I think this game really needs a detailed tutorial or training videos or something. Having quite extensively played DOTA several years ago(and i havent played for a few years) I was immediately familiar with what was happening on screen. Sure there was a bit of a learning curve - and still is, but the basic core gameply was pretty easy to grasp.

A friend of mine however - completely opposite story. Here is a guy who has basically played every game type extensively(except DOTA) and he was really at a loss to work out what was going on. His first impressions were that it was a bit of a yawn fest but looked really pretty.

The problem was, he didnt understand the concept of what the ai hordes are and how they worked. He basically looked at them as say an ai player on an RTS team(aka a waste of space) and it looked like watered-down seige gameplay, just involving pvp with heroes.

He didnt see how the game was broken up into sort of 'lanes' like DOTA. How you had to use tactics such as working with the uncontrollable ai hordes, assisting them to knock out the enemy hordes or gangbanging enemy heroes. By slowly wearing away at the defences - knocking out a key defensive tower and really making a push. Things like double-teaming lanes or controlling middle grounds - all these mini tactics that make DOTA such an addictive and enjoyable experience.

I really think the game needs to take that into account - that to players not familar with the DOTA style of gameplay, that this is how it's done. Sure this is NOT Dota - but the style of gameplay is in the same spirit. Personally i think it captures the feeling very well, BUT can be difficult to understand if you havent played a DOTA style game previously. I think a little visual explanation ingame would go a hell of a long way to opening this up to people who might otherwise dismiss it.