Selecting a Character to Main
As you start to gain a grasp of the basic workings of Melty Blood (or any fighting game really) and want to start playing competitively, you'll want to choose a few characters to focus upon. Though some people want to master every character, they'll most likely end up playing every character adequately (though usually, it's below adequate). You simply cannot devote enough time to manage more than a few (unless you're really devoted, skilled, etc. (please don't take that as a challenge)), and the time would be better spent focusing your attention on a few. Here are some factors you should keep in mind, as you're selecting a main/secondary/tertiary character.
As you're selecting a character to main, you should examine and evaluate the character's basic and intermediate game play. Will you be able to utilize the character's strengths? Will you be able to consistently execute that character's staple combos? Is that character's general game play suited to you/will you be able to adjust your game play to suit the character? How much room does the character have for growth (in terms of advanced game play, mind games, options, etc.)? How are the character's match ups? How will it fare in the local gaming environment? Nationally? How far can you go with this character? You should use your own evaluations to determine characters you believe are/will be ‘best’ (in your level of play), or the character you believe you will do the best with/advance the furthest with. Note that some characters that may be considered good/great/broken in some levels of play, but may lose their shine in others.
For my convenience, I'll generalize the levels of game play as basic, intermediate, and advanced. Some characters will be good throughout all levels of game play, while others are especially effective/dominate in one, but appear less in others due to the shortcomings of the player or the character at that level of game play. If the players cannot efficiently utilize a character's strengths, they will not be able to use them effectively. For this reason, characters like Sion are rarely seen in the basic level of game play, due to their execution requirements, but are seen with more frequency at higher levels of game play. Conversely, you see characters like Shiki Tohno that are used frequently in lower levels of game play, but less in higher levels. The shortcomings of a character will gradually become more noticeable as the level of game play increases and other players start taking advantage of your character's weaknesses. Block strings that once seemed safe are now being punished. Slow attacks will start being punished more frequently and more harshly. Your ranged attack that extended your hit box and that you once considered godly, now causes you to eat a combo. You can either choose a character that will be good for short term play, and then switch as your skill level increases, or choose a character that you think will be suitable for long term play.
Short Term Advantage Vs. Long Term Prospective
If you're looking to play a character for the short term, then you only have to examine areas of the character relevant to your gaming environment. When you're looking through the character list for a good choice for short term play, you're generally looking for characters that have stronger match ups in the current gaming environment. By playing that character, you force other players to increase their skill level at a faster rate (they've got to find answers), thus raising the average level of game play, or to begin experimenting with other characters (counter picking), thus diversifying your play environment. Of course, you'll also learn many basic/intermediate/advanced mechanics for general game play and improve as a player while playing your short term character, and those will be applicable towards other characters when you switch. However, though many people will 'up their game' to meet the new standards, there are many players that will simply refuse to play against you, or just give up/quit. Those players are generally the players that are not looking to increase their skill level, and aren't be looking to play the game competitively anyways, so don't feel too terrible about it.
If, however, you're looking for a character with long term prospective, then you should more closely examine their intermediate and advanced game play, and determine if it's feasible for you to (ever) effectively utilize the character's strengths and (consistently) meet the character's execution requirements. If you cannot, then other characters may be more suitable for you. When you choose to play a character for the long term, it's possible that you may start off in a seriously disadvantageous position (like playing V. Akiha with a basic skill level). You might have poor match ups against the other players, you may not be able to meet the execution requirements for your character's damaging/staple combos, you may not be able to properly utilize your character's strengths, and in many other ways, you'll suck. But this may force you to adapt to meet those standards. You will have a fairly easy time evaluating how much your skill level has improved (when you stop dropping combos, start winning, etc.) and as you progress, you'll have a clearer idea of where you're going (compared to short term players).
Essentially, picking a short term character will raise your area's average level of game play at a faster rate, which will in turn, force you to up your game, while long term characters force you to up your game, in turn forcing others to do the same. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, there are some characters that are exceptions, and are good throughout all levels of game play (Ciel being the first to come to mind), which will give you an edge while still having prospective for growth.
For players in a fairly developed scene (where they're surrounded by experienced players or players that are familiar with the game), I consider both paths to be equally viable, and think the choice really depends on personal preference. But for a developing scene (where they're all fairly new to the game), I think that the presence of characters that give short term advantages may benefit the players more, since it will force players to find ways to cope with the different character's strengths, and force an increase in the average skill level more quickly, making the game more enjoyable for all. Having some of them play as more challenging characters can be beneficial, but having a whole group of new players all trying to play as high execution characters may lead them into stagnation (nothing will be effectively punished, slower pace of game play, etc.).
~Will add more later and tweak it a bit more~
Topic: How to go about choosing a character to main (Read 5571 times)