An article I wrote on something often overlooked: Initiative
It's a pretty broad topic so I'm writing more stuff about it later.
http://sinisterblade.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/on-initiative-part-1/
6 Comments
This is why I always rush shurelia's on supports.
Thank you very much for the read.
Really well written, but I was thinking of initiative in a way different than what you described.
I tend to think of it as more of making the effort to get the ball moving. Like forcing a teamfight when neither side is necessarily ready. Your team may come out behind, but after seeing your initiative, they will be more willing to get their act together and next time you do the same thing they will be ready to follow up.
In a case like that, the initiative of one player can influence their entire team.
I understand what you mean about needing to know when your team has an advantage or disadvantage, and the need to not waste what you have,but sometimes it is necessary to forcibly take that away from the other team.
Very nicely written article. One that many people should take to heart.
"Taking Baron when the game has gone on for nearly an hour, so the stat gain is no longer very significant."
I have to disagree with this point. In a game that has gone one for an hour, taking Baron can be one of the more significant ways to build initiative. When people reach full builds on both sides, this is the only way to increase your champion stats and build a lead. What matters is how you take it. At this point in the game Baron is one of the most dangerous objectives, because you put yourself at a disadvantage while taking it, both in damage taken and map positioning. However if you are able to take Baron in a safe and quick manner, you've managed to gain initiative and an advantage in one of the few ways possible once gold no longer matters.
You are right on pretty much all accounts. I do think baron should be taken that late in the game though, but in a manner that strategically well thought out. I think you have a really good understanding of the game, especially on how to correctly apply macro pressure to your opponents.it seems like most people think that the only way to win is to group and push mid regardless of your teams current situation.