Things that I have noticed that a lot of people like myself struggle with is knowing when to engage in a team fight. Myself or a team member will spot a couple of the other team's heroes pushing a lane and ping the map. The whole team gets into position and then 1 or 2 people decide they don't want the chance of dying and run away resulting in the whole team dying. However, it does seem like there are times when everyone is on the same page and then the whole team just cruises to an easy victory. Is this just a simple issue of trust? When in a random team making game is it impossible to fully rely on the person next to you to do the right thing?
So, my newest question would be how match making works in DOTA2? It seems like one team is usually well organized and knows what they are doing while the other is running around doing their own thing. Is this just all to do with skill level or that a teams leadership is that much better than another? For whatever reason it does seem that if there's one or two people that control/lead the team that the results are far better. On the other hand when no one talks it's total CHAOS!
DOTA 2 has been a lot of fun thus far and I look forward to continue to learn from forums like this one, other players, and pro matches.
Random thought: I've really enjoyed playing Pugna, seems like he's beastly.
Communication is key in the game. Get a mic if you dont have one already and talk. Talk about what is happening in your lane, ask how the other lanes are doing. This will allow you to know if you need to be more aggresive to win your lane/a bit defensive to secure the lead, switch with someone or know when your teammates need a gank.
the only problem is that getting a mic is pointless most of the time due to idiots that cant speak english queing on the wrong servers.
Most games require synergy between heroes. There are always obvious picks that shouldnt be ignored: tidehunter, earthshaker, enigma, magnus, etc. These will allow you to initiate teamfights and make sure that they go fairly well. You should engage teamfights only when the initiation spell is off of cd. Makings sure you have the edge in a teamfight is half the battle.
Again, its not that one person has to call all the shots, people just have to not think about themselves and communicate with eachother.
Doesnt matter if you are with a team of douchebags, keep your head up. We were all there at some point. People that keep thinking about themselves will remain in the normal/high pool and just fluxuate inbetween. Be friendly, buy wards or chick if youre the support. You will see that as time goes on you will see people that are more and more understanding and friendly in your games.
regarding pub matches, clashes and timing. you can't really do much about timing from your teammates- as you are limited to their skill level. Essentially it is similar to your 1st paragraph, of know when to do what - essentially get your role on lock.
Know when to initiate (if you are)
support, attack, wait, run etc - once you have mastered this it is much easier to dictate to others.
I don't seem to have this problem as I tend to dictate what happens in my pub games indirectly - I'm the one pinging, and I tend to pick up the heroes doing the starting/ganking/initiating, so I know my team would follow. If I play carry, I tend not to dictate much, except adding advice like - take down jakiro first, or I will target CM..
That said you need at least 1 person telling everyone what to do - that is the key. It isn't always me, and I don't complain - if someone on my team takes the initiative, and clearly knows what he is doing - I will follow. Generally if you play a carry, you need to listen to your team mates - as your job is clean up, rather than start fighting (you also spend the begining of the game faming, so you're rarely around anyway) if you're a ganking, make sure your partner disabler knows what he's doing - something simple as saying Dazzle, meaning target dazzle, keeps things organised.
after losing a clash - "we need to take down
If you call the clash, and 1 person doesn't follow, then of course call it off - just try to react before something bad happens thanks to 1 hero..
losing is part of the game - I have a mid/high skill level, and still have a win rate of 52% or so..