I feel strongly that success in life comes down to a few important ideas, values and habits. I wanted to share my top five tips for succeeding at videogames that I’ve used in Elder Scrolls Online and Star Wars the Old Republic. No this isn’t going to reveal any major secret for success, but will give you some basic information on what I’ve used (using) in order to accomplish my dreams both in and outside of videogames.
#5 Set a Goal
I consider this to be the most important aspect of accomplishing anything. If you don’t know what you’re after, you can never get it. When setting a goal, make sure it’s measurable, meaning you can judge performance increase, decrease or your desired outcome. Also make sure you have a time table for completion that will give you a sense of urgency. Lastly, be honest with yourself as to WHY you want what you want. Here’s an example from me while playing Star Wars the Old Republic nearly five years ago.
- GOAL – I want to be the #1 ranked Vanguard on my server in PvP.
- TIME – During Ranked Season One PvP.
- WHY – Because I want to make guides which requires credibility in order to get buy in.
I used the same philosophy in Elder Scrolls Online when trying to obtain Emperor. That goal took me two years of failing over and over but I finally got it and did so two more times afterwards. Remember that success leaves clues, if someone else did it, there’s no reason you or I can’t.
#4 Gather Information
Once you have a goal, you have a vision and you know why, now it’s time to get the most information you can. Modeling is a powerful tool that allows one to get inside of the mind of someone who’s already achieved those things. Model (or find out how, why, what) the top achievers are doing if you want what they want. If you’re competing against them, you’ll likely need more information. Take for instance healing in ESO PvP. I wanted to be the best because Templar was my favorite and I loved playing it. Gilliam the Rouge and I would constantly theory test new sets, ability changes, morphs that stacked, whatever it was to get an advantage. We’d use the information and math within a game to get an edge. Additionally, no one person knows it all so ask others. Look for other like minded people just like you who are trying to push their performance to the edge. And no matter, always seek to improve, because when you don’t someone else will surpass you.
#3 Practice Hard
If you remember some of my earliest videos from SWTOR, I had a webcam with a saying etched into my wall since I was too poor to afford a green screen. It said “Iron Sharpens Iron.” I wrote that on my wall so I had to look at it every day to remind me, the only way to improve is through difficult circumstances. The common man (or woman) looks for easy competition to boost ones ego. To win against inferior opponents because they are deathly afraid of losing. The strong man looks to lose in order to improve their game so they never do so again. I had a habit of taking the easy road out, finding weaker players (nothing against them just didn’t have commitment, knowledge or time that I did). It was only when I started to “try and lose” as odd as that sounds, that I improved drastically. Practice hard is about constantly seeking the hardest most stressful environments because that’s when you grow. I’ll always remember when a fellow stream King Richard said to me in ESO “throw yourself at zergs (a lot of players), you’ll die at first, but before you know it you will start killing them.” I took that attitude and ate my humble pie for literally one year before I started to be confident solo on my Templar. It sucked dying over and over, getting tbagged, trash talked, and humiliated, but in the end I improved.
#2 Ignore the Haters
If you’re doing anything new, interesting or different, you will have people who dislike you for it. Look at me for example. Read my comments on Gamer to Gymrat series. It was like I kicked someone’s dog, called their mother a dirty name or punched them and personally offended them. It’s better to be hated than ignored. You will encounter people who don’t believe in you, dislike you and no matter what and you can’t run from it. Keep you goal, vision bright and focus on accomplishing it. Will it get to you? Sure, we are human it does everyone, but in the end they are looking for attention or goals of their own. Nietzsche said “if you know the why, you can endure any how.” Keep driving towards your goal no matter what people think about it, because if it’s important to you than that’s all that matters.
#1 Never Quit
When accomplishing any major goal, task or endeavor it will not be easy. I literally failed, while live streaming, going for Emperor for over two years. I had two years of people saying “he’ll never get it.” Two years. The goal was important to me, I didn’t care what they thought I KNEW I was going to get it. The only way to get through those tough times is doing steps 1-4, because you will question yourself “this is a silly videogames, why am I doing X?” And if you run from this goal, you’ll run from them all. The harder the task, the more crap you take, the sweeter the victory. So no, this guide isn’t clicking a magic button, get this gear, do X and you’ll be great. But that’s the beauty of succeeding, there’s no secret. Try these steps today, find something that drives you, gather info about it, work hard every day, ignore the critics and never quit.
If this works for you, please I’d love to hear from you in the comments or via email. If you have tips of your own, please share them in the comments and keep striving for what matters to you!
I agree with you completely, thank you for taking your time to write this. =)
An army vet who quotes Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche and plays video games all day? So much for the stereo types surrounding us Xbox dope smokers and nerds. Solid advice in any aspect of life.
You a real one Deltia. I appreciate you. Keep being you
Just started playing video games again after a very long break.
I originally watched your videos just for tips and tricks. But this is great LIFE advice. I am now going to be using your videos and website as my go to source for info. Thanks a lot. Keep up the hard work.
“You simply have to put on foot in front of the other and keep going. Put blinders on and plow right ahead.”
George Lucas.
Rule number 1.5 – when you grow tired of a game for whatever reason (game changes, etc) DO NOT RAGE QUIT. It lowers your credibility among a certain percentage of your fan base. Just pick another game and slowly move away from the old game, gracefully.
Welcome Back!
GameBoyFrank here dude you cant stop play n is who you are is what you do it’s ok to go on a fit n trim deltadiet but dude you know you wanna play But your right and i believe your doing what you feel is best for yourself and i encourage you to do what ever the heck you want long as you keep play n too if anyone can do it I know i know you can it besides i need your help
Really like this top five, its a great personality. That’s one thing I always appreciated about your ESO streams : you were real, not arrogant, not some whiney kid who swears and criticizes other players, you identified issues/mechanics and looked for solutions through them.
While I have reviewed all your builds, (albeit we seem to play different styles and focus on different favorite classes) I never used them. In that regard, I still followed your videos and streams because you genuinely would discuss details of the game, and the finer nuances. In that regard, my buddy really enjoyed listening to/watching your streams.
Granted, I know you an ESO had a falling out (and the majority of us do not understand the intricacy of the situation i.e. being professionally consulted for advice only for that not only not to be used, but also for the opposite to be taken- the depth of my understanding) you always maintained your character, spirit and attitude. That was always appreciated from your streams.
While I won’t be changing any games or following your other streams – wanted to wish you well in your current battles both in and out of games. There’s not enough people of integrity and good character who seem to occupy the forefront of gaming in my opinion, instead there are elitists and wanna be elitists who get a lot of the streaming limelight.
Cheers, hope to see you back with ESO more soon.
-GT: Scorntalon, Xbox NA
Thanks buddy.
I couldn’t agree more with you!! That’s the way I play but doing it alone is very hard, I have been playing over a year and still don’t have a decent set of armor, but I’ll get.it….IMPERIAL CITY, HERE WE GO!!!
Reading this again… Excellent! I read your website because I play ESO but in RL I am a consultant and executive coach, and I can tell you, while there are many articles in a business context about ‘how to succeed’ and ‘never give up’ but few are so authentic and contain as much substance as your article above.
Delta,
I’m an Army Chaplain who cheerfully beats up pixels as a form of de-stressing and temporarily removing myself from a rewarding but all-consuming life in an Operational unit.
I was looking for a new MMO to play and found your YouTube ESO posts to be fascinating viewing. I have been a fan of RP games since the pen&paper days (yes, I really am that old) and have met more than my share of whiny power-gamers over the years. You are a breath of fresh air. I admire your honesty, integrity and dry humour as you reveal challenges in games and in RL.
I would like to thank you not only your posts but for your willingness to share valuable life-lessons from a position of credibility into a community that is too often ignored.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to bumping into you in the EU server if you are ever there just chilling,
Avandell
Thanks for your comment, appreciate it.
Thank you for posting this!
Although I’ve been playing video games since Atari 2600 came out (uh, now you know how old I am), I took a long break from my college years until a few years ago. My hubby & roomie are both gamers so I’ve renewed my interest in gaming. And it’s taking me a while to get the hang of these newer games.
I have to admit that my goal in these games were to just “be better than my hubby & roomie” so I don’t have to hear their taunting. It was too vague. After reading your article, I will take more time in devising my goal for Elder Scrolls Online (our newest obsession) and do more research instead of relying on the hubby to give me the answers.
Thank you again! =)
Hey, Deltia really love your stuff. Trying out one of your builds (Stam DK Butcher LOVE. IT.). I instinctively was doing the “die and lose thing” to get better, knowing full well I was a noob and would only get better by facing really good folks in PVP.
I died a lot. I had a bunch of fun. Then, one day I got the Kill Overlord Achievement by accident (lucky last second hit on the guy). He and his lil buddies were REAL snotty about. I was solo, though a couple of my faction whom I didn’t know were around. They killed me a few times, whispered a buncha crap, then wouldn’t attack me at all. I was such a noob and didn’t even know how to whisper back lol.
I shied away from PVP for a bit after that. Focused on my build to the point that it just wasn’t fun. I was terrified of losing and the humiliation to the point I changed my build to the point it wasn’t fun to play. Then, I watched one of your videos which laid out the PRINCIPLES of ESO combat, not just wear this do this kind of stuff. Then and there I decided I’d play the style I enjoyed, lose and die; but I’ll learn from it and get stronger. (Though your guides REALLY helped in the get stronger department lol).
Thanks so much. You’re the most humblest of all the elite eso gamers and an inspiration to us all.
Ty appreciate it and glad it helped.