Generic Casual -> Normal Thread

[[DPSM]Scarth]

Hello, I've been playing casual mode since I started in 2011.

The picks are generally uninspired, as we see alot of teams that have a similar lineup with the likes of Armadon, Ra, Scout, Nighthound, Nomad, etc.

Theres generally a lack of a support hero.

What I ask is this - What's the best way to transition? I had some fears about it before due to thinking I would have to last hit and deny every creep to be effective, but obviously that's irrational.

I mainly play gankers and suchlike.
Pebbles, Slither, Bomb, Bubbles, MK, Succubus, Midas, Tundra, Magmus, WS.

I play a bit of support too.
Martyr, DSham, Monarch, Voodoo, Polly.

And for carries...
CD, Sand Wraith, Madman, Soulstealer, Silhouette, Aluna.

When playing with friends I generally mid, most often with a ganker such as Pebbles, MK etc. Im more inclined to play Support on sidelane and guys such as madman or SW on the sidelane.

What can I do to transition effectively?

[aR_ChRiS]

Well first of all you would need to be aware of picks. In most cases if you are running a carry, do not pick another one, because that would force the farm to be distributed to two carries if you want both to be functioning well (unless you are picking snowball ones like hag/pebs which can snowball off kills quite efficiently).

Last hits - yes realistically if you are soloing you would have to do both, but if you are dual-laning with a support (say a support+carry lane), you can have your support to do the harass+deny while you are just getting creep kills.

Also wards!! An item which has the potential to turn games around. Apart from just giving vision to your teamates, it is also vital to counterward so that you can ruin the opposing team's vision.

[[KHH]Arkensth]

I myself am a CM player. What I've been trying to do is:

Increase my last-hitting capability. This is TONS more important than in CM, because kills aren't worth as much.

Increase my lane dominance. Dying hurts a lot worse than in CM.

And finally, understand that we can't have 3 carries and realistically hope to win.

I'm playing a lot of nostats NM. That should help ease your transition as well.

[Antimodus]

Dying hurts a lot worse than in CM.

This is false, a single death in CM will give so much gold to the enemy that they can take it over completely by spending it on consumables. It creates a bigger gold difference between the teams in CM.
NM death penalty only starts making a significant difference at levels 6+ I reckon, i.e. after the laning phase