EPT
The Chimera
As some of you may be aware of, Waxangel recently stepped down from the position of editor-in-chief for TL's SC2 coverage after running the show, sometimes single-handedly, for a long time.* Because the volume of worked performed by a 12-year esports veteran, native Korean speaker and full-time employee cannot be realistically matched by any one individual, TL filled the gap Wax left behind by creating a chimera of editors: me, DarkLordOlli and lichter. That's right, we're Men in Red (with a bunch of fancy powers, much to KadaverBB's irritation) now, which I suppose makes us important.
I won't bore you with all the details behind getting the articles you see on the front page out, but I will say that I never quite realized how much work Wax was doing until it took three of us (even then occasionally aided by Plexa, Heyoka and Wax's grumpy advice) to pull roughly the same workload. Editing and publishing articles, writing and brainstorming for future projects on top of watching Starcraft and having a life (well, Olli does.** I mostly swim. lichter sells weapons or something) is difficult to manage, but incredibly rewarding.
About TL Writers
To offset Wax's seemingly magical ability to make recaps and previews appear out of thin air, we've hired what feels like a million new writers. Right now, there are more active staff (counting trials) than I think any other section of the site. Currently, there are 17 (seventeen) writers that write articles, with varying frequency . When I first became a writer (late 2012-early 2013), there were something like 5 active writers that would write things on a weekly basis.*** Expanding TL Writers has really paid off, however, as I do feel that we are currently putting out some of the best and most comprehensive tournament coverage ever on TeamLiquid. This has resulted in the revival of the Power Rank, a greater amount of editorials and greater coverage of events we had trouble covering due to lacking manpower in the past.
As an added bonus, we have one of the most entertaining and informative Skype chats of all time. Given that there can be 10 of us online at one time it gets a little crowded and completely impossible to sift through for important things after the fact, but I find it hard to believe that there is any one place where every SC reference, every subtle joke and every prediction can be understood, argued and reworked so quickly. Originally meant to be a useful place for coordinating our efforts, the Writers chat has instead become a bazaar of infinite SC trivia, semi-polite balance/design discussions and bad puns.
Recharging passion
Given that the three of us operate solely on passion (and a minimal need for sleep, in my case), the last few months in Starcraft have done wonders for me in particular. My interest in Starcraft was somewhat fading earlier this year as the tournaments seemed endless, occasionally uninteresting and sometimes lacking wholly lacking identity. The frequent ups and downs that haunt both CJ Entus and Life did nothing to help this. However, my interest has come back with a bang. Why? Consider:
- JD dropped off (no offense, but you're not better than Life and you need to come back to Proleague)
- Even though CJ lost out in the semis to SKT, they put up the best fight anyone could have hoped for. The fact that the finals ended up being a Telecom derby of epic proportions (our coverage articles) which ended in a KT win and Flash rising to the occasion in front of as huge a crowd as any SC2 tournament has seen in a long time made the playoffs perfect.
- Life returned to significance at IEM Toronto after lacking interest and passion for the game. His dropping out of Code A and the subsequent losses were worrisome, but Life assured me**** that he was coming back to form, and his 14-4 record against some of the best players in the world was a pleasant turn in the right direction. Watch out, Korea, Life will wreck Blizzcon.
- Foreigners have proven themselves competitive over the last few weeks, which will make their inevitable demise as the Koreans once more rise to hammer them much more enjoyable.
- The online scene seems to be regrowing. Slowly, slowly, but it's happening. With the OlimoLeague finally appearing to fill the spot left behind by the Korean Weekly a while back, there is finally a place for Korean players***** to compete at reasonable times without the latency that hurts them overseas. Further, it's a place - if properly utilized - for previously unrecognized talent to grow and make some lunch money (let's not fool ourselves, they'll likely be about 16). Not only this, but there has been an abundance of invitationals and online cups lately, not even counting the IEM/Red Bull qualifiers that provide players with real chances to go overseas.
8 quotes from the depths of Skype that'll ruin your faith in TL staff
Disclaimer: these may only be partly serious. TeamLiquid does not endorse the illegal killing of wookies, insomniacs or rabid SKT fans
1)
[19:20:38] m: grudgematch
[19:20:39] m: now
[19:21:56] Michael Byers: is everyone around?
[19:22:01] m: yes
[19:22:08] Michael Byers: even olli? skype says offline
[19:22:13] m: he's online
[19:22:22] Michael Byers: ok let me poop first
[19:22:30] m: wtf
[19:22:39] Michael Byers: i dont want to be holding in poop while playing a grudgematch
[19:22:43] Michael Byers: that would be uncomfortable
[19:20:39] m: now
[19:21:56] Michael Byers: is everyone around?
[19:22:01] m: yes
[19:22:08] Michael Byers: even olli? skype says offline
[19:22:13] m: he's online
[19:22:22] Michael Byers: ok let me poop first
[19:22:30] m: wtf
[19:22:39] Michael Byers: i dont want to be holding in poop while playing a grudgematch
[19:22:43] Michael Byers: that would be uncomfortable
2)
[00:31:45] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: hey pPingu
[00:31:56] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: should we make posting in a thread after you've said you won't anymore bannable?
[00:32:00] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: I think it'd be good policy!
[00:32:22] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: or maybe ban introducing yourself in every other post
[00:32:27] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: that would also help me sleep bettere
[00:53:55] p Pingu: sure
[00:53:58] p Pingu: lies are bad
[00:53:59] p Pingu: mkay
[00:31:56] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: should we make posting in a thread after you've said you won't anymore bannable?
[00:32:00] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: I think it'd be good policy!
[00:32:22] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: or maybe ban introducing yourself in every other post
[00:32:27] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: that would also help me sleep bettere
[00:53:55] p Pingu: sure
[00:53:58] p Pingu: lies are bad
[00:53:59] p Pingu: mkay
3)
[16:32:02] Jesse Hart: would you enjoy being on the titanic lichter?
[16:32:03] Jesse Hart: if so, sure!
[16:32:10] Matthias Rademacher: lol
[16:32:21] Matthias Rademacher: well, the first 2 days he can have a steaming romance with a hot girl
[16:32:23] Matthias Rademacher: then freeze to death
[16:32:25] m: too bad i hate watching dota2
[16:32:03] Jesse Hart: if so, sure!
[16:32:10] Matthias Rademacher: lol
[16:32:21] Matthias Rademacher: well, the first 2 days he can have a steaming romance with a hot girl
[16:32:23] Matthias Rademacher: then freeze to death
[16:32:25] m: too bad i hate watching dota2
4)
[2014-08-30 19:55:25] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: I think he's building bridges
[2014-08-30 19:55:33] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: he talked to me for a while yesterday as well
[2014-08-30 19:55:42] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: about Taeja and gaming mice and whatnot
[2014-08-30 19:57:08] m: yes probably
[2014-08-30 19:57:27] m: i bet if he talks to olli it'll be about girls and booze
[2014-08-30 19:58:27] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: That's all Olli talks about these days
[2014-08-30 19:58:50] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: too much partying
[2014-08-30 19:58:59] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: I think he's drowning his Hero-related sorrows in booze
[2014-08-30 19:59:01] m: i wouldnt be surprised if he suddenly reveals he has an std
[2014-08-30 20:00:25] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: contracting several seems like a very Olli thing to do
[2014-08-30 20:02:39] m: more likely he wont realize
[2014-08-30 19:55:33] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: he talked to me for a while yesterday as well
[2014-08-30 19:55:42] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: about Taeja and gaming mice and whatnot
[2014-08-30 19:57:08] m: yes probably
[2014-08-30 19:57:27] m: i bet if he talks to olli it'll be about girls and booze
[2014-08-30 19:58:27] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: That's all Olli talks about these days
[2014-08-30 19:58:50] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: too much partying
[2014-08-30 19:58:59] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: I think he's drowning his Hero-related sorrows in booze
[2014-08-30 19:59:01] m: i wouldnt be surprised if he suddenly reveals he has an std
[2014-08-30 20:00:25] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: contracting several seems like a very Olli thing to do
[2014-08-30 20:02:39] m: more likely he wont realize
5)
[2014-08-28 18:52:26] Luke Wan: didn't you start this chat group kadaver
[2014-08-28 18:52:36] Luke Wan: you can always kick him for a bit and then add him back
[2014-08-28 18:54:18] Matthias Rademacher: nah thats dumb
[2014-08-28 18:55:34] Luke Wan: as dumb as anything else america does?
[2014-08-28 18:55:42] Michael Byers: dumber
[2014-08-28 18:55:57] Luke Wan: wow harsh
[2014-08-28 18:52:36] Luke Wan: you can always kick him for a bit and then add him back
[2014-08-28 18:54:18] Matthias Rademacher: nah thats dumb
[2014-08-28 18:55:34] Luke Wan: as dumb as anything else america does?
[2014-08-28 18:55:42] Michael Byers: dumber
[2014-08-28 18:55:57] Luke Wan: wow harsh
6)
[2014-09-02 23:41:27] Soularion: its pretty funny
[2014-09-02 23:41:36] Soularion: we have a 'Personal Orientation Project' class
[2014-09-02 23:41:47] Soularion: and for our starting class it was basically like
[2014-09-02 23:41:52] Soularion: hey what do you wanna be as your dream job
[2014-09-02 23:41:55] Soularion: and nobody answered
[2014-09-02 23:42:01] Soularion: actually no one girl said divorce lawyer
[2014-09-02 23:42:10] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: But would you divorce her
[2014-09-02 23:42:10] Soularion: divorce her face maybe
[2014-09-02 23:41:36] Soularion: we have a 'Personal Orientation Project' class
[2014-09-02 23:41:47] Soularion: and for our starting class it was basically like
[2014-09-02 23:41:52] Soularion: hey what do you wanna be as your dream job
[2014-09-02 23:41:55] Soularion: and nobody answered
[2014-09-02 23:42:01] Soularion: actually no one girl said divorce lawyer
[2014-09-02 23:42:10] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: But would you divorce her
[2014-09-02 23:42:10] Soularion: divorce her face maybe
7)
[2014-09-02 23:32:02] CosmicSpiral: random humping and sex
8)
[2014-08-29 04:03:25] Annie [Meru]: hahaha
[2014-08-29 04:03:25] Annie [Meru]: omg
[2014-08-29 04:03:42] Annie [Meru]: imagine if TL made girls undies... :O pics of bums everywhere on twitter for ekarma
[2014-08-29 04:03:25] Annie [Meru]: omg
[2014-08-29 04:03:42] Annie [Meru]: imagine if TL made girls undies... :O pics of bums everywhere on twitter for ekarma
On arguing with people
Confession time! I enjoy arguing. I sometimes join arguments that would best be left alone to die out on their own because I have an almost compulsory desire to let people know when they are wrong or being silly. Kadaver thinks it's entertaining, but I would imagine some people find me irritating. If you do, I'm glad! Seriously though, if you go through the hassle of creating an account on TL and posting something stupid or controversial in an LR thread (or anywhere), be prepared to be called out for it. Alternatively, say that you're a fan of Life. That's a real get-out-of-jail-free card, and it might even save you from a ban or three (until pPingu wiggles in to hammer you. pPingu's cool like that)
Like writing?
Read this thread and send an application to plexa@teamliquid.net. If you think Plexa is terrifying after reading Seeker's recent blogs (you probably read them wrong if you are) and would rather talk to me, send me a PM. Telling me that Life sucks is the quickest way to get my attention.
*No passion?
**In order to break the lonely nerd stereotype, Olli charms a minimum of 17 ladies - one for each writer - per week. True story. The act of charming may or may not frequently result in NSFW
***If I remember correctly, they were Waxangel, Fionn (who still randomly pops up once in a blue moon), stuchiu and kollin. Pokebunny occasionally pitched in, as did monk.
****
[2014-08-24 19:10:13] Victor "Zealously" Lloyd: you win IEM Toronto?
[2014-08-24 19:13:53] startale_life: no problem
[2014-08-24 19:16:02] startale_life: now playing again
[2014-08-24 19:13:53] startale_life: no problem
[2014-08-24 19:16:02] startale_life: now playing again
*****Fucking learn to sign up already
Addendum
[23:21:25] Soularion: if you dont take a map off of a korean at DH France
[23:21:29] Soularion: I will come to romania
[23:21:33] Soularion: and pay gypsies to break your shit
[23:21:54] Soularion: I will get gypsies to carry me to romania
[23:21:57] Soularion: through the ocean
[23:22:00] Soularion: probably cheaper than a boat
[23:53:09] Soularion: I was born on the same day the fucking holocaust happened
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/8NJkCkx.gif)
![[image loading]](http://gifstumblr.com/images/me-fail-english-thats-unpossible_605.gif)
