:: HoN League :: Competitive Inhouse League & e-Sports

[HunteR_]

:: Official HoN League Press Release :: http://honleague.com/images/LogoGameRiotSmall.png (http://honleague.com/)
Announcing HoN League! http://honleague.com (http://honleague.com/)

I am proud to announce what will soon be the first established League for Heroes of Newerth. We are proud to be working with S2 Games on the development of their In-house League System which will make HoN the best competitive game since Counter-Strike. The minds behind some of greatest DotA leagues (DXD & IHCS) bring HoN to the next level of competitive play

HoN League consists of two tiers of play, each with their own HoN In-Game League Channels:
* HoN League [HL]
* HoN League Invite [HLi]

Channel HoN League : This is for skilled players who have earned the right to call themselves a competent player. Each HoN League player is required to know all of the heroes in HoN, as well as attain a higher level of skill and teamplay. Getting vouched in HoN League requires a try out game, and being accepted by one of our vouchers.

Channel HoN League Invite : This league is for professionals, and HoN e-Sport recognized players. This channel will consist of many DotA "professionals" in this channel and the vouchers will be top tier HoN Players, as well as, internationally recognized for top tournament placements.

HoN League is not only just the greatest experience for HoN play, it is your source for HoN e-Sport news, articles, coverage, events, tournaments and interviews with your favorite Professional HoN players.

Currently the HoN League Channel is open for support, and questions before the official closing of the channel to invite list only. Feel free to stop by and ask questions.

HoN League Features:
* HoN League In-Game algorithm with advanced match making, in game statistics, and high skill level requirements on both [HL] and [HLi]
* Sponsored Seasons with Cash Prizes & Gamer Gear
* Sponsored Tournaments with Cash Prizes & Gamer Gear
* Integrated Facebook Account Registration, posting, and can post
threads to your facebook.
* Integrated Twitter updates for HoN e-Sports news, Articles, Interviews, & HoN League Updates.
* More coming soon...

GameRiot News about League: http://wowriot.gameriot.com/blogs/Ho...etitive-Future (http://wowriot.gameriot.com/blogs/HoN-Spot/Heroes-of-Newerths-First-League-Opens-Hunter-Lego-Maliken-all-speak-out-on-HoNs-Competitive-Future)


You can find us in IRC @ Quakenet Channel: #honleague

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9159/twitter256x256.png (http://twitter.com/honleague) Follow HoN League on Twitter! http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9159/twitter256x256.png (http://twitter.com/honleague)

Also on ventrilo: 67.19.104.10 Port: 3903

[Excalibur]

Apparently this is the revised, new topic. Why he didn't just edit the old one, I'm not sure. However he requested this be opened, so I'll lock the other one.

In the future please use the edit button.

[Icanopen1]

Why are you trying to set up league play when the game is hardly balanced yet
And lacks the diversity of heroes and counters to truely make for a decent league game.

[SolidStroke]

Followed on Twitter...

[Jo]

Can someone specify what 'working with s2' entails exactly? Player made leagues are fine, maybe this one prevails, maybe it goes up in flames. That's why there shouldn't be mutual coop this early. Especiallly considering the OP's dubious past.

[Gedok]

Can someone specify what 'working with s2' entails exactly? Player made leagues are fine, maybe this one prevails, maybe it goes up in flames. That's why there shouldn't be mutual coop this early. Especiallly considering the OP's dubious past.

I talk to Hunter_, but long story short is S2games want player-run leagues as well as their own (honclans.com is registered for example). S2Maliken has expressed many times in the past, even before Savage 2's release, that he wants to create a highly competitive game.

So a guy who helped with DXD plus a guy creating a competitive game want to help each other out...

[stevefox]

Be nice guys... No reason to start a flame fest.

[iM_DeaTh]

a league of players this early in the game mite not work out cause only a small percent of everyone who plays dota is even in the beta atm, specially with a game still in the "BETA" stage, but i think its a good idea other than its WAY to soon... but ohs wells

[ALLAH1]

Why are you trying to set up league play when the game is hardly balanced yet
And lacks the diversity of heroes and counters to truely make for a decent league game.
Look at it this way: you can't balance the game when there's nothing around which to balance it (i.e. proper competitive matches). It's a way to help the developers make the game better, faster.

[Tyrant`1]

Why are you trying to set up league play when the game is hardly balanced yetLeagues are actually the best way to balance the game. The best players will pick the better heroes. When its top skill vs top skill, you can actually sub out the factor of 'skill' and account for what hero is way more powerful than it should be. They're the perfect and scientifically proven testing ground for balance in ANY game, because its really the only way to match up equally skilled players and KNOW that they are equally skilled, thus eliminating a very hard variable to account for.

Bout time for a league too.

[HunteR_]

You're absolutely right, any smart company would have the "pro players" balance the game since they know every strength and weakness to exploit. That is why a lot of "pro gamers" because hired on with developers to be balance testers (tom cadwell was pro starcraft player and was brought on by blizzard to do balance for wc3/wow.. is not head of it for league of legends)... although i wasn't too happy with the results, none the less, it happens.

[marmuth]

Balancing the game is not necessary even until the release of the game. Take example of world of warcraft. Each expansion got their own OP class, and even the game designer try to fulfill all the balance needed which some are biased cos of the QQs from ppl in the forum, they still nerfing and buffing stuffs here and there until today which probably years since the release. IMO focus on the interface design and enrich the heroes selections and stuffs.
Esp since its beta, I would love the HoN team to focus on marketing the game so that its acceptable to more players. I hope HoN can be even bigger than DOTA.

btw, i tried the LOL beta yesterday, I quit even before the game ended. it sucks so bad, and the graphics is way horrible, seems like cartoonish.

[HunteR_]

It will appeal to a market, just not dota market.

[Cobretti]

hey hunter_ whats the site for this? will it be connected with DXD site?

[HunteR_]

hi cobrettie, nope, dxd will still be the premier DotA In-house League, hon league is completely different!

http://honleague.com

[FuzzySmurf]

Your League open yet?, u have a bot system up?

[Chavo]

Take the personal problems elsewhere guys. I'm just going to delete any replies to this thread that are inviting flaming, regardless of any otherwise useful content.

[HunteR_]

Your League open yet?, u have a bot system up?

S2 is Currently working on Inhouse League system, I have given them everything I can provide to make it EXACTLY what the dota community dreams of!

Founders of DXD, DGI, and bot coders for TDT etc are actually working with S2.

[spedmunki]

50 players.....huge

[WelsQ]

I hope you are going to tryt o fix the site to look more "official", right now it looks like it's a bit "clumsy".

Otherwise great news.

[lame_machine]

50 players.....huge

It's actually around 80 including staff & trial players. Players have to play a test game, it's pretty selective, hard to find 80 league quality players this early in the game's lifespan.

[Alexander]

Special test games for EU gamers you can found 5-th & 6-th -> http://honleague.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7
Enjoy ;)

[HunteR_]

[Test Game] OPEN SIGNUPS -- Fri Sept 18th 10pm EST (League Time) (http://honleague.com/showthread.php?t=338)

[Freshpro]

Does some ppl get autovouched/invited ? I mean seems pointless to me that fx my clan needs to play testgames :P

[HunteR_]

If you have a proven dota track record and have played HoN long enough to become equally (or close to) the skill level we will vouch.

[BobSacamano]

hey man i have a proven dota track record can I be vouched?

[HunteR_]

Sure, List your professional DotA team you were on, and list the roster. Also which tournaments, events, or leagues you finished top 3.

[Skellington]

Sure, List your professional DotA team you were on, and list the roster. Also which tournaments, events, or leagues you finished top 3.

Wow thats a little too selective.

You should probably treat this as it is, a beta league. I wouldn't be super picky until open beta/release.

[HunteR_]

Unless you are "THAT" good, we assume you are "new" at the game and not pro.

Simple as that. THose who have been vouched have all played test games and proven they are knowledgeable at the game, besides a few people from team Pandemic, EG, FFS, and a few others, everyone has played a test game

[BobSacamano]

i was a voucher for ihcs, the highest skilled dota league there ever was, and played in every other invite league including both iterations of DXDi THE PROFESSIONAL HUNTEr-ENDORSED dota own league
also, i was on a sponsored dota team too, i don't know if that's what you mean by professional, since noone makes a living playing dota that i know of
plus hunter_, let's be honest, if you're high skilled enough to be vouched, the bar isn't THAT high

is that cool enuff?

[BobSacamano]

also i've played/owned like 10 games that you've personally been in, so why assume i'm new?

[Freshpro]

Who are u anyway, if u were so ihcsvoucherprobestplayerevarh, why go under a new nick? And dota/HoN are 2 different games, being good at dota makes u "semi-good" at hon. So basicly theres a reason why not all "dotapros" should get instantly vouched, i hope this makes sence : )

[AndrewHk2]

Don't be surprised if you see this on ESL (Electronic Sports League) when/if it's balanced. IMO it's a great league game in the making already.

[HunteR_]

isz, HoN League is not dxd, you were never IHCS.

Lego is working with me in HoN League, and never heard of you.

Sorry.

Respect is something required to play in HoN League, unlike DotA's limitations, the vouching actually works... This means the unvouching does

With the future of Heroes of Newerth, there will be no shortage of competitive / pro players, in game attitude will be considered, and with your statements I don't think you'll cut it

[KnightDavion]

Hi. I was thinking of signing up for HoN league but after reading this thread and hanging out in the in-game channel I have some reservations and questions:

1) Is this league focused on high end play only? I consider myself mid-high range player and I am looking break through the glass ceiling...

2) There seemed like a lot of kids in the channel judging by the chat / harassment going on. WHat is the leagues stance on personal conduct? Is poor sportsmanship tolerated? Is it encouraged?!?!

3) There was another project dedicated to helping out true newbs to the game, and I noticed that HoN league seems to be doing things along these lines as well with the laning and tutorial videos. Is there a concerted "help teach noobs" effort going on in hon league? If so can I help even if I dont join the league?

[BobSacamano]

isz, HoN League is not dxd, you were never IHCS.

Lego is working with me in HoN League, and never heard of you.

Sorry.

Respect is something required to play in HoN League, unlike DotA's limitations, the vouching actually works... This means the unvouching does

With the future of Heroes of Newerth, there will be no shortage of competitive / pro players, in game attitude will be considered, and with your statements I don't think you'll cut it

my name in IHCS when I first joined was ALDS_Zach, I was a voucher for division 2 and one of the first americans to be playing in ihcs

i got a name change to zach some point down the road, but yes, they would never know who "isz" is because i made this account to play in TDA with a friend who wanted something shorter to type when he vouched me

it's ok though, I wouldn't expect you to know this

[BobSacamano]

oh, I and i was in ihcs from about december '05 to march '06 (after which, when I quit DotA for a while, started playing again in DXDe pub league almost a year later)

[BobSacamano]

http://z13.invisionfree.com/IHL_Euro/index.php?showuser=1740

there you can see my account if you search old posts :)

[S3xYH3xY]

lol !

[HunteR_]

Fair enough isz.

To answer the questions from KnightDavion (http://forums.heroesofnewerth.com/member.php?u=162852) sportsmanship is a large part of HoN League.

HoN League is about promoting the competitive side of Heroes of Newerth, we understand 95% of Heroes of Newerth players will purchase the game to pub stomp with their friends like they're used to in DotA. We are interested in the 5% who take the game to the next level.

I am doing my best to develop HoN as an e-Sport, pushing for it's acceptance for great e-Sport teams and organizations.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, Heroes of Newerth has the potential of being the biggest e-Sport game since Counter-Strike 1.6

[KnightDavion]

Fair enough isz.

To answer the questions from KnightDavion (http://forums.heroesofnewerth.com/member.php?u=162852) sportsmanship is a large part of HoN League.

HoN League is about promoting the competitive side of Heroes of Newerth, we understand 95% of Heroes of Newerth players will purchase the game to pub stomp with their friends like they're used to in DotA. We are interested in the 5% who take the game to the next level.

I am doing my best to develop HoN as an e-Sport, pushing for it's acceptance for great e-Sport teams and organizations.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, Heroes of Newerth has the potential of being the biggest e-Sport game since Counter-Strike 1.6

THats what I was hoping. You may need to take a slightly firmer hand with your members though...someone them come across as very elitist in games and in the channel as well.

But how is HoNL's attitude towards mid-range players like myself? You can see my stats on my sig, am I ready for the next step? And what about noob mentoring...I think this is a great idea and im interested in helping.

[HunteR_]

The game is still in beta, and we know that players will grow to become better. That's why we have test games. If you fail a test game it is not over, you can re-apply in two weeks.

[BobSacamano]

still not vouched :(

[BobSacamano]

and for the record i have looked at the tryout games, just my work/school schedule doesn't mesh so well

[HunteR_]

We had many last week, and two this week. Good luck isz, i'm sure you will do fine, I know you are a good player.

[KARTlK]

THats what I was hoping. You may need to take a slightly firmer hand with your members though...someone them come across as very elitist in games and in the channel as well.

But how is HoNL's attitude towards mid-range players like myself? You can see my stats on my sig, am I ready for the next step? And what about noob mentoring...I think this is a great idea and im interested in helping.

You're not even close to mid-range in the threeish games you've played with me btw.

[Kalam]

You're not even close to mid-range in the threeish games you've played with me btw.
I like your name.

[Freshpro]

Knightdavion people gets vouched taken from the testgames. If vouchers see that you play stable, and doesnt do utterly mistakes ur in. You dont have to be a worldsuperstar, i see from ur stats that uve played a lot. I personally got a friend whos got around same stats as you. And hes very good, so i say give it a shot and signup for a testgame : )

[Drunkwoecat]

Hello everyone long time mid-skill dota player here.

Even though this is the beta, I think this is a great Idea. I was one of the players who went to dallas for CPL tournament back in 2006. I knew at the time...I was not the best player, but I was going to have fun...and to see dota taken more seriously as an e-sport.

Remember without support of players thinking I would love to see Hon as an e-sport it will never happen. It is great that the top tier teams can play, but if you don't foster new teams and bigger tournaments...you will not get as much sponsor attention.

So now it's time for hon to shine...Great idea hunter, and I wish you the best of luck.

[Graves]

Channel HoN League : This is for skilled players who have earned the right to call themselves a competent player. Each HoN League player is required to know all of the heroes in HoN, as well as attain a higher level of skill and teamplay. Getting vouched in HoN League requires a try out game, and being accepted by one of our vouchers.

Channel HoN League Invite : This league is for professionals, and HoN e-Sport recognized players. This channel will consist of many DotA "professionals" in this channel and the vouchers will be top tier HoN Players, as well as, internationally recognized for top tournament placements.


I was a top tier CSS (counter strike source) player for many years, and how I started playing competitively was through CAL (an all inclusive pro gaming league that used brackets defined by skill level). I was an inexperienced player when I started playing competitively but through consistent team play and the seriousness of the matches my skill as a CS player increased. Primarily because I was playing against "at level" or better players than I. Personally I feel that to have the corner stone league for competitive play, private and requirement based is counter productive to the growth of HON. I am in support of the direction in which your moving but not the approach. We need a primary league that serves the interest of all players interested in playing competitively. As excited and passionate as I am about the viability of a primary league for this game, you have already effectively alienated a potential player, myself. Only having played for 4 days I have multitudes to learn, but I should not be excluded and forced to play casual players or superstars looking to "stormtroop the noobs." Myself such as MANY converting cs players deserve a bracket system where we are allowed to join and participate to learn and earn the right to move up in the competitive league, not feel alienated from it.

- Josh "Visuell" Graves

[Graves]

Post script: Voucher system = fail, Player skills will speak for themselves. Those that win move into a higher bracket / division, those that do not stay put at the bottom.

Example: HON Open (anyone), HON main (average), HON invite (pro)

Don't re-invent the wheel, just designate the right vehicle to the right person. Let the pros have their Lamborghini, I'm fine rolling in a pinto as long as I'm in the race. (and no one tries to gank my gastank)

[HunteR_]

Thank you for your input. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves yet, the game is in beta, and S2 Games has told me the league system is important to them and I am honored to be helping them with it.

I understand what you're saying Visuell and it's a very usual thing in competitive play and more than likely you will see a system like that in the HoN League system.

[Graves]

Cheers, more power to you. Brb gastank ganking. ^_^

[HunteR_]

Thanks, I aim to please

[HunteR_]

New HoN League Test game up:
http://honleague.com/showthread.php?t=669

[cute]

hello HunteR_ i heard you are also Murs confirm/deny?

[HunteR_]

lol, no

I know him, he's a good guy

[Archatype]

Hey Hunter, I'm a reader from your gameriot blog.

Anyways, looking to get in the league. I see that the test game has filled up! That was really fast...how often do you do them? I'd love to try out asap get in.

[HunteR_]

I sent an email to our vouchers to host some more games. Many were busy participating in the HoN League Tournament, and staffing it.

We're in the Quarter Finals now so things will slow. Please check often, and I'm glad you found me.

We're launching a gaming news organization/site soon, I hope you enjoyed the blogs.

[HunteR_]

http://honleague.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

2 brand new Euro Test games Sunday and Monday CET time

[Ahteh]

Don't re-invent the wheel, just designate the right vehicle to the right person. Let the pros have their Lamborghini, I'm fine rolling in a pinto as long as I'm in the race. (and no one tries to gank my gastank)

Wow, you really went with that metaphor, didn't you. :o

[HunteR_]

http://honleague.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

2 More vouch/test games today, and one on Wednesday

[jar]

i think something similar to english club football leagues would be pretty cool. Multiple leagues with the top 2 teams being moved up to the next highest league at the end of the season, and the bottom 2 teams being relegated down to the next league. Of course this probably wouldn't work too well with the current number of beta players. But something to think about.