How to "learn" a character in anime fighters

[Suichi]

Hey all, sorry for the broad question. I've been playing fighters for a long time, mostly Street Fighter style fighters. In those games it clicks with me how to learn characters, learn spacing, basic combos, etc... Maybe because at face value they are slower paced and more simple to learn. But I've always struggled with anime fighters. I bought BBCT when it first came out and used Tager for a very long time, but he was such a simple character to pick up (but difficult to really master), and I've never been able to use anyone else at a level that could be considered competent.

I really want to get back into BB as someone else but I'm so stuck on how to begin learning a character. I try going into challenge mode, get as far as I can, but I feel as if just learning combos won't help (nevermind my execution is ass and I can't really perform a lot of them). I guess what I'm trying to ask is, what do I focus on to really start to "pick up" a character?

I really appreciate the help, thank you in advance.

[Tari]

Well, it probably isn't a bad idea to learn the ranges and uses of your normals, to start with. Knowing when and where you can use a move is obviously important for spacing, and directly leads into potentially landing hits and getting combos.

Most characters have a few really simple combos you can do while you're working on learning the moveset (Ragna, for example, can always just do 5A > 5B > 5C > 214A > 214D). They aren't optimal, so you obviously want to eventually learn some real combos, but before you can really capitalize on any random hits for damage, you have to be able to actually land those hits.

In that same vein, learning what moves can cancel or gatling into other things is pretty useful, too. While that's less about spacing and neutral, knowing how to continue your pressure or safely end your pressure is pretty important. Ragna's 3C sweep being jump cancellable, for example, is very useful, but isn't something people might normally think would be jump cancellable.

Aside from that, movement is fairly important as well. Many characters in BB have additional movement options available to them aside from just the standard jump, double-jump, and air dash: Taokaka can use her drives for movement, Rachel can use wind, Bang has an extra air dash, etc. Learning what options you have available to you when you're moving around is also pretty fundamental.

After you're comfortable with the character's movement options and moveset, then move on to practicing mixups and combos and whatnot.

That's my two cents on it, anyway. Take it with a grain of salt. :P

edit: also worth pointing out that I'm assuming you have some people you can play with, because practicing your moveset and movement in the void that is training mode is only so useful. VS CPU helps a little, but that also only goes so far.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Tari

[Nemesis]

well since Tari made some excellent Technical points im going to focus on emotion concerning these things.....

I bought BBCT when it first came out and used Tager for a very long time, but he was such a simple character to pick up (but difficult to really master), and I've never been able to use anyone else at a level that could be considered competent.

Its great youve been around since CT-ish so you have a fundamental understanding already but from your wording I infer you may have fallen into the trap of "learn this character cause he is easy" and that might have been what has held you back...

In my understanding of development concerning fighters -- or anything really -- your going to hit a serious wall that blocks your advancing progress eventually... and choosing a simple character to play/win (for those reasons) is not going to allow you to access the depths of your desire to overcome those barriers to your improvement. What Im getting at here is basically : play who you love and what appeals to you seriously the most-- you dont have to ever drop tager, he can be your give no fucks sub, but reach deep and discover what truly inspires you. For me that was Mu-12, literally from the moment I saw her on the game cover I was sold on playing the character-- I didnt know a damn thing about her style, options, Tierlist, strengths, disadvantageous, anything... but it didnt matter cause I think shes just amazing and looks really cool... suffice it to say, Ive come a very long way, simply because my desire to play the char I love keeps driving me further and further.... It can work for you too

I really want to get back into BB as someone else but I'm so stuck on how to begin learning a character.

Excellent attitude and wholly required to restore yourself into the community, but this character issue seems to be holding you back- I'll urge you to not drop Tager, as playing him will teach you some seriously undervalued abilities. As for your main character, much like my above point I press upon you to take a serious look at the characters and... as so ridiculously cheesy as it sounds let your emotions guide you to whomever-- regardless of their "so-called style". Let the character resonate with you, almost like an extension of yourself -- youll find that this kind of connection can take you beyond many many players who might be in a similar skill level as yourself at this time- but later will tremble at the sight of your gamertag in their rooms as you crush your formerly challenging opponents beneath you. Countless players may rage at you given whatever character you play -- and lob lies and insults your way to try to drag you down and dissuade you -- never allow this to get to you, instead revel in their apparent lack of control - its only a sign of your success... Remember you play/fight for yourself and not for them you are not responsible for their enjoyment.

TL;DR

Discover who resonates emotionally with you the most and accessing that character should create the drive to push you further beyond what you might recognize as your limits -- its the drive and emotion that will see you through constant training and losses that are to come.

Harness that power from within and show no mercy!!

Deploying Petals!

Edited July 29, 2013 by Nemesis

[Suichi]

Thank you both for your replies.

Oddly enough, Nemesis, Mu was one of the few characters I was fairly successful with as far as challenge mode goes. I was able to do most of the combos except for the last few, and I really liked her playstyle. Every time I got into a match though I seemed to crumble, because I wasn't sure in what direction I should be trying to take the match. The bit about character loyalty and emotions does hit me hard though, I love using Tager and used him through every iteration of BB, but honestly muscle memory is a real pain for me and I can't seem to shake it, and end up screwing myself over for it. I suppose that is something I need to just overcome through sheer repetition. That and his Atomic Collider combos are kind of tough for me.

Tari, thank you for your insight. One of my biggest issues was just not having a beginning point for anything I would do in attempts to learn a character, which led to me getting frustrated in my attempts to pick anyone up as I never feel what I had accomplished is good enough to take into a real match. I feel like if I can't do optimal combos then my ability is not worth enough to be using against other people and continually get annoyed in not being able to perform at the level I want to.

Once again I really appreciate the advice and will see if I can make something happen and will report back when I do.

[Solless]

I wouldn't focus on getting too many combos for a character down outside of their what I will call 'normal level' BnBs when starting out. These will be the ones that are not too crazy, easily memorable, and will do fair damage (case in point, any Dante BnB in UMvC3 thread on Shoryuken.com is not what I would call normal. Those things have more notations than some of the higher up challenges in BB). I would go to the dustloop wiki for these first.

Like Tari said, you have to be able to get in and capitalize. Maybe once you get the normal combos down then you should try going to the training mode and putting the computer on random block (if that option is there, it's been a long while since I've been in BB training mode). This will help to train your reactions.

What I would personally do after that is to figure out your new character's movements. How good is their backdash? Though it's hard to top Tager's godly amount of invulnerability frames. How about their forward dash, and then their aerial movement options.

Also to note is what is your new character's best opener? Ragna has his 2B>5B, which will be his go to opener of choice at beginner and higher levels, and Hakumen has his 5B, j.B and j.2C. Try all their ground normals and air normals, seeing what will chain. Once you have a fair idea of what the best moves are in the air and on the ground, then start to try to implement the ground normals and air normals into those combos you will have learned earlier.

Example: Tari's earlier Ragna 5A > 5B > 5C > 214A > 214D chain. 5A whiffs on crouchers. Replace 5A with 2B and you will have a chain that will make contact. If you have trained your opponent to be expecting the low as a starter, you can then try to put in a j.C as a starter.

About the muscle memory thing, I'm assuming that means you're kind of playing on auto pilot at times. That's something I need to get over too. I will be at times in a match on whatever game I'm playing where I do not actually have a thought in my head about what they will do or what I will do. Just blank. I'm going to try to not listen too intently to that 'Don't think, feel' thing of Bruce Lee's (or Fei-Long or wherever it originated from). Instead I'm going to be focusing my thoughts TO the fight and not just focusing at the fight....if that makes sense.

...Rereading what I have posted I realize it's almost a jumbled mess ^^;. Sigh, I need sleep. I hope this plan will help you get an idea on how to start out when trying a new character.

Big russian damage! Khorosho!

[Celerity]

Most of what I'd say has already been said, but maybe I can summarize:

1. Learn movement.

2. Learn normals.

3. Learn what other characters do, maybe put the AI on max and sit there blocking each character for awhile.

4. Figure out the best ways to spend your meter.

5. Play.

6. Play more.

7. Grind in training mode, going over the weaknesses you noticed while playing.

8. Play again.

9. Watch high-level videos of your character, put yourself in the player's shoes and pause when they do something you wouldn't do. Once you understand, rewind to watch it again and continue, maybe simulate it in training mode to integrate it into your habits.

10. Play/grind/watch cycle on endless repeat until you are dead, at least that's my plan.