You're approaching this from the perspective of someone who has already learned most of the basics of DOTA and where new information is slowing to the point where acquiring it is a bigger obstacle than necessarily being able to digest it. Think about the actual mental process of tread switching: strength when you're taking damage, agility when you're using regen, int when you're casting spells -- that's literally an extra action for every action you're taking. It's straightforward to apply if the actual mechanics of controlling your hero and using abilities has become familiar enough to not require much mental load to execute, but for a new player who has to consciously think about everything they need to do you're asking them to almost double their amount of mental work.
It's why starcraft players usually tell new players to just ignore their armies and focus on having perfect macro, and a-click whatever they build to the enemy base, because while micro is important it only becomes feasible once macro becomes automatic.
Is Dota really anything but a bunch of mental processes stacked on top of each other?
Like I said before, stats are a
core mechanic. I think no other item in the game illustrates that better than Treads, and of course, Tread switching. You can just tell new players something like this:
Strength is HP and HP Regen
Int is mana and mana regen
Agi is attack speed and armor
That goes in one ear and out the other. If they learn Tread switching, they actually see the tangible benefit these stats have. I remember when I first started playing, one of the questions I had was "Okay, now I have these boots, and I can change which stat they boost? What's the point of that?"
Tread switching isn't some highly complicated concept, it's relatively simple. It benefits new players by giving them what they need at the right moment, whether HP, mana, or just damage in general. Giving new players tips and little tricks like that are not overtly complicated, and something they can certainly handle. New players aren't complete and total idiots. This has a tangible benefit and something they can learn by doing.
Tried that TB mid on a lark. Actually seems like it would work quite well against many opponents. As expected, my teammates were flaming me and calling me noob before the game even started.
BTW Hylian I was watching you play earlier, do you really look at the scoreboard that often or is this just a spectating bug that I had? On my screen it looked like you were looking at the scoreboard every few seconds.
I have a weird habit of every time I click off my hero, double tap F1 (select hero) and hit the scoreboard right after (tilde key for me). It's a weird habit, but not a really harmful one. I am trying to break it though.
There goes the plan to play a few games
