DotA 2

[DarkForceMage]

Dota 2 is aimed at kids and newbies imo, pretty graphics but the hero models don't stand out very well in a fight compared to games like HoN, the interface design is also alot more user friendly with super large icons and tabs+crosses to indicate players on the map, but for an experienced dota//HoN player the UI is just clunky and annoying, especially when it comes to certain icons that don't really reflect what they do or are completely pointless in the first place(the courier for example) has unecessary icons such as 'return to stash' and 'return to well' instead of just one icon since the stash is at the well ANYWAY. Also beginner friendly features such as automatic transfer of stash items to the hero and the 'bottle' automatically picking up runes makes gameplay a little too easy.

Also donno why the hell they tried to make the game so newbie friendly considering I still had to explain EVERYTHING to my gf anyway, hopefully there will be a tutorial similar to the HoN one(which I had to get her to play just so she could have some grasp of what to do in dota 2). Inventory hotkeys are also retarded by default, who the hell is going to reach over to the number pad in the middle of a fight?? Remap them to alt+Q/W/E/A/S/D like they should have been by default.

A few good things I have found when comparing dota 2 to HoN is how EASY it is to win games as a carry player & the fact my girlfriend actually likes it because the graphics are 'pretty', which is the only reason I've been playing it lately, she's even managed to do rather well considering in heroes of newerth she simply can't react quick enough to cope with the faster gameplay, something that really stood out to me when watching her attempt both games. The pace of Dota 2 definately requires less skill which isn't a bad thing considering it also makes the game more relaxing to play, which may be what valve were aiming to achieve in the first place.


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Dota 2

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Heroes of Newerth

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[Lardman]

Playing sand king, ROMPING GAMES.

Not a fan of how the game doesn't value wraith band/bracer and lower tier items as much though, and MKB isn't as used as it used to be. (Not on recommended items as much?)

Anyhow: No qualms, really. Except no kickvotes.


The new UI and user friendliness are good. Learning curve was the biggest bitch when I started out.

[Sorrow]

I tried playing it and it just boots and crashed, fml

[shizmo]

Unsure what your saying really makes sense, its like the natural response as people are afraid of change.... So you would rather it stay a niche game running on a gritty engine that isn't designed for that type of gameplay?

Or you want a reputable games company taking control spending large sums of money to develop/fine tune/make pretty? The little 'beginner' friendly features are not exactly beginner friendly, they are more like natural common sense game features to enhance the game AS well as bring it to the mass market (noobs)

Also the player rating system is possibly going to influence some people to spend a little time to go out of there way to teach other players to get +rep points and epeen, which may be better than a tutorial. Although yeah no reason why they shouldn't have one.

BTW its Beta.

[Leigh M]

Originally Posted by Sorrow

I tried playing it and it just boots and crashed, fml

try th nodx9 whatever it is and res change

[ewok85]

After about a week of having played this instead of LoL I must say I'm impressed. I never played much of the original or HoN, so I'm not sure how its supposed to be but it is a big difference to League.

Playing with a group of friends, everyone using voice chat, is a must. The game is very forgiving and making a few mistakes doesn't doom a game, its very easy to be losing very badly, but then make an amazing comeback - but the opposite is also true.

At first I found the graphics to be a little confusing, but the interface and general style is fairly clean and simple, and doesn't distract you from the gameplay.

I'm hoping they add in an option to forfeit a match - when you are losing real bad and just want to leave it would be great. Hopefully they also have a report function for bad players as well

Something I'd really like to see is the range of spells when I press the keyboard shortcut - its nice to know if they are in range, but also helps me make sure I pressed the right one!

[Smegenstein]

Originally Posted by ewok85

I'm hoping they add in an option to forfeit a match - when you are losing real bad and just want to leave it would be great. Hopefully they also have a report function for bad players as well

Open up the score car, click on a player, press report... Can also commend people if they do good like be helpful or really nice or take the lead all game things like that (I have received one for being "Forgiving" I suspect its when I stood up for some random that was being hated on by our team because he was new)

[gregpolk]

I've been commending good folk and reporting shitheads. I'll do mentoring if they offer some kind of reward for doing so. In game currency for hat purchases or something along those lines.

Still enjoying it. Only hero I've played twice is lich.

Will be a happy chappy when I'm not the only one buying wards, sentries dust and gems. Bounty Hunter is a total dick of you don't bother to kill him folks.

Ewok, range does come up if you hover over the spell with your mouse. Not quite the same as what you're after but still handy for learning ranges.

[othy]

Originally Posted by ewok85

After about a week of having played this instead of LoL I must say I'm impressed. I never played much of the original or HoN, so I'm not sure how its supposed to be but it is a big difference to League.

Playing with a group of friends, everyone using voice chat, is a must. The game is very forgiving and making a few mistakes doesn't doom a game, its very easy to be losing very badly, but then make an amazing comeback - but the opposite is also true.

At first I found the graphics to be a little confusing, but the interface and general style is fairly clean and simple, and doesn't distract you from the gameplay.

I'm hoping they add in an option to forfeit a match - when you are losing real bad and just want to leave it would be great. Hopefully they also have a report function for bad players as well

Something I'd really like to see is the range of spells when I press the keyboard shortcut - its nice to know if they are in range, but also helps me make sure I pressed the right one!

Coming from LoL, I've played 1 game vs bots. I played the first character in the top left, some initiator with a rock wall spell. It seemed pretty confusing to me. A lot more spells attached to items. Last hit timing was a bit different. I had a flying donkey that I didn't buy or ask for, and no idea where he came from. I had trouble working out how to get items from my stash back to me (do I have to send the donkey to get them?).

What are item recipes used for? Do I just buy one when I have all the other required items?

Drag & Drop for the items didn't seem to work for me - only way to buy was to right click on them.

The item keys were useless for me as my keyboard doesn't even have a numpad. I remapped them to 1-6, which were associated with 'groups' of which I know nothing about.

Does eating trees for health matter? Are there trees you shouldn't eat or use strategically?

Doesn't seem to be any bushes to hide in.

Camera angle is annoying as mages can basically lane while off screen or just able to see their feet.

None of the people I play LoL with have beta access, so playing LoL is a little more compelling at this point.

I will give it a few more games though.

Any suggestions on a hero to learn? I play *lots* of Mordekaiser from LoL, usually solo top laning.

--

othy

[tuRtlez]

Originally Posted by othy

Does eating trees for health matter? Are there trees you shouldn't eat or use strategically?

othy

LOL they reappear.

[gregpolk]

Donkey is the courier. Someone on your team should buy one in every game. Usually this is a 'support' type hero's job. It can be upgraded to fly to more efficiently transport you items.

Item recipes are necessary components for higher items. You buy the ingredient items + the recipe to get the better item.

Yup, right click is buy.

I rebind to my side mouse buttons. I don't tend to need more than 2 active items. Not sure what I'll rebind to if I need more. Haven't checked if the Shift+key binds work like they do in HON. Groups are important because some heroes will have you controlling multiple units. eg, chen, meepo of they add him.

Eating trees great and cheap way to heal. You can use it strategically by eating paths to escape, eating a tree to get out of furion's ring of trees spell.

No there's no bushes.

Camera seems much the same as HON and War3 so not sure of the problem there, but I've not played LOL to compare notes.

I'm also having trouble with my last hits. I'm too used to the little last hit marker in HON, made it pretty easy.

[shizmo]

There are a huge amount of bushes to hide in. Seems all the spots from Dota are in so check this guide for an idea - http://www.dota-blog.com/2009/06/dot...fter-dota.html

Had game with Dragon Knight was nice and beefy, the dragon forms are very very satisfying on the new engine. Just crazy AOE splash damage really makes you feel like a big scary unit. People that don't know the char seem to run in fear hehehe.

[gregpolk]

No there's not. When he says bushes there are special bushes you can hide in where you'll be invisible to anyone outside the bush. It's a LOL thing. There's plenty of patches of trees and things to hide in, but they haven't copied the bushes.

[Sphinx2000]

Some mega kills on this vid..

[shizmo]

lol serious.... bushes... hahaah