Dota 2 On Mac
Dota 2 On Mac
For all you Mac gamers out there, the release of the Valve’s Dota 2 client on Steam was a welcome sight. Steam have updated the Mac client, after early launch problems. The game is now more stable but i have still encountered a few bugs, which should get sorted in further patches.
Dota 2 is in reality the sequel to the popular Warcraft III Defense of the Ancients and although it was announced in October 2010, it was not released on Mac until summer 2013. It was initially promoted in the The International Dota 2 Championship where teams from around the world battled it out for a stunning $1,000,000 prize. Dota 2 isn't a particularly demanding game, so new thermal paste might just make you forget about the whole thermal throttle nightmare which is like 90% of MacGamingLUL problems.
Anyone who doesn’t yet know or haven’t played it yet, Dota 2 is Valve’s free-to-play MOBA (Multiplayer online battle arena) This game looks and sounds simple to play but it can be a tough cookie to crack. It has a steep learning curve for beginners and it can take a lot of patience and commitment to get to a decent level. After playing Dota 2 for a week or so, here is my insight into the game and i hope it helps you make a decision whether to give Dota 2 a go or not.
The Beginning
- For work related reasons, I will be getting a top line macbook pro in the coming days. I just wanted to know if anyone has issues playing DOTA 2 in macbook pro. As I searched, all I could find was 'macbooks are not for gaming' chorus and bashing in most of the places.
- Tonight was the first night that I tried to play Dota 2 on a Retina MBP 13' with an external mouse, screen and keyboard and it was a horrible experience. From the F-keys not working due to Mac shortcuts, to terrible FPS (external monitors seems to be capped at a certain fps and it's really noticeable with games.
When the game starts you will begin by doing the tutorial. This teaches you the basic mechanics of the game through a few simple quests over a few scenario’s. You have to complete a certain amount of this section to unlock the battle options. You can complete the whole training parts but at sometime you will have to get your feet wet and commit to a battle. Trying a few different classes and getting into battles is an important step to skill building.
And So To Battle!!
Once you enter the Battle mode (Two teams of five players each side. Selected to match as closely as possible your current skill level) you will be able to choose a Hero. The classes range from Melee, Ranged, Tanking and Healing. Being thrown into a battle with a class that you have no idea about can seem daunting. Valve have included a basic Guide. This is accessed by clicking the book icon top left of the screen. This gives you info about your chosen class the spells, gear tree and a brief explanation about the role of your chosen Hero.
Dota 2 Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Each will a different skills and mechanics. Each has a defining term for their on battlefield role. A couple of examples are:
Carries as they are called aren’t the strongest class at first but they build damage quickly if defended by a stronger class until later in the game where they come into their own.
Supports, are the perfect class if you want to work together with another player and to provide healing to a stronger class for instance.
There are more than 100 heroes available, so learning a few favorites can be a good thing as you may not be able to select the same class each match. Due to different in game modes and the fact someone might beat you to the selection as one one of each class can fight in a battle.
Dota 2 is a complex game which has Two teams of five each side of a map. This map has three paths called lanes. The Top, Middle and Bottom lanes are the main routes to your opposing teams base. You can cut across country, this is slower but you can find some special bosses and a secret shop where you can buy certain special gear items. The lanes have Two Towers and a never ending stream of AI controlled Goblin like creatures traveling from both sides. These creatures will eventually meet and start to fight. This is where you step in with your chosen Hero and try and up the stakes for your side. Killing the opposing Goblin’s and destroying the Towers as you make your way along the Lane. As you kill the creatures you gain XP which level’s your Hero and unlocks spells.You also collect gold to buy weapons, armour and trinkets to improve your Heroes stats.The spells once unlocked, appear at the bottom of the UI and are simple click attacks, available when you have enough Mana and/or the cooldown is available.
Obviously at sometime you will encounter a Hero for the opposing side and this is where the fun starts. You frantically (at first) try to find the ultimate combination of attacks to remove your opponent’s health as quickly as possible. Doing so will gain you even more XP and you will also steal a quantity of gold from them as well as sending them to their base where a timer holds them for a length of time before re-spawning them. This also helps you continue to kill goblins and build your XP and level faster than them. This leads to a certain amount of battle points being acquired at the end of the Battle which get added to your Battle level. This increases more or less quickly depending on certain circumstances i.e. Winning a match, losing a match, scoring highly etc. Once you hit 1000 Battle points you gain a level which can allow you for example: new higher level gear at the end of match’s.
Battling can be tough at times but once you get a hold on Hero mechanics it’s also very enjoyable. The balance of good games and bad games are close together. You may have a brilliant battle and score incredibly well then the next few Battles you may be slaughtered. it really can be a tough learning curve, but it is worth it when things click and you start to know how a certain Hero works properly , this gives a real buzz. It is tough though, until you hit a high level you may suffer numerous defeat after defeat. This is slightly where the game falls down. As a new player you seem to be left with very little back up. But the players i have encountered have been more easy going than the players in League of Legends. I can’t remember a point where I’ve had a terrible score and i was bludgened by evil name calling over the team chat channel. A fairly regular thing on LoL. Though i have seem it at others, this type of game will always have that type of content and a thick skin is very important at those moments. You can always report this is if gets out of hand and Valve collect this information and try their best to stamp it out. And you’ll receive a notification of thanks from Valve for the help provided.
There is another piece of important game information that you must adhere too. Leaving the game is a real negative point, not only does it ruin the battle for your teammates, but Valve also collects this information too. This can if you continue to leave mid match lead to you being dumped into battles containing other quitters. Should all the quitters turn out to be Dota 2 wizards you could face a very tough match indeed.
Graphics and Gameplay
Graphically this game is a great to look at. The map has great detail. Add to this the awesome spell effects and great voice and sounds effects it’s a excellent package for a free-to-play game.
Apart from the steep learning curve the gameplay is excellent too. From the very simple spells, the easy click and attack, heal etc plays a dream. Add to this the excellent shop for buying and upgrading gear. The great interface, tutorial and in- battle hero guide.
Closing comments
The Dota 2 community isn’t filled with moaners and groaners. And you will get a lot of great players who are fun to play with, so don’t be put off if you get a grumpy one!
If you want to get more serious you can also join a Dota 2 ‘Clan’ there are lots of options out there with a quick web search. These include the social more easy going type of Clan to the real hardcore clans that battle in leagues and major competitions.
Is Dota 2 Free For Mac
Dota 2 is a very involving game which will take up hours of your life trying to master. This is a level tough to achieve. The game system is so varied that you will have a run of fantastic games, only to be brought back down to earth very quickly with a few bad ones. No matter how good a player you are. But have a patient mind and battle through the tough beginning you’ll see why this game is so addictive. And well worth a try.
Thanks for your time
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iMacAndy