Pros on 6.55b - The New Gank Era?
The latest DotA map 6.55b created a great buzz in the community and myMYM.com managed to get in touch with some of the professional players and get their opinion on the map, not their freely given opinion though, as we asked them 12 questions which they answered. Few really took time to elaborate, while others were quite laconic with their responses. Click on the link below to see what MYM.Maelk, RuSh3D.NS, fnatic.Melen, and many others have to say about the newest map, but, I have edited some stuff to make it a bit shorter as it is really long!
When Icefrog introduced 6.52 in May, DotA came under fire as the game turned into a huge farm fest. This is apparently not appealing to most fans as it is boring to watch a full out farming game. Therefore, DotA has been doubted whether it should be included in major tournaments. However, to curb this problem, he released version 6.55b and the changes made are so massive that it may possibly change the whole way the game is played.
For instance, some of the major changes that would affect competitive gaming are courier inability to ward, reworked heroes like Keeper of the Light, and the introduction of new items such as magic stick, phase boots etc.
Although the amount of changes may seem drastic, it is necessary as to keeping the players entertained and so does the viewers. We decided to ask the pros for their opinions regarding this new version and probably some new strategies.
Q1.*What is your opinion about the new league mode: "-captains mode"?
MYM.Maelk:I think it is great! I assisted Icefrog in the making of it and gave him all the input I could think of to make it a succcesful mode. At first the picktime was remarkbly lower, but that had to change as nobody could find their heroes in time
RuSh3D.NS:Excellent mode, well-known to all players of such leagues as IHCS, IHL, NIHL, and others. I think that very much for a long time it was necessary to enter it, and I am glad that IceFrog at least made it.
fnatic.melen:Basically it's same like drafting with time limit. Asian tournaments apply it already.
Q2.*What do you think of the reworked version of heroes like Keeper of the Light, bounty hunter, enchantress? Do you think it will be used competitively and make them more "pickable"?
MYM.Maelk:Haven't had the chance to try neither Enchantress nor Bounty Hunter yet, but the KotL seems very, very strong when ganking - Which is a plus I guess. His manarupture-thing that stuns when target hits zero mana is crazy good.
RuSh3D.NS:I haven't played this version that much yet, but based on what i have read about the changes, I can tell: Yes this heroes have now chances to be picked in league games, especially kotl and enchantress.
fnatic.melen:I'm not sure the changing make those heroes will be picked. But in my opinion we will see more strength heroes on games.
Q3.*Would you like to see 6.55 in competitive dota? (leagues and tournaments)
MYM.Maelk:Yes, the sooner the better. I think as soon as the minor bugs has been fixed and a stable released, leagues should embrace it.
RuSh3D.NS:Yeah, why not?
fnatic.melen:Yes, of course! New map, new game style.
Q4.*Will Kelen's Dagger return in hero's inventory after its buff?
(Kelen's Dagger: Only gets disabled from player based damage, Reduced cooldown from 30 to 15 seconds.)
MYM.Maelk:Yeah, I think teams will have 3-4 blinks on their heroes.
Rush3d.NS:I think so, dagger now mb even better then in 48b version -.-
fnatic.melen:Yes, the dagger is balance now.
Q5.*What are your thoughts on the changes with the flying courier as crows are used mainly to ward for the team, couriers are now changed to not to be able to lay down wards anymore. How do you think this might affect the gameplay
MYM.Maelk:I think its good in the sense that it's no longer a walk in the park achieving mapcontrol. Teams will have to put an effort into gaining vision of keypoints on the map, and both the time and risk of doing so might encourage ganking a lot.
Rush3d.NS:This change will not have such a strong affect, in my oppinion. The only thing you can't do is, even to place wards if ur team is losing, and enemy have map control and farming in ur forrest, so if u start to lose game, probably u will lose it instantly -.-
fnatic.melen:It's not good of change. Because it will need 1 slot to bring observer or sentry. Better if make 8 slots for each hero.
Q6.*There are many changes in terrain, the openings into the base are much larger now. Do you think this will effect and change the playstyle?
MYM.Maelk:I don't think it will necessarily encourage pushing just because of that, but combined with the other changes it might. Heroes such as Pitlord, KotL or Pugna can no longer defend a base entrance on their own, so in that sense it will be easier for summon heroes.
Rush3d.NS:This change won't have much strong affect, in my opinion. The only thing, now u cant do is, even placing wards if your team is losing, and enemy have map control and farming in your Forrest, so if u start to lose the game, you will probably lose it instantly -.-
fnatic.melen:Yes, it will affect much. Need to learn new terrains
Q7.*What do you think of the new heroes, Windrunner and Admiral Proudmoore?
MYM.Maelk:Haven't played neither too much, but I think Windrunner seems perfectly balanced. Admiral Proudmoore on the other hand seems somewhat imbalanced with his ultimate that his everything unless you're a giant newbie. I love how he's put together, though. Great idea.
RuSh3D.NS:Some of they abilities looks like they are imbalanced -.- Dunno atm, time will show, i think next few month they will be banned on leagues and tourneys.
fnatic.melen:I dont know, haven't played them much yet hahaha
Q8.*Aegis will now be returned to Roshan if it is not used up between Roshan respawn time. How will that impact the game? and also it now works exactly like skeleton king's reincarnation. Is that a good or bad news for you?
MYM.Maelk:I think Roshan will no longer be used as a way of securing your lategamer. Before, or now if you must, it was used for either that or wanting to fight 5v5. With this change, it will now only be used for fighting 5v5 or actually pushing, so in that sense I love it.
RuSh3D.NS:Good news, aegis abuses sucks a lot, i will really be proud of IceFrog when he finnaly will remove roshan/aegis from DotA -.-
fnatic.melen:It's good that aegis will returned to Roshan again. Respawn on place when we die also good.
Q9.*What do you think about the 4 new items, phase boots, glyph of fortification, dust of appereance and magic stick?
MYM.Maelk:I haven't given them too much thought, I think the Phase Boots are decent, but won't be put to much use in higher level play compared to i.e. Boots of Travel. The Glyph isn't really useful for anything but positioning when defending. If a team needs the 3 seconds it takes to teleport in, that is probably how it will be used. Dust is good now that sentries received a nerf, since its very difficult to keep track of windwalk heroes with lowrange sentries. The Magic Stick I feel might be decent against certain lanes and lineups and have as a backup item in 5v5 battles where any kind of instant mana/hp might come in handy.
RuSh3D.NShase boots - very good item for all melee damager, now they can be really useful and not suck vs range in late game.
Glyph of fortification - should be removed.
Dust of appearance like this one, no need to carry million sentry now to kill annoying invise heroes and lothar abusers.
Magic stick - improved Tango? mhmhm, dunno.
All this items need to be tested in real games, and i didn't have done it yet -.-
fnatic.melen:I love all new items, but i think need to add more slots on hero.
Q10.*Multiple teleportation on a tower is enabled now, will this bring in new suprise attack strats?
MYM.Maelk:Yes, in all kinds of ways. Not only will teams of course defend their towers as always, but turning around a gank or a fight on the lane will also be seen much more now, I believe.
RuSh3D.NSefend strats, not attack
But yeah, this is nice, i like this change.
fnatic.melen
Q11.*BKB is highly nerfed in this version, what is your opinion regarding the new bkb?
(New BKB: 80/75/70/65/60/55 seconds cooldown, 10/9/8/7/6/5 seconds, Total: 3910)
MYM.Maelk:This way it will no longer be used by the high DPS-heroes that just relies on their physical attacks, teams will have to find another way of protecting them and ensuring they can get off their attacks. Now the item will be used by the heroes it was meant for, in my eyes at least, namely heroes such as Sandking or Crystal Maiden who just needs the 'invulnerability' to get off their ultimates.
RuSh3D.NS:TBH its not hard nerf, bkb still give u invulnirable versus magic, even 5 sec is totally imba (u still can abort global silence or treant roots with it) if u use it in right moment u can avoid all enemy spells, and all enemy ulties. But yes, this change should be.
fnatic.melen:Now BKB need to be considered as a must-buy-item
Q12.*Observer and sentry wards are limited in this version with only 2 charges available for grab, also Sentry wards have been nerfed by reducing vision time by half from 6 minutes to 3 minutes. How will this affect the gameplay?.*
MYM.Maelk:I don't think the Observer wards-change was that big. Teams will just purchase a set from the very beginning. The change won't be noticed before the game goes late, and with this version I think that what we know as the current lategame will be completely redundant and the midgame as we know it right now, will be known as lategame for the future. As for the sentry-wards, it was a needed change in order for teams not to lose mapcontrol too easy.
RuSh3D.NS:MM i am dont think this is really making a big affect, sentry now became half-uselles with this Dust of appereance. About obs, i don't see a big difference between 2 charges and 4-6-million, if u want place more than 2 wards, ur mate can just help u, so -.-
fnatic.melen:It's make observer and sentry more balance, but i dont like that courrier cant place wards anymore.
Source:MYM.com
Reply With Quote
Re: Pros on 6.55b - The New Gank Era?
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway. 
