OCUk or some other forum. I’m not quite sure. l0lh3h3, on the other hand, is entirely my fault- he friended me after we met in a random game.
Love you too, babe.
The best piece of advice if you want to improve in League of Legends is to switch champions every few games. That’s the easy way to learn what a champion is like- the hard way is just through experience. Once you’ve got say ten or fifteen played, pick one to learn. Switch up every so often, just concentrate on that character. When you feel you’re competent, switch to a completely different type of champion- you’ll probably have your eye on one or a new one will be out.
That’s how you learn the game mechanics, and how you learn to spot patterns in champions released and predict what they’ll be like (the real test is in their numbers and their animations).
When you’re starting out, one of the best ways to learn is simply to make mistakes and use the /ignore function liberally. Don’t worry if Pantheon one-shots you with his ability cycle (it’s slightly broken because of the way one of his abilities works). You’ll learn the signs that he’s going for it quickly enough, or you’ll learn the counters (Cleanse is one of them).
A good way to ensure you don’t die too much is to learn how the map works, as in how it affects the game. The best way to do this is to get used to checking your minimap or the advanced technique, scoreboard-flashing+ (I just made that name up but I do it all the time). Use the minimap like a rear-view mirror and if you can’t see all the enemy champions, play more defensively.
There are further parts to this. The first is miss calls- if a champion isn’t visible in the lane, unless they’re a stealth champion, then chat “MIA X”. When they return, call “Returned” or some such phrase.
The second is consumables and shopping. In the shop, under the consumables tab you’ll find potions (always keep a couple of health potions until level eight or so), Elixirs (short-term buffs) and wards. You should always buy and place a couple of wards. Idrisz posted a decent map (there are a couple of missing spots and a couple that aren’t particularly good- don’t place wards in the mid-lane side bushes. Put them in the spot bushes behind- you’ll cover a larger area and see people coming in and out that way) but I have an even better way to place them.
Step one: think about your position.
Step two: look at where you are on the map.
Step three: identify paths enemies might take to get to you.
Step four: cover as many of those paths as you can with a single ward.
Shopping is easy. Go with whatever the recommended items say. Until you’ve got a better grasp of the game, you won’t be making better choices.
The final part is to play conservatively. Unless you’re absolutely certain of your abilities and the relative current strength of your champion and the enemy champion, it’s not worth pushing for the kill. You’ll learn champion limitations as you play.
Relax. If you lose a couple, log off. The aggravation will impact your playing and your manner toward your team-mates, and potentially frustrate you outside the game. Take a break, play something less stressful like Meat Boy or an Oddworld game.
This really is a game where you learn best by doing and practicing and making mistakes. Learning not to push the creep wave up beyond the river by last-hitting or not going beyond the river yourself is something you need to learn rather than be told. Learning to farm under a tower again is something far better learnt on your own. Until you’re used to the basics of the game and how the ebb and flow of power between teams and champions fluctuates, there is little point me giving you specific advice because it won’t in any way be helpful. If I’m ever on the EU Mumble when you are, you’re welcome to the same practice or questions that we offer any new player.
Also come join us.
Oh, there are no exploits that I know of at the moment (that I know of- there are always a few). Griefing, on the other hand, is rife. It’s exactly what happens when you dump a bunch of people that probably don’t play competitive sports in a competitive environment. They don’t understand sportsmanship. There’s a difference between sledging and griefing and outside of the high-level players most don’t understand it.
+Tap tab. You’ll instantly know who’s missing and have a good guess at where they are. If necessary a spot check of the minimap follows, although it should sit in your peripheral vision so you know roughly where people are every time.
