Boaring guides series, made by Boar in conjunction with Sjappy.

Keep in mind, itembuilds and skillbuilds are variables, and should be adapted to the game. No gameplan is set in stone. The information on here should help you make up your mind though on certain ways you can approach the game.

General rules for all guides:
1. Always carry TP's! You dont want to sit in your stall and realize you dont have any.
2. When playing supports, either stack pull, when you cant zone out the enemy offlaner(s). If you can, zone them out. Dont pull creep aggro, stay above the creepwave, and to the sides. Retreat a bit when you see a new wave coming in, so you dont get chased by it. Abuse your range and dont worry too much about levels. Put all your resources in your carry. This is never bad. Try not to let any wards be in stock. Buy them as soon as you can, and upgrade your courier at 3 minutes.
3. If you can potentially be killed on the offlane, hide in the trees and just leech xp. Most of the time people don't expect you to be able to do something on lane. If you can play agressive, do it though. Make the most out of the lane, and dont take risks that might make your carry look small compared to theirs (in other words, don't feed them as much as you can, not fun for your team).
4. Try to make active use of the space on the map. Push when you can, farm when you can. Depending on your role in the team of course. Be sure to participate in fights though, if you are needed. If not, hit towers, farm enemy jungle if possible, and make use of your own jungle. General rule: Lane>Jungle. Only jungle if you cant farm lane while feeling at ease.
5. Dont forget to use your items. Pay close attention to this till it goes automatically. Losing games because of a lack of focus isn't bad, as long as you try to improve.
6. The goal of the game is to make the giant building in the depth of the enemy's base go boom. If kills help with this, be sure to get them. If they don't, hit towers.
7. Try to judge whether you can win lategame or not. Think about which timewindow in the game is most beneficial with the heroes in your team, and try to get whatever you can out of that specific timewindow. This is where most games are lost or won in the lower tiers (also, people dont know how to push).
8. Dont force highground or towers when you can't. Take your time if you can afford it. Do roshan, or deal chip-damage to the tower (use liquid fire from jakiro, dragonknight ult, illusionbased heroes, send illus to tower). Have a mobile ally splitpush if needed.
9. Boots of travel are a god-tier item lategame. Splitpush, and go to your teammates when needed. Get them if you have money to spare. Cant buy a big item (relic, eaglesong), but want to increase your effectivenes a lot? Get them. Dont be shy to sell your current boots for them.
10. Having a rough time on the lane? Dont be shy to use the courier to transfer consumables to your lane. Only do this if your team doesnt need the cour any time soon. Ask first.