The "Picking a Main" thread

[The Winna Mon]

I've mostly been a Marvel vs Capcom player up until now. I've played a bit of CT/CS (mostly just for story mode shits and giggles) and I'm looking to get serious. Who's a character that's easy to pick up and play in terms of execution? I know BB is notorious for having long combos, but is there a character that keeps things fairly simple? I'd like some zoning ability but it isn't absolutely necessary: I can rush down if I need to. I hesitate to use the word braindead, but it's kind of what I'm looking for (sort of like Wolverine, Wesker, or Ghost Rider difficulty, if anyone here knows Marvel 3).

[deadsnake]

Any other chars with good oki game? does Relius have any reliable oki game like carl?

try litchi, her corner oki is extremely good if I must say

[excelence]

Any other chars with good oki game? does Relius have any reliable oki game like carl?

Try what Solar said .... and the thing i hate the most in this game is ... Knockdown+Frog on my face

[mr.mortified]

I've mostly been a Marvel vs Capcom player up until now. I've played a bit of CT/CS (mostly just for story mode shits and giggles) and I'm looking to get serious. Who's a character that's easy to pick up and play in terms of execution? I know BB is notorious for having long combos, but is there a character that keeps things fairly simple? I'd like some zoning ability but it isn't absolutely necessary: I can rush down if I need to. I hesitate to use the word braindead, but it's kind of what I'm looking for (sort of like Wolverine, Wesker, or Ghost Rider difficulty, if anyone here knows Marvel 3).

try using hazama or litchi if you want someone who has some zoning ability but doesn't have to be necessary. Sadly, if you use any character in BB (even tager), you're going to run into some execution barriers. All you can do is practice and get your matchup exp and combo awareness up

[Epamek]

The only fighting games I play a lot are smash bros and 3rd strike. I just got CS for the vita.

I like Marth and Elena, so, from what I can tell, I want a non-projectile, non-rushdown spacing/zoning character (right?).

It seems like Hakumen has the best range in his attacks. Is there anyone more suited to the style I'm thinking of than him?

(PS: I do suck but I wouldn't mind picking up someone challenging (I liked Carl the few times I played calamity trigger))

Edited March 18, 2012 by Epamek

[Misdreavus]

So after getting caught up in the Capcom Hype Train with UMvC3 and SFxT, I want to come back to BlazBlue again with Extend. But by now, I've kinda changed my mind about what type of character I like, I'm realizing I feel most comfortable just zoning people out (I don't know why it took so long, I always play mages or archers in RPGs anyway...)

I would of wanted to play Rachel since she's my favorite character anyway, but the problem is that she's way too hard and complex, I'm not into really execution-heavy characters. So I'm wondering, what are the easiest zoners to learn in this game? Currently playing Lambda, is she good for a relative newbie? Or maybe I should I just try to stick it out with Rachel?

[Airk]

I like Marth and Elena, so, from what I can tell, I want a non-projectile, non-rushdown spacing/zoning character (right?).

It seems like Hakumen has the best range in his attacks. Is there anyone more suited to the style I'm thinking of than him?

You could probably put Jin and Litchi in here too - technically they both have projectiles, but neither of them are what most folks would think of as a "projectile character". (Tager has a projectile too, so... ) Relius probably counts too, and if you liked Carl, he might suit.

So after getting caught up in the Capcom Hype Train with UMvC3 and SFxT, I want to come back to BlazBlue again with Extend. But by now, I've kinda changed my mind about what type of character I like, I'm realizing I feel most comfortable just zoning people out (I don't know why it took so long, I always play mages or archers in RPGs anyway...)

I would of wanted to play Rachel since she's my favorite character anyway, but the problem is that she's way too hard and complex, I'm not into really execution-heavy characters. So I'm wondering, what are the easiest zoners to learn in this game? Currently playing Lambda, is she good for a relative newbie? Or maybe I should I just try to stick it out with Rachel?

Lambda is perfectly good, and definitely easier for most people to pick up than Rachel. You could also try Mu or Hazama, but they're...different. Technically if you really want to be play a zoning character, Lambda is your lady, though even then, you're going to do your heaviest damage up close. Still, Lambda is definitely the character who is most likely to get her wins by frustrating her opponents with zoning. Rachel does some of this, but I'd say Rachel uses her zoning more to open up her approach.

[YukiBlue]

Mu can zone fairly well. Not as much as Lambda, but I wont confuse Zoning with Run-Away.

Mu = Mediocre Zoning, Highest Damage output in the game.

Hazama = Relatively easy. Amazing zoning tool. Fun.

Lambda = Lambchops

[Epamek]

You could probably put Jin and Litchi in here too - technically they both have projectiles, but neither of them are what most folks would think of as a "projectile character". (Tager has a projectile too, so... ) Relius probably counts too, and if you liked Carl, he might suit.

Thanks. I'm really enjoying Jin (shoto, I know...)

[Airk]

Thanks. I'm really enjoying Jin (shoto, I know...)

Eh. Not really. I mean, yes, he has a "fireball" a "DP" and a "hurricane kick" but none of them really function the way those moves do in Street Fighter; I'm not even really convinced that it's possible to make a real SF-style "Shoto" character in BB - the movement options available just change the game too much.

Jin's ice swords are mostly too slow to really zone with in a fast-paced game like BB and are more used for shenanigans, limited space control or weird oki. Similarly, his DPs all have weird blind spots (A version has no invulnerability, A&B versions whiff on crouchers, C version is super slow, etc.). I guess Ice Car is sortof like a hurricane kick though. :P

[The Winna Mon]

Thanks a million to the people who helped me out. I'm probably going to start by maining Ragna and subbing Bang. Much as I like having zoning options, Ragna's just got some very solid tools and a very tempting meterless reversal. Also, I'm starting to get the hang of big people combos with him.

[Akita]

wouldn't picking a main just be to go into training mode and seriously just "press buttons?" It sounds really noobish, but at first I feel that you need to establish what a character can do (move list wise and input wise). I try to create my own little combo, and gradually figure out what I can and cannot do. For BB, it's also easy since they got the Challenge mode and some of the basic basic is in there. Pretty much after that, I look at videos and gameplay to enhance my knowledge...

But IR noob anyway (lol)

[destruction_adv]

wouldn't picking a main just be to go into training mode and seriously just "press buttons?" It sounds really noobish, but at first I feel that you need to establish what a character can do (move list wise and input wise). I try to create my own little combo, and gradually figure out what I can and cannot do. For BB, it's also easy since they got the Challenge mode and some of the basic basic is in there. Pretty much after that, I look at videos and gameplay to enhance my knowledge...

But IR noob anyway (lol)

It's a little more complicated than that for some (but not all people) some times people like a specific playstyle, and like to know which character goes well with that playstyle. Sometimes people pick based solely on looks, or the personality of the character in story mode.

[Akita]

well, it's like, I played Lambda as a really up close character, and it worked against some of my friends. But I learned through challenge, and watching vids that I shouldn't do that, and gradually made myself learn to zone. So agree with playstyle, but you can definitely get yourself to learn strategy the hard way. I actually don't know why I can pick Lambda up easier than people like Makoto, or Ragna (who I fell is rushdown, but can't do it as effectively than Lambda)

As for Mu and zoning, majority of the tourney vids I seen of Mu relied more on her close combat rather than setting up her bits. Rachel's zoning, done right is annoying and effective... Like, you can fling Tiny Robelia to any distance, you have some oki tools, you have your toad trap -she just seems really fun to play (and annoying to play against).

[destruction_adv]

well, it's like, I played Lambda as a really up close character, and it worked against some of my friends. But I learned through challenge, and watching vids that I shouldn't do that, and gradually made myself learn to zone. So agree with playstyle, but you can definitely get yourself to learn strategy the hard way. I actually don't know why I can pick Lambda up easier than people like Makoto, or Ragna (who I fell is rushdown, but can't do it as effectively than Lambda)

As for Mu and zoning, majority of the tourney vids I seen of Mu relied more on her close combat rather than setting up her bits. Rachel's zoning, done right is annoying and effective... Like, you can fling Tiny Robelia to any distance, you have some oki tools, you have your toad trap -she just seems really fun to play (and annoying to play against).

What you're describing isn't picking a main, it's more so learning a character, which is the next step. What we try to answer here is who should you choose to learn. Picking a main is , in my opinion, all about asking, what do I want to do in a fighting game, and finding who does that. Someone with expirence can pick that out from watching vids, but a total new comer to the genre will most likely be unable to. In my case as a total noob I picked a main from watching videos, but what I wanted to do was listen to JAM Project, so I play Bang.

Also, did you just say Ragna can't rushdown as effictively as Lambda, was that just a typo, or have you never played a good Ragna. Ragna's a beast when he gets in. While I would agree that Lambda is still decent up close (only on offense though), Ragna's much better.

[Akita]

no that should be read as, Ragna probably is a rush down, but I can't do it properly enough (I am still not getting that timing for the staple 5B, 5C, 6C, dc 6B , X right. Not enough practice in my part, since I rather spend my time learning to effectively zone). I like infighting a lot, but I just can't do it with characters who should be doing it well (and again, it's probably because I am spending majority of my time practicing Lambda).

But that's how I pick a main generally...

Step 1: Fiddle with any, if not all characters to weed out what I don't want to use ever <- like seriously, if you are new to fighting games, you might as well touch every character to see what you like. I have gone through probably all of the GG, BB, and SSBM roster to find who I really like.

Step 2: See if any characters that made your cut clicks with you <- this is still your button mashing phase, and there is a certain point where you learn from Button Mashing. So what can you pick up is what I am getting at here

Step 3: Watch vids for inspiration

Step 4: Try some basics yourself

Edit: sorry, I keep forgetting to add one word, which should denote that "I" can't do it...

Edited March 26, 2012 by Akita

[NemesisZeru]

Well, figured I'd ask here..

Back in my nooby days when I played GG on the Wii, Johnny was my favorite character, hands down. I couldn't play him very well, but damn he was fun. I've been trying out other characters, since I've sorta reached an execution barrier with my current main(There's only so much one can do as Carl on a DS. D: ), so trying to figure out which character would be similar to him. If I had to guess, I'd say Hazama(stylistically at least), but it feels like it'd be sorta pointless to practice him now when, from what I've heard, he totally changes in EX combowise. D:

So..yeah..halp?

[excelence]

Well, figured I'd ask here..

Back in my nooby days when I played GG on the Wii, Johnny was my favorite character, hands down. I couldn't play him very well, but damn he was fun. I've been trying out other characters, since I've sorta reached an execution barrier with my current main(There's only so much one can do as Carl on a DS. D: ), so trying to figure out which character would be similar to him. If I had to guess, I'd say Hazama(stylistically at least), but it feels like it'd be sorta pointless to practice him now when, from what I've heard, he totally changes in EX combowise. D:

So..yeah..halp?

Pratice Lambchop on CS2 then continue on playing Hazama on EX

[uberdeluxe]

Since this is in the general section and not the BB section, it's OK to ask about who to play for the new GG game, right? The main things I'm looking for are good defensive options and solid footsies/neutral game. I don't really care about being able to do big damage with a single combo. Resets are fun though.

[Circuitous]

Well everyone has good defensive options and big damage off single combos (except maybe Bridget, but that could change).

Solid footsies/neutral and resets are fun... any of the assassins, any of the holy order... actually you're gonna have to narrow this down, we're talking about GG here.

[destruction_adv]

This is a different way to ask, but what qualities do you guys think a Johnny player needs to be succesful (determining if I really want to main Johnny or not.)

[Circuitous]

Execution and patience.

[destruction_adv]

Execution and patience.

Sounds good. Time to get down to practicing. I should be able to get a few techniques down with my old copy of #Reload.

[uberdeluxe]

Well everyone has good defensive options and big damage off single combos (except maybe Bridget, but that could change).

Solid footsies/neutral and resets are fun... any of the assassins, any of the holy order... actually you're gonna have to narrow this down, we're talking about GG here.

Ok, hm... Well I like characters that can threaten going in at any time, like Ken's super fast forewards dash in 3S, or alternatively characters that can zone effectively and keep opponants from getting in. Also someone with good oki would be cool, I used akuma when I played SSF4 and Rachel in BB.

[Circuitous]

Millia has everything you want. Zoning, rushdown, gdlk oki. Give her a shot. Might also try Venom.