Before I start in on the match itself, I think I should make one thing clear, namely my system for deciding when I want to play a Ranked game. Many of you probably played ten games in a row to get your rating, maybe even on the same day. But my mind doesn't work that way; I'm the type of person who peels the bandage off slowly instead of yanking it off all at once, firmly believing it actually IS less painful that way. That being said, this is the system I used to decide to play my second Ranked game.

1) Are friends on? --Yes--> Play unranked. --No--> Proceed to step 2

2) Is there a hero you're itching to practice? --Yes--> Play against bots. --No--> Proceed to step 3

3) Have you had lunch? --Yes--> Proceed to step 4. --No--> Go make lunch.

4) Was lunch a yummy pizza veggie burger? --Yes--> Play Ranked. --No--> Loop back to step 1.

As you can see it's a very complex, meaningful system that always leads to a good outcome. I like it. But since I had a pizza burger the other da…
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I felt a little silly when I clicked the 'Ranked Match' option. Not because the idea of me playing in Ranked mode is inherently hilarious, mind you (though for some of you, it surely is), but because as I was waiting for the queue to pop I couldn't help but feel nervous.

As much as I love to think about this game, study its complexities, and rage at the rampant ineptitude of both myself and my friends (typically just myself), it is, at the end of the day, just a game. The fact that there were butterflies in my stomach is a little embarrassing, I think.

But hey, on the flip side: free Butterfly. Can't argue with that.

A full three and a half minutes later I finally get into a game. Graciously, all 10/10 connect on the first try, so I can't give into the temptation to close the game and hide. #Prettypathetic.

The first thing I notice is the average team MMR, both just a little over 2800. As a guy who doesn't specialize in any one hero an…
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Hello one and everyone! Been a while, huh?

Dang right it has. What's your excuse this time, eh? Still job, girlfriend, and the like?

Well that. But also Guild Wars 2! It's super fun! I have a little guild called Mahou Shoujo Fight Club (the tag is [chan]!) and everything is super relaxed and casual.

I... I'm you, and I can never tell when you're kidding.

I'm... why would I be kidding? Do I not seem like the type of person who would run that kind of guild?

... valid point. Anyways, what are you on here about? You realize a lot of your guides are out of date now, right?

Yeah... yeah I need to go back and update those. Particularly Ogre Magi... friggin' Valve, changing the damage values a mere week after I go through all that beautiful, beautiful mathematics. But yeah, I'll get to that. The reason I'm doing this is, now that I'm back playing Dota on a semi-regular basis, I want to answer the age-old question: Am I at all qualified to be giving advice on how to play heroe…
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The change to the day/night cycle from 6 to 4 minute intervals has had a lot of interesting effects on our fair game. Supports can now rotate under cover of darkness even earlier in the game than before, catching out important targets and disrupting their farm. It also serves as somewhat of a buff to heroes with above average night vision like Luna, Slark, Sniper, and Bounty Hunter.

Sniper and Bounty Hunter have above average Night vision?

1800/1000 as opposed to the average 1800/800. The more you know, eh?

You left Night Stalker out of there, y'know. For a reason, I'd assume.

Y-yes... Night Stalker. My old friend. There was a time when this hero was the only non-support I played. I'd rush into mid lane, survive until nighttime, and go balls deep on everyone, wrecking face and stacking urn charges like nobody's business. He was a good hero for a noob like me: his very mechanics gave me direction with what to do with my time. Whereas with other heroes I might wander ab…
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I didn't write this.

I had no part in this.

But I have to share it. Because my voice is clearly a beacon of knowledge or some other BS. XD

http://www.lighti.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/GEM2014_V21.pdf
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