How to Play Dota
Due to recent requests from uidf and my lack of time I will make here a brief (at least Ill try to make it as brief as possible)guide for those who recently started/wish to start playing DotA. Everything in this guide is based solely on my own experience and some more experienced players may not agree with some parts. Im not some uber gosu here and I am fully aware that I dont do everything as some people got used to.
This guide is only to help others start, its not strict howto that should be fallowed by word. Just read it, try it and adjust it any way it suits you.
For starters, the most important rule some tend to forget when action gets stiff: DO NOT DIE!!!
Its ok if you dont kill as long as you dont die too (the final result of 1-0 is much better than say 5-7).
It may seem hard in the beginning (especially in -ar games) so if youre not very familiar with the game yet just run away when your hero is in red and go heal (if you consider yourself slow or the pressure is big its better to start running in orange).
The only exception for this rule is when your friend needs help and youre able to give it. This is for more experienced players though since those of less skill tend to get killed along with their teammates which is very bad.
Now the second most important part: hero choice. (well consider it to be an -ap game)
Most beginners after few games think that most powerful heroes are:
Venomancer
Crystal Maiden
Slayer
(remind me if I forgot any)
You cant be more wrong, those are the weakest heroes late game, very easy to counter mid game and moderately easy to avoid early game (more on this in tactics).
When picking a hero try get your hands on some melee hero (preferably with str as primary attribute). Yes, they are the hardest to master and play but they pwn late game and by playing them youll learn faster (after playing melee early, later on when you get ranged hero itll be extremely easy for you to play it).
Some good choices:
Slithern guard – my personal favourite, 2 disablers, speed increase for running away or chasing wounded foe
Sven – needless to say this guy deals the most damage in the game
Leoric – good for beginners, easily countered by magina though
Naix – supreme pwnzor, very hard to play early game, requires different