Entering the world of MOBAs, Paragon impressions

OK, so I did what I thought I would never do. I started playing a MOBA. Yep, I did. And, you know, it's not that I had anything against MOBAs. I always knew what they were, what they brought to the table. I just never really thought I'd play one let alone buy one.

But I did. One of my good buddies approached me and told me about the early access launch of Epic Game's "Paragon". Like me, he has never really played a MOBA but has long been intrigued. Being fans of Epic, we made the decision to go in on the base-level founder's pack. $20, and access to the closed Beta.

Here we go.

So, as you might guess, things at first were bad. I mean really bad. My first 5-10 matches were mostly me learning how a MOBA even works, let alone, how to survive. Time after time, I got slaughtered. Scores of 0-10-0, 0-9-1 littered my screen. I was frustrated, but learning.

The community was relentless to us both. "Retarded or drunk?" read one chat entry. "Two players have already died five times, it's three against five", "They need a kick button".

And, surely, we weren't trying to be useless. But we were. We were still having a blast, though. And soon, we started to learn the game. We learned the way the game flows, what to do and what not to do, and now, we're respectable. Not MOBA veterans, mind you, but respectable. And having fun. And ultimately, that's what counts. A few of the members of the community would do well to try to learn that one.

With that said, here's a rapid five things that I've taken away from Paragon. Trying to, obviously, stay away from MOBA technicalities. These are thoughts on the game at this stage of development. I obviously can't compare it to other MOBAs.

1. Great characters
Paragon has a slew of awesome characters. Honestly, I like them all. Granted, I like some more than others, but what we have here is a great start. The characters seem well-balanced, for the most part. Some of the characters are a bit overpowered, it seems to me, but they all bring unique traits to the table that can help turn the tide of battle.

As for my main, I'm still working on settling, but I've been playing a lot of matches with Killari. I went through a run of using Howitzer and have messed around with Grux. Both are fine, but perhaps not my cup of tea. I played my first couple of matches with Twin Blast. Not a fan. He looks like a douche bag.

2. That toxicity, though?
Well, I didn't want it to lead off, but damn, the toxicity that is here, I sincerely hope it doesn't carry over into the full release of this game. Those that are familiar with the game should embrace new players-- it's healthy for the game they love so much. I witnessed players other than myself getting bullied for mistakes as I got better and kids, that just can't fly. I posted a rant a few months back on this very blog about elitism in gaming. It's a game. Fucking have fun. If you want to base your life around winning, perhaps you're better suited to another hobby. This isn't the MLG, it's fucking closed beta Paragon. Get real.

3. MOBAs are cool
From a starting MOBA player, I like the concept. I long thought I wouldn't care for this type of game, but I like it. The tug-o-war that is created between defending and pushing creates a nice dichotomy, the likes of which I've not seen before.

4. Building up 
With that said, it's cool to be a part of a game in this stage of development. It feels quite polished for a closed beta and I must say, it's really neat to observe the changes as they happen and as we move closer to a full release.

5. What's next?
It's Epic Games and it is going to likely get a lot of positive word of mouth. How well will this game do? Will we see it be the next big thing? I like how console players can play with and against PC players-- how will the sales compare on both platforms? I'm interested in seeing how well Paragon does, specifically on PS4. Outside of Smite, how many MOBAs can you really play right now on the console? It seems to be ushering in new folks (like me and my buddy) which I think is good for the genre. I'm learning, and I've been kicking ass. As more people learn, the community should thrive.

Bonus- play outside your comfort zone 
I know, I promised five. But let me say this-- don't be afraid to play games you might not otherwise play. I took a leap of faith diving into early access Paragon and I've had a blast. Sometimes, we need to challenge our own tastes to fully enjoy the hobby we love so much. It doesn't have to be FIFA or Madden, but challenge yourself to try different games. It's like tasting exotic foods-- you never know what you'll like until you try it.