So, you just started playing online, huh? Noob. Wait, didn’t you know? You’re supposed to be an expert the second you start a game. If you aren’t, you should just uninstall.

In case you can’t tell, I’m being sarcastic. Unfortunately, a great percentage of the LoL community isn’t.

I get it. It’s a competitive game. Tempers flare. Emotions run high. People want to win. People hate to lose. And they’re complete and utter dicks about it. Trust me, anyone who claims they’ve never once wanted, for even a moment, to punch someone in the face as a result of their behavior online is one of three things:

1. A liar.
2. Lobotomized.
3. Buddha.

Hyperbole aside, many online games are incredibly intense. People get into it – and I mean really into it – and in the heat of the moment might say things they ordinarily wouldn’t say. There’s a few things that you, as a new player, will want to do to mitigate this, and a few things you should keep in mind.

1. Practice Makes Perfect

This, sadly, seems to be the prevailing attitude.

Don’t immediately dive into the game proper. Take some time to learn the ropes. Play bot games. If the game has a single-player component, play through that first. Once you’re confident that you know up from down and hotkeys from commands, you can try some actual online play.  If you find that everyone’s mopping the floor with you, practice a bit more and try again later.

2. Everything’s Better With Friends

Even when I’m good at a game, I prefer to play with people I know online. It’s a lot easier to have fun that way, and it considerably lessens, and often negates the chance of ending up with a snarling rage-monkey, incompetent know-it-all or mischievous troll on your side.  As an added bonus, if one of your friends already knows how to play, they can coach you through the learning process.

3. Know the Lingo

Are there wikis devoted to the game you’re playing? Is there a forum? Is there an encyclopedia? You’re gonna hate me for this, but read them. Learn the terminology and slang. Trust me, you don’t wanna be the guy who says “What’s leashing?” in a game of League. There’s a chance there might be someone helpful in game, but there’s also a chance they’ll be a problem player. Speaking of which…

4. Don’t Get Discouraged, and Don’t Feed the Trolls

They thrive on conflict

No matter how hard you practice, no matter how good you get, you’re eventually going to encounter a problem player. Maybe they’re having a bad day, and are simply looking to vent on someone. Maybe they can’t take responsibility for their own actions and blame teammates for their mistakes. Maybe they’re just angling to get under someone’s skin.

Whatever the reason, don’t let them discourage you. Most games have an “ignore” function, learn to use it and you’ll be much better off for it.  The best way to deal with a troll is to starve them of the attention they so desperately crave. After all, it’s really hard to yell at someone who simply isn’t listening.

5. Learn the Etiquette

How do you respond to the other team after a game, win or lose? What tactics are acceptable and what tactics do people generally frown on? You won’t really need to do a whole lot of outside research for this one. Just play the game and you’ll start to pick up on the culture. Pay attention to how the players – the good ones – behave, and emulate them.

Quitting before a game finishes is generally frowned upon in all communities unless something truly serious comes up.

6. Have Fun

If this is you, you're doing it wrong.

I’ve been approaching this like it’s some sort of competitive sport and for some people it is and they enjoy that. Not everyone does. The most important thing at the end of the day is that you enjoy yourself. If you’re not having fun, it might be time to switch the game off for a bit and take a break or stop playing altogether. Not every game appeals to every person after all.

Image Credits: Imageshack, Ibeatyou, Gizmag, Popartuk, Troll.me, Kiwi Commons

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