On Purdue Smash
This big ol' post is basically my overview of Purdue/Midwest Smash. I'm going to hit many points, so I'll make a table of contents. Feel free to skip to sections that might interest you lol
I. Purdue Smash Socially
II. Purdue's top players
III. Lower ranked players getting better
IV. Attracting new players
V. Picking a main character
VI. My opinion on the stage rules
I. Purdue Smash Socially
It's a short section, but I put this first for a reason. This is basically another thank you for being such great friends right off the bat! People tell me that I'm "hard NOT to like" but I still feel like I was lucky to fly across the country and be able to "click" with a group of friends at the school. I'll be sad when people graduate and stuff
but I'll carry on the legacy as long as I'm here!
II. Purdue's Top Players
1. Anthony: I think what you're doing for the community here is awesome! I'm going to pick your brain about how to make this region grow stronger in skill/size. Although I REALLY wish you entered tournaments, I understand your reasons for not doing so. I just hope you keep on playing man! haha (Go to Genesis 2!)
2. Matt: You're full of it!! <3 lol you love this game and you know it. I'm exposing you right now to everybody. If you don't love this game, then how are you so good? If you don't love this game, why do you like playing friendlies with me? If you don't love this game then why are you going to tournaments? LOL Cut the crap and practice with me and stuff. ^_^
3. George: You're hella good at this game and honestly, you still have glaring potential. You are one of the three people at this school that has shown that they truly want to learn the game/practice/and travel. You are everything I was looking for when it comes to Purdue Smash (no homo?? lol). Be my smash bromance <3 haha
4. Kirkq: I really wish I got to play you more. Let's set up a smash date, so we can help each other's falcos
I'm not sure how devoted you are to the game though, so please tell me. Aside from that just a word of advice. Don't let emotions get the best of you and don't forfeit. If you ever forfeit again in tournament I'm going to slap your first born child. lol jk......(no seriously I will)
I feel like there is a significant skill gap from these four people, but I feel like there are still a few more people worth mentioning for this section
Fro': I have yet to figure you out. I feel like the only thing I have up on you is fundamentals, which although is a significant part of the game, is not hard to grasp at all. Like KirkQ, I'm not sure how much you care about getting better. What I do know is you have what it takes. If you are interested in intense training then we can set up a date for that.
Lance: So, you've improved in the short while that I've been at the school. You take advice very well and you don't have an ego. You'll be able to learn this game VERY fast. You are another one of those people who has shown interest in getting better. I'm just as willing to help as you are motivated. ;D
Draco: We haven't played at all.
Let's play. lol
III. Lower ranked players getting better
I know some of you may look at players like Matt or myself and think to yourselves, "I'll never be that good" or you may think it takes too much work. The truth is, you are not that far off. All it takes to get better are a few things. First, pick a main (see that section). Second, get tech skill with that character (you need to be able to fully control your character). Third, learn that character and all of its match ups. It's that simple. If you run into a problem with a particular match up, think about what tools your character has that can be used to counter. (ie. You [Marth] vs Fox. Problem: Fox keeps bairing you when you are falling from the sky without any jumps left. Solution: Mix in counter when falling from the sky.) It's that simple.
Skyler: You should keep playing Doc. You've improved with him quickly. Just take this advice ^ and stick it out. I think you know you can be a great player. You aren't fulling anyone.
Brett: If you love Bowser THAT much, become the best frikkin Bowser to ever grace the game of smash! Don't let his high learning curve get the best of you. Enjoy your character, and train hard. Thats what it'll take. I want to also address a point you brought up last week about Smash not having BnBs. Here is how it works.
Smash does have BnBs. The difference between combos in smash and other fighting games is DI. I'm going to use Blazblue as a reference since it is a game we can both kinda relate to lol. Say I am Jin. When I do forward C I know down D will connect, but there would be different combos if Blazblue had DI. Take the same forward C from Jin. If the opponent DI'd that forward C towards Jin he would probably fly strait up. This would make Jin have to use something like forward D after his forward C instead. In addition, if the opponent DI'd the forward C away from Jin he would have to do D, DB, B+ABC or D. (You know that attack where he surfs on that Ice thing lol) So, in relation to smash, if Fox or Falco DI'd Bowser's uthrow left or right at low percent you can run to either direction and regrab them. As you know, combos change with percentage. So if you take the same scenario, at high percent Bowser would instead have to opt for a fair/bair. I hope this all makes sense to you. I can explain more later the next time we meet.
IV. Attracting new players
Another short yet important topic. To keep the scene thriving in the Midwest, or particularly here at Purdue, there needs to be some kind of incentive for new players to go to/compete in tournaments. There are three statements a noob would make as to why they wouldn't play melee, or might play brawl over melee:
1. Melee is old, Brawl is new
2. Melee is too technical/fast
3. I'll never be as good as them
As Melee players we need to be able to explain to them why all these statements are plain wrong. Here are your answers to the ladder noob johns:
1. Better to play a better old game than a lame new one.
2. It takes a week max of dedication to learn the Advanced Techniques.
3. Practice.
So, once we draw them in, we have to cradle them like babies. That's the cost we have to pay for the release of Brawl. Maybe you can show them some combo videos of their favorite character or something. Thats how most melee players got into the game haha. As far as their incentive to come to tournaments, I was thinking that they should get to team with Anthony or something...LOL (or any of the other top players here) That's a good way to show them the thrill of competition melee has to offer.
V. Picking a main
This is probably the most important section to me. I'm going to cut strait to the chase. If you are still going 0-2 in tournament it is likely because you don't have a main. The process of picking a main comes down to two short questions.
1. Who are you naturally most comfortable with?
2. Who do you enjoy playing as the most?
Going back to using Brett as an example. Notice I did not discourage him from using Bowser. He enjoys Bowser as a character ("I like Bowser because he's fat! I don't care that he's bad.") and he seems to be the most comfortable with him. All thats left for him to do is learn his character.
VI. My opinion on stage rules
tbqh, I can't believe some of the counter picks some people like/want. This section is for people who truly want to become better at the game. I don't know if you guys get this by now, but there is SOOOOOO much more to learn about character match ups than there is about the stages. "But I just wanna play on it for fun" Learning your character's match ups and the little techniques and strategies is so much more rewarding AND fun. If you like playing on Peach's Castle it is because you have given up. Plain and simple. It comes off as harsh but thats my opinion. Maybe it's my mindset, which is that I want to help MW get better and I myself want to become a frikkin beast Falco. lol so yeah I say this all out of <3
More to add later...
