It’s about time the blog got a new entry, I’m hoping to start it back off on the right foot now. Okay so from what I’ve seen so far competition is great but spometimes I can see players get in the doldrums of repetitive play. What do I mean? I mean that there is no mindgaming or rather any new form of mindgaming. Ats stop as well as so does tactical play. Players even though they want to play in a competitive environment go for the same struts. It’s demeaning and sadly we all do it.
But how can we get past the doldrums of smash? One way is learning new advance techniques and applying them. Then there is learning different mind gaming tactics. For example, a Ivysaur player might be prone to always go for a razor leaf to grab combination…which is great but gets old fast. I’ve learned to change a razor leaf into 3 to 4 different attacks and fakes. Most of them wield less results than a side special grapple/dash attack combo but they do make me far less predictable. Now I know I’m still not the best player to be saying this but I’m just trying to make a point.
But this all seems like common sense right? Of course but there are tactics that can help you stay out of a smash halt. Playing against different opponents is one way. I really enjoy plying against Johnknight for the sheer fact that I never know what character he is going to use. It does many things, first it preares you for multiple player challenges, second it develops your meta game and makes you more unpredicatable (That being if you learn from mistakes). However even still this might seem like common sense, but still knowing this we should learn to try playing multiple characters with our other shining fist members in mind.
Also try using a Journal. Yeah I know it sounds dumb but it is a very effective technique and works much like a planner. I will recommend this site for those interested.
Keeping a journal is like having our own personal blog. Basically it can keep track of any new things you learn, leads you find, and progress you made. And with it in word form we can share it at a faster rate and learn from each other without having to have 6 million lost threads on the forums. Such a thing lets you be organized, gives you leads and just makes smash much more enjoyable. Just try it out for a week or so and see how it feels. You don’t have to contribute info everyday but everytime you learn something new.
These are just some different things to throw into your game. It should help make the group leap out of the doldrums and into a adavanced competitive outlook for the days ahead. I’ll be starting a journal this week and practicing with some new characters. I look forward to playing you guys soon 
May 17, 2008 at 8:52 am |
Wow, that all seems pretty complicated for a game. Although, if it works for you, then good. But I don’t think I’ll be needing a journal for Smash. All I do
is use complete and total offense.
May 17, 2008 at 4:41 pm |
well of course these are only some ideas, but IDK about your claim of offense nightmoves (and this is coming from an offensive player myself), offense really takes a back seat to defense in this game. Really it’s all mindgames and lag trickers IMO that makes Brawl’s metagame.
May 20, 2008 at 1:37 am |
LOL! The reason I pulled out multiple characters is because you are REALLY GOOD HOMELESS! XD I saw you as a perfect training oppurtunity with most my characters.
I still have yet to find any real peaks with Marth, and he’s currently my 2nd best, and I keep on wanting to expand my skill with him. I am constantly improving with him to just crush my foes. Marth is so far the second character I’ve actually used in a tournament. The first being teh toonzorz! XD I’ve yet to use anyone else, actually. That’s sorta why I saw you (and others) as oppurtunies. Not because you suck or anything (quite the opposite, actually)-but because you are good, and no tournament title is on the line.
BTW, on my last tournament, I byed to round 2, lost 2-1, and lost in the loser’s bracket 2-1 (to a camper! >_<). Each time I lost the first match by a pretty small margin, killed the 2nd match, and had the lead and lost the last match! XD Not exactly my day for winning, lol! I was practicing too much on Fox and Falco, and not enough on my Marth and Toon Link (in which I used both in 3 matches).
Anyways, I just picked up Meta, and not just does he play like a mix between Fox and Kirby in Melee (speed and attack speed from Fox, and playstyle, grabs, and specials from Kirby), but he feels like a incredibly good upgraded version of Kirby from Melee (in which if Kirby didn’t suck, that’d be good). As you can tell me HomeZ, I am the master of the up smash (I think). XD
I also just picked up Dedede again two weeks ago (after dropping him for about a solid month!
). I was REAL EXCITED when I began re-using the King. He was the first newcomer I played in Brawl, too. 
I used him against you to not just fully master his smash attacks (which I FINALLY have got down), but to get down my biggest weakness with Dedede: His aerials and specials.
I finally know that his fAir is for teh mindgamez, and some heavy hits. His bAir is a killer (Fox’s [Melee] bAir and Kirby’s [smash 64] bAir: The next generation). His nAir can be controlled, and is somewhat like a mix of Mario’s nAir (mainly his smash 64 version; my 5th favorite smash 64 attack, behind only Kirby’s up tilt, CF’s uAir, Kirby’s down smash, and Mario’s fAir), and Kirby’s nAir. It’s defensive, has range, but you can’t DI too much in, but with what little DI you can DI with you can do some damage. His dAir is a damage wracker and defensive landing manuver almost exclusively. His uAir is a juggling, mind gaming, and unescapeable (when used right) totally awsome move. Dedede’s nB is for some edge and stalls. His fB and uB I already had down. And his dB is for kills and charging while stalling (it has mad range). Overall, I’m happy to be back in the Dedede camp!
O, and as you could tell as well, I’ve been working on my Kirby continually as well. Kirby’s a beast, and the sky is the limit with that famous pink puffball. I’m sure the Homez liked my forward throw fAir combos, as well as my bAir wall of pains, and dAir to fSmash/dSmash combos! XD O, and hammers for the killZ! XD
Lucario I also just picked up. Simply put, his fB chain throw (into a grab back throw) is GODLY! Also, Lucario’s aerials are some of the best rounded and powerful in the game. They don’t kill, but they pack a punch that most definitely leads into kills, and can stop, pause, hurt, or even kill recoviers a lot of the time. Lucario’s uAir is a offensive beast. So is his dAir (which is basically UNSTOPABLE from opponents below). His bAir kills, and can be quite a “mix it up” type of mind game move. His fAir can do seriously long combos. You can do it as long as Pikachu’s Melee uAir, but doing actual damage. It feels like a tech chase. Another thing is Lucario’s very defensive nAir is a great defensive move that rounds off Lucario’s aerials.
Add in Lucario’s dB for defense, Lucario’s well-rounded smashes, Lucario’s n00b comboing fTilt, Lucario’s great uTilt, Lucario’s defensive and offensive A-A-A combo, and Lucario’s awsomely defensive and space defending dTilt, and you got yourself a powerhous all-around character. O, and the fact he gets stronger is always good, right! Not to mention all the damage his nB does, and his recovery actually is fairly useful to use on many stages, and is quite useful! XD Lucario straight up is a all-around, “mix it up”, offensive and defensive character that is the master of counter-attacks.
The last two characters I’ve been working on are Luigi and Mario. Luigi is one of the hardest characters to master. Possibly the hardest, even. Mario on the other hand is fairly up front, but I’ve been working a lot on him. uAir combos (actually three hit, spaced, unescapeable combos), two uAirs into two up tilts (4 hit real combo), and other things I’ve found have been very useful. For Luigi, anything into his uB. O, and his aerials can combo or “combo” the crap out of you like there’s no tomorrow. Add in Luigi’s defensive powers with his dAir, fB, nB, and tons of manuvers, he’s possibly one of the strongest defensive character that can’t camp/is not good at camping.
Ya, I’ve basically been trying out characters. Currently I’m avidly (and almst exclusively) using (In order):
0. (the character that is beyond godly) Toon Link: My super main
A secondary of mine.
1. Marth: My main
2. Zero Suit Samus: Another one of my mains.
3. Falco: Another main of mine.
4. Kirby: Another main of mine.
5. Fox: My last main,
6. King Dedede: Back with a vengance. A secondary of mine.
7. Meta Knight: My newest character I use. A secondary of mine.
8. Lucario: My 2nd newest character I now use!
9. Ike: A secondary of mine, and one of my most consistant characters.
10. Mario: My last secondary character.
11. Pikachu: Though I took a short Pikachu hiatus, that will end quite soon.
12. Luigi
13. Ness: Need to set my prorieties with him, and figure out how and when to use him as a counter-pick character.
14. Link: I just re-picked him up…except I never really played or dropped him! XD
15. Yoshi: Another one of my counter-pick resorts, and my anti-Meta Knight, Lucas, and Ness! XD
16. Lucas: Once I find out how to really master him, he’ll go up.
I’ve also considered re-picking up Peach, re-picking up Samus, and picking up Diddy Kong for the first time! My brother actually mains Diddy Kong, and he taught me how to be good with him! XD I taught him how to play a better Marth and Toon Link to be fair, lulz! I’ve dumped Wario, Sonic, and Bowser. I’m unsure what I’ll do with my Charizard and Squirtle game now, to be quite honest. I think I need to work on teh squirts first, lol! XD
May 21, 2008 at 2:46 pm |
thanks, I’ve gotten better too. I dropped Bowser from my grou because of his sad recovery and now am going to try to stick with 5 characters: PT (I count as 3), Sonic, Pikachu and maybe 2 others I’ll add later. though I’ve spent an obese amount of time training with PT. I want to challenge you again John to show you my PT, I believe I have massively improved with him.
I started going back to smashboards to challenge Pt players and needless to say snce then I’ve been getting challenges left and right from people (not necessarily PT players) wanting to challenge a “good PT player.” I don’t consider myself really all that great but apparently most of the Pt players have flocked away from playing him competitively (I only know of one really competitive PT who mains him). Plus those who do play him don’t play all the pkmn well. Needless to say it’s humbling.
I still don’t consider myself a great character but I think I’m getting there. Still have trouble with characters like Rob and Olimar but eh…..
You should pick up Diddy, he really is good. Plus for a while I think he was your thing (until you learned about Tink).
May 22, 2008 at 2:15 am |
So, what did you think of my style, Homeless?