I don't know if this is deliberate or not, and I'm not sure that I like it.

I just played two games. One was a 1v1 vs. Oak and another was a 2v2 with the enemy team eventually giving up.

Let me just give a quick preface of what I'm talking about. In game 1, a 2v2, I was going along, purchasing items and occasionally upgrading creeps like I normally do. I gradually get powerful enough that I can kill both of the enemy heroes with little difficulty. I kill them about 20 times in a row, so they get annoyed and quit. Here's where the problem shows up: Two nightmare AIs replace my opponents, which wouldn't normally be a problem. The problem comes in when the Nightmare AIs start dumping all their gold into creep spawning. I can kick both their asses combined into another galaxy, but suddenly I'm swarmed on all sides by creeps. In turn, I naturally start upgrading my creeps as well and trying to stem the tide. The nightmare AIs keep dumping gold into creep spawning, and I eventually lose because even with all portals taken my own creeps can't fight back, and as soon as I clear one area there are two more that need urgent help. A similar thing happens in game 2, a 1v1.

You might say "So what, I guess you should've spent more on upgrading creeps lol" or something similar to that. But if that's the case, what's the point of having items in the game?

Anyway, I just don't think dumping all your money into creeps and making your hero a horrible piece of s*** should be an "I win" button in this game. And don't kid yourself, it wasn't because I wasn't fighting the creeps properly or anything. I was AoEing like mad, running all over the map trying to stem the tide, retaking portals when I could, etc. etc. but once the enemy got a certain amount ahead creep-wise and kept that lead, it was GG.

I think the main fault of this is the gold system. It's too linear, and gives the player few options for catching up once one player gets a serious lead.

Also, if I completely dominate my opponent in every way, and am twice as skilled as him shouldn't I win the game? It just feels like skill doesn't factor into this game much at this point. Don't get me wrong, it helps, but I dislike the idea that if you face an opponent you know you can't beat you just upgrade your creeps. Followed by constantly running away, gradually taking flags from your enemy as he runs from one crisis to another. Let alone the fact that at this point in the game when two heroes fight eachother having extreme skill only helps a LITTLE.

Maybe I'm missing some obvious way to deal with an opponent that focuses on creep spawning and running away, but I don't know. It was extremely effective and frustrating to know that I was losing a game I felt I should be winning.

I had about a 5-1 kill-to-death ratio on the enemy hero, was upgrading my creeps and AoEing, but when the enemy hero focused on creeps/running away and I didn't it was GG. I just don't like that.

Anyway, /rant. Just my 2 cents.