(Preview) League of Legends

[Bridget]

The beta agreement for League of Legends has been restricted a bit, allowing me to talk about heroes and their abilities and the game in general, but I am unable to post videos, sounds, or screen shots. So, anyone looking in to this game? It's definitely fun and if I had the cash, I'd preorder the collector's edition just to support the team. Today, there was a large update, and before I could test it out; My video card died. Goddammit. But yeah, anyone looking into LoL?

[squeek.]

This is that game from Guinsoo, right? No idea what to think of it. What is it like?

On a related note, GreenMushy and I have been playing the beta of Heroes of Newerth and enjoying it. It's a DotA clone, but certain things have improved (matchmaking, certain UI elements, etc).

[Bridget]

Riot Games.. League of Legends. It's like Dota, as well. There's lots of LoL vs HoN vs Dota discussions going around. LoL is more colorful and cartoony, with some comical relief like goofy character animations, voices, portraits, and such.

You're considered a 'summoner' and outside of individual games, you have a level and everything. With each level, you gain special and randomized runes (some give increased attack speed, mana regen, health regen, health points, critical chance, etc. Also, some fit into blue slots, yellow slots, red slots, and each color is usually tied to a specific attribute, like yellow runes are usually more defensive, red are offensively based, blues are utility runes like for mana regen and cooldown reduction, and there's three slots for these 'mega runes'.)

In addition, you can combine runes to form higher runes. You can combine two tier 1 runes to make one tier 2, two tier 2s to make a tier 3, and a collection of each tier to make a 'mega' rune. The rune 'book' has three pages, more rune slots opening on a page per level, and you can select a page to use when you select a champion. With each level, you also get skill points to put into a 'masteries' hierarchy of skills, tailoring your general playstyle, and you gain access to new 'spells' which are separate spells aside from your champion's general abilities that can be used every few minutes.

Aside from some balancing issues, it's a great game. Considering it will be free to play too, it's going to be awesome for everyone else. The game will be financially supported with custom skins, icons, champions, and such. There will be a generic lineup of champions, which are unlocked as you play and level up more. The purchasable items will not affect the game. So, someone who buys his way to level 30 with cash will not be any powerful than a person who naturally worked his way to level 30 without spending a single penny.

I checked out Heroes of Newerth on Youtube, and it looks okay. Looks kinda bland and dull with the color scheme, the hero the person in video was playing had an annoying set of vocal lines, and the screen didn't look zoomed out far enough. Well, tons of shit has looked bad in video, so I can't judge it. I thought LoL was going to suck, but it drained three or four days of my life before I began to consistently win games and the challenge disappeared.

[wakka]

nvm

[squeek.]

Originally Posted by Bridget

You're considered a 'summoner' and outside of individual games, you have a level and everything. With each level, you gain special and randomized runes

Count me out. It sounds like the TF2 of DotA, while HoN seems to be the FF of DotA (semi-strict clone, all essential elements intact, etc).

Basically, if you liked DotA enough to play it competively, then HoN is probably for you. If you have never really experienced DotA or want a departure from some of the unintuitive/competitive mechanics, maybe LoL is for you (in the same way FF and TF2 are related to TFC).

But I have no idea if any of that is true or not.

It is a bit interesting how these situations parallel eachother though.

- Guinsoo, the original creator of DotA, goes to create a remake of game with more intuitive mechanics that is easier to play (maybe), and includes some sort of leveling/unlocking.

- The creators of HoN are largely fans of what DotA has become AFTER Guinsoo (Icefrog's competitive-capable DotA), and create a remake keeping intact the features that make the competitive side successful.

- The original creators of TFC/TF go to create a remake of TFC with more intuitive mechanics that is easier to play (maybe), and includes some sort of leveling/unlocking.

- The creators of FF are largely fans of what TFC has become (the competitive-capable TFC), and create a remake keeping intact the features that make the competitive side successful.

The difference is HoN is being created near the peak of competitive DotA (might have missed it by a year or so though, not sure what competitive DotA is like right now), while FF was created towards the lowest of the low of competitive TFC.

[Kiljen]

I am actually in the Closed Beta of HoN, I have 1 invite that I would be willing to give out.

Just message me steam if anyone is interested.

[Bridget]

I'd take it, but my video card fried.. so.. FUCK.

[squeek.]

Originally Posted by Kiljen

I am actually in the Closed Beta of HoN, I have 1 invite that I would be willing to give out.

Just message me steam if anyone is interested.

Credge wants it.

[Credge]

Originally Posted by squeek.

Credge wants it.

YES

THIS IS TRUTH

[Credge]

One game in and I had an orgasm. It was familiar enough that I went 4/9/19 (4 kills, 9 deaths, 19 assists) with Pyromancer but new enough that I shit my pants.

Edit: Just talkin' 'bout HoN.

[Bridget]

Gtfo traitor.

[squeek.]

Originally Posted by Credge

One game in and I had an orgasm. It was familiar enough that I went 4/9/19 (4 kills, 9 deaths, 19 assists) with Pyromancer but new enough that I shit my pants.

Edit: Just talkin' 'bout HoN.

My names squeek in HoN. Let's high five.

[Credge]

Originally Posted by squeek.

My names squeek in HoN. Let's high five.

HIGH FIVE!

I think my name is Credge. If not, then it's CrimsonEdge. I'm leaning towards Credge though.

I'm still getting used to the item system. It's a tad bit different but much more convenient.

[squeek.]

Originally Posted by Credge

I'm still getting used to the item system. It's a tad bit different but much more convenient.

But still not as convenient as it could/should be in my opinion. One thing that I find useful (but is completely hidden) is Shift + Clicking on a non-recipe item in the shop (for instance standard Boots); it shows you every recipe that uses that item.

But, they should have a recipe/item bookmarking system and things of that nature.

[Credge]

Well, I'm in the beta for LoL now. I played a game. It's DOTA but a bit slower paced (in movement). Both LoL and HoN are pretty identical in regards to gameplay. I can't really say one is better than the other, although I don't like LoL's game search system (it's not in game).

[RocKwell]

Played HoN for the first time today. Graphics are nice and is much more intuitive then Dota. But wow, I am pretty horrible at these games.

I'll give LoL a chance later this week. I tried joining several games today but there was an error every time.

[squeek.]

HoN beta registration is open for 24 hours.

http://www.facebook.com/heroesofnewerth

Try this link to do it directly, but I'm not sure it'll work:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...te_account.php

[Desyphur]

Originally Posted by squeek.

HoN beta registration is open for 24 hours.

http://www.facebook.com/heroesofnewerth

Try this link to do it directly, but I'm not sure it'll work:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...te_account.php

Worked, made my account. Never played DotA, but I figured I can give it a shot.

Edit: Apparently I signed up for the pre-purchase event and can't play unless I prepurchase. Oh well. Anyone got an invite for me?
PM me if you do.