So I love Super Smash Bros Ultimate. I generally regard it as my favorite video game of all time. I've spent hundreds of hours watching pro-level Smash, and I've spent thousands of hours playing it. I've had a blast with it, met tons of awesome people through it, and grown because of it.
And yet. I think I might like competing in Lorcana more?
Here are some of my thoughts on the topic.
Fundamentally on paper it makes sense to me.
When I think about my skills and strengths as a human being, my thoughts definitely turn toward 'strategic thinking' before they ever turn toward something such as 'good reaction time'. Although overall I'm an accomplished Smash player (for a local scene), I feel that, theoretically, I would be a stronger Lorcana player. And so far, the results seem to back that thought, although the sample size is much much smaller compared to my Smash career (the results being in order at Set Champs 5th, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, and then a 2nd at a $2k).
My individual skills better aligning with the skills the game asks for is connected to my next thought:
I have faith in myself.
Even though I'm good, even great, at Smash and definitely feel I still have room to grow, there just feels like such a gap when I watch top Smash players. I watch them, and I feel like I could never get to that level. That they're just better. And always will be. Of course part of that is because they play more than me and practice smarter than me. But I still feel like they just have a talent for the game that I'll just never be able to have.
But I don't feel that when I watch top-level Lorcana. Perhaps it's because it's a turn-based game, so it's easier to see a decision being made and feel like you could've done the same (vs the constant barrage of interactions that are taking place in a game of Smash). Perhaps it's because due to the nature of the game, seeing the skill gap between players is much more difficult (which I do think is the case). So perhaps I'm just being naive, but in my heart I feel like I could become a top-level Lorcana player. And I don't feel that way about Smash.
I think this faith in myself to reach those highest levels is a big reason why I feel more drawn to Lorcana right now.
I think I might simply be getting tired of Smash.*
To be fair, I do think part of that is being at the upper-echelon of my local scene for so long. If I were to relocate to a fresh scene where the competition is tougher, perhaps my energy for the game would come back. Regardless, I think Lorcana is a much newer and exciting endeavor for me currently. I haven't gotten to test my limits at big events yet like I have in Smash. I haven't gotten to compete in larger locals. There's a lot of things I haven't done in Lorcana that I have done in Smash.
Luck, an interesting give and take:
One big thing I like about Smash is that luck is seemingly a non-factor. If I'm better, I am very likely going to win. Obviously some days I'm playing better or worse, same with my opponent. Match-ups exist etc. But in regards to luck? You have complete control. There is no random card from the top of the deck to come save you or ruin you.
That is not the case in Lorcana. Of course, better players will win more frequently by a significant margin in Lorcana; it is a very skilled-based game. But there's definitely, definitely, luck in a game of Lorcana that you simply cannot find in a game of Smash Bros (unless one's playing Hero, I suppose).
That luck is alluring in some ways, for sure. The simple fact that there's not perfect information is an intriguing puzzle to me. The new options and possibilities the top card of the deck presents to me every turn is a ton of fun. But I certainly find it frustrating when my opponent top decks their only out or I draw a brick hand.
Now, of course, the reverse can happen. I have been the benefactor of several top decks that have won me games. But, I gotta say, the bad feeling when my opponent top decks the win compared to the good feeling of doing the same, for me at least, is heavier on the bad feeling side**. Some games I even feel a little bad about being lucky; I remember one game in particular I felt like my opponent should win and I just so happened to draw the board wipes at the right times to win; wasn't my favorite victory in the world -- vaguely reminiscent of when your opponent SD's in Smash for you to win.
But overall, the luck, hidden information, and asymmetry are really critical to the game for me. It's a massive source of the interesting decision making the game offers.
Regardless, all that being said:
The strange thing is, I'm currently at a crossroads in my life where I don't know when or even if I'll compete in either ever again. I'm located in a town that's just over an hour away from a competitive scene for either game. For me personally, the drive is simply too long to pursue either of these things regularly. I'm currently attempting to get a job at which point I could be anywhere. But for now, I'm done. And the future is uncertain.
Sure, sure, Ben assures me that I'll move to a spot for my job and simply start competing in Smash again. And there's no reason that can't be true for Lorcana as well. And as I write this, I really want to go and compete wherever I end up, but that desire waxes and wanes, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
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*Going through this post again about a month later before publishing it, and, man, I miss the Smash scene up at college. I know in large part this is due to the community and simply being able to compete in something, however, so I think a good chunk of my point here still stands.
**As I say that though, a memory counteracting that comes to mind: It was one of the, if not the, most intense match I've ever played. The stakes were high, the games were close, the winner uncertain. And a Merlin Goat was finally drawn. The elation I felt was amongst the highest I've ever felt in a tournament. However, to be fair, I could have drawn that Goat a whole lot earlier to win me the set. So it didn't feel like pure luck, it felt like I was due, if that makes sense. But idk. Interesting to think about regardless.
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