Changing your main character.

Do you think that when a new game gets released, if you completely change your main character it forces you to learn the new system in a much more comprehensive way than sticking with your previous tried and trusted.

What I'm trying to say is that, I guess e.g. if you have played the game, and concentrated on one character since VF2, you're going to be good at the game because your understanding of core mechanics and principles like poking, interrupting and frame advantage etc, are going to be excellent, but then how easy is it to regiment yourself to a long period of being less successful while you incorporate the new moves into your skillset, especially if you are a competitive player, even then, when it comes down to a serious match, will your reflexes and responses evenly reflect the latest version of your character?

 

I am new to using a stick and been having quite a few problems getting used to it especially diagonally and when playing as 2nd player, I wanted to play as akira but with my stick skills it was near impossible so i used lei fei for a bit but I was still neglecting my weak points, such as diagonal dashing. I just returned to akira and I can say that playing as Akira is making me better a lot quicker, having to use byakko in combos is definitely helping my abilitiy with the stick.
Allthough you can pretty much tell when you can hit/throw an enemy even if you don't use them, it is hard to guess what they would do without any knowledge of that character, if you do practice these characters then when you see them do a move you may know they can only do 2 or so moves after an attack, then you can just watch out for one of those and punish instead of waiting for god knows what to come.

 

I picked Kage, mainly because there was a Videogame TV show when VF2 was released, and they flew in Kyasao (spelling?), to fight 100 fighting game players in a row, and as far as I can remember I don't think he lost a round.

Think that's another Interesting point you make about Akira, and I keep saying to myself learn a different character like Lau with an arguably less complex moveset because your core skills will be better for it.

Always go back though /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

Not that I'm a particularly good player, I just find them to be the most rewarding games as you become more fluent.

 

My Main character is Sarah, and I'm not changing, I love Sarah,
I also plays Pai and Aoi.

 

I main as Jacky, even though he isn't really suited to my style. I try to play Jeff so that my defence will get better, but I find myself being even worse and just spamming out his huge combo starts like his Kenka moves.

Personally I think that, once you learn the game will one character, that character will always be your best, most natural and fluid person to use.

I'm sure there are people who are just as good with one character as they are with another, but on the whole, most people tend to like the first character they use.

 

Do you think you integrate changes to the core system as well as changes to your character into your game, e.g. Offensive Move as naturally as if you were starting with a clean slate?

 

Well, in my case the first character in VF was Wolf (VF Remix on Saturn), then I played Aoi, a bit of Sarah and Vanessa in VF4, then grabbed Goh as my main when I got my hands on Evo... Even though I can be said that I learned the game on Aoi, playing with her seems a bit awkward now, so "the first character theory" doesn't seem to always hold true.

Myself, I just pick up a character whose style and looks appeal to me the most (their strength/tierness being rather irrelevant). If a character is appealing enough, when the new incarnation of the game comes out, I will simply adapt in time, and the new moves would slowly become "second nature" (Goh's /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif - look mommy, I've got OFFENSE /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif ).

 

I guess I fall under the "first characters you learn" category, regardless of the FG.

First characters I picked up in Soul Calibur was Astaroth and Mina. Even if I play Ivy or Raph for months, I can't change the mindset. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gifB!

First characters I picked in Tekken 2 was Jun, T3 Bryan, and T5 Bryan and Asuka. I tried learning almost every other character other than them but I'm always pulled back to the Jun/Bruce replacements. MACH BREAKER!

In VF it was Vanessa and Jeffry, and as hard as I tried to learn Goh, Akira, Wolf, Sarah, and Aoi (my favorite in series)... I'm back to these two yet again. SPURASHU!

My first picks are based on appearance, which seem to mirror to play style. I think its a subconscious thing where brutal characters are fucking cool and hot tomboys need some attending to (low maintenance females FTW).

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you think you integrate changes to the core system as well as changes to your character into your game, e.g. Offensive Move as naturally as if you were starting with a clean slate? </div></div>

I don't think I can ever change characters or even apply system changes. Maybe if I were to play skilled VFers more often, but that seems like an impossibility at this point.

Besides, the characters I play tend to be quite static (no, I don't use OS or play SCIII AE) so changing up style isn't too necessary. I mean with VF5 Jeffry all you need to know is:

/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif safe!
/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif safe!
/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif safe!
/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif damage!
/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif damage!
/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif don't use anymore!

 

That makes sense tbh. I guess for the Japanese players, because they have so much competition they are forced to explore the system for advantages to a much greater degree. I guess you get as good as you need to to suceed.

The question is, is it possible to keep improving, when there isn't a point to it?

Like when you watch vids of players from outside of Japan, I think it's wrong to say the players are worse, because the winners generally demonstrate the same reflexes, and the same grasp of core principles, they just don't demonstrate the same inovation and flair, but it's probably not due to more skill, it's just that the Japanese players are in an environment where they are forced to be more inventive?

Just a thought?

 

To a point. If others are not involved then there is no point. I learned the system alone, and I learned mix ups by watching vids... but AI doesn't fall for anything.

You can learn the system for Evo to a degree, but I doubt any tourney level play can emerge without seeing pros play. But even then knowing how to mix up stuff and doing it on a non AI opponent are 2 different things.

So in the long run: NO.

To make matters worse: there are no arcades with VF, hardly anyone plays it, and it really sucks for beginners in places where meets aren't often enough because:

You suck because you have no experience, and you lack experience and aren't learning much because you suck.

At least the VF community teaches Newbies better than Tekken. But what is the point if you're not playing people (further more, why a PS3)?