BardicKnowledge

I still think the upper difficulties are gated by gear...at least while 60 remains the level cap. I think that T4 and higher, while potentially _possible_ are not ever going to be EXP / item farming efficient until the expansion drops. Things just take far too long to kill to make the extra drop rate worth your time.

Happy belated birthday -- I hope you had a great day!

As I begin T3 with my wizard, I struggle to find a build that doesn't include Magic Weapon and/or Familiar. The passive skills that do nothing but add damage aren't fun, but I don't have enough Arcane Power regen to justify having more than two damaging spells -- currently Frozen Orb and either Blizzard or Hydra. Thoughts on how to fix this, fellow wizards?

Building raw offense currently works because of a 1.8x (2 * 0.9) Q ratio with an additional 8% execute. Take that and the high 2.0 R ratio away and suddenly the tank build seems like the only option.

What builds are people using? My favorite character atm is the Wizard, and I'm currently rocking a CC heavy Cold build: Magic Missile -- Glacial Spike (new to Patch 2.0 and amazing) Ray of Frost -- Snow Blast (note that Ray's damage was upped in the patch) Blizzard -- Frozen Solid Frost Nova -- Shatter Mirror Image -- Extension of Will Magic Weapon -- Force Weapon My Monk, at level 60, uses the following: Crippling Wave -- Mangle Dashing Strike -- Flying Side Kick (so, so good, and traverses vertical distance as well) Lashing Tail Kick -- Scorpion Sting Inner Sanctuary -- Intervene (which grants this skill a teleport so I can save allies and/or get out) Seven-Sided Strike -- Fulminating Onslaught (big cooldown, but it outputs 12,516% weapon damage, more than any other Monk skill) Mantra of Evasion -- Hard Target (I'm considering Backlash instead here) What are others using?

Running teleport helps to mitigate this a lot, I've found. You can force action in bottom lane when needed if you're ahead, and stay relevant as a split pusher if you're behind.

Here's something that everyone should read, regardless of skill level: http://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/1zfutx/top_10_ways_to_stop_throwing/

Congrats on Gold! I'd suggest that Vel'Koz vs. Syndra really isn't about the laning phase (where Syndra likely has a slight edge), but what they contribute to a teamfight. On a team with Leona and Hecarim, you'd want Vel'Koz to make use of all those disables setting up the multi-target ultimate. On a team with Kha'Zix and Lulu, you'd probably want the single target burst Syndra provides instead. I'd be more interested in comparing Vel'Kox to Karthus, Fiddlesticks, and Katarina -- massive AOE champions who like to do relatively similar things.

I'd be interested in seeing Vel'Koz as a counterpick top laner, going against other characters that like to farm passively (Mundo, Zac, Nasus, etc). If he can get geared up, he is an absolute beast -- I agree with the comments that it's unlikely he gets that done given current midlane trends though.

I think there are a lot of viable mages mid at the moment -- I just don't think that Veigar is one of them in solo queue, haha. I'd place Annie, Lissandra, and Syndra together in a clump of casters than have at least one major stun/root (that isn't an ult) and possess significant wave clearing skills. They aren't the best at every matchup, but they are almost always safe picks given a lack of information. As a result, in solo queue I find it hard to pick outside of this pool of casters without knowing the team's (or enemy's) lineup. That being said, I've rocked a number of things lately mid outside those three...but not if my team won't talk to me.

See the full story here: http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/26/5452114/nintendo-killing-nintendo-wi-fi-connection-service-for-ds-and-wii-may Essentially, no more NDS Pokemon global features, and no more Mario Kart global multiplayer on either system. Importantly for some, the Professor Layton downloadable puzzles will no longer be downloadable, so get them now. Full list of titles here: http://www.nintendo.com.au/termination-of-nintendo-wi-fi-connection This feels about one year too early for the shutdown IMO, especially since the Smash successor is yet to be released. Thoughts?

Riot has said that they will never include items like HoN's Tablet of Command (I forget the DotA equivalent, sorry); that is, no items that allow you to manipulate the position of others without any recourse for them. It's really too bad, as I think something like it would have lots of potential for support items that differentiate between "mage with CC" and "support." As for Runaan's itself, it really just needs to be removed. I don't see a good way to salvage it in its current form without making it a must-purchase item.

Feel free to ping on Skype -- dunno if I'll be around or not given Titanfall beta...but I'm worth pinging.

Some advice: Call your titan, but exit it as soon as you get in and set it to follow you -- you then have an AI titan guarding you that just stomps most people. Just avoid other titans!

The PC beta is sick! Who else is in it from here?

I bought Xerath today in anticipation of his rework. Can't wait for the Varus-like poking skill, haha.

I'm available later on tonight if the team still needs a slot, just hit me up!

On dealing with Gragas, I think that putting an AD mid is the best option. In addition to what Jeff said, Ezreal also has the range and movement options needed to survive. The only way you're going to kill Gragas though is to run Zed or Yasuo mid (windwall + dashing probably makes him the better choice) and give them enough jungle support to get the job done.

Note: I'm double posting because I'm talking about two separate issues, both of which are worth the read. New red discussion re: Yasuo and other changes -- worth a read! http://www.surrenderat20.net/2014/01/red-post-collection-certainlyt-on-yasuo.html Also in that post, some discussion of Zyra. Zyra (along with Rumble and Sona, according to Riot) is a character that many people, like myself, started playing when she was overtuned to the point of ridiculousness and now is a mainstay among players even though she has been significantly tweaked down from her release state. Riot thinks that she works both mid and support, and I'd agree with this -- they note that she has best in class counterengage and near best in class utility (seed vision is amazing and underused). One big point on Zyra that can be expanded to many other champions: Zyra is a specialist, who because of her OP state upon release, people think should be a generalist. This is true of many other champions, though in the past two years, Zyra was the most powerful champion so she has become the prime example of this type of case (for season 1-2 players, Kayle before passive rework and Irelia before season 3-4 items fall into the same category). For comparison, Brand is considered a general-purpose mage (which does not mean "better than"). Specifically on Zyra, CertainlyT believes that she should be played much more closely to Annie than Soraka/Sona as a support -- you're not harassing just to utilize Spellthief (underpowered atm, they write) but acting as a mage. Go for the level 6 instagib with Zyra as often as you do with Annie (almost every time), not as often as you would with Lux / Sona (more rarely). Oh, and lastly they're aware that Annie support needs to come down right now, as she is outclassing all other supports, effectively removing the "support" class (Soraka, Sona, Nami, Janna, Lulu) from the game.

You are describing two different situations here. 1v2 I am willing to do a lot more than 1v5 (your second paragraph). That aside, you are forgetting about two big killers, one for each situation. Khazix absolutely loves leaping in, blowing his entire kit, and leaping out, turning a 1v2 into a 1v1 that he can leave (via reset leap) on his own terms if he isn't already fed enough to secure the second kill...where he is one of the best 1v1 duelists in the game due to the increased isolation damage on his Q. My choice for 1v5 is actually Irelia, who gets additive Tenacity in that situation in addition to a dash that resets if it's used to secure a kill, an extremely long stun, the ability to do true damage to pound through resists, and an ult that gives her effective 40% lifesteal. She's a demon when fully built (in the situation that you allow for Jax) and is the prototypical example Riot gives for a champion that can't be buffed because her kit is too good ("better nerf Irelia"). Edit: It's worth pointing out that no character can secure a 1v5 situation in a game that is anywhere close to winnable by the 5 team, while many, many characters can do 1v2 (given the correct pair) in an even game.

Hey fellow fighting game players: I have failed you and forgot a small-size SD card. Would someone (GT, Bahamut, zircon?) please bring along a 2 GB SD card with Project M's hackless version installed on it? We need to throw down on the best version of Smash if at all possible, in addition to our usual Street Fighter antics.

Hydra really needs a slight nerf, IMO -- attacking in the middle of a creep mob shouldn't lifesteal from every creep. Changing this would go a long way towards adjusting the current power balance between brusiers and ADC, as bruisers can leave the fight, refill health on creeps, and re-engage in under 5 seconds with Hydra. It's worth noting that Hydra is very powerful atm while Hurricane is an absolutely terrible purchase on almost every ranged character.

For my Christmas gift, The Damned (who I drew to give a gift to, incidentally -- I got him a copy of Arkham City and the Vaporeon plushy, see above) bought me one game off of my Steam wishlish for each of the twelve days leading up to Christmas. It has been an outrageous amount of fun knowing that I'd be getting a new game every day for the past week and then some. Here's what I got, with short writeup for each! Day 1 -- To the Moon. This is one of those rare games that can draw Addie into playing along with me, and I appreciate this game most off of any of the list that I have had time to try thus far. Day 2 -- Terraria. I have purposely not tried this yet as I pack for Christmas, but I have wanted it for a while and have been informed that I will lose a lot of time with this one, in the best way. Day 3 -- Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Edition. Hilarious critique / sendup of JRPG games in which everything is as simplified as possible, so each quest takes only (and no more than, or you die) 30 seconds. Day 4 -- Super Hexagon. Those of you who know me well know that I excel at oldschool games. I finished _everything_ there is to do in VVVVVV...and this was the most humbling experience I've had in years. Holy shit, this will destroy your gaming ego, but it's amazing. Day 5 -- Hero Academy. I admit that I was playing Super Hexagon too much and didn't find time to play this to get a mini review written. Looking forward to playing it on my laptop over break! Day 6 -- Skullgirls. I played the beta almost nonstop when it was available via private invite, and love the idea of an indie fighting game. More people should get on board with this game, as it provides an extensive tutorial system to help people learn how to play fighters, unlike the Capcom games where it's just assumed you know the basics. Love the film noir art style btw. Day 7 -- Fly'N. I had to opportunity to review the modern Giana Sisters title for XBLAFans, and this game is giving me the same sort of vibe -- underrated indie platformer that I am going to play on my laptop next semester instead of working on my dissertation. Yippie! Day 8 -- Fallout: New Vegas. I enjoyed Fallout 3, and can't wait to download the mod that combines the two games into a single, warpable world. I lived in the DC Metro area as a kid, so I'm looking forward to coming at the modern Fallout world without geographical biases this time around. Day 9 -- Snapshot. See Day 7's review, though I really think I'm going to enjoy the mechanic here. Purposely have not installed on the desktop as this has been earmarked as an office time-wasting game (the best kind of game). Day 10 -- Strike Suit Zero. No time to play many games so close to Christmas so no mini review here, unfortunately. I saw the trailer for this and it hit the wishlist immediately. Any game that appears to draw from Zone of the Enders and TIE Fighter is a game that I am going to spend a lot of time with -- I was really pumped to see this appear yesterday. Day 11 -- Rise of the Triad. I played the hell out of the original, and enjoyed blasting away at the first level of this for 20 minutes or so today. Special points to the team member who decided to start the game with the classic Apogee theme and visuals...leading to a shift into a full HD Apogee logo and rock anthem version of the fanfare. Day 12 -- Technically tomorrow is Christmas Eve, but I was just sent THREE GAMES to close out this amazing set. Day 12.1 -- Monaco: What's Yours is Mine. I desperately wanted this when it released but couldn't afford it. It's essentially Ocean's Eleven: The Videogame with score by Austin Wintory. Day 12.2 -- DmC: Devil May Cry. I read an interesting defense of DMC4 the other day, and am really looking forward to playing the latest game in the series. I'm not bothered by the visual reworking of the character, fwiw. Day 12.3 -- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition. I love Castlevania and this is the very first game I am going to play through in 2013. I admit that the ending was long ago spoiled for me because the Internet sucks (hint: don't look up anything about it), but I think it's going to be amazing anyways. Also Patrick Stewart should be in EVERY GAME. This was one of the best gifts I've gotten in a very long time, and I don't know how to say thank you enough. I'm looking forward to a big backlog for Christmas this year!

Glad you liked it!

That Skype deal above is pretty sick -- get on it if you see the thread today.