemoteemo-imbathe-summoners-guidebooktwisted-treelineThu, 15 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Tiers don't belong in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-summoners-guidebook-tiers-dont-belong-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-summoners-guidebook-tiers-dont-belong-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-summoners-guidebook-tiers-dont-belong-in-league-of-legend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Tiers don't belong in League of Legends
One of the things that really bother me is when players make tier lists of characters in League of Legends. Tier lists are an often subjective measurement of how good a character is when matched up against other characters, and players like to voice their opinions on who is strong and who is weak.

Unfortunately, even tier lists that are fairly accurate are fundamentally flawed in any competitive game, and they're especially flawed in League. At their best, tier lists show characters who do well in many situations or who are very difficult to counter. At their worst, tier lists are flawed and show a lack of understanding on the part of the author.

This doesn't mean that there aren't strong or weak champions, but a tier list doesn't even tell part of the story. It just gives an arbitrary rating that says very little about a character's true strengths or how to leverage them.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Tiers don't belong in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Tiers don't belong in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blitzcrankdarius-isnt-opezrealf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgod-tierleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamessonasummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktier-listtier-liststier-lists-are-badtierstires-don-exitsThu, 08 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Good team composition for League of Legends Dominion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/the-summoners-guidebook-good-team-composition-for-league-of-le/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/the-summoners-guidebook-good-team-composition-for-league-of-le/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/the-summoners-guidebook-good-team-composition-for-league-of-le/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Good team composition for League of Legends Dominion
I would have loved to cover the IGN Pro League 5 this week, but at the time of this writing it is still ongoing. I'll do a brief overview of it next week, but its timing didn't mesh well with the timing of the Guidebook.

I've been playing a lot of Dominion lately, and as many readers of the Summoner's Guidebook know, it's the gametype I focus my skills on. I try to build knowledge of League of Legends' other maps, including Summoner's Rift and the Proving Grounds/ARAM, but Dominion is definitely my focus right now (I haven't played much of the beta Twisted Treeline, so coverage of that will have to wait).

One thing that really bothers me about Dominion, particularly as I creep into high level play, is that people still randomly pick champions without regard for a strategy. While I do think my overall skill has improved a lot, a major reason that I win 60-70% of my matches is because I look for where my team is deficient and pick a champion to cover that area.

As you escalate into the intermediate levels of Dominion skill, a good arsenal of champions to fill roles can be a huge asset. This week, we'll look at some of the possible roles and compositions and some good champions to pick up to fill those roles.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Good team composition for League of Legends Dominion

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Good team composition for League of Legends Dominion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bottom-lanedominionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankingguideguidesinitiatinginitiationleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlolmobaopinionpokingriotriot-gamesstarting-fightsstrategysummoners-guidebookteam-compositionteam-compositionsteamfightteamfightingteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookworking-togetherzoningThu, 01 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of selfishness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-selfishness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-selfishness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-selfishness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook League of selfishness
Even though League of Legends' new Honor Initiative has greatly improved the conduct of summoners as a whole, I've become very frustrated with "selfish" player behavior as of late.

I've been playing a lot of ARAMs inbetween Dominion matches lately, and both game modes give rise to the same problems: impatient players who are too hungry for blood. Killing enemy champions is given a lot of incentive in LoL, and players often put themselves in awful situations that end up putting their whole team at risk of defeat just to get a single kill. This "blood in the eyes" phenomenon is pervasive across the entirety of League, but it is especially common in ARAM.

This week, I'm going to look at this kind of selfish behavior and cover some ways you can focus on more team-friendly actions. No, this doesn't mean giving me all the kills. It just means playing for the benefit of everyone and not just for your own personal pride.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: League of selfishness

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of selfishness originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-random-all-midaramblood-in-the eyesblood-in-the-eyesdominionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfunleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionplaying-for-funpoint-divingpvpriotriot-gamesselfishselfish-gamingselfishnesssmart-aggressionsmart-playsummoners-guidebookteam-playingteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookturret-divingThu, 25 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Aftermath of the LoL World Championships]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/the-summoners-guidebook-aftermath-of-the-lol-world-championshi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/the-summoners-guidebook-aftermath-of-the-lol-world-championshi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/the-summoners-guidebook-aftermath-of-the-lol-world-championshi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Aftermath of the LoL World Championships
Last weekend, we saw the League of Legends World Championships come to an end. While I thought the grand finals were a bit disappointing, the teams that made it to the final four put on an amazing show. I think few would say that any of the four teams in the semi-finals didn't deserve a place there, and I think equally few would question the validity of the Taipei Assassins' final victory.

The World Championships were a Cinderella story, and the Taipei Assassins became the unlikely champions in a decisive victory against Korean favorite Azubu Frost. The characteristic heavy aggression of the top Asian teams has already trickled down to the lower levels of play, and a few less common faces have come to new popularity in ranked and normal games all throughout the League.

In the aftermath of the World Championships, what did the tournament mean for the rest of us, the less fortunate who aren't at the top?

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Aftermath of the LoL World Championships

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Aftermath of the LoL World Championships originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aniviaezrealf2pfeaturedfree-to-playjaycekarthusleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionoriannariotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookwcworld-championshipsThu, 18 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: LoL's World Championship fiasco alienates fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-summoners-guidebook-lols-world-championship-fiasco-aliena/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-summoners-guidebook-lols-world-championship-fiasco-aliena/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-summoners-guidebook-lols-world-championship-fiasco-aliena/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook LoL's World Championship fiasco alienates fans
I'm a big fan of e-sports, but League of Legends is currently one of the worst e-sports to garner a major scene. This isn't because the game is bad, though some aspects of LoL's Classic gameplay are bad for e-sports. It is universally because most LoL tournaments are poorly run and organized. A badly run tournament can ruin everything, regardless of how good (or bad) the game being played is.

I would expect more from Riot Games, which creates and publishes League of Legends and which has a vested interest in fostering competition for the game. However, the studio seems to have learned absolutely nothing from very successful e-sports tournaments such as the Evolution Fighting Championships, the GOMTV Star League, and OGN's The Champions. All of these tournaments have better seeding structure and better venues, which contribute to a better overall event.

Why can't Riot learn from these very successful events?

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: LoL's World Championship fiasco alienates fans

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: LoL's World Championship fiasco alienates fans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-million-dollarsbad-riotbad-tournamentcheatingcolor-commentarycommentaryevoevolution-championship-seriesevolution-fighting-championshipsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgomtv-starleaguegslleagueleague-of-legendslollol-tournamentmillion-dollar-prizemobaognongamenetopinionplay-by-play-commentaryriotriot-failsriot-gamesround-robinround-robin-is-failsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktournamenttournament-fiascoworld-championshipsThu, 11 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Making League of Legends a better place]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-summoners-guidebook-making-league-of-legends-a-better-plac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-summoners-guidebook-making-league-of-legends-a-better-plac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-summoners-guidebook-making-league-of-legends-a-better-plac/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Making League of Legends a better place
It's no surprised that League of Legends has a very caustic community. Players on messageboards all over the internet (including our comments section) can attest to the fact that LoL's community leaves a lot to be desired. Unfriendly players and offensive language are the norm, and these bad attitudes keep many summoners from logging in.

Riot hasn't let the issue lie, though. The Tribunal was a good first step toward building a better community, and if reports are to be believed, it does a fairly good job. However, simply punishing players doesn't encourage good behavior. That's where the latest effort, the Honor system, comes into play.

Honor allows players to give positive feedback to friendly or supportive players, either friend or foe. Gaining honor alerts a player of his or her good behavior, and Riot has hinted that it may be the basis of future rewards. Is it a good step in the right direction, or will it just encourage "honor trading?"

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Making League of Legends a better place

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Making League of Legends a better place originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>being-a-better-gamercaustic-playerbasef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfriendlyfriendly-playerhonorhonorable-opponentjerkjerksleagueleague-of-legendslolmobanice-playeropinionrageragequitriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktribunalThu, 04 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Part random, part mid, all LoL]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/the-summoners-guidebook-part-random-part-mid-all-lol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/the-summoners-guidebook-part-random-part-mid-all-lol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/the-summoners-guidebook-part-random-part-mid-all-lol/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Part random, part mid, all LoL
One of the most popular alternative gametypes in League of Legends is All Random All Mid, or ARAM. ARAM is a simple concept; it involves a single lane on which all 10 players must fight, rather than the three lanes of Summoner's Rift or two paths of Dominion. Additionally, all champions selected are randomized; you're never sure whom you'll be playing in an ARAM match until champion select begins.

ARAM began life on Summoner's Rift, hence its name. The single lane used for ARAM was the middle lane, and traveling into the jungle or other lanes meant immediate disqualification of one's team. It was fraught with the normal trappings of an alternative ruleset; the rules for ARAM were not enforced by the game, so players were expected to play within the community-created rules. It evolved into ARAB, played on the Crystal Scar, with two teams fighting over the bottom capture points. ARAB proved to have its own flaws, most notably that games went on for a bit longer than normal, but the passive gold and experience as well as the health relic helped to add interesting spice to the game mode.

Finally, ARAM became a more or less supported gametype with the addition of the Proving Grounds. That addition streamlined ARAM gameplay while keeping some of the elements of the Crystal Scar version of the game such as health relics and Dominion items. Today, while there is no matchmaking for ARAM, it is extremely popular in custom matches.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Part random, part mid, all LoL

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Part random, part mid, all LoL originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-random-all-midalternative-rulesalternative-rulesetaramchaoticcrazycustom-gamecustom-gametypef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfunleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpvprandom-selectriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 20 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Following the League of Legends metagame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/the-summoners-guidebook-following-the-league-of-legends-metaga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/the-summoners-guidebook-following-the-league-of-legends-metaga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/the-summoners-guidebook-following-the-league-of-legends-metaga/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Following the League of Legends metagame
One thing that pops up a lot in the comments of the Summoner's Guidebook is how you readers like to play outside the metagame. There's nothing wrong with experimenting with new builds or compositions, and with over a hundred different champions, League of Legends has a lot of room for experimentation. However, the established metagame is the way it is for a reason. People played the way they thought was best, and through collaboration, determined what strategies worked the best. Laning champions in their current "accepted" positions has evolved over the few years since LoL's release.

Choosing to play a composition outside the metagame is always a gamble. You're trading stability and familiarity for a gimmick, and that can backfire. Playing in the established metagame is a statement that you want to let skill be the deciding factor in battle and that you can handle silly tricks like moving the duo lane or running a heavy kill lane on bottom.

On the other hand, unorthodox positioning of champions can be an asset, since the initial unfamiliarity of whatever composition you've run can lead to mistakes on the enemy's part. As little mistakes can easily snowball on the Fields of Justice, playing a gimmick is all about making the most of those kinds of openings. This week, we'll talk about some common choices for unorthodox lanes and also how you can deal with them.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Following the League of Legends metagame

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Following the League of Legends metagame originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-duo-lanealternate-metagamealternate-strategiesduo-lanef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgimmickireliakatarinakitty-kat-katarinaleagueleague-of-legendslolmetagamemobanon-standard-playopinionpvpriotriot-gamesshenanigansstrategysummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 13 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Breaking down the skills to win in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/the-summoners-guidebook-breaking-down-the-skills-to-win-in-lea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/the-summoners-guidebook-breaking-down-the-skills-to-win-in-lea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/the-summoners-guidebook-breaking-down-the-skills-to-win-in-lea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Breaking down the skills to win in League of Legends
Although seasoned League of Legends veterans might suggest otherwise, LoL is a hard game with a lot of complexity. Even though the Summoner's Rift metagame (and to some degree the Dominion metagame as well) is fairly solidified, expert players tend to take the numerous skills to win for granted.

This week I'm going to go over a basic rundown of the things that help you win and separate you from the noobs who just play mindlessly. Even the players who exhibit poor skills in one area might perform well in another, and it's easy for us to assign blame due to any poor performance at all. This means we really need to focus on our weaknesses and get them up to speed.

Experts will find this kind of thing a no-brainer, but there are plenty of players who have no idea about all the things they need to perform better. This week, we'll cover all the major skill areas and why they're important.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Breaking down the skills to win in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Breaking down the skills to win in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystal-scardominionexecutionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playimproving-skillsleagueleague-of-legendslolmap-awarenessmatchupsmechanicsmobaopinionpositioningriotriot-gamesspacingsummoners-guidebooksummoners-riftthe-summoners-guidebookwardingwardszoningThu, 06 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Don't get grabbed by Blitzcrank!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/the-summoners-guidebook-dont-get-grabbed-by-blitzcrank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/the-summoners-guidebook-dont-get-grabbed-by-blitzcrank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/the-summoners-guidebook-dont-get-grabbed-by-blitzcrank/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Don't get grabbed by Blitzcrank!
This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, I'll be talking about the matchup against Blitzcrank, League of Legends' own rock-em sock-em robot. We'll be looking mostly at his matchups in bottom lane on Summoner's Rift, but we'll also examine his gameplay in Dominion, where he is also very strong.

Learning the matchup against Blitzcrank is extremely important in my opinion. He is a very popular champion, and this is due to his incredibly brutal gameplay. If you do not know how to deal with Blitzcrank, you will get owned by him. He's not a champion you can just "do your best" against. Failing to properly account for his strengths will result in deaths, and this makes him a very popular choice. If you're struggling at all against Blitz, you owe it to yourself to keep reading.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Don't get grabbed by Blitzcrank!

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Don't get grabbed by Blitzcrank! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beep-boopblitzcrankbottom-lanef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankkill-laneleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpvpriotriot-gamesrocket-grabsummoners-guidebooksupportthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 30 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Our favorite League of Legends bottom lane teams]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/the-summoners-guidebook-our-favorite-league-of-legends-bottom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/the-summoners-guidebook-our-favorite-league-of-legends-bottom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/the-summoners-guidebook-our-favorite-league-of-legends-bottom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Our favorite League of Legends bottom lane teams
Although building a team composition in League of Legends is all about synergy, the bottom lane in Summoner's Rift is the most critical. In Dominion, players may split up as the needs demand, and the other characters in Summoner's Rift spend around 15 minutes of each game on their own against a lone enemy.

The bottom lane has two characters that are essentially joined at the hip for most of the game. While the support will eventually roam free and the carry may engage in some solo pushing or farming, those two characters spend much of the game together.

It makes sense then that these two characters should mesh well. Here's a list of my favorite teams. If you're stumped on whom to pick for carry or support, you should try some of these out.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Our favorite League of Legends bottom lane teams

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Our favorite League of Legends bottom lane teams originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bottom-lanecaitlyncarryduo-botf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgravesleagueleague-of-legendsleonalollord-death-of-murder-mountainmobanidaleeopinionriotriot-gamessivirsonasorakasummoners-guidebooksummoners-riftsupportsupport-carryTeam-Compositionthe-summoners-guidebookvaynevayne-is-really-sauronThu, 23 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Learning to help your jungler in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/the-summoners-guidebook-learning-to-help-your-jungler-in-leagu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/the-summoners-guidebook-learning-to-help-your-jungler-in-leagu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/the-summoners-guidebook-learning-to-help-your-jungler-in-leagu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Learning to help your jungler in League of Legends
I've been doing quite a bit of jungling lately in League of Legends. Jungling is hard, and one of the keys to being successful as a jungler is simply out of your hands: Your lanes need to play as if there were junglers in the game. I've played a jungler in countless games in which there was nothing to gank at all because my lanes played without regard for whether a jungler might come into lane.

I'm not a pro jungler. Out of all of LoL's myriad roles, jungling is my second weakest (after mid lane). Rather than give advice on something I'm really bad at, I'd rather talk about jungling from the lane perspective.

This week in The Summoner's Guidebook, we'll talk about the jungler's role and how you can help your jungler out. It isn't a simple matter, but I've been taking notes over the week about things that frustrated me and things that worked out for the best.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Learning to help your jungler in League of Legends

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Learning to help your jungler in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assist-junglingbad-lanematesf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhelping-junglerjunglinglane-safetylaningleagueleague-of-legendslolmap-awarenessmobaopinionriotriot-gamessafe-laningsummoners-guidebooksummoners-riftthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 16 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/the-summoners-guidebook-will-korea-dominate-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/the-summoners-guidebook-will-korea-dominate-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/the-summoners-guidebook-will-korea-dominate-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too
When I first started following the League of Legends pro scene, I was introduced to top teams like Team Solo Mid and SK Gaming. As I watched matches and player interviews, the first thing that came to my mind was this: If Korea fielded a LoL pro team, it would be incredibly scary.

When Riot Games added support for Korean League of Legends and OnGameNet began running regular tournaments, I had to check it out. Sure enough, big pro-gaming teams like StarTale and MiG started fielding pro League teams, and most of the things I suspected were true. Korean teams have amazing coordination and incredible mechanics compared to their western counterparts.

This was put to the test last weekend during Major League Gaming's LoL Summer Arena, where Korean qualifying team Azubu Blaze utterly destroyed the other teams, losing only once to Curse Gaming. Most of the matches weren't even close. What's the secret to Azubu Blaze's dominance? Can it be reproduced in the West, or is League of Legends going to end up like StarCraft -- dominated by the Korean scene?

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too?

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azubuazubu-blazeblackcompetitioncompetitivecursecurse-gamingf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinternational-tournamentkoreakorean-pro-gamingleagueleague-of-legendslolmajor-league-gamingmlgmobaopinionpracticepro-gamingriotriot-gamessolo-midsummoners-guidebookteam-blackteam-solo-midthe-summoners-guidebooktournamenttsmThu, 09 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST