ZeroEffect317
[12] Conqueror
Lack of proof is not proof either. The fact that it hasn't happened doesn't prove that it is impossible. So it's not like the opposing side has a legit case either.
And to me the fact that Kura got to second using only Talim (he tried other characters only after I told him to in the grand finals) and the fact that Omega got to top 8 with Zas at Evo says enough for me already.
And I don't care about proving anything anyways, I'm just stating my opinion on these matters. I'm not hoping for an imbalanced SC5. I'd rather have it as balanced as possible. I'm just expressing my views on the imbalances that I've learned to appreciate in the past couple of SC games. Maybe I'm just too positive and optimistic for my own good?
Oof, trust me, I agree. If I believed it was impossible to win with Talim, I'd have stopped playing her years ago. I know when I lose it's me that loses and not the character. It's not a shot taken at you for trying to prove anything, I just hear the same stories of what almost was, concerning Kura and Omega every time character balance is questioned.
I can't believe I have to explain this, but I'm better than you so whatever.
Okay, when I put the opponent into a mixup position, they don't necessarily make a guess out of fear. Sometimes they're so sure of making the incorrect guess that they even feel they're being clever by committing to it. Then they find out they were wrong. That is a mind game.
Also, mind games do not apply to button mashers since they are not playing by the rules of the game. They have no concept of advantage and disadvantage. One must only punish them for not knowing the game. No mind game required.
The last part of your post is my point entirely. I'm not saying legit mixups don't exist, of course they do. But training your opponents to favor a particular offensive/defensive option based on previous actions you took only works through fear of something, even if only slight. Mashers aren't gonna win tournaments, obviously. But while the most intelligent/informed players are busy trying to analyze the best options, they can be prone to hesitation where these "mindgames" tend to really shine.
Take a simple mixup like Mitsu 2KB and 3B, for example. If the mitsu player wants to use 2KB to train their opponent to block low, but the opponent doesn't care about letting it hit, there is no mind game that will make them vulnerable to the 3B option. Sure, this means theoretically you could 2KB them to death, but my point is that you can't force any sort of guessing game on them. You can't mentally train them to act a certain way, which, if I'm not mistaken is the whole point of a mind game.
And Vince, of course you're better than me... you knew better than to play Talim.