(Vote): STX SouL (Vote): WeMade FOX (Vote): I'm just hoping for good games.
Enormous thanks to moopie and DropBear for answering the questions in such short time!
P.S. Congratulations on 10 000 posts moopie! Here's to 10000 more of your awesome posts on TL!
Another round, but a different format. Winners League wasn’t kind to either WeMade FOX or STX SouL, since both teams have shaky aces and are somewhat momentum driven. With this match, both start a new round, however, and both are likely to still have some hopes for the playoffs. What do our fans think what will happen? Read and find out.
1. Winners League is over now, but neither team made playoffs. WeMade in particular got all-killed several times and only placed ninth at the end of Winners League. Are you happy Winners League has ended? Or will the real hardships only begin now?
DropBear: I am stoked that Winner's League is over! WeMade doesn't have a star ace player to get multiple kills often, nor to stop the rampaging of an S-Class player. We do however have a large number of good, solid, above-average players who will win more than they lose so we'll start coming back up the rankings! There is after all little separating all the teams from rank 4-9 so we aren't out of the running yet!
moopie: In a way I guess I'm happy that SWL is over just so we can have a change of pace for a while. For teams like STX and WeMade, I think SWL being over is a blessing. Both teams lack the S-ranked player to carry them through miracle comebacks reliably time and time again, but they do each have a solid lineup of very capable players who perform great when they prepare for a single map.
2. BaBy and Kal, the aces of WeMade and STX both got knocked out of MSL. BaBy didn’t even make it past offline qualifiers, and Kal got knocked out of an arguably easy group 0-2. Similarily, neither Shine nor Bogus went far in the tournament, both being pillars of their teams. Can we talk about a collective teamslump or were these just flukes?
DropBear: I think it's an overreaction to call a team slump. BaBy has historically been bad in individual leagues and good in team leagues so I can't see it being a problem for him. Shine is quite hit and miss anyway so again no surprises there. As for STX, Kal is kind of bad anyway and Bogus hasn't seen much game time so he's probably just out of practice.
moopie: I don't think that either BaBy or Kal are really slumping, they are still delivering consistently most of the time. The group stages are always tricky, and while I feel Kal really should have made it, alas it wasn't in the cards this time. On the plus side, no MSL means more time to prepare for Proleague
3. STX and WeMade FOX are among the teams with the smallest fanbases. Why do you think that is, and how can this be changed?
DropBear: For mine, teams either get fans through very strong players or players with great personality or style. The problem for both teams is that they don't really have any superstars and their players are quiet and dull, seeming reserved a lot of the time. If they loosened up a bit and acted with more abandon and gregariousness they could gain more fans.
moopie: I am definitely a fan of both of these teams, but I think the reason not many are is that they both lack that star player that fans love to gravitate to in large numbers (as do anti-fans). STX and WeMade players have great personality about them and are very fun to cheer for, but what they lack is the aura that makes opposing teams cower in fear. If either team's ace player goes on a rampage in R5 and takes down some big names it will go a long way towards getting that team "on the map", which is where the big fanbases are.
4. The maps were changed a lot for this round. Will the changes in your opinion either benefit or disadvantage your team in the match to come?
DropBear:WeMade is a Terran heavy team, so I think they'll do ok out of Beltway but will do worse on Alternative than Benzene. It seems hard to secure a 3rd base on Alternative but Terrans don't need as many bases so that's a plus. The problems will be with mutas and drops, plus there is plenty of room for flanks. I am interested to see if any of our players utilise the other player's inbase island for tank drops and how effective they are. I think Beltway will help terrans, it seems choke heavy and as shown in some of yesterday's matches it's hard to get a recall off into a terran main.
moopie: There were quite a few of changes to the map pool so its a bit hard to judge the overall race balance shift. Losing Benzene will hurt WeMade a bit due to their terran-heavy lineup, but at the same time if the new Aztec and BR are less of a Protoss haven they might be better off overall. As far as STX goes, they have a pretty varied lineup race-wise, so they shouldn't be affected as much by a change in the map pool.
5. If it comes to the sixth set, who should be sent out to best take advantage of the new map Beltway?
DropBear: I think if Midas hasn't been sent yet he will be ideal for Beltway. His bunker-rush if near 14cc if far strategy seems ideal. With short rush distances between the close naturals and high ground surrounding the natural, he will be well placed to win.
moopie:Beltway seems to be a pretty solid macro map, I think both Terran and Protoss will show good results on it. I could see Zerg being pretty scary on it after an early-game advantage, but otherwise that 3rd gas might be a bit tricky. I'm also not quite sure how Terrans will deal with mutalisk harass with the mutas being able to get behind the natural min line, but it could be interesting. For the time being I'll just play it safe and go with BaBy and Kal as ace players.
6. Similarly, the Ace Match takes place on the entirely new map Alternative. Will we see a BaBy vs. Kal or do you think other players will make a better fit?
DropBear:I'd like to see Roro on Alternative. Hydra busts will be super strong with such a wide choke (plus the back door as well) and he's fairly effective with mutalisks against a Terran. He's fairly clutch too.
moopie: Its anyone's guess as to how Alternative will play out, but I wouldn't send BaBy out on it. I think RorO/Shine will be a better call. The mains are huge and accessible from a very large angle, so mutalisk harass and doom drops could be quite deadly. Similarly, recalls will play a big role in TvPs so I don't envy Terrans trying to block/defend that. I think ZvP or ZvZ is not out of the question here.
7. STX has transferred a lot of players into the B-team recently, including former Terran main-stay FrOzen and Zerg sniper/OSL semifinalist Modesty. Can we expect them back soon or will the depth of STX-s lineup make it difficult to rise to prominence again?
DropBear: I don't understand what's happened to Modesty. He makes an OSL semi and then never gets another game. I don't understand that decision at all and there surely must be more to it than form because he was performing. It's not like the rest of STX was dominating to keep him out of the lineup! FrOzen is more understandable for me. STX need good Terrans bad and unfortunately FrOzen is not a good Terran. Rookies will be tried and I doubt we'll see much more of him.
moopie: They will probably return soon enough, having more race options to fill 6 slots will come in quite handy. I hope we see them back in form if only to make it harder to figure out and snipe STX's lineup.
8. Similarly, Pure hasn’t seen a lot of playtime, and he’s arguably in the deepest slump of all the current progamers. How much playtime do you think he’ll get during round 5, seeing as WeMade doesn’t have a deep Protoss line to pick from?
DropBear: I think limited. WeMade can get away with sending mass Terrans now and they will. A rookie, P7GAB, was tried in Winner's League and even though he got absolutely brutalised by Action I think he'll be given more of a chance to prove himself. We picked up a couple of rookie Protosses in the recent draft too so we might see some of them.
moopie:Pure has always been an odd player as far as Proleague goes. While he makes constant appearances in the individual leagues and often makes it relatively far, he hasn't been very meaningful to his team in Proleague since around 2008. Because of that, I don't think this slump will change much for for WeMade's coaching decisions.
9. Who is your favorite and least favorite player from the opposing team and why?
DropBear: I like Shuttle, he seems like a nice guy and he's underrated. He seems to have a lot more personality than most STX players. There isn't anyone I actively dislike for STX but if I had to choose I'd say Kal, just because he fails all the time and not in a funny way.
moopie: Favorite would definitely be Midas. You can't not like that guy. Least favorite is a bit of a hard call because their main players all have good qualities, but I'll probably go with Pure (yes, I'm kicking him while he's down, sorry).
10. Any last words?
DropBear: I nearly picked Calm for FPL, but I didn't. I hope he loses today to vindicate my decision Also Midas better play!
moopie: looking forward to seeing how games will play on the new (and modified) maps
ahh both teams haven't been performing too well this season.. i'm thinking stx will win. nonetheless, i'm hoping for some good games and hopefully the winners deserve their win!
On April 23 2011 20:18 Caos2 wrote: First match of WeMade since I switched teams and it's against my former team. Well... WeMade fighting (but hope Kal wins his match )!
You made the right decision! Kal won't win though Congratulations to the various post milestone getters, mustaju, moopie and Lightwip!
Nooo! I'm missing the games, because I fucking woke up at 6AM to watch these, on Easter Sunday to boot, but now I gotta find a way to get TeamSpeak working
The only thing I ever remember about bogus is that he knocked out someone we care about, IIRC Idra from a samll Gom league. But hey, at leas he's a macro Terran
Kay, just transfered over. Vultures trying to poke about Hero's baes, only get one drone HydraMuta force moving towards midmap 1-0 for Muta's 0-1 for mech 0-0 for hydra's Irradiate loses another muta to it MutaHydra pushing into the nat of Bogus Vutlures killing all drones atHero's 4th Most of Hero's forces are taken out 3rd and 4th are not saturated at all
hero trying to break with mass hydra muta, tried to distract bogus with a fake drop but Bogus didn't bite. Siege finishes just in time to stave off hero's attack. A few vultures wipe out the probes at 10 and 11 during this battle. Bogus floating a cc to his third.
Hero harasses Bogus' third, an irradiate takes out one of the mutas. Bogus drops hero's main and gets 2 vultures in before losing the drop to scourge. Vults take out 7 drones before getting cleaned up
A little fighting in the middle of the map, bogus gets 2 irradiates off on the muta ball and damages them heavily. Hero loads up for a doom drop but vultures spot it on the way and immediately pulls back. Drop wipes out the scvs at his main but doesn't lose much else.
Drop in the main 8 OL's full of hydras! I thought this was the replay for a second Hero losing alot of his Hydra's to tanks All of the hydras are killed off, I think several depots and a armory for buildings teken out KEENS and Hiveuu Bogus expoing somehwere 2-2 for Mech Hero looks like hes amassing for something again, at the 2 postion, Another Drop!
Bogus attacking the 11.5 expo, hardly any befences Tons of turrets around the base, but Hero gets the drop HydraLing Bogus is at his 3rd and 4th though Queens get irradiated, all but one queen gets killed off
Hero makes a few queens and saves them between his main and nat. Hero loads up for another drop while Bogus pushes to Hero's 3rd. Drop gets cleaned up by tanks and goliaths. Sci vessel spots the queens and kills all but 1 with irradiate! Bogus keeps pushing in and gg from hero
i keep wondering why Wemade's coach keeps sending him out, if he just wants to waste a spot he could use it on Pure, at least he wins from time to time
On April 24 2011 13:27 Lucumo wrote: Way too feed my anti-team member, WeMade -.-
My friend, you are completely screwed lol
Even though he had a good run for some games, he was 3-7 in his last 10. That's why I chose him...and I didn't expect STX to move so many players to the B-team :/
/edit: Ah, and STX sucks anyway. I had Classic for my WL FPL and they never played him -.-
seriously? pure, god i hopes he's been practicing a lot, or maybe its a strategy to just waste all STX good players and then send all the good ones from FOX
Pure warping in a citadel just now And is moving out with his foce Kal looks to have a larger force, or is that just me? 7 gates from Kal 7 from Pure Archives and forge for Kal and Pure
Pure's probe sees Kal's expo attempt Kal has a shuttle heading into Pure's main - storm drop from behind the nat, lots of probes, despite Pure's obs seeing it come in!
Kal taking a 3rd at 2 Forge is spinning for both players No Nexus at 8 just yet Pure scouts the 3rd DT tries to get in but gets denied Storm drop! Kills a few probes, Obs spotted it
kal starts his 3rd, pure still hasnt started his yet, one of his DTs get sniped while trying to sneak into kal's base, at the same time kal makes a storm drop at pure's natural, gets a good amount of probes
Pure totally nonchalant as he rolls over Kal Kal still furiously micro'ing a reaver/shuttle but Pure moves forward to focus it's the end another line of zealots rallied into kal's base dt no good with obs around
OMFG I RERESHED MY fricking 5 minute LR post T.T IN OTHER WORDS Pure has a 3rd Kal is getting owned Main nex taken down GG from Kal I don't like Pure very much, but its for my LB
LOL, I totally came to this thread to make sure I wasn't losing my mind. My friend is here and I was like "O thats baby, hes one of my favorites", then it says Midas lol. Kinda made myself look like a fool, I had to return to this thread to reclaim my sanity.
Last starting a CC at his nat, just as the rax finishes Marine should be rallied towards cross Last scouting towards 5! Baby with 3 marines out and his CC starting at Nat SCV Building CC gets taken out SCV's pulled along with one marine! Khan vs OZ back byebye ;D
Baby made a second valk and is researching cloak now. Last just finished his CC and transfered scv. Baby split the map into 2 by having his troops across the middle
Drop behind the nat, two vultures A tank in the main Wraith+valk vs Wraith and tanks Dunno who came out on top Seiged tank has 7, now 9 kills on it Baby taking out tanks left and right Tank behhind main mineral line finally taken out Vulture dropped at 7.5 expo
Baby pushing towards 5, but Last is reinforcing with alot of tanks Wraiths slowly picking apart tanks Last's 4th is forced to lift 3 dropships from Last Baby has got 2 ports flashing and maybe 6 wraiths Valk spots the dropships droppping 11 Vultures get in time to detsory the drop
Last lands a CC at 6 but really economically behind 4 dropships heading towards 10.5, intercepted by wraiths, have to prematurely drop wraiths cloak, Last doesn't have enough scanner energy? doesn't matter he's getting ripped apart
On April 24 2011 14:41 loveeholicce wrote: HOly shit last looks so much like young nal ra
o.o I just noticed that too Wraiths sniping 2 dropshups out of 5 No scans left for Last Wraiths getting free kills Or not 0-2 for Last, Not sure about Baby 3 ports producing wraiths now
One gate core for Shuttle, core spinning with another gateway on the way Shuttle has scouted Midas, and lost his probe Midas starts his CC, no scouting
one goon all the way to outside Midas's nat, but goes to hunt down the scouting scv sent out hrm, that goon could have caused some problems for the 2 rines there
another tank from midas's factory destroyed but finally he clears out the attack on his main shuttle speed done? Turret not done at Midas's nat, reaver dropped there! turret destroyed! Midas's scv count pretty low
one good scarab on some scvs, but 2 rines die too, tank finally finishes off the reaver but shuttle/goon/zealot attack breaks Midas's mini-contain on Shuttle's nat
2 reavers dropped in the middle of midas's 3 sieged tanks 1 reaver explodes but all the tanks fall! bunker with 4 rines destroyed! Midas's nat is broken!
Classic starts his CC at the nat Factor is complete! Mind has two marines at his ramp Deny any scouting information Factoyr is producing! Bunker being placed down at nat Vulture getting rallied directly towards Classic!
Vulture in the base, has 2 scv kills Vulture gest taken out from the scvs Two vultures get into the nat A starport now! Such control! Both vultures survive that One vulture gets surrounded! Both vultures get killed off
Ebay at centre bottom expo from Classic First wraith out Vultures just picking at the rax Wraith starting to shoot at something Rax at about 2/3 health Turret under construction Wraith takes out the Scv Turret gets complete Wraiths get forced back Classic has a tank out Mind has an add on mid map and is researching
Still no cc for mind. Why don't terrans use turrets to defend wraiths more often? It's cheaper than academy/armory, and doesn't sacrifice vulture/tank production for goliath.
Rax is down to red Tank for Mind Vulture just manages to get away, both of them in red health Tank shelling turret from across the cliff CC at Mind's nat Cloaked Wraiths! Mind's rax is going to burn down Tanks are able to hit the CC
CC is going down! CC lifts just in time to get mass repaired Classic is getting a starport as well, and is destroying the temple Mind spots the temple going down!
Classic loses control of his nat as Mind moves his 4 tanks forwards but now classic using his high ground to try to take shots but Mind's wraith sees the tanks
Classic abandons the nat Two tanks are on both sides of the high ground Classic researching cloak, and is producing wraiths Mind is able to hit the tanks on the right cliff
Two more facts getting added for Mind at his main Frees the left side, and might take out Classic's rax again Four wraiths from Mind, Classic looking to land his nat again He also has wraiths of his own Armory and acadamy complete for Mind
Mind blocking off 11 with a depot? I think Classic has 4 wraiths now And 2 facts Mind taking out a few tanks and he has two goliaths Expanding to 6 and Classic is expanding to 9
Mind still has a relatively strong contain on Classic's nat, adds another factory but unaware of Classic's hidden expo, despite adding a depot at 12 Mind has a 4th up at 7.5 though
9 is walled off nicely by the gols All but 2 svs get taken down and 9 is forced to lift Depots blocking 11 and 12 expos Mind taking out a crap ton of tanks Classic taking upper left centre Mind taking 7 nat
Dropship from Classic, moving out CC goes from goon fire Two dropships from Mind 4 vultures are mining up the path way to Classic's base, Classics vultures Science facility complete for Mind Vultures get into 6 Gols just missing centre top left Drop on the high ground Vultures in the main of Mind Classic taking quite alot of damage
Classic gg. Mind..good job. Congrats Fox and thanks Pure, Roro,Baby and Mind :D Pure interview..finally. and thanks to the streamers for the streams :D
Sorry we beat you :/ Glad to see the stx tag back loud and proud on your profile tho
I shouldn't be sad, because even though we lost, I didn't feel bad about the play of any of our players and to see WeMade do well after a long slump isn't bad either. I just hope Pure will beat someone else but Kal now. :S