IgnoredOne
Well-known member
Anyone who knows me knows that I spend quite a bit of time on the game League of Legends. I love gaming, though not the same reasons for a lot of people - I primarily thrive in it for the competitive aspect and to a great extent, on how I can apply knowledge in an useful way to it.
Its really a simple example of applying theory to application and how much one learns from doing so - I've often found it fascinating frustrating how I've met people who've claimed to have read Art of War or other books, but never seem to be able to apply anything winning because while they understand the theory and might be able to quote a few things, the actual application eludes them.
To develop from the above example,I remember being so ridiculously good at Battle for Wesnoth that eventually no one in my group wanted to play with me at all - apparently losing thirty times in a row is a bit frustrating. It really was a simple realization, though - Sun Tzu emphasizes on on many things, but ultimately on /knowing/. And then, by denying the enemy knowledge through the use of deception. All I had to do to win was to emphasize on early skirmishers to establish what my opponent was using, look over the terrain, and then form an vague overall battle plan.
Since my plan always worked with additional knowledge of the enemy, it usually gave me an advantage. By working from this small advantage and looking for positional gains, I was almost always able to secure a final victory.
League of Legends was different for me at first, as it involved commanding a singular champion in loose chaos(or so it felt at first!). I wasn't very good at it at first; my k/d ratios usually had more deaths than kills, but I decided that I would learn the game. I found it interesting how some people close to me told me not to 'learn' it as if that would somehow make it less fun - but of course, studying something to understand it is ultimately how I can gain a winning edge, and how I /can/ enjoy something.
Eventually, though, I stumbled on a central issue in my gaming and my actions overall - I've been extremely indecisive at times, partly due to my habit of 'gather more information.' And I had always assumed that my weakness was a weakness in reflexes; but that ultimately wasn't the case. What has proved more useful has been the overall chess strategy of 'have a plan and try to predict your opponent's intentions'; once I realized that, I understood that I could try to view both my opponent's optimal strategy as well as my own during many cases - in which case I could simply move to try to block or otherwise disadvantage my opponent before he took his action, or anticipate it. Once I did so, I realized that the rest of the reflexes came so much easier; already mentally prepared, I could execute my response on muscle memory and leave more mental energy for the unexpected.
Its interesting going from a mediocre playing to usually topping my scoreboard. And yet I'm sure there's more to learn. My beloved Tristana got /demolished/ today by a Kog'maw; a setback, but one that I can learn from. Such defeats are bliss, and another reminder that life is a constant challenge to prevail.
Its really a simple example of applying theory to application and how much one learns from doing so - I've often found it fascinating frustrating how I've met people who've claimed to have read Art of War or other books, but never seem to be able to apply anything winning because while they understand the theory and might be able to quote a few things, the actual application eludes them.
To develop from the above example,I remember being so ridiculously good at Battle for Wesnoth that eventually no one in my group wanted to play with me at all - apparently losing thirty times in a row is a bit frustrating. It really was a simple realization, though - Sun Tzu emphasizes on on many things, but ultimately on /knowing/. And then, by denying the enemy knowledge through the use of deception. All I had to do to win was to emphasize on early skirmishers to establish what my opponent was using, look over the terrain, and then form an vague overall battle plan.
Since my plan always worked with additional knowledge of the enemy, it usually gave me an advantage. By working from this small advantage and looking for positional gains, I was almost always able to secure a final victory.
League of Legends was different for me at first, as it involved commanding a singular champion in loose chaos(or so it felt at first!). I wasn't very good at it at first; my k/d ratios usually had more deaths than kills, but I decided that I would learn the game. I found it interesting how some people close to me told me not to 'learn' it as if that would somehow make it less fun - but of course, studying something to understand it is ultimately how I can gain a winning edge, and how I /can/ enjoy something.
Eventually, though, I stumbled on a central issue in my gaming and my actions overall - I've been extremely indecisive at times, partly due to my habit of 'gather more information.' And I had always assumed that my weakness was a weakness in reflexes; but that ultimately wasn't the case. What has proved more useful has been the overall chess strategy of 'have a plan and try to predict your opponent's intentions'; once I realized that, I understood that I could try to view both my opponent's optimal strategy as well as my own during many cases - in which case I could simply move to try to block or otherwise disadvantage my opponent before he took his action, or anticipate it. Once I did so, I realized that the rest of the reflexes came so much easier; already mentally prepared, I could execute my response on muscle memory and leave more mental energy for the unexpected.
Its interesting going from a mediocre playing to usually topping my scoreboard. And yet I'm sure there's more to learn. My beloved Tristana got /demolished/ today by a Kog'maw; a setback, but one that I can learn from. Such defeats are bliss, and another reminder that life is a constant challenge to prevail.
