How to Survive N00bdom in League of Legends

How to Survive N00bdom in League of Legends League of Legends is quite the challenging game, but as with all things, it just takes time. Photo by marckvision on Flickr. League of Legends is an immensely popular free-to-play combat strategy game with 32 million monthly active players. As a PC gamer, its almost impossible to avoid LoL, as its usually called, but I didnt want to become hooked on a game that takes about 45 minutes per match during the school year, so I started learning to play LoL just a week ago. And thats when I discovered how very unfriendly the League of Legends community can be. stop feeding the enemy u ****ing n00b, why are you even playing, and (my username) so good, wtf go die are all milder comments that Ive received while playing. Needless to say, its not easy being a n00b in the LoL community. Here are some tips on how to survive n00bdom which Ive learned after a week or so of intense playing and improvement from n00b to a somewhat not horrible player. 1. Do your homework The internet is your best friend! Before you start playing, do a bit of reading and learn about how the game is played because the in-game tutorial is horrible. I suggest this guide which has a bunch of terms and basic ideas that you want to know. When you know what champion (character) youd like to play, find build guides written by pro players usually with strategies on how to best win a game with your character. Watch livestreams or Youtube videos of pro players or spectate some games from the LoL client itself and take some tips. League of Legends is a difficult game to understand, so a bit of homework goes a long way. (Yes, I know its summer, but its for a purpose!) A Tryndamere cosplayer at Pax Prime 2012. Photo by getdarwin on Flickr. 2. Play with a friend if possible If you can, grab a buddy who knows how to play LoL. They can give you friendly pointers on what to improve and show you the ropes. Most importantly, if other players start verbally harassing you, they will stand up for you. A lot of the negativity in the LoL community is because players dont stick up for each other. If a friend says, theyre new, give them a break or we all have bad days, it happens, players are much more likely to back off than if you try to defend yourself. Also the game is just a lot more fun with friends! 3. Play a lot of bot games Bot games or games against computer controlled champions are a great way to practice your skills. Theyre very low-key because most players play bot games for stress relief and practice, so theres not much pressure should you mess up. Playing bots is a great way to get accustomed to gameplay and to get used to a champion. PvP (player vs. player) games are much more stressful and players tend to get more riled up during them; they also require a lot more skill because humans are unpredictable. Id recommend not playing PvP until you have a grasp on basics such as last-hitting and general roles. 4. Tell people you are new LoL takes a lot of practice and patience. Photo by DrabikPany on Flickr. Dont be afraid to admit that you are new. Yes, some jerks will make fun of you, but most players are understanding if you let them know that you might need some help. A simple, Hey all, Im new so Im not very good at this game, but Ill try my best will let your teammates know that youll need extra protection and will let them know why you will be dying a lot. Otherwise, some players may try to report you for feeding, or letting the other team kill you so they win. If youve made an honest effort to show that you are new at the game and trying your best, thats usually well-appreciated. 5. Ignore Lets say a player wont stop harassing you about how youre such a n00b. The ignore button works wonders. Learn it. Love it. It will mute your teammate/enemy/frenemy(?) and youll no longer be able to see their spew of hate. I try to be cautious with this because the chat is very integral, but if they have nothing better to say than verbal abuse then anything they have to say about actual gameplay has no worth to me. 6. Report toxic players Make sure in the post-game stage to report verbal abuse or negative attitude. Always use the additional comments box to detail how they were a toxic player. This goes to the Tribunal, who review cases and try to make LoL a better community! Its okay to be a n00b, but it does attract a lot of negative attention and it does make it difficult to get better. But with time and a lot of practice, you too can safely escape the realm of n00bdom! Do you have your own tips? Let us know in the comments.