Hey all- first off thanks so much for all the help Litchi, this site has been extraordinarily valuable. I feel like I've learned more in the last 3 days then in my 3 months of frustrating playing (though still want to hire a live tutor if anyone is in the NYC area) though I haven't done actual "work" in a few days lol.
Second- there seems to be some hardcore smackback for posting in the wrong area as well as not researching your question first, so I think I'm covered on both of these, but forgive me if not.
I never played CT, just CS. Received it as a Christmas Gift, played with it for a few days, liked Litchi, then got connected onto the PSN. I got to the third challenge and then really just did online matches. After some major ass-kickings, I met some really great Litchi users (who all seem to be pretty friendly and willing to help out unlike other mains- a generalization I realize but thanks to SaxPlayaTJ, RomeyYourHomey, WoZScreamer and HowlingMoon) who gave some good tips, I would record the match and try to "duplicate" what they did- this made things maddening as there was no technical context that this site has greatly helped with. The overall process has been painful as I thought I was pretty good with her since my win ratio was about 67%, my psr was 151- but I'm now recognizing I'm not using her to even 1/2 of her potential, just observing oppertunities on when to spam DP, doing 5-7 hit ground combos, winning air games and using haku as a ghetto go-to move in surprise situations. Now I refuse to use DP but once a round and in desperation and to forcibly attempt IsuuA loops and other tools- to gain familiarity with their use in battle this has resulted in loss after loss, currently ratio is 63%, psr at 135- but I'm hoping the long term effects are worth it. I often find myself very embarassed when I see another Litchi player in the ranked matches as I will undoubtedly be nowhere near their skill level and feel like I'm "despoiling" the character lol.
Now I'm earnestly trying to improve and teaching myself the ItsuuA loop, etc. I almost always whiff and drop the combo live since I'm so surprised it landed I don't know what to do after, I know the solution to this is practicex1000 until muscle gets it into memory, but I'm genuinely (nerdishly) excited to be able to pull off some of these combos.
That being said, I have a few general questions if anyone could help with and again I didn't see it being addressed directly on the other threads.
1- I watched a really good youtube vid of a Litchi v Hazama- one thing the litchi did at *perfect* range twice in the match just out of Hazama's chain reach was "All Green*. I've pulled it off occasionally as a surprise maneuver, but I didn't see the player do the small tell-tale movements or jump to cover the awkward button presses. Is there an easier way to input this? I tend to..I'm not sure if there is a formal word...but almost "hide" the moves so that I'll do 5bm, 5c(2) (I think it's 5c..now I'm second guessing myself...the move where she makes two staves and hits with both) and during the animation of the C, quickly do the directionals. I notice the damage is signifcantly reduced, so wondering if there is an easier shortcut way to do this.
2-I'm having a great deal of difficulty on what is essentially the 6th challenge. I watched one Litchi player do it and tried to duplicate the 5bm, 5cm, 3cm, IsuaaC, chun...my difficulty is that I seem to be able to do this (based on range and size) to where I just naturally flow the direction from the itsuu very briefly backwards, barely touching 7 and going right to chun. Litchi doesn't jump, but essentially, the chun lands allowing me to do 2c, jb, jc, etc. When I watch Litchi players do it now, and then seeing in the challenge, they do literally jump back it seems and then almost "fall" into the chun. I tried it for an hour and didn't land it once. Is it a physical press to 7, then chun? or again is there an easier way to do the input? Is it better to have the physical jump back into chun? (does it help landing the 2c consistently?)
3. I got semi-frustrated against a Noel player once who just waitied for me to attack and used her D to step back and attack me, after a few botched attach attempts, I waited for her on the staff. She rushed me and I caught her with the A (Last Chance?), and was surprised that it then caught 4 more times. Is that the max before it techs out? Is this considered bad form? (Like spamming?). I tried to make a combo out of it, so tried jb, jc, but coouldn't get the jc to connect, are there options to do after that?
4- While practicing, I did a ground combo that ended with chun. I had forgotten I changed my shoulder buttons for a new layout and basically hit cancel, then throw and she did an air throw. I used 2b, 2c to keep the dummy airborne, but couldn't really connect on the jb or jc to keep it going. I've tried this a handful more times ( i don't want to play with cancels until I get much better at basics) but was curious if this is a legitimate way to keep up a combo? I noticed the few times I 've tired it that the dummy really flies up and out of reach, so was wondering if it was a way to prevent a loop, or I'f I'm inputting something incorrectly.
5. I've read all the rage and debates on controller (ps3) vs arcade stick. On the urgent recommendations of a psn friend, I bought the blazeblue fight stick. After a day I was so frustrated and annoyed with it, I went back to a controller. Obviously it's a matter of preference. I like Litchi a great deal and want to master her and be able to pull off these visually stunning combos, however I know many of them are going to be changed for CS2. Going by people's comments, by the time I am very comfortable with the arcade stick, CS2 will jusssst about be released making it a moot point. I guess I just want confirmation that these combos can be executed just fine on a controller and that is one is not necessarily "better" than the other?
6. I've occasionally poked a 2b[m] and had it accidentally connect to a 6b[m]. It doesnt seem to wall bounce, so I can't do 5b or 2c combos from it, but is there a recommended followup chain or combo from this?
7. The vs match section was very helpful, though I got lost a few times since it had the notation for the other player in which I'm not familiar with (I'll get there in time I'm sure), but against Carl Clover, I generally find 6b[m] is very useful when he sends Nirvana and charges at the same time as it stops her and connects with him in many case. I see the advice is to use 3c[m] so will try that. My question is there seems to be an attack in which he comes straight down on you- I'm a bad blocker as is, especially panicking when I get trapped between the two, but what is the defense against his jump down? I feel like (and I could be wrong) that I have remained fully motionless, holding back and barrier, and he still connects with it. Against Jin- there seems to be a time where he jumps over me and casts freeze, when recovered, I generally go for a 2A or 5A poke, but always lose to either his double kick or his low punches which then turn easily into a 14-15 hit combo, double that if he has meter for ice arrow. Is my timing off? How do I handle the jump over ice? Should I just remain still and block the freeze, punches, kicks, etc and wait for a better opening?
8. Finally, phrasing...I understand...theoretically what "hitconfirm" means, but not quite sure what that means in a literal sense or how it applies literally in combat. I'm still trying to grasp the literal difference between a "combo" and a "blockstring". And lastly, a few times someone mentions something and a move "just to keep them honest"...I tried to find a specific example, but couldn't remember where specifically I found that term.
Thanks for the help, feel free to add me or give me permission to add you- my PSN is Firewolf79. I think I'm going to stop the online play until I'm better, but would definitely welcome going back on to meet with a Litchi player for some helpful tips and spars.
