how the fuck do i actually play fighting games competently

[Hawt Salsa]

Edit: here we are:

It's time for a clean slate.

So I'm making this thread Post-NWM To get some data flowing into a written spot with an archive so:

A- I don't lose it.
B- I have a reason to keep posting, as people will possibly read this.

I have never been able to play a character for more than 6 months at a time, and this has hindered me and benefited me by learning too much about each character. I have given most characters a fair chance, except for the ones that don't mechanically feel right for me.

The flavour of the month right now is zoning, where I'm finally going to give peacock (a character that I don't like being on my screen, I hate children) a chance. She has cool, high damage combos and a lot of zoning options that I very much enjoy. This is also an excuse for me to pick up double again, as I dropped her due to anxiety. Essentially, this is me pushing through some personal mental boundaries that I have and trying to learn something that I believe to be really strong. So here's the plan. Playing matches with this team I will be going pck point, just to get a feel for the assist behind me, and then when I'm actually comfortable playing pck I will begin putting her on anchor to go for the sliding knockdown setups with double.

If this shit doesn't work out, I'm probably going back to playing point band with Double and Axe behind me, which is a very high possibility because I'm actually playing Double again. So I'm saving that team still. Band point is something I enjoy and take a lot of pride in playing, however it will force me to play band point, which sucks. Well, it's actually really good, but it's a hassle.


I will have a recorded set of me playing up hopefully soon, but here's the main points I've found that I need to work on since NWM8:

A: STOP MASHING REVERSALS.

B: Re-memorize the PBGC Timing because I just lost it over time.

C: Don't over think your mixups.

D: If your character is going to die, get them out.

E: Don't just go for the optimal starter for your combo, realize you need to punish people or mix them up for you to get a hit.

So yeah, I may or may not have a set of me playing up soon, there is a band point set of me up and some sets with me playing painwheel, but this is a clean slate, as I said. So no matter what, at least twice a week, I will be posting here about S O M E T H I N G.

IF PLAYING PEACOCK DOESN'T WORK OUT, IF I DO NOT STICK WITH THIS CHARACTER, I WILL BE MENTALLY STARTING ANOTHER CLEAN SLATE. NO CLEAN SLATE SHOULD START WITH PEACOCK.

catch y'all later <3

-Salsa

 

[Hawt Salsa]

5-13-16 Diary Post 2

So, I'm going to start posting things about theory and other things I have been doing/testing here every day, because It gives me a chance to write out and communicate my thoughts without annoying my followers on twitter. I'm always coming up with new ideas in this game and so with that I love having the ability to communicate it all to a public forum where I can easily share it with others etc etc.

So today I was studying some vods of Peanuts from XenoEncore, and I noticed how having Double point with Peacock anchor just seemed like a hassle because Double with beat extend is really realy dumb, and that there's no point of playing peacock and having to tag her in, if I just want to do shitty vortex stuff. So I'm not exactly sure if I want to play this character. I gave her a chance and I will be playing some sets with her tonight, but if I don't like it I'll need to find somthing else that suits my needs. However, I think I'm becoming comfortable playing Double again, which is super convenient because she's most likely going to be in front of an assist on any team I play from here on out. She'll most likely end up mid in my band point team, but that's still a fantastic place for her to be.

Here's a shorter, condenced version of what I'm trying to say:

I like being able to play safe and patient, but I'm not sure zoning is my thing. I like being annoing and keeping people out, but I don't like having to literally run away to do so. I'll give peacock a chance for a bit, but I think I'll be going back to something I've put a lot of time in to, Band point.

Until next time, thanks for reading!

-Salsa

 

[mcpeanuts]

I think zoning is the opposite of being patient tbh. I originally picked Peacock because I wanted to be pushing buttons constantly and zoning let me get away with that. Sounds like Peacock might not really be your character, which makes me cry tears from my eyes but what can you do.

I should mention, if you wanna play Double/Big Band as a duo, I think a strong strategy with that team is as follows: save your OTG, carry the opponent almost but not quite to the corner, then end the combo in s.HP xx Puddle, then tag to Big Band. Big Band is already really scary when he has you cornered, but when he's backed up by the puddle he's really stupid because you can't even mash your way out, the puddle just eats you if you try. I don't do this so often with my team because it puts my team in a weird order that I don't like, but if you're playing duo you don't really have that problem.

 

[Hawt Salsa]

@mcpeanuts

I actually find this really funny that you bring this up, because I actually played that duo before I ever played Sev's point Band team. The best part is that saving the otg and getting to the corner is the entire point of that team, and the reason why it's so great is that you get the entirety of "Hey heres a sliding knockdown and something to keep me safe" but with axe instead of puddle super. I think I can actually still do good otg saving extensions in the corner with Band/Lbomber and not axe, and then just play double point... Then I essentially get two characters that I'll be comfortable playing alone or an assist in any order.

Good Ideas! I'll be playing that duo soon and see how I like it with the knowledge I have now.

 

[Triblue]

How do you feel about Fukua or Parasoul? These characters can zone, but it is less emphasized than Peacock or Robo.

 

[Hawt Salsa]

@Triblue

I enjoy playing both those characters actually, but for different reasons. Fukua definitely gives me what I want from a character, but I really don't enjoy playing her without Brass.

And I enjoy playing parasoul, but not because of her zoning, I just enjoy safejumps and burstbaits. I think this duo gives me some safe, patient play, with setplay galore when I get, in. I won't have axe, but Im not sure that will matter too much in the end.

 

[Pickles]

I like being able to play safe and patient, but I'm not sure zoning is my thing. I like being annoing and keeping people out, but I don't like having to literally run away to do so.

As soon as I read this parasoul is the first char that came to mind, if you don't mind charge characters definitely give her a try. TBH I would also define her as a "zoner" but i think a lot of people equate zoning with throwing projectiles to try to keep your opponents as far away as possible because a lot of zoners use projectiles to control space. IMO "zoning" is just a defensive style of playing involving putting hitboxes on the screen in order to dictate your opponents movement, you don't have to be constantly running away and throwing shit to be "zoning". If you like fukua but don't want to use brass, what is it about brass that you like and could you substitute another assist to fill that role? Regardless I think if you like parasoul then definitely give para/double/band a try, that team sounds REALLY strong. (Of course you can certainly try other orders, you seem to be fond of big band point, but IMO para/dub/band is the best order, you get a TON of dhc synergy between para and double as well as having beat extend behind it which is a very strong assist for both characters)

 

[Hawt Salsa]

5-15-16

I know this I missed my post yesterday, but I think that's because I got done playing at about midnight from a 4 hour set with gllt and I was very much exhausted.

For the majority of that set, I played Band/Double/Eliza (Mbeat/LBomber/Axe) and it was absolutely how I remember it. The sliding knockdown mentality and mixup potental are just incredible and I love thhe pure synergy the team has.

But I don't want to talk about that in this post, I want to talk about me.

Last night, I got really really angry, really really fast. I enjoy having fun with people, and playing with people like gllt give me that oppurtunity, unless something makes me really angry. I used to have anxiety attacks when I play, but those have recently subsided. But I overreact and let me emotions get to me wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too easily.

Within 7 games last night, I realised when trying to tech a throw or pushblock, I was occasionally pressing lk, lp, AND MP. A very recent issue for me. It infuriated me, and I freaked out and hit my stick. I BROKE my lp and hp buttons. I got mad and I didn't let it out by taking a break, I just pounded my fucking stick until I broke two nice buttons. So I guess, yeah. That's a thing I need to make progress on as well, the whole thing with the anger and the hitting things and the stuff. I cant keep being rough on a Q4 with two screws holding it together.

Emotions suck.

Hopefully when school isn't a think after this month I'll have a little more time to just think and relax.

Also to note, if Im tired, I get mad, which is why I always have tea/coffee prior to a long set I guess.

This game is hard on your brain, man
-Salsa

 

[mcpeanuts]

Salsa I don't have a lot of great advice since I'm kinda trying to figure all that out myself, I just wanted to post to say that I feel it

 

[gllt]

Thanks for playing with me dude. I know you still struggled with the worst thing you have challenging your progress, which is your emotions.
And I know it didn't go the way you wanted, but..

I can also tell you really have put in work to do better in regards to the outbursts and being a bit more fair to yourself (though you still need to do this part more.)
And I want to see more of that because I care about you as a player and as a friend, and I respect that you're doing it.

It's easy to fix things like dropping a combo because you haven't practiced it.
It's a bit harder to fix things like making a game plan or gathering info from your opponent to do so.

Fixing stuff like nerves and emotions absolutely wrecking your ability to play is INCREDIBLY HARD to me, that's on an entirely different level.
I struggle with stream nerves and certain people watching me. I just fall apart. And I haven't made much progress in fixing it.
When my emotions gets to me because I'm not taking care of myself, I perform like ASS and get mad at myself.
Fixing this stuff is mixed. Sometimes you do just need some tea and proper sleep. Sometimes you need a whopping amount of self discipline though.

You definitely have some now that you didn't have before. I'm happy. I believe you can do better.

 

[Hawt Salsa]

Prior:

Thank you guys for your kind words, they mean a lot and I love to know I have people who are on my side/believe in me.

5-16-16

Man, It's really rough trying to put together a post after one like that.


I really do feel myself improving in my mind, but very slowly. Lots of irl barriers at the moment (including my pc being donezo for like another week or two ripripripriprip*****) and lots of school stuff. I'm putting in an hour of lab work whenever I can and doing as much studying of matches as possible. This quarter is really hard because I'm graduating from HS and a Community college at the same time, and 4 college classes is sorta rough.

I don't have much to say that's game related, I'm gonna try some stuff with some characters and get back to you all after I do some rational testing and stuff, but now that my anxiety is a little better and I'm playing double again my brain is weighing all my options, and there are a lot of them.

SO yeah school sucks and once summer is around I'll have a part time job and I'll be able to play a long set at least 3-5 times a week to practice. Maybe even when I have my laptop back I'll be able to practice a bit more too with people.

Walls, walls walls. Seeing people improve around you is something that I've been struggling with all my life, I'm just trying to knock them all down.

Until next time,

-Salsa

******* my laptop was broken prior to me starting this diary, spilled coffee during a loooooooong morning.

 

[Hawt Salsa]

hi fuck this game

it's been a while you fuckers, how's it going? i'm hawt salsa. a pnw player who gets mad whenever he plays against someone better than him UNLESS he's playing in person at a venue

i'm tired of being a shit player

i have a team right now


i like this team right now


i don't give a fuck about who to play in this game



i just want to learn to be a better player. i want to tech throws, watch for habits, etc. i literally just jump and press shit all the time and then get fucking angry when it doesn't work

help

love

-salsa

lmao i'm a big baby and i had a tantrum when i posted this. all is well.

 

[Mike_Z]

My advice - tell someone to reset you often with c.LK, wait, c.MK->full combo until you learn to not upback. :^P

 

[Hawt Salsa]

I feel smarter.

Incoming video of a 14-14 FT15 with Midiman soon-----

 

[Hawt Salsa]

ok here's 2 sets i played woo

one thing that i've noticed in these is my lack of confirming my double combos into s.hk in the corner, and instead calling an assist and doing luger by habit