A reoccurring theme I’ve found in 5v5 since I’ve been playing is a fairly lackadaisical willingness to help out teammates, or to shrug off errors which, in the beginning seem not too bad. They tend to be more harm late game.
In particular, turret defense, tending to the help of fellow laners. Now, I don’t mean your carries per se, just those occupying the lanes. It’s been far too often how many times I’ve seen a carry or squishy in a lane, doing their best to defend, when they get dog piled by two or three extra enemy heroes and even with an amass of pings and “I need help!”, most won’t budge.
I expect that, early game, maybe the loss of a turret or two doesn’t seem like a big deal. Maybe it isn’t to some. Maybe it just isn’t and I’m wrong in feeling it does. But it’s hard to be on the defense with another player in the lane, and when one of us needs to heal, or retreat, we lose an objective. I feel this is a problem because I will sometimes check around the map after someone’s made it clear they need help - I can’t always rush to help, either, sometimes I’m occupying my own lane and I’m facing down an opposing hero - but when there’s two junglers farming with nearly full health, unoccupied by any real threats, why won’t they help? Why is the captain not helping?
I’ve been trying my best with every role in 5v5 so far and I’m not going to sit here and say “fucking junglers, they won’t help” and blame it entirely on them, it’s also not entirely the fault of the captain. I am just seeing laners in distress be totally ignored. Here’s a scenario:
- Lane is occupied by a carry, and the opposing lane also has a carry.
- Opposing carry gets the reinforcement of an enemy jungler, or captain.
- Mass health loss, carry needs to retreat. This usually is where there is a request for help.
- No help comes. Suddenly there’s another jungler in the lane because they realize this turret can be pushed.
Then, we have these outcomes:
- Carry tries to defend. Dies. No help comes. Turret gets destroyed.
1.a. Carry tried to defend. Dies. Help comes too late. Turret gets destroyed, help dies. - Carry leaves. No help comes. Turret gets destroyed.
2.a. Carry leaves. Help comes late. Turret gets destroyed. - Luck strikes and there’s retreat on the opposing side.
I understand 5v5 is new, I’m not saying that I expect every player to be totally at attention of the beck and call of other players. I’m not going to expect that every play will be perfect, but defend your turrets. Protect your objectives. I’ve seen too many games trickle into defeat because players are not focusing equally on these defenses as well as their offense.
If anyone has anything else to add, any other perspectives in their respective roles such and how to approach defending your objectives, please share.
Edit: TL;DR: Work together to defend your objectives and each other, try not to ignore your teammates if they’re in distress.