I remember the first time I played Smite. Being the console player that I am, Smite was the first MOBA I’d ever played and oh was it overwhelming at first. I imagine most other first time console players had the exact same reaction. I had the advantage of a little prior knowledge of the game though, I had seen some of my favorite streamers and YouTube personalities play and that’s how the game caught my eye. I also, before ever even playing the game, was watching the Smite competitive scene and I truly was lost.

For first time viewers of Smite I feel as if conquest can be a turn-off just because of how in-depth and complex it is. It took me weeks after I had started playing the game just to have the courage to queue up for a game of conquest. I was just so confused by it all and while the tutorial Hi-Rez provides is helpful it still takes any new player about a dozen or so games to have even a basic grasp on conquest. It poses the question, is conquest too complicated and off-putting for people new to Smite? Now obviously I know that there are other game modes besides conquest like arena and assault which are great for helping any new player learn the ropes of the game. However, now the online gaming culture is dominated by competitive eSports. We all know the massive numbers games like LOL and DOTA draw in but Smite numbers are modest in comparison, but still strong enough on their own. Today many people’s first introduction to a game comes through watching said game's competitive scene.

Looking in on Smite as an outsider must seem like so much to take in, with all the gods, items, and special terminology. Mix all that in with the most difficult game mode and it will turn some off of the game. That’s a problem. LOL and DOTA are also difficult but they have the advantage in numbers of viewers to better convince people to hop in and learn because their big events are a phenomenon that you can’t help but to want to feel a part of. For example, I am a pretty regular viewer of Pro Counter-Strike but I have yet to have ever played a single round of CSGO. Now this game is not available on next gen consoles, which I own, and is mainly the reason why I don’t play. Yet my point stands that people don't have to play a game necessarily to watch said game's competitive scene. Speaking of consoles that is where Smite has an advantage over other MOBAs by being on both console and PC. This needs to be capitalized on but how so? One way is to intergrate the simpler game modes more into the pro scene to make it more approachable for new comers.

The joust map via the Smite Gamepedia.

This is where joust comes into the equation. As anyone who has played will know, joust is a much more welcoming game mode to new players. Only one tower and phoenix for each team, a small side jungle containing the mana camps, and the Bull Demon King, with the opposite side containing just a damage camp. It’s typically a game mode that takes much less time to complete than conquest and lacks in complexity and depth in general.

Unlike conquest, joust allows for much more various team compositions. All options are available, there is no one set meta for joust. There is much less restrictions as far as what to do in lane so team compositions are based more off how well certain gods can play off each other and the combinations of abilities that can be performed to knock out enemies more quickly. This leads to a simple and predictable pattern that many joust games will follow.

However, it could certainly be argued that this pattern it is all too simple. Most the early action in joust is over the damage camp which initially spawns seven seconds into the game. These early encounters can be quite quick as one team quickly backs from the camp or could drag on for a little bit and lead to the opening kills. So while joust does provide that initial excitement it can fade when we enter the lane. When teams enter the lane it will often turn into a waiting game as both sides take out enemy minion waves. Each team just waiting for someone to overextend, or pull someone back towards their tower in hopes of securing a kill. This can occur quickly and allow for one team to have the upper hand early but it can also be a bit pedestrian and take a while to occur. We have all been in joust matches where seven or eight kills happen in the first ten minutes and in games where no kills occur in the first twelve minutes.

The Bull Demon King in action via Imgusers - Steve.

Often, when one team gets the early advantage in gold and XP the game can be easily predicted from that point. This can also often be the case with conquest as well but I feel joust allows for more of a fightback from losing teams. Not that a losing team can’t mount a comeback in conquest, but it's much simpler now thanks to the addition of the Bull Demon King. Fights over the BDK can be decisive in turning the tide or just putting the final nail in the coffin. Which can lead to some great drama during the late game stages of a match. The team fights that occur in joust are much like the mode itself simple, quick, and explosive. Conquest has more regular and fast paced action, with there being three separate lanes to fight over. So obviously the one lane joust will just naturally be less chaotic especially in the early to mid-game. Plus the late game drama can tend to lack in joust with one team just trying to set up a last stand defense until the inevitable happens.

Joust will never be a replacement for conquest but I think it does have its place in the competitive scene and I would love to see more of it. Perhaps Hi-Rez could run regular joust tourneys every week or even month as a way to freshen up competitive play. This could be an excellent entry point for many on console. Any type of Hi-Rez backed amateur joust tourney would be hugely popular for players on all platforms. It's something that can turn more of the people who play Smite into viewers of the competitive scene. It doesn’t even have to be joust but I think it would a wise starting point as it does provide the best balance of simplicity and strategy for both players and viewers.

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