The 'Dota 2' Frostivus Celebration brings More Frustration Than Enjoyment
Following an outstanding year of entertainment with the Crownfall series, which has been one of the finest Dota 2 events, the recent Frostivus event appears relatively disappointing and seems to increase my gaming frustrations beyond pre-update levels.
Frostivus made its appearance in Dota 2 a few days ago, bringing along a well-appreciated ban wave for smurfs and MMR manipulators. It also brought the usual holiday festivities, including fresh cosmetic sets, a sale and the holiday items available in-game such as snowballs and fireworks.
The last part, along with a new crafting system that allows you to create cool cosmetics at no cost, is what's making Dota 2 a bit annoying for me right now. As the year draws to a close, I finally have some leisure time to dive back into Dota 2 and reclaim the 600+ MMR I've lost in the past four months due to limited playtime. However, it appears that numerous teammates are more focused on gathering the resources required for crafting these cosmetic items instead of aiding in the MMR recovery process.
On paper, the crafting system seems like a great concept. Perform simple in-game tasks to earn the resources necessary for obtaining complimentary cosmetics. However, several of the tasks that grant these crafting resources are not typically involved in the Dota 2 gameplay loop. For example, employing a new channelled skill confiscates a festive hat from an enemy, awarding you resources. Throwing a penguin to the ground and chasing it provides resources, while throwing a snowball at an enemy before securing a kill does the same.
As a result, in many of the matches I've played in the past couple of days, before the horn rings, my team is just chasing penguins. As someone who enjoys rushing the enemy and obtaining the first blood, this has led to numerous chaotic encounters with team members missing, as they are chasing penguins. As the game progresses, I've observed players more interested in acquiring a hat or throwing a snowball than scoring a kill.
While I understand that experienced players might be able to pull these off without undermining the game, at my skill level, it seems to be hindering my enjoyment of the Frostivus Dota 2 matches. It might be a minor issue, but I don't really see the need for these actions to reward anything meaningful. Keep these abilities as purely cosmetic, and distribute the crafting resources through in-game activities like healing, damage, kills, and assists, which all provide some form of reward.
It may appear harsh to criticize a complimentary event that provides some appealing cosmetics, especially given how successful Crownfall has been. However, when it impacts the core game, it becomes somewhat aggravating. Let's hope that the Dota 2 development team continues with the Crownfall style events that do not negatively influence the core game, and leaves these types of events in the past.
The Frostivus event in Dota 2, featuring activities like chasing penguins for resources, has unfortunately disrupted my gameplay during matches, leading to missed opportunities for securing first blood and kills. Despite the success of previous Dota 2 events like Crownfall, I believe it would be more beneficial to award crafting resources through conventional in-game activities like healing, damage, kills, and assists.
In light of the recent Frostivus event's impact on the gameplay, I'm looking forward to future Dota 2 events, such as the highly enjoyable and non-disruptive Crownfall series, which have demonstrated their ability to enhance the gaming experience without negatively influencing the core game.
