Solos and Junglers

One thing I've noticed a lot recently is the number of players insisting on a solo or jungle role before the teams have been picked, or when they have and it's completely inappropriate.

Why have Junglers?

The main purpose of having junglers is to increase the amount of farm and experience that the team receives overall. This is because two players (the solo and the jungler) each receive their own supply and if things go reasonably well, it means they gain an overall advantage.

However, you need a proper solo hero for this to work. Someone who can actively benefit from the experience and survive the lane. Sometimes you can run a safe lane solo instead, and this increases the number of heroes who can do it successfully.

Not having a proper solo can make your jungle/solo combo a disadvantage for your team. Also beware of especially unpleasant lanes from the opposition. For example, if the enemy hard carry is freefarming their safe lane - while your solo just has to hang around their tower, begging for scraps - overall this will leave your team WORSE OFF.

Don't take jungling as an easy option

Some players seem to want to go in the jungle because they don't lane well, or can't be bothered having to fight for their farm. Some disappear entirely and only come out when the game is already won or lost.

Sure, some heroes need a lot of farm to be effective, but also be aware of what your team needs from you - and take advantage of the opportunities jungling gives you to gank or push the safe and middle lanes. Don't just get your Hand of Midas and switch off your map awareness.

Counter-Tactics

As you work your way up the ranks, you'll find this was a bad habit anyway - more and more teams will dedicate roamers or a ganking mid to screwing up your jungling. You can't always assume the opposition will allow you to play your own private little game.

Some top notch hard solo heroes:

Dark Seer, Windrunner, Broodmother, Queen of Pain, Clinkz, Weaver, Keeper of the Light, Mirana

Some heroes who can do ok hard lane solo:

Venomancer, Enigma, Bounty Hunter, Treant Protector, Puck, Nature's Prophet.

Of course, everyone has their own opinions on these, and it does depend also who you're up against. Note that almost all of these heroes have some kind of escape mechanism, invisibility and/or method of farming/denying that doesn't rely on right click.

As a general rule, don't pick a jungler without one of these guys on your team to take up the slack...