League of Legends

[Jack]

You want to get as your first item a mana regen or health regen item. I usually go with Regrowth Pendant so I can buy Philosopher's Stone next. Philosopher's Stone gets you gold, and regens mana and health, it's my favorite first item in the game. The first ability to train is up to the champ, I prefer to get the one that reads something to the effect of "hits a target for x amount of damage" or whatever, because you need that to farm gold (kill minions and get gold/xp).

Then you want to head into the lanes. The key is to kill minions and not die. Try to "last-hit" minions, meaning be the one to deal the last blow. So, obviously, you want to first train your champ's technique that allows you to burst damage to do this, like I said. DO NOT engage other champs. Like Mario said, if a champ tries to fuck with you, just run to your turret. This doesn't mean as soon as you see another champ that you have to run, most smart players will leave you alone and you'll both just be killing minions.

When to leave the lane is up to you. I usually won't leave until I absolutely have to (out of mana with aggressive champs trying to attack me, very low health, I have my ultimate/enough gold to buy more shit, etc.). If you have Teleport (you always should), you can Recall and Teleport back, it's 30 seconds out of the lane tops. If I kill another champ or he dies, I'll take that time to either push the lane or recall (even if I have to run back, doesn't matter cuz he's dead).

I buy 1 or 2 Avarice Blades early game to get more gold with my Philosopher's Stone, usually selling them when I need the extra gold for something else. In terms of items, you have to know what you need for the specific champion. I prefer to get Philosopher's Stone and a pair of boots (this depends on the champions you'll be facing, mostly) before going for the fun items. These items will increase your survivability so you can lane longer and farm more gold, reaching the items you'll need later. For damage I like (ultimately) Infinity Blade, Black Cleaver, Bloodthirster, etc. Frost Mallet + Warmogs is like the best tank combination. For mana and stuff, you'll have to figure that out, it's been a while since I played a character that needed that stuff.

[Kaden]

Something I meant to mention, but forgot about until now is that playing lots of different champions (once you know who you like and what your play-style is) helps a lot. As you play someone else, you can look at them in terms of how you'll fight against them. In bigger games it's pretty easy to just stick with teammates at all times, but in 2v2 or 3v3 games, you need to play to your character's strengths.

Teemo, for example, is awesome against melee characters, but definitely less effective against ranged characters. Even then, knowing that Sion has a ranged stun, but Dr. Mundo doesn't lets you know what to expect when running into a fight. Or knowing that Morgana has a shield that removes poison, so if I want to harass her I need to shoot her once, wait about 4 seconds after she pops the shield, and then poison her again.

The consumable items are pretty underrated as well. If you see Twitch or Evelyn in the game, it's never a bad idea to pick up the potion that lets you see invis. Grabbing extra health regen or attack speed off a potion can also make a big difference.

I have to disagree with Jax about leveling. I've found it to be more effective to start the game by grabbing powers that increase your survivability, be it a heal or a stun/slow to run away from enemy champs. Yeah you want some damage output, but the beginning of the game is all about staying in the lanes and soaking up XP.

[Vad]

I have to disagree with Jax about leveling. I've found it to be more effective to start the game by grabbing powers that increase your survivability, be it a heal or a stun/slow to run away from enemy champs. Yeah you want some damage output, but the beginning of the game is all about staying in the lanes and soaking up XP.

I agree. I grab Morgana's AOE before anything else.

[Jack]

I agree. I grab Morgana's AOE before anything else.

That isn't a stun or a slow. In fact, you just gave my point a +1

It doesn't really matter anyway, because you can usually have all three abilities (level 1, but still) within the first few minutes.

EDIT: And I couldn't find consumable items more useless. This game is all about preference, you just have to try things out.

[Vad]

Eh. I guess I'll make my own point and support the "you need XP" theory. I'm a little off my game today.

[Ashe]

As a counterpoint, remember that this is a team based game. So in some ways, its more beneficial with certain characters to harass the opposite team members instead of farm. Your other team members will keep leveling and farming, and you are directly stunting the growth of the other team.

Also, the 5v5 map and the 3v3 map have DRASTICALLY different play styles. The 3v3 map is more prone to mobility and ganking and every player needs to always make sure they know where their opponents are on the map at all times. If your opponents ever dissappear off the map on that one, assume that they are coming after you. Also, whoever can control the center on that map tends to win the game. And there is a reason the lizard with the buff is in the center.

With Teemo, I like to push for an AP build to harass players.

First thing I go for is an Arcane Tome. This buffs my AP a lot. I do this instead of boots and such because its a part of the next item I want. I also grab a health potion in that first buy so that I spend the rest of my money and can stay out till hopefully level 6. At level 6 I recall back to base and buy two Kage's Lucky Pick. One of them will use that Arcane Tome to make it, and the other should be able to buy entirely as well. The Kage's Lucky Pick (If I remember the stats correctly) give +25 AP each and also generate 5 gold every ten seconds. These two stack their abilities.

Then if you are level 6, go out and start shrooming up every lane you can find and pathways. Try to keep from getting in the minion paths but where players might run. When you've made a decent amount of gold (and remember, due to poison, harass players. Just run in, pop them, and run out, every five seconds to keep refreshing poison. Sooner or later they'll HAVE to recall to heal, if you hug your turret. Hit with Blinding Dart on melee as well to piss them off.) recall back to your base and buy Mejai's Soulstealer asap. Then, go back and repeat. Next item tends to be Rylai's Crystal Scepter followed by selling a Pick to help buy a Zhona's Belt. After that its somewhat open but I end my Teemo games with around 550 AP.

However, every character plays entirely differently and will require entire different build orders, styles, and playstyles. Warwick loves Attack Speed and Lifeleech. Master Yi loves the unholy shit out of Attack Speed (and I like throwing a small amount of Lifeleech in there, but a lot of players lean to crit). Later after picking up a bit, you won't build the same cookie cutter strat every single time for each character either. You'll change based on how aggressive and well the opponents are playing for example (You'll know if you can afford to farm minions for the better late game items or if you need that advantage now) and depending on who you face (Ryze is going to eat you alive until you get a Banshee's Veil, and even then he'll rape you 1v1 - which is where you remember this is a team game, don't fight certain people 1v1, Yi being another as well as Warwick.)

[Ashe]

Apparently an unmentioned change in this most recent hotfix is that they reset summoner levels again. Dammit, I'd just hit 7 again

Also, to make the game easier for DotA junkies to get used to, they changed the default bindings. Now A = Attack Move (like in DotA), S = Stop, D = Summoner Spell 1, F = Summoner Spell 2.

I think those changes are stupid, but it IS a bit weird to adjust to at first. Also, you can rebind back to how you want in the options, just to let you know.

[Jack]

D and F is retarded. I didn't know you could change them back, I'll definitely do that.

[Kami]

Thanks for the tips. I'll have to pay more attention to the items when I play and maybe ride the hell out of one champion to try and get a hold of how some things work. I've been trying out lots of different champions but that hasn't really worked for me thus far.

[Kole T. Merr]

I actually tried Ryze for the first time today, and really enjoy him. I'll have to try some other mages as well.

[Kaden]

As Krig has demonstrated, Annie is a very powerful mage character if you keep an eye on when her stun is up.

They actually did announce the level reset, but not in the patch notes. They said they'd wipe for open beta, which is what the "The NDA is lifted!" news bullet was about. I'll definitely be switching the key bindings back.

[Tyr]

To be honest Jack, reading your post and coming from my experience with playing with you and generally the rest of CDBZ - you stay in the lane for too long. Yeah you'll recall back and lose a level, so what, if you survive you'll not give gold and experience to some champion who've got an ability that can snipe you because you just stuck around for too long. I've done that so many times playing with you guys and it gives an amazing edge because I gain gold, I gain at least one level (at this early stage) and I get an entire lane for myself. In this scenario, one gotta wonder if those 4 minion kills you stuck around for was worth it, especially since if I've played my cards right I already wasted your teleport being an aggressive bastard so you'll not even come back that quickly.


EDIT:
"As Krig has demonstrated, Annie is a very powerful mage character if you keep an eye on when her stun is up."

<3

[Kaden]

I've come to the conclusion that the Oracle's Elixir and Vision Wards should not be in the game. There are only four characters who utilize any kind of stealth: Evelyn, Shaco, Twitch and Teemo. Teemo barely counts, though.

Of the other three, Shaco's stealth is not meant to be used as a creeping mechanic, it's for mid-fight confusion. It's short-lived and better served giving him the buff nine times out of ten.

Take stealth away from the other two and you drastically gimp them. They're all but shut down against someone who knows what they're doing. It's also the only form of mitigation those characters have. Their health isn't good, they don't get heals on their own, and they also don't get any kind of slow or stun (Evelyn can stun out of her stealth, but it's out of her stealth... it gets kind of paradoxical to think about it too much).

I'm not, like, flipping shit about it or anything, and it's definitely not going to keep me from playing the game, or characters with stealth, but looking at the whole of the game, I think they should take those items out of the shop and spread "see invis" to more champs than Corki.

[Tyr]

I never found someone who actually uses those items though. I don't even use it even against champs like Twitch where it can save my life.

[Waffuru]

I never found someone who actually uses those items though. I don't even use it even against champs like Twitch where it can save my life.

I buy them everytime I fight against Evelyn at least. Makes her soooo easy to kill.

[Ashe]

WHAT?

I actually see those two items recommended a lot on the forums for people. They are some of the items that separate better players from average players that instead tunnel vision onto their personal gear and ignore consumables. They definitely are useful without being overpowered, and require you to adjust your build strat to deal with characters that people claim are "unkillable" (stealthers) or help watch your back for gank parties since the field of vision is so small.

EDIT: Oh, and Warwick can sense stealthers too if they are below 50%

[Tyr]

In all honesty I never needed it, but I rarely play against Evelynn or Twitch. Twitch alyways seem to come out when I want him to and... I can't remember a time where I played against Evelynn.

[Kaden]

I think the Oracle's Elixir is definitely OP. The Vision Ward isn't so bad.

I just don't see how it makes sense to offer items that can virtually shut down two specific characters. No other characters suffer from players purchasing consumables.

[Ashe]

I think the Oracle's Elixir is definitely OP. The Vision Ward isn't so bad.

I just don't see how it makes sense to offer items that can virtually shut down two specific characters. No other characters suffer from players purchasing consumables.

Banshee's Veil.

EDIT: Not a consumable, but not the point. It DOES cause major problems to specific champions.

[Kaden]

For one shot at a time, yeah. Most mages set up their ultimates, not lead off with them. Yeah, it's useful, but it also costs a hell of a lot more than 470.

Now if there were a consumable that provided the Banshee Veil effect, I would completely agree with you.

EDIT: Mages are still completely viable when people have that item. Which is actually the point. It hinders, it doesn't shut down.