White_Pointer
Smash Journeyman
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2015
- Messages
- 295
- NNID
- wh1tepointer
So I imagine that by now, all of you have probably seen Omni's video that he posted earlier in the year about why you should choose a high tier character. If you haven't, here is the link: http://smashboards.com/threads/omni-presents-three-reasons-why-you-should-pick-a-top-tier.409459/
What I want to discuss specifically here is point 2. In his second point he says that choosing a top tier is a sign of respect for your opponent, and if you lose, you can easily blame the loss on the character choice rather than admitting you got outplayed, whereas if you chose a top tier you have no excuses.
I agree with that second part in principle - it's tempting as a Samus main to say something like "Well, the matchup against Mario is terrible, I wasn't going to win that anyway", and put the loss down to the matchup instead of acknowledging that you got outplayed.
What I don't agree with is the first part - it's a sign of respect. I want to emphasise the point that the act of choosing a character before the match even starts is not a mark of respect or disrespect. It's just not, in the same way that choosing whether to bat or field first in a baseball or cricket match is not a mark of respect. The mark of respect is shaking the opponent's hand after the match and saying "Well played, you got me", regardless of your character choices. Being disrespectful is if you refuse the hand shake and say something like "You only won because you chose Mario".
I've run into a good variety of characters actually in my local meetups and at offline tournies, many of which are not considered to be high tiers: Ganondorf, Dedede, Link, Toon Link, DK, Charizard, Wario, Pit, Palutena, another Samus (oddly enough), Wii Fit Trainer. In fact, one of Australia's best players plays Wii Fit Trainer, and does amazingly well with the character, winning local and national tournaments consistently (which throws Omni's whole argument out the window, really). Not once have I thought "What is this? They are really disrespecting me!", and likewise not once have I thought "Wow, this guy is really respecting me" if they happen to choose a high tier like Sheik, Diddy, Pikachu, Mario or Fox. I'm willing to bet most of you guys haven't done that either.
As a Samus main (a character that's largely considered to be not high tier), the implication that if I don't choose a top tier I am somehow disrespecting my opponent is not only ridiculous, but also somewhat offensive. The idea that my character choice before the match even starts somehow dictates how much respect I'm showing to my opponent in my opinion is stupid and juvenile. Yes, it's true that there are players out there that blame their losses on character choices, or even other silly reasons - professional Starcraft 2 player Naniwa once infamously forfeited a match and walked out of the venue because he believed Polt, his opponent, was able to hear the crowd through the booth and noise cancelling headphones, and was able to snuff out and stop his incoming proxy attack as a result. And it's not just limited to esports, there are professional athletes that blame their losses on the ball, or the state of the playing field. When you're in a competitive environment, that's always going to happen. But those people are the minority, and I don't like being tarred with the same brush as that minority.
I get it that if you want to be a professional fighting game player, you'll choose the character that gives you the best shot at winning. And that's fine. I'll continue to main Samus in Smash 4 at tournies, not because of any kind of disrespect, but because I want to get better. My character choice is not the reason I haven't won a tournament (outside of online tourney mode anyway, which doesn't count). I can always get better, I can always improve, and that's something that will remain true regardless of my character choice.
What I want to discuss specifically here is point 2. In his second point he says that choosing a top tier is a sign of respect for your opponent, and if you lose, you can easily blame the loss on the character choice rather than admitting you got outplayed, whereas if you chose a top tier you have no excuses.
I agree with that second part in principle - it's tempting as a Samus main to say something like "Well, the matchup against Mario is terrible, I wasn't going to win that anyway", and put the loss down to the matchup instead of acknowledging that you got outplayed.
What I don't agree with is the first part - it's a sign of respect. I want to emphasise the point that the act of choosing a character before the match even starts is not a mark of respect or disrespect. It's just not, in the same way that choosing whether to bat or field first in a baseball or cricket match is not a mark of respect. The mark of respect is shaking the opponent's hand after the match and saying "Well played, you got me", regardless of your character choices. Being disrespectful is if you refuse the hand shake and say something like "You only won because you chose Mario".
I've run into a good variety of characters actually in my local meetups and at offline tournies, many of which are not considered to be high tiers: Ganondorf, Dedede, Link, Toon Link, DK, Charizard, Wario, Pit, Palutena, another Samus (oddly enough), Wii Fit Trainer. In fact, one of Australia's best players plays Wii Fit Trainer, and does amazingly well with the character, winning local and national tournaments consistently (which throws Omni's whole argument out the window, really). Not once have I thought "What is this? They are really disrespecting me!", and likewise not once have I thought "Wow, this guy is really respecting me" if they happen to choose a high tier like Sheik, Diddy, Pikachu, Mario or Fox. I'm willing to bet most of you guys haven't done that either.
As a Samus main (a character that's largely considered to be not high tier), the implication that if I don't choose a top tier I am somehow disrespecting my opponent is not only ridiculous, but also somewhat offensive. The idea that my character choice before the match even starts somehow dictates how much respect I'm showing to my opponent in my opinion is stupid and juvenile. Yes, it's true that there are players out there that blame their losses on character choices, or even other silly reasons - professional Starcraft 2 player Naniwa once infamously forfeited a match and walked out of the venue because he believed Polt, his opponent, was able to hear the crowd through the booth and noise cancelling headphones, and was able to snuff out and stop his incoming proxy attack as a result. And it's not just limited to esports, there are professional athletes that blame their losses on the ball, or the state of the playing field. When you're in a competitive environment, that's always going to happen. But those people are the minority, and I don't like being tarred with the same brush as that minority.
I get it that if you want to be a professional fighting game player, you'll choose the character that gives you the best shot at winning. And that's fine. I'll continue to main Samus in Smash 4 at tournies, not because of any kind of disrespect, but because I want to get better. My character choice is not the reason I haven't won a tournament (outside of online tourney mode anyway, which doesn't count). I can always get better, I can always improve, and that's something that will remain true regardless of my character choice.
>
