EPTThis blog entry centers around the topic of consistency. Consistency is probably the most powerful tool I use to get better at anything. It took me some time to learn that the longer I remain the better I become anything. I think I decided to write about this as my second post so that I remind myself every day to stay the course; I know if I do the results will be far greater than if I'm not.
To be consistent means to be acting in the same way or being in the same from. It comes from the Latin word (con)stare meaning to be standing or be firm (notice how the English word "star" comes from this phrase).
As an Historian I have learned just how powerful consistency was during ancient times. The Egyptians would consistently and accurately predict when the Nile would flood; this information would help farmers know when and where to plant crops; it lead to the belief in their gods and the divinity of their leader. It meant they could spend time learning sciences, creating technologies, and building marvels that still stand to this day. The argument could be made that all this was because of the constant success of their leaders.
To bring this out of the history book and back into Heroes of the Storm: consistency can't be determined through a fixed number of games or after a certain amount of time had elapsed; however I do believe that consistent players achieve much greater results when observed over a period of time or a through a span of matches. It does not matter if the attributes are positive or negative; as long as the player remains consistent throughout then the the progress is going to be much greater than a player who was inconsistent. I'd like to think of a consistent player in Heroes like this: If I was a neutral observer of a player I should be able to predict how they would act, how they perform in each match that they play, and the players attitude in and out of a match. A constant performance by a player would indicate to me that he is a consistent player.
For example a player with a good attitude one game and a bad attitude the next will probably not make much progress. Everything they did in their first game is countered by the second; I think this inconsistency is the reason why most players stay stagnant in their rank and their skill level of play. I'd like to think that every player who was gotten even the slightest bit better has done so because they performed in a similar way, in a positive way (good attitude, similar heroes, eager to learn from their mistakes, for a string of games. I also think that players who constantly have a bad performance will inevitably lose games, lose rank, and may even revert back to old habits.
It only makes sense to me that a predictable performance creates predictable results. A player who is always behaving in a certain way will achieve a certain result; whereas a player with a volatile performance will achieve an unpredictable result.
I'd like to challenge myself and you (the reader) to play in a similar way for a string of ten games. At the least that means playing a similar hero, having a similar attitude each game, and reacting to wins/losses in a similar fashion for ten games. After those ten games evaluate the performance of the first game to the last game. Was their any change? My guess is that the results far surpass those of an inconsistent player.
Again. Thank you so much for reading; I know that these first couple of posts have been more general not just pertaining to heroes but I believe a good foundation leads to great triumphs. I hope to hear from you all soon!
Please, note that all of this is my opinion based on evidence that I've gathered and lessons that I've learned.
