What kind of player are you? Player Type Theory

[I-ninja]

So i'm going to later make a video on this, but I just one to get everyone's option about this.

So for the most part I T.O. most of the time so I get to stand around watching everyone play. At some point I had an idea for a theory about player types. I looked online to find if there was a theory like it. I kinda did, with core A gaming's "Laugh's Theory" video (I know that it's for street fighter, but a lot of what he is talking about is relevant to smash 4)

Even thought Laugh's Theory did beautifully explain the three player archetypes of mind, body, and heart, but it didn't really touch of the other half of my theory, the base of all players, the soul of the player.

So basically the soul of the player is the base that determines why all players do what they do. So what I have come down to is that there are basically two types of players, before the player archetypes, mains, regions, and other factors come into play. The "Sei" player and the "Dou" player (I couldn't think of better terms so I took some from a fighting anime).

Sei players are rooted in reaction, opponent makes a move Sei player reacts and makes a counter move, these are the thinkers, the defense players, the tacticians, the "think before they do" kind of people. They are the first to adapt, last to attack. Think Mew2King.

While Dou players are rooted in action, opponent makes a move Dou player makes better move, these are the aggressive players, the reckless, the gamblers, the high risk - high reward players, the "just do it" kind of people. They are often slower to adapt then Sei, but they are more likely to change how they play in the middle of battle to keep control of the battle. Think Mango (sorry for giving melee examples, but I think using Mango v Mew2King would get my point across more)

That being said, know that this is a sliding scale, no one is all Sei and no one is all Dou, but no one is both, everyone has characteristics of both, there can be aggressive Sei players, and defense Dou players, but everyone favors one over the other.

Think of it like this, is a "Sei" heavy character, is "Dou" heavy character, and being more in the middle allowing for both types of play.

Let me know what you think.

 

[ParanoidDrone]

I came into this thread expecting Timmy, Johnny, and Spike. (I'm a Johnny, by the way.)

I honestly don't know where I fall on the action vs. reaction spectrum. I value having a unique tool (e.g. Peach's float, Luma, Shulk's Arts, etc.) that I can apply in interesting ways. As a bonus, opponents rarely have the same depth of knowledge as someone who uses said tool, so that's also an advantage of sorts. I suppose this falls more to the reaction side of things? I definitely don't mind using Marth and Lucina as much as I do Roy. (Although I don't use any of them all that much to begin with, Marth's tippers appeal to me in an abstract way.)

 

[I-ninja]

I have never herd of Timmy, Johnny, and Spike before, now that I have looked it up I can say it is definably relevant to smash.

Given what you said you are likely to be a Sei leaning player, tools are more often used by Sei players as they are require more active thinking then the Dou player.

Sorry for Marth, Lucina, and Roy, I use to play a lot of Dou style Marth (aggressive Marth was pretty hard to play with) before I thought up this theory, to I tried out Lucina she felt so much better so I learned her, and know i'm trying out Roy now.

Here are some more examples (please take with a grain so salt, no one should bond themselves to this way of thinking, this is just a way to find one's main faster)
Sei Leaning:
Dou Leaning:
Mixed:

 

[luky7dayz]

Im curious to why you're using a video as a reference while the video highlights three player types, while you only use two? Im not saying your theory is wrong by any means, just curious on video choice.

 

[Kofu]

I have never herd of Timmy, Johnny, and Spike before, now that I have looked it up I can say it is definably relevant to smash.

Given what you said you are likely to be a Sei leaning player, tools are more often used by Sei players as they are require more active thinking then the Dou player.

Sorry for Marth, Lucina, and Roy, I use to play a lot of Dou style Marth (aggressive Marth was pretty hard to play with) before I thought up this theory, to I tried out Lucina she felt so much better so I learned her, and know i'm trying out Roy now.

Here are some more examples (please take with a grain so salt, no one should bond themselves to this way of thinking, this is just a way to find one's main faster)
Sei Leaning:
Dou Leaning:
Mixed:

Just because a character has good movement specs doesn't mean they want to be aggressive. Most characters are honestly better played defensivsly, especially those with poor disadvantage states. Little Mac, Captain Falcon, and Sonic seem like they'd be suited for aggression but their optimal playstyles are heavily reactive and punish-based.

For a character to be a good aggressive one, they need a combination of safe attacks and quick frame data to keep opponents on their toes. Fox is the main one that comes to mind, but even he has the ability to fall back and play reactively.

 

[C0rvus]

I'm a sucker for theory, especially the sort that makes you reflect on yourself.
I feel like I'm mostly Heart, but I have some Body and Brains. I'm not good at labbing, though. I tend towards defense I think, but I feel like I prefer to apply pressure when I know how. I am a patient player but I like to press buttons, too.
Not sure, but I think I'm more reactionary than proactive, but my reaction time isn't great.
Upon re-reading Timmy, Johnny, and Spike, I think I am Timmy. I am always switching characters because I want to have fun. I value stuff that looks cool and hype over being the best I can be.
This is annoying, I feel like my mechanical needs counteract my mental preferences. Maybe that's why I can't find a main.

There are some other player archetypes to explore on TvTropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PlayerArchetypes

 

[Aquasition]

I find the discussion interesting, but I honestly don't know my archetype at all .

 

[I-ninja]

Im curious to why you're using a video as a reference while the video highlights three player types, while you only use two? Im not saying your theory is wrong by any means, just curious on video choice.

Well it kinda like what, how, and why

Sei and Dou is like everyone's base, it is the what
the three player archetypes, is the how
and Timmy, Johnny, and Spike, is the why

there is just not one factor, like cake we have layers

 

[iUncouth]

I'm definitely more of a Dou type, massively aggressive, constantly in your face. It's probably my biggest problem as a player. I've used and enjoy using a lot of the characters you listed in the Dou Learning category: .


After learning about the Timmy, Johnny, and Spike thing, I'm more like Spike. Very competitive minded and prioritize winning and efficiency above all else. I enjoy beating people are fast and efficiently as I can.

 

[Pazzo.]

Taking both Laugh's Theory and the Sai/Dou theory...

Mind: 20%
Body: 30%
Heart: 50%

Sei/Dou: 70/30%

I tend to rely heavily on mindgame-based conditioning by analyzing my opponent(s). I'll use offense and confirmed setups as means to that end, but rely on true unpredictability to win stocks.

 

[Big-Cat]

My percentages can shift depending on my emotional state of being (i.e. personal conflicts), but I'd say this is most accurate for me.
Mind: 20%
Body: 20%
Heart:60%
Though I'd consider Heart to be more Instinct with me.

Under Sei/Dou I find that is very flexible. My playstyle is ultimately a defensive powerhouse so I will tank out the hits until the first opportunity to strike arrives, and I punish very hard. So now that I think about it, it's probably 70/30.

 

[IndigoSSB]

I swear I remember dou and sei from some manga I read but I can't recall it at the moment. Anyways, your take on player archetypes is pretty solid, I enjoyed reading that. You can see the "dou and sei" concept in most sports out there. In tennis it's the server vs the receiver, in basketball the shooter vs the blocker, in soccer the kicker vs the goalie, pitcher vs the batter etc. Wherever there's an attacker there's a defender. Action vs reaction.

Personally I'm more on the sei side.

 

[erico9001]

I do not feel like watching the video, but I'm definitely a creative player. While I am skilled in combat, my heart lies in the science and discovery. When I play games other than Smash, I do not care much about what the developer wanted me to do in the game. I forge my own path.