The Pros and Cons of Online and Offline

[ATH_]

Okay, I'm going to make this OP short and simple to start, as I want other people's opinions on the pros and cons so I can add it to the list.
To make it clear, please do not post to say why one is worse than the other or why one should be considered best without a doubt, simply make a small list of what you believe to be the cons or pros of either. If I think it's a fair thought (which I'm pretty lenient), I'll add it to the OP.

Anyway, to explain this thread, this thread's purpose is to list the pluses and minuses of playing For Glory/Online Friendlies/Online Tournaments and the pluses and minuses of playing Offline matches with CPUs and Friends. This is discussed a lot in other threads, however, I'd like to get a solid list done because a lot of people seem to be missing key things that highers understand.

Onward, let's begin the list. Reasoning (if needed) will be places in parenthesis after the listing.

THE PROS OF FOR GLORY:

• Learn Matchups rather than building much skill
• Go against many different play styles around the world
• Keep track of your records
• Always have someone to play against

THE CONS OF FOR GLORY:

• Can't build skill with ATs as well due to lag
• Lag can build up odd habits
• Final Destination is not balanced around all characters (Some benefit other balanced stages and are worse on FD)
• No communication other than name changing (I seriously have seen a player do this.)
• No way of adding opponents to converse for tips

THE PROS OF ONLINE TOURNAMENTS/FRIENDLIES:

• Have communication with the player
• Can learn a specific matchup better than others
• More likely to have a better connection
• Go against many good players (In the case of Tournaments)
• Get a good feel of where you're at in the Smash community (In the case of Tournaments)

THE CONS OF ONLINE TOURNAMENTS/FRIENDLIES:

• Not always someone to play against
• No reliable way to keep track of records
• Practicing against the same play style repeatedly
• Hard to build skill
• Lag can be an issue

THE PROS OF OFFLINE FRIENDLIES:

• Have solid communication with the person
• Learn a specific matchup very well
• Able to practice ATs and build skill over time
• No lag whatsoever
• No worry of lag
• Get a great feel of where you're at in the Smash community (In the case of multiple people)

THE CONS OF OFFLINE FRIENDLIES:

• Repeatedly face the same person or same group of people may build a strong habit
• Trash-talk is more prevalent with some people (Not a big issue, as it matters who you choose to be up against)

THE PROS OF OFFLINE TOURNAMENTS:

• Get good experience
• Get the best feel of where you are in the Smash Community
• Ability to practice under the tournament pressure
• Meet new people and potentially pro Smashers
• Watch high level play to learn
• Practice everything in order to get better
• No lag
• No worry of lag

THE CONS OF OFFLINE TOURNAMENTS:

• Potential Trash-talkers (They can put a new player down, which I've seen people give up from...)
• Potential character shaming (Similar to the above.)

As said previously, post your list of things you'd like to have added! I hope this allows people to better understand why For Glory isn't the worst thing, and why Online battles CAN help someone. Offline stuff is great, but that doesn't make the Online options useless.

Side Note: In my opinion, play For Glory for Matchup practice and to learn what can hurt your playstyle so you can refine it. Play offline to build up skill the quickest. Play in Offline tournaments for the best improvements. I have trouble handling the pressure of tournaments, however, I still go into them because I know that over time the pressure will not affect me as much.

 

[Thinkaman]

I mean, it's better that quickmatch online play exists than it doesn't.

But For Glory is a gimped mode with no stages, no customs, and most importantly lag. As long as there is more than enough local Smash to play for me, I have no idea why I'd ever play online.

 

[ATH_]

I mean, it's better that quickmatch online play exists than it doesn't.

But For Glory is a gimped mode with no stages, no customs, and most importantly lag. As long as there is more than enough local Smash to play for me, I have no idea why I'd ever play online.

Solid point. For Glory is useful for someone like me who doesn't have a scene close. Tracy died I'm pretty sure, and I can't seem to find anything about Pleasanton or Dublin. So Online is my main way of getting practice while I'm at home. I go to have friendlies with people in another town every couple weeks or so, and we play a ton, so that helps too.

Kind of went on a tangent there, but yeah. I get your point. If I had a scene near me, I probably wouldn't bother with For Glory at all.