A professional is someone who does something as their profession.

I would define it as someone who makes a living out of playing Spiral Knights.

Spamming? The Polaris is a ART!
There are but a few players that really master there polaris its not just a spamming tool once u know how to really use it and master it u wont be using it in LD since they would really a have a disadvantage.

Rank is only to show the real skillz are in ur playstyle if ur able to solo Vanaduke elite Solo then u might consider urself something
and remember even pro's die.

I have noticed that the swifstrike buckler is being used less i still use it everyround except when devillites appear ;_;

To me, a pro is someone who is skilled and good at mmos. Skilled meaning they have no trouble -Leading- a party in vanaduke. They not only have to be able to handle a fight, but also be able to fight alongside teammates considering the whole point of an mmo is to play with other people.

A "Survivor" is someone who, when things get dangerous, goes into save themselves mode which means avoiding all threats and killing things at a safe pace. Not the ideal teammate, but not the worst. Quite a few veterans do this a lot. The worst kind are known to abuse maskeraith cloak to hide.

A "Newbie" doesn't realize the dangers ahead and will run in and proceed to die. If they do see the danger, then they hide and then proceed to die. Don't get me started on ones who think getting carried through elite vanaduke means "I can do elite vanaduke just fine!" /e looks at many vanguards. I say newbie because I grasp onto the hope they still can get better and are not just stuck there at that skill level.

An ideal teammate or "Hero" as I like to call them, are skilled enough to see the dangers ahead and despite that, are willing to place themselves in it to take out threats that can kill teammates. (Ex: Trojans, Rocket Puppies, Dreadnaughts, Lumbers, Devilites, Greavers, etc) They aggro any enemies they can and are not afraid to use a few sparks to save their team. Note: Bombers can be this, but think about things like this "Would that enemy be better off statused or just dead fast from an actual damaging weapon to protect teammates?"

Note: I believe the people who proceed to die fast from the tortodrones and then spark blitz them to death for a fast win are not doing anyone any favors. I can see people getting angry at survivors who do like no damage, but valiance/supernova usage for a mix of surviving and damage is acceptable and they don't owe a thing to blitzers. Survive with medium damage, blitz if you happen to need to spark, don't go glass cannon the whole time and get angry at teammates because they don't do the same.

Being a Hero can be a pain though, as people whom you protected can be like "lel I didnt have to spark that danger mission, I am awesome!" even though you guarded them/baby sat them :|

Newbie -> Average -> Survivor -> Hero

In PvP, it's nice to be strong. Just don't get sucked into the spiral of Do well, expect to do well, and then only have fun when you do well. Being good is nice, but honestly it doesn't benefit anyone else but oneself (unless you count satisfying the sparkly eyed knights who spend time basking in the glory of the strong). It's true the point of PvP is to beat the other team, but the true fun lies somewhere beyond that, it's just being able to play with others and test your skills against them. For me it's that innocent at least o_o

Now thats just combat, a pro/ideal player must also be friendly (even to randoms) (very important in mmos), know that winning/achieving a certain goal isn't everything (especially in casual games like this), be able to flourish in game and teach others how to do so as well (Money, items, etc), know their limits/when to ask for help (Someone help me decorate the guild hall or plan this event! :U), know when to move on, have a passion for this game, and most importantly, know how to have fun and help others have fun too. It's not a stretch to say that only good people can be good players.

Sorry that turned into Glow's guide on how to be a good player . . .

/////Rank is important

It's reasonable to assume rank is related to skill and generally it is. Prestige is just prestige and is just how many missions you have done. Many do the danger missions on normal mode, so they do not really get much better and therefore it isnt the best way to gauge skill, but it does mean FOR SURE they are experienced at least.

No matter what, I'd rather take a random vanguard over a random lower rank with me on a danger mission (Unless I was being nice and helping them out ya know?). Sure there are some skilled lower ranks and unskilled horse badge knights but its more right than wrong to say that the higher the rank, the better they are. In the end, the gameplay is the only judge of skill though.

/////Does playing over a year make you better than others?

Better at the game probably, but always know that people do not have the same potential, and someone who played longer can reach their cap while younger players can move on beyond them to realms of higher skill. Veterans have better gear, which makes them better teammates though so there's that, but whats cool about newbies is that they are for sure going to get better in gear and skill. Honestly, I think new players have more fun than veterans because everything is new and interesting. Ah, I'd give up my best gear to feel how I did when I first fell in love with this game.

////Are Veterans hostile to newer players?

I am pretty hostile to players who ask for sparks and beg for items and such. I probably am over-thinking this, but expecting things to be handed to them in game, probably means that's how they are in real life, and that gives me a reason to dislike them. Also, when you lecture them, they get all defensive like they are all innocent, but still deserve free stuff. Not only that, but easy come easy go, they'll quickly get bored of things because it was just handed to them which makes the begging even more pointless. I give them a lecture sometimes, but only because it would be better for everyone if they changed.

I once offered a knight a nightblade after a jelly run because they never gave up and kept on reviving and fighting (but they didnt fight dumb, it was reasonable with potential). They refused and said they would earn it themselves. I felt proud of them and wanted to help them, but I would have to scheme to secretly give them my help without them knowing, if you know what I mean. Few people are like that in game, let alone real life . . .
Of course it's best to have a balance of being able to help yourself and being smart enough to realize when you need help from others though.

Fin :|

If you ask me, a pro is someone that is willing to challenge themselves but also know what their limits are. If they are willing to improve these limits, they will eventually achieve greater things. It is for this reason that I think anyone can be considered a pro at any level.

In the case of parties, the person should be aware of what other party members are trying to do and help them to succeed. If they see that a particular situation isn't working out, they should be able to provide helpful recommendations. Not being a complete jerk would probably make it more likely for people to consider what is being said.

A Vanguard that has played for more than a year will likely know more than newer players, which they can use to their advantage by knowing how to tackle situations better. However, that doesn't stop newer players from being just as good.

I'd have to agree that some Veterans are quite hostile towards newer members. This is most likely because the idea that they will beg has been firmly rooted into their minds and leads to prejudice. Unfortunately, I've also seen plenty of older players beg all the same.

It seems that we will probably never be able to settle on a solid definition of the word pro in this context because it all depends on what we see in people. In a way, that is a good thing as it shows just how different we are as people.

To be a "Pro" you need to be a "Senpai" first...

What is a pro? Good question. Bearing in mind that it just comes down to a matter of opinion, I’ll offer mine.

There are several areas in the game at which a player can excel:

1) Skill of movement, including evasion and attack maneuvers

2) Strategy, including knowledge of what the best gear to use is and employing it in an effective way

3) Unique Variants on gear

4) Awesome-looking outfits

5) Earned wealth

others that might get included are:

6) Vanguard with a pony

7) every achievement and module

8) accomplished Lockdown player

9) significant contributions to a guild as Officer or Guild Master

A team player.

Shield bumps enemies into bombs.
Uses the dash to block range attacks from hitting allies (especially rocket pup rockets).
Blocks/aggros monsters when an ally is shocked.
Breaks ally frozen status (especially when on a hazard).

SK has a lot of aspects of the game that can be done solo. Teams can be significantly more powerful than a solo player. Pros are team players. Gear, rank, and prestige dont particularly matter. They can only predict the likelihood of a player being a pro, but do not ensure it.

Across all MMO's:

A pro is someone paid to play a game well and compete in team tournaments.

What is your version of a "pro" SK player?

- Someone who is willing to teach new players how to recognize when an enemy is about to attack, and how to avoid it. Someone who doesn't put down "noobs", but actually gives advice to them on what equipment works best for a type of mob family. Someone who you see is usually the last person standing, and can carry a team if possible. In general, someone who is very knowledgeable of the game and is willing to help out players, both new and old.

Does rank truly matter?

Nope, not at all. I have the 3 down arrow badge, and I find myself staying up longer than some people with a horsey badge. And on that note, I see people with a lower rank then me staying alive longer ._. Prestige badges really just show that "Hey, you did prestige everyday or almost everyday, here is a badge to show off how diligent you are!" Some people think it shows how long you've been in the game. . . not really. I've been in the game for around 3 years now, and I see people that have only been in SK for 1 year and have the horsey badge. Rank doesn't show how skilled a player really is, just how fast you are advancing in the game.

Does being a veteran (playing for over a year) of the game make you more "superior" over the newer players?

- By how I answered the previous questions, I'm sure you can tell how I feel about this question. Of course not, and there is more than just one reason. Now as a "vet", I have a good level of knowledge about the game, but I've met plenty of new players that could probably outplay me if they had better equipment. And you know when you meet them on a random Clockwork run too, they just show they have so much potential, which is why I like to help and teach new players. . that is if they are willing to accept some advice :/

Do you feel like the veteran players are hostile toward the newer members of the game?

- I wish it wasn't true, but yes. The veteran side of the community tends to put down the learning side, and that can hurt the growth of a game. I think its that we see the "beggars" in Haven, who are usually low rank, and we assume most new players are like that. We kind of notice that these new players seem to be, idk lazy? They just don't seem to want to work for their money (which is quite easier now with no mist), which causes us vets to start telling our "Back in my day" stories. There seems to be a wall between the 1*-3* and 4*-5* level groups, you could even argue there is a small wall between 4* and 5*. But, even with all that, there are still "noobs" that are willing to learn and "pros" that are willing to teach :)

dunno if there are still players left able to do it...

but not long after the SL's released there where a lot of vets posting vids of them solo'ing shadow firestorm citadel... in proto gear xD

think you can't get more pro then that :D (ok lugging 3 other people around making monsters have higher health hahaha)

Well my version of a pro player is someone who can solo all the mission (except shadow lairs, grinchlin assault, and March of the tortodrone). I'm not sure if my standards are high, but a pro should do pro things.

I'm not sure if having the pony badge would make you pro, because I saw some pony badge dude get wrecked in Heart of Ice. Same deal with rank.

Being a veteran in the game gives you experience but it depends on how well you play. I have seen ppl pick up the game really quickly so playtime doesn't matter. And as for the hostility to newer players, it usually depends if the newer players give us a reason to hate them like begging and constant nagging.

I think that a "pro" player will learn to adapt while knowing their weaknesses. They don't have to have fancy gear, a large amount of prestige, or amazing UVs as long as they can stand their ground and benefit their team rather than just themselves. A "pro" will also be able to identify threats beyond what meets the eyes (ex., the grievers and overtimers in March of the Tortodrones WILL be a problem and don't respawn, so taking them out is important. Taking out healers when you don't have a poison attack is also vital, but keeping them around if you do have a poison attack is also very effective), and effectively help the team without the team knowing.

A "pro" also knows when NOT to use weapons (Pulsar attacks should NOT be made on enemies that are being hit by a sword. Calibur charges should be used to knock enemies away or hit immobile enemies, when someone is placing catalyzer charges, you should prioritize that enemy last). I have seen many people who play the game in a party as they would solo, and it makes everything go a lot rougher.

Lastly, a "pro" is a good sport. When they go down, they know exactly why they went down, be it unfair or fair consequences. They don't make a huge fit about it either. If you died due to lag, that is beyond your control. It doesn't really matter, you will be back in the fight in no time. If you died due to a "cheap shot" from a devilite, then perhaps you should be more weary of devilite attacks or practice levels that have devilites in them. If a trojan corners you, either accept your fate or frantically try to find a way out - your teammates will also help you if they are team players.

TL;DR - Players are good from tactics not prestige, are team players, and a good sport.

At the end of the day, the definition is going to range from person to person simply because we don't all think the same.

- Skilled at the gameplay
There's more to this than simply being strong individually - if you aim to be the type of person that people actually want on their team, you've got to have an eye out for what's going on around you. Sure you can do DFV solo in proto gear if you just kite around and knock enemies back, but a different mindset is required for teamplay. If you're the type who can look out for your teammates - hit a slag that would otherwise set your teammate on fire, use your pulsar at a close range so that you don't knock enemies out of your teammate's blitz charge, or even just be willing to spark a teammate if they die due to a mistake on your part - you'll be seen as much more of an asset to the team. A good player is able to pull their own weight. A great player is able to help their teammates pull theirs, too.

- Hours of playtime?
Nope. As long as you have the knowledge and equipment required to complete a task, hours dumped into said task aren't what matter. Only the experience that you gain from the time does. I'm sure we'd all rather have a fast learner, skilled at the game with only 50 hours, than someone with 5000 hours yet minimal skill and no desire to improve in our teams.

- Gear
Much as I hate to admit it, gear does matter to an extent. If you don't have the ideal UVs for a run or even the equipment necessary to pull your weight, it's highly unlikely that you'd be seen as a pro player. Getting ASI/CTR/DMG max is extremely helpful for clear time; your entire team benefits from it.

- Should appearance matter?
Why should it? Everyone has their own preferences. Don't worry about if you look like a pro or not based on your costume, just wear what you like and let actions speak for themselves.

- Sociability
Let's face it, half of our time in SK is probably spent sitting around and talking. Just be sociable! Being considered a pro is simply a matter of other people thinking highly of you. Help people out, take a minute to chat with someone who needs advice, and spend time with your guildies/friends - it's an easy way to make a good impression while having fun! A lot of veteran players are hostile towards the newbies, but a lot are friendly too. Those who go out of their way to be friendly make it look easy, because it is.

Like said, it differs based on person.

Skills

It's pretty obvious to be "pro" at anything you have to have a good amount of skill, you don't have to be best at the game, but you have to be better than average, stand out from the casuals/regular players. Social skills help too, being able to make friends easily and communicate with people sets an example for vanguards/pony badges/long time players. Helping others in and out of your guild, while at the same time knowing your limits on what you can do. Any good player knows their boundaries, and can admit mistakes they've made, and even the little things like apologizing when you bump a bombie or lumber into someone makes you a good representative of the community.

Gear

A "pro" player should know the ins and outs of the mechanics, so they should have the correct gear to deal with most situations, their gear doesn't even have to be conventional, as long as it works and they aren't dying every few mins, along with their pulling their own weight and killing things effectively they can be seen as "pro".

Playtime

You don't have to play 1,000 hours to be good at something. Some people are just naturally good at things, and can outplay even the oldest players. Some people need time to learn the mechanics of the game and whatnot, and some can pick up right away and get the ball rolling with little outside help.

Appearance

You don't have to look like some kinda greek god of awesome to be good at the game. Being a pro is about the player beneath the armor, not the flashy cool stuff a newb bought with his/her moms credit card. That being said, being good at the game AND having a totally unique costume gives some bonus brownie points, but nothing more than that.

Are Vets Mean To Newbs?

Depends on the community, based on experience, a good portion of the LD community expects you to have infinite skill and prowess on the battlefield before you enter, and spitting on you and laughing in your face is you aren't godlike at the game. This doesn't just happen in LD, i wouldn't say most vets are even like this, i'd say its about maybe a 50-50 split, maybe less, maybe more, this is based on my experiences. Considering that the beggars drown out the actual calls for help, that's probably why some vets just don't like helping newbs.

Does Ranking=Superiority?

No. Maybe to the newer players, but not to me. If you're a high horse walking around in fancy armor with your pony badge and you're terrible at the game, i will not look at you when i think of a figure of superiority. You should have to prove yourself for that superiority, not just have high UV's and a cool costume.

The Verdict

It doesn't matter how long you play or what costumes you wear, being a good player relies on people skills, experience, game knowledge and general skill at the game. knowing your flaws and forthcomings, and knowing when to say "I'm not too good against enemy X" or "I'm bad with gun Y".

Come to think of it... doesn't it really come down to this..?

A player who makes and can pull off good choices

You need to be knowledgeable to pull off good choices to say, run the quickest route through enemies, make the ultra-profit market trade, pull off that LD game against aggressive players, etc.
You need to have the skills to pull off the choice you make while losing the smallest of whatever you hold valuable on your side (whether it's time, health, money).

So things like: Playing FSC with proto gear just shows how much of a maso- er, how much stamina you have, since you have to sit through attacking for absurdly long amounts of time.

Sure, the skill can show you have the capability, but if what you value is say, time, rather than flashiness, then you wouldn't make that choice to kill monsters slowly.

So yeah, choices are everything.

A Pro is something more than a player, a Pro is like a person, they learn from their mistakes they get stronger and eventually are the force that pulls through when others fall, they turn the tides, fight against incredible odds, and never give up.

Like I said, a real pro is someone who is paid to play a game well, but I think you're talking about a good player.

The really good players you rarely see because they either play with equally skilled friends. You see all those good players in top guilds because they know they can play free of "noobs" and enjoy the game with reliable people.

Just last month I have received 74 friend requests but I deleted 67 of them because I know I cannot rely on them and I would not be able to enjoy the game with weaker players. Reason? would be getting invites 24/7 when I'd rather be doing Arena farming or Boss runs with strong friends and guild members.

Like some of the people above, I would rather not drag players around FSC and have them die in the next floor within 2 minutes. Soloing is much easier compared to full party FSC runs. Duo or solo would be preferable because enemies do not get stronger by a lot. Duo is actually more efficient at times, such as arenas and Depth 25 of FSC. In short, you don't see good players playing with weak players very often, the logic stated above.

Some of you might think that good players are supposed help new players and carry them through the levels, but I don't think they would enjoy doing it, especially when they beg for free revives.

About the gear they have, I'm pretty sure you won't be considered good if UV's were vital for your gameplay. Just because you collected every single piece of equipment in the game does not mean you are good at the game.

Just my 2 cents.

@Nocturne-Grande

But when you just roll with people that are good at the game, you win consistently and you get wherever you're going extraordinarily quickly. This sounds great but is actually extremely dull.

Like on the jelly kingdom runs. If I go with people I know to be good, I see the same thing over and over as we crush the stage in 10-15 minutes. If I go with randoms, I get to see some of the gear that I don't usually see used, and it makes the run more fulfilling-- even if it somehow manages to takes 35 minutes.

@Flowchart

Oh, well I'll go delete my post dramatically, since I got you wrong.

When I want variety to the game, I bring totally weird equipment with me, like I did back when I used shadow weapons in FSC solo.

Nope.

my h8 will roll all over dis thread.