Introducing E-Sports!
Photo by The Esports Observer
The Conglomerate would like to present a new column: The E-Sports League Review! Here we will be presenting the ongoings of major E-Sports competitions, giving you all the play-by-play and some extra trivia to go along with it! We’re beyond excited to present you all with this and look forward to showing you the goings-on in the new season.
First, the question is: what is E-Sports? Electronic Sports is a form of online competition that grew in popularity around 2013. It covers a wide array of competitive video games from League of Legends to Counter-Strike and just about everything in between though League of Legends is without a doubt one of the most popular and what we will primarily focus on. During these events, two teams of five people play a match of League of Legends against one another, working to destroy the various points on the map and ultimately their opponent’s “Nexus,” their base. In these events, the best of the best from around the world unite and compete for fame, fortune, and glory, all in one of the most popular video games out there right now.
Throughout the upcoming articles, we will be giving a play-by-play for each major event, giving you all the full details. As such, we at the Conglomerate would like to give some information on some of the more obscure terms we are going to be using to get those who don’t know them up to speed.
Nexus: The Nexus is the goal of either side to destroy completely. In every match-up, no matter what, the destruction of the enemy Nexus is the objective.
Lane: Lanes act as the main pathways towards the Nexus. There are three in total, top, middle (or mid), and bottom (bot), with each one revolving around different roles and different purposes.
Minions: Minions are small monsters that come in four varieties: Siege, the largest and most defensive forms of minion that deal extra damage to structures. Warrior, medium strength, medium defense, often on the front lines. Mage, the weakest minions but largest in number. And finally, Super Minions, are capable of taking down an unprepared player all on their own.
Jungle: The Jungle works as the space between the lanes. Here monsters are hunted by the team’s “Jungler,” the teammate who roams between the lanes and helps out in fights across the map.
Towers: Guarding each lane are three large towers, accompanied by two at the Nexus itself. These are the predominant defenses that protect the Nexus, dealing insane damage to nearby creatures but must be destroyed to win.
Inhibitor: After the third tower on each lane there lies a new structure known as an Inhibitor. Destroying this allows for Super Minions to be summoned.
Champion: Champions are the characters each player decides to play. Each one possesses unique strengths and weaknesses, having different roles they excel at.
ADC: Attack, Damage, Carry. This is used to describe a champion who is chosen for the bottom lane. They are often low in defense and health but make up for it with incredible speed and damage. They are often backed up by a “Support” champion
Support: This type of champion revolves around keeping its allies alive, be it through making them stronger, healing their injuries, or impeding the enemies through weakening effects and restricted movement.
Mid: A champion in Mid lane is similar to ADC in terms of high damage but turned up to a whole other degree. These are often heavily resource-dependent but make up for it with explosive power and incredible abilities.
Top: Champions in Top lane are traditionally sturdy, slower, and heavy-hitting melee fighters. They will get in close and wreak havoc on their enemies with heavy group manipulation and lots of damage.
Jungler: Champions in the jungle are often the fastest and most agile members on the team. Their purpose is to seek out and pick off weaker targets as well as help out in particularly hectic fights.
Feeding: To feed is to give the enemy multiple kills and in turn gold and experience in rapid succession.
With these terms in mind, we hope you will enjoy what we have in store! We have a crazy season up ahead and look forward to sharing it with you all!