WTF is DOTA? I've heard of it many times but don't know what it really is other than some mod for Warcraft 3. Do I need Warcraft 3 in order to play DOTA? What about DOTA 2? In the future, will I need Warcraft 3 in order to play DOTA 2? Please share with this curious monkey, your knowledge of DOTA and DOTA 2...

It was a map for WC3.

Don't even bother, it and it's sequel are both shit.

I wondered my self what is that.

You're welcome.

Disregard Crosmando.

Acquire Juggernaut Masks.

Reminds me, I should have a DOTA 2 beta key hidden around here somewhere. Let me know if anyone wants and they can have it. I am never going to play a game which is PvP, competitive multiplayer only.

(I want look for the key until tomorrow though, can be bothered searching so late)

Steam says I own it for some reason or another (DOTA2, not DOTA). I'm not sure why other than I might have purchased the Valve Complete Pack at some point...

You probably acquired a key from a survey, or it may be added temporarily due to the current halloween event. If it is the latter, probably just the spectator mode, not the full thing. It was originally a map for Warcraft 3, changing the way the game played. In the map, there are 3 "lanes" where a bunch of low level units advance, in order to destroy the other team's structures. Players are in control of a single hero unit with different skills, that are used to accompany/lead/escort the AI units to those structures, and or kill those structures. At the same time, the enemy team is doing the same, so you have to defend your structures while trying to destroy those. In the non-"lane" areas there are neutral mobs that can be killed either for experience or gold, as there are items that can be acquired that will help you, and levelling up gives access to new skills.

There are several clones of that map, now made into fullblown titles, either with the same basic gameplay and style (League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, DOTA2), or mixing it up, like SMITE where it is also a third person shooter.

You need to have Warcraft 3 for the original DOTA. DOTA2 was made by Valve and runs on the Source engine, so you don't need WC3. The other ones are also standalone.

DOTA or Defense Of The Ancients was originally a mod for Warcraft 3 and the father of MOBA or Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas which a variation of the RTS genre were players are assigned to one of two teams and choose "heroes" each with their own strengths and weaknesses and along with computer controlled "grunts" try to "push" there way through a series of "lanes" to destroy the enemies base, unlike RTS you don't build structures and so any structures that may be in play are prebuilt and are usually defense towers which along with opposing players are there to try and hinder your teams advancement

A more detailed explanation can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplayer_online_battle_arena

Personally I like the "Moba" Genre I just don't care for Dota and LOL since their community are full of douches which is probably why I just stick with Awesomenauts plus I prefer the 2d side scrolling action platforming style it uses to the RTS style.

I also have a beta key if anyone's interested.

I was actually wondering this same thing (and DOTA 2) LOL

I actually agree.

They're slowly distributing the game to everybody. I got the game without even knowing, it just popped up in the library one day.