How do you handle newcomers?

[rokimomi]

Do you say good luck to them like you usually do (when both you and they know the outcome is obvious)?
Do you coach them midmatch, or do you think that makes you a jerk?
Do you go easy on them and risk them thinking you're sandbagging (which you are, but you just don't wanna decimate them)?
Do you go through the whole stagestrike lingo, or do you just gentleman rule it to any stage they like?
Do you go your secondary?
Do you peace as soon as the set is over or do you stay to chill with them for a sec?

 

[KirbyKaze]

Most of the newcomers ask me for help. In those cases, I play to look for bad habits.

Otherwise, I just turn off my brain and go auto-pilot with tech skill practice or whatever.

 

[rokimomi]

I guess I should specify that I mean in a pools or bracket set. Not just random friendlies.

 

[Soloist]

I go Sheik and chain grab all of them.

 

[Strong Badam]

I gauge their skill then sandbag & win. I also usually tell them to pick the first stage.

 

[Bing]

I play them like its a normal match. If they're really bad/inexperienced then its still a good warm up. If I see something I can help them with, or a bad habit they have or something to work on, I tell them after the set(Partly because I want to ensure victory and to not make them potentially over think during the set)

 

[darkoblivion12]

I talk to them and make sure I know who they are. I like knowing everyone. More often than not, I'm the bad player though and I try to play with the other person as long as I can.

 

[choknater]

i just like to befriend them.

if they get salty i like to destroy them and make them HOLD DAT

if they are nice, though, i'll play for funsies and give them the ic's

if they ask me to go easy i'll go easy

if they ask me to go hard, i go hard in the paint

 

[Bones0]

Shine to bairs and land my knees
But shield grabbing's all I need
Be down by 3, gimp them to win
Then sandbag and do it again
I LOVE MELEE! :D

 

[Massive]

I pick characters I'm not good at and Rube-Goldberg together seemingly impossible, janky combos on them.
It usually works because newbies don't DI and don't understand how to react on wakeup.

If they are cocky/arrogant I 4 stock them them with Kirby.

If they are cool and seriously want to get better, I am very good at qualifying and explaining the higher-level gameplay elements we all take for granted, as well as methods of practicing them.

 

[Fregadero]

At my first tourney (Apex 2012) I went in knowing all the rules and exactly what to expect. I told the better players they would **** on me (apparently someone told Toph I have a very technical Falco for me lol) and asked then to go hard and point out whatever flaws they could.

First time I handled a new player was like a month later. He told me all he wanted was to win a match in his first tournament, and I was his last pools match. So I let it go to 3 games, complimented him on what I could, and tried to give him advice (the **** do I know about samus?)

 

[Kal]

Step 1: Find a newby
Step 2:

Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!!!

In all seriousness, just treat newbies with respect. Most of them don't want to be treated any differently than anyone else. They want to feel welcome, so after your set is over, don't just leave immediately after and ignore them the rest of the day. That seems elitist and is likely to turn them off. However, critiquing them during a match is extremely condescending (unless they specifically ask you to do it). I would avoid this. Saying "good luck" before a match is common courtesy. It's not patronizing just because you both know the likely outcome.

At the end of the day, if you treat them like a member of your scene, they will feel welcome and return. Don't patronize them or treat them worse just because they are new.

 

[Blu]

My first tournament was just a few weeks ago, and while I might not be particularly new to the national community and all that goes into the game, it was still my first tournament and I knew practically no one from my state besides really big players.

I hadn't had an awkward moment like that in a long time--the kind where everybody knows everybody and you don't; it was sort of humbling (not that I went in with much of a cocky attitude anyway). But even though I was unsure of what the hell I was doing, I eventually found an empty seat near a setup and started warming up. No way to get to know people unless you play, right?

The TO knew who I was immediately, which threw me off (still does), but it made me feel welcome. And I don't think I recall one tournament match where someone didn't end up shaking my hand or wishing me luck. The sportsmanship I was exposed to was not nearly what I expected, in a good way.

Florida players are boss.

=

But yeah! I can't say I can answer any of those questions, considering I'm pseudo-new. >.>

 

[Violence]

Shake their hand.

Play as you normally would.

Shake their hand again.

Offer advice, and invite them to play friendlies on an open friendlies setup.

 

[choknater]

i mean, for better players, it's all a matter of what you're feeling...

at my last tournament, i noticed that there are times where i want to help the newbie and teach them matchups and point out bad habits...

and there are other times when i want to poop on a rotation for an hour with ganon

 

[odinNJ]

I'm not bad. I know so mug about every char and I have great techskill. When I lose to some sheik with Roy, they think I'm a scrub, so I go fox and shine combo whatever low tier they start using. My point: I will always want players better than me to play their best, and I will always do so to those under me

 

[Bing]

I'm not bad. I know so mug about every char and I have great techskill. When I lose to some sheik with Roy, they think I'm a scrub, so I go fox and shine combo whatever low tier they start using. My point: I will always want players better than me to play their best, and I will always do so to those under me

Sounds arrogant heh. Just messin.

 

[choknater]

hehe, in your case....

i like beating that fox with the low tier

SOOOOOO many people have rotated on my young link and lost. gotta respect the boy!!!!

 

[Wake]

Just give em that boom boom pow.

 

[Bing]

Legit if Im playing Friendlies with them I go dittos. If its tournaments and I **** game 1, I'll switch to a low tier or something after.

 

[Lovage]

def. wouldn't offer advice without them asking me first, not everyone like's to be told how they ****ed up and all the things they would be doing better right after they lose a set. 90% of people wouldn't care, and might enjoy it, but the most i would offer on my own is maybe a TINY tip that can help them a bit. usually after i give them a small bit of info they want to ask more questions.

 

[Kink-Link5]

With finesse and style and great hair.

 

[odinNJ]

Sounds arrogant heh. Just messin.

Lol. People were commenting about scrubs that don't DI and stuff. Just being clear

 

[R:U:N]

As a new player myself, if I'm going into a set that I know I'm losing, like a recent set I had with Vanz, I wouldn't be offended by criticism at all, I'd actually like to hear it since I'm not looking to go to my first tourney and win immediately, I expect to lose, but I hope to get better with each loss.
I also feel a little disrespected when an experienced player blatantly sandbags/uses a bad character that they never use, but they're entitled to do whatever they want I guess, so I won't complain.
But critiquing is actually a gesture of respect the way I see it, it means that they're welcoming you to the community, and they want to help you get better.

 

[Bing]

Never go into a set thinking you're going to lose. Going in with a mindset like that, no matter who you're playing. If you go into the game assuming you're going to lose, you've already lost. The least you could do is go in thinking you could take something, anything away from it.

Whenever I go up against the pros, like KK, Unknown etc, I set goals for myself, so that If I atleast dont win, I can walk away saying I accomplished <insert goal here>. Sometimes its having the match legitimately last longer then 2 minutes. Sometimes its take atleast 2 stocks.

But again, the main is go in with your head held high. If you walk in feeling like you're going to lose, you've already lost, and thats just wrong.

 

[odinNJ]

He's saying that he doesn't set his sights on winning. He (run) sets them on learning when the person is really good.

 

[Bl@ckChris]

flip my hood up and play my stylish *** ganon the way i always do.

of course, i shake their hand, and wish them good look prior to the hood flip.

try to give tips afterwards, but it depends on the player.

 

[Mahone]

I usually give them a lot of tips after the game.

Then they make fun of me and ask why i'm giving them tips since they just 4 stocked me.

Then i go home and cry in the shower (i like to have the water very cold).

Then i get on smashboards and study, so next time I can make sure THEY will be the ones crying.

Shine to bairs and land my knees
But shield grabbing's all I need
Be down by 3, gimp them to win
Then sandbag and do it again
I LOVE MELEE! :D

Do it like chu, waveshine to knee
Then sandbag, and give 'em dat lead
Time to **** em, Make sure they bleed
Rest their roll. Wow, what a read!
Take all four stocks, done at light speed
Two and donuts, they got bodied
Makin dat dough, thats all i knead

*that last line would be more clever if this poem was said aloud

 

[Morin0]

def. wouldn't offer advice without them asking me first, not everyone like's to be told how they ****ed up and all the things they would be doing better right after they lose a set. 90% of people wouldn't care, and might enjoy it, but the most i would offer on my own is maybe a TINY tip that can help them a bit. usually after i give them a small bit of info they want to ask more questions.

Yeah, this. I'd be kind of annoyed if someone I was playing with randomly started offering me advice on what to do and what not to do. I'd ask you for advice if I wanted some.

 

[Teczer0]

Yea, definitely agree with Lovage. It just leaves a bad impression of you.

Although on the flip side that means its the job of beginners to step up and ask for help. I hear a lot of people on the boards telling people like Eggm, myself etc that they would love our help and then never ask for it at the tournament.

Sit down play a few games, introduce yourself and talk about what you have trouble with. And to players doing this please try to be as specific as you can. The "what did I do wrong" question is just too hard to answer well, instead be like "man, fox nairs me and is being really aggressive and I have no idea what to do" as an example.

 

[ZaXXoR]

def. wouldn't offer advice without them asking me first, not everyone like's to be told how they ****ed up and all the things they would be doing better right after they lose a set. 90% of people wouldn't care, and might enjoy it, but the most i would offer on my own is maybe a TINY tip that can help them a bit. usually after i give them a small bit of info they want to ask more questions.

Ya honestly I went to my first tourney about a month ago, and if you aren't arrogant or full of yourself, people will help you. I got so many tips from people in TO, but when I'd play some of the better players thats when I'd get the really good advice. You just have to be willing to improve, so ya, don't offer tips to *** holes that think they're pro... So many ppl I know are just like oh smash bros? I remember that, noone could beat my kirby blah blah blah blah then I 4 stock them cuz they can't do any techskill whatsoever and jump into my attacks

 

[Tekk]

Mahone you gotta stop killing me like that
I only got so many lives

 

[Dan Salvato]

People never ask me for general pointers. They ALWAYS ask me how to fight Link. They think it's a matchup problem and not a skill disparity. Learn to ask the right questions, lol.

 

[`dazrin]

I just entered my first tournament in WA gameclucks this past weekend and I got *****, but they weren't even PR players. I just went in trying the best I could but knowing it wouldnt be enough.

Before the tournament though, many of the good players introduced themselves to me and I felt instantly really welcome and stuff even though I was just a random noob. It was really cool meeting people and having them acknowledge my existence and stuff as friends even though my skill level was no where near theres.

I just want to get better, so I'll keep on playing. I know I'm not gonna be amazing to start out, but that shouldn't mean I'll never be amazing (or even decent lol).

I would say that going a low tier or obv sandbagging would be extremely condescending and would just make me feel like trash and discouraged. If I'm gonna lose, I wanna lose to the real deal so I can know what to expect for next time. I don't wanna have to practice against pichu's and kirby's if I want to seriously improve, because in serious matches, people will probably be using spacies or something.

Not that I've ever had that happen to me.. but it doesn't sound like it'd be a lot of fun lol.

If its a tourney match, I don't generally like asking for help unless i knew it was a god-like player or something... Or if my friends shout out tips for me on the fly. I'd be down for all the tips and tricks from anyone and everyone in friendlies though. Cuz that's where it doesn't necessarily matter if you win or lose, you're just playing the game at that point lol.

 

[KrIsP!]

Makin dat dough, thats all i knead

Both need and kneed are spelled without an 'a', would've made more sense that way.

Unless you were trying to say you were kneading your opponent, which I suppose would mean your molding and shaping them to belike you. That would make sense, but I don't think that's what your going for.

You gunna go cry now mahone?

 

[Bl@ckChris]

...the dough...

knead...dough...

 

[KrIsP!]

I guess I didn't give enough credit to mahone being able to pull off like, 3 puns in one line.

 

[Rockenos]

I guess I didn't give enough credit to mahone being able to pull off like, 3 puns in one line.

This is Mahone, master of punception we're talking about.

 

[CanISmash]

i think all better players should give advice. either in between rounds or after.

noobs shouldn't have to ask their noobs, their shy just point out things they can work on. every if they don't want to hear it it'll help in the long run

personally i can't stand how unfriendly the community can be at tourneys.

it's always the same nonsense. a new player steps up, you beat them, GTFO my T.V. (continues to play 500 friendlies with people you play all the time)

on topic: i pick a secondary and avoid braindead spamming. cause it helps nobody. pressuring someone with nair shine shine hsine shine will either have them in their shield or getting hit all game learning nothing.

 

[Kal]

I think giving advice in between rounds might be frustrating for the opponent. I definitely agree that, unless the opponent storms off in a fit of rage, giving them advice after the set is a good idea. And I agree that it's very frustrating how players have this tendency to just continue playing the regulars they always play instead of welcoming new comers.