How do you define player skill?

In another game I used to play, there was a particular statistic such that it was vitally important that you had 540 points of it to be viable at all and it really didn't matter whether you had 540 or 570.

I carefully built a character and set of gear to have exactly 540 points of that statistic, while wearing a stat-free cosmetic item as my primary piece of armor.

The way I figured it:
* Players who were in a hurry to avoid "newbies" would avoid me because my stats were poor, and if they even noticed the clothing, they'd just think I was incompetent.
* Players who were looking closely would almost certainly realize how difficult it would be to get that stat exactly right.

So I stayed set up like that when joining groups, so that people who would be unhappy could ragequit or get me kicked from the team. Then I'd put on my good stuff, usually. Unless I was hanging out with friends, in which case we'd run that way anyway for lulz.

Worked pretty well.

MHO, the most important skill in an MMO is the skill of thinking about what you want to do and how to accomplish it. Past that, there's tons of game mechanical skills you can have, but they're useless if you don't know what you want.

You mean everyone doesn't go by post-count? :O

An excellent question.

The sad part is - the answer (whether right or wrong) will be different for a lot of people.

Almost all of my questions in this post are rhetorical in nature. I understand that the answers are going to be different for many.

One poster suggests that they find the use of Gale to be positional and situational. (that's as politically correct as I can put it) Others would suggest if they were skilled, they'd just use the F key and chase the baddies down 1 at a time and finish them off. It matters not that one simple use of Burn and Fire Sword Circle would have done that in far less time and aggravation for the melee character.

Another mentions that they should not be annoying power wise or annoying personality wise.

Another asks if this is "a game or is it work?".
Not going to put words in this poster's mouth -there's enough of those already.

I think the term skill is a bit broad. There are team skills, leadership skills, social skills and a host of other categories.

For me, a skilled player is one who understands that if you are level 20 and having endurance problems, you can slot your attacks with end reducers and worry about damage later, when you have more slots to use.

It's all about knowledge. Knowledge translates very clearly into power.
I have led at least 100 successful UGTs. Maybe half of them were for Master of. Almost all of them were scheduled runs, but PUGs just the same.

That doesn't mean I have the foggiest notion about what a storm defender can do or can't do. My highest one is level 2 or 3 and hasn't been logged on for over 1500 days.

All my level 50's have specific accolade powers - Portal Jockey, Atlas Medallion, Freedom Phalanx and TFC. Now, it really doesn't take any "skill" to get those accolades, per se. But it does take some dilligence, some patience and a little research that Paragon Wiki makes very simple and a lot faster than before Paragon Wiki.

Does it take skill to run into a mob of +3 magus' and use Psychic Shockwave + Drain Psyche + Rain of Fire + Fire Ball + Blaze and Mind Probe? No. It does take some knowledge of slotting and how the powers work. It also takes some knowledge of the market to fill the power slots with the right stuff. It also takes some practice to be positioned correctly - and sometimes even a skilled player will over compensate for various buffs. (and a few breakfrees in case a mez gets through)

Can a skilled player forget to slot his Alpha before an Apex?

I sure hope so. But that same skilled player can kill himself and hit the hospital to put it in the slot. Is that skill? or knowledge?

A skilled player can have a large difference in a really hard way badge effort. A player who's not skilled can adversely impact that effort. A defeated player does no buffing, no debuffing or dps. Is it really skill to move a character from where it is when warned to do so by the game and by another player in league chat?

How much skill is needed to move from the City Hall Rep to go pay SG rent? The distance is almost the same (as moving to safety from lightning in magi trial)- but circumstances are different.

As I play this game more, I learn how much of a fool I used to be years ago(when I thought I knew it all). And, as I move about from server to server and experience how different leaders solve the same problems differently, I again learn that I'm not nearly so clever as I think I am. Most of the lessons I learn get in through osmosis, mainly. I've a mind like a steel trap! Nothing gets in! I used to say Absorb Pain is skippable for an empath. It is, technically. But, now that I've used it again - after years of thinking one way - I've reconsidered. It basically just isn't for everyone. But, if you figure out when and when not to use it, it can make an incredible difference to foolish corruptors who clearly have more confidence in the emps healing ability than the emp.

As I express my opinion here - I have no doubt that in the days to come, I'll learn something else that I didn't know. Yet still (aside from PvP) I'd put my "skill" as a blaster up against just about any other blaster and hold my own - if not surpassing them.
But that doesn't make me more skilled, necessarily. It could mean that I have learned how to market more efficiently - or simply suffer through it while you find it boring or distasteful.
It could also mean that I have no problem "farming" for Fake nemesis bosses and getting the Freedom Phalanx Reserve Accolade sooner rather than later.

Some seem to think a player's ability to make teaming more "fun" makes them skilled. I won't say that it doesn't -- but I look at this game more as entertainment, not fun. I can pay for entertainment, but paying for fun ....well, that's splitting hairs, isn't it?

I "pay" to play. I want my teammates to be as invested in the experience as I am. They may be brand new VIPs. If they haven't read up on the activity - they should at least voice their ignorance so someone can bring them up to speed.

Like the OP, when I see a name with xX PlayerName Xx, or something like Captin Amerca or Captian Amecira ..... well, no, I don't want to dfb with you. You are a bad speller, or you are clearly lacking in imagination or intellect or some combination of those.
(or maybe you're just an 8 year old kid who's playing in the dark and can't see the keyboard to type out the words correctly)
Either way - I'm going to avoid you like the plague.

It doesn't matter to me how skilled you think you are -- what matters to me is that your character has all the bells and whistles that you can give them to give them the best chance possible.
Please note that's my preference. It doesn't mean that I won't team with you if you're not soft-capped for defense in all categories.

If you work 60 hours a week and can only play an hour a week, then no, I don't expect you to be min/maxed. You are playing the game for something far different than me. I've traded a penchant for drink and gambling for this game. I tend to be obsessive. Is it fair for me to want other players to take the game seriously? To play their characters to the best of their ability? Can a player play to the best of their ability without bonus sets? Does that make them unskilled? (remember, they're rhetorical!)

Now - after having typed all that - my slow, dim-witted brain has realized that a conviction on my part doesn't make things an obligation on your part. I certainly cannot expect anyone to be as passionate as anyone else(me) about how they play this game.

But, here's what dictionary.com says Skill is.

1.
the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well: Carpentry was one of his many skills.
2. competent excellence in performance; expertness; dexterity: The dancers performed with skill.

3. a craft, trade, or job requiring manual dexterity or special training in which a person has competence and experience: the skill of cabinetmaking.


Not sure about definition 2. ... Competent Excellence? isn't that an oxymoron?