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Do you have to play a character to understand them?

Fred Marvel

It's actually Freddy Marvel
you might know more about the character if you have mained them for a while but you can understand a character you dont use if you fight them often or just know alot about them
 
I remember Reo's Kenshi guide back when pig made him popular. It was short and extremely informative. Pretty much blew up all of the characters strengths and weaknesses with specific frame data.
 
I think you can understand them in specific MUs, but in order to fully understand them in all MUs you've got to play them. It's like the book smarts vs. street smarts debate. You can have all the book smarts in the world, but if you have no street smarts then you just don't know. Now if you were to make an MMH or Scorpion guide vs the whole cast I think that would be reasonable. But if you're about to be like "yeah here's how to play doomsday" I'd have to take it with a grain of salt. You can have all the book smarts but until you're playing that character in tournament (or at least seriously in some aspects, that's the grey area) I don't think people should hold you with 100% credibility based on your name alone.
 

jbthrash

Nut Breaker
I think you should go for it. And if some players think you're wrong, who cares. There's no way everyone will agree with you on everything you say anyway.
 

Chaosphere

The Free Meter Police
@R.E.O.

I think the more guides the better. You releasing a guide for a character you don't use in tournament is nothing BUT helpful. If anyone somehow thinks your guide is "replacing" theirs, they should be looked at as a tiny little baby person. The more guides the better. Not to mention, a guide from as smart of a player as you is like an early christmas present in my opinion.

If you decide not to post them, then send them to me instead. I'll appreciate all of them. lol
 

Gesture Required Ahead

Get on that hook
I personally think yes, you need to play the character to understand to play them. Learning a MU IMO is different than actually learning the character inside and out.

I say do the guide, but just do a quick check-up from its players.
 

Clark L.

F1 ftw.
If you can find some super awesome cheap strategy for Shazam that hasn't been found yet... that be pretty sweet.
 

VenomX-90

"On your Knees!"
In all seriousness though, you do have to play the character to know them. Some ppl are visual learners and other have to play to learn it. Some of these players just feel each character which bests suits them then they get their mains. But If one is a Top player then they have to be good on all characters. Or else they would be contradicting themselves.
 

CrimsonShadow

Administrator and Community Engineer
Administrator
My motto is usually "who cares what people think". Not in the bad way (you don't want to be a jerk, obviously) -- but if you're doing something helpful to contribute to the community, it's easy enough to ignore those 1 or 2 naysayers who probably aren't contributing themselves.

For example, every time someone posts a Tech thread, and 2 people jump in and say "already known, old tech" even though there aren't any threads about it, just because they 'knew' it behind the scenes or in some secret Skype convo.. I mentally put those people on Ignore. Chances are someone else might not have known the tech, and they'll be happy it was posted.

So the moral of the story is, do you -- be willing to take insightful advice from people who have it to offer; but don't be distracted by the riffraff.
 
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LEGI0N47

I like to play bad characters
I do not believe you have to actively play them to have a great knowledge of them.

As for your guide, go for it. You're a prominent figure in the community. No matter what you do someone will scoff or try to find fault in it. But it might help someone getting into the game/char that may not even come on here to post.
 
Yes, it's possible to know how to play a character without actually playing them that much.

This is how Tyrant's Jax was born.

#TheStruggle
 

NYCj360

i Use a modded cyber now
@R.E.O. don't worry man i released my doomsday guide, and with great success. No one ever gave me any negative feedback for my critically acclaimed character guide, and i don't even play him! Below is my guide, take notes reo.

Comprehensive Doomsday Guide by J360
  • Waste every meter you have on MB venom.
  • Press 4 then :r:r:r:r:r:r:r:r:r D1xx earth shaker (NOTE: When on p2 side use :l:l:l:l:l:l:l:l instead). Sometimes i like to D1, wait and then D1xxEarth Shaker. In corner Dash after Earth shaker hits and do it again.
  • Sometimes i like to grab
  • Oh and remember to jump with booty splash and jail them with the pimp slap 33.
Guide by J360 (All rights reserved)
 
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btw, just because you play a character doesnt mean you understand them. How many times have we seen someone zone with a rushdown character or vice versa? Everyone has their own opinion on how a character or matchup should be played, just explain why you think so with solid information and there should be a healthy discussion or they could just agree with your opinion.