The Liquid`TLO Fan Club - Page 127

On December 17 2011 22:12 SC2ProLamer wrote:
"Being worthy" - One Viewer's Perspective

During the past two months I've read about TLO (the progamer) being a "questionable invitee" and Dario (the person "behind" TLO) appreciating the support but feeling "unworthy" of it. This kept nagging me and though I'm a fan of TLO and the idea of actually uttering some useful support here is tempting, I have to admit that the primary reason for this post is to get this topic out of my mind.

Questionable invitee

About TLO being a "questionable invitee" I won't be able to point out any game specific details - I chose my nick for a reason - but I'll stick to a spectators point of view. I would say a "worthy invitee", as opposed to a "questionable invitee", is a player who makes people want to watch the tournament and keeps them watching as long as possible.

Progamers in general, including TLO, make SC2 look like a movie sometimes - so fluidly do units join and depart, attack, retreat, outflank or snipe specific enemy units. As I find complex battle positions (flanking, traps, counterattacks,...) more entertaining than straight clashes, my experience is, that there is a quite a decent chance to see this in games TLO is participating in. TLOs recent statement that SC2 is more like Go seems to raise this chance even further. So a tournament sporting players with a style like TLOs in the grid makes me tune in. Now that I've tuned in to watch such games, I want to see as much of these games as possible - in result my favorite player may win the tournament, but from the perspective i assumed here, that's a mere side-effect

TLO recently has been victorious against notable progamers, if he is participating, there is a reasonable chance that I might see lots of interesting games in the tournament. I have to note that I don't want to exclude straight well-known builds and tactics here, played out on such a high level I do enjoy them as well as stunning variations.

Well then, that's two out of the two attributes I would personally attach to the label "worthy invitee". Though the exact "worth" of an invitee should be left to those organizing the tournament, I can't see how TLO could be a "questionable" or "unworthy" invitee.

Support resulting in pressure - worth and value

Speaking of "worth" - what triggered me most is the idea, that my (ever so little) support might put any kind of pressure on Dario, may be even taking the fun out of playing for him - the absolut last thing I want to do.

Can I do anything about that? I don't think so. To stop viewing his stream or his games is counterproductive to TLOs progaming and leaves me with one less option for recreation. Can I help Dario in any way to feel "worthy"or lighten the pressure? Not really, for whatever reason I could bring up, he could easily put it aside as biased. Pointing out things I enjoy about his gameplay, he could cherry-pick another world class progamer performing better in a certain game in any aspect of the game I pointed out. A viciuos circle? Only if you stick to the goal of being worth of something, I would say.

I value Dario as a person with an ever questioning mindset, exploring ideas and sharing knowledge impartial of who he is talking to. Want to put that aside as biased? Dario has imself stated on different occasions that his mind sometimes doesn't stop thinking about starcraft. Where nukes and nydus were deemed (almost) useless in progaming, he found ways to show that they indeed can be useful. Watching his stream, I saw him giving advice to and sharing thoughts with fellow players who would rather be called opponents by others. I might not be able to tell you if these attributes are of worth but I do value them highly and in consequence any person posessing these attribute.

Roles On Stage and in Life

So in my conclusion on this, all this cheering and support is actually not about being "worthy", it is just an expression of being valued for the progamer and the person you are. TLO might not be the bully type of gamer directly intimidating opponents on stage and threatening brutal defeat but that's not necessary to play mindgames. In my opinion bullys are rather easy to make out and to deal with (at least mentally). Concerning the show part, I fantasize TLO with a friendly but somewhat hideous grin (supported by the famous beard) on the stage, telling his opponent that he is ever so glad to play against him and that - to honor his skills - he might have prepared a little surprise or two for him. Bet you, most oppononets will believe you and will be distracted thinking about what twisted faith is waiting for them.
To me, you are Dr. Dario and Mr. Hive

So if you feel the pressure rising, Dario, rest assured that my support and my cheers are uttered for the utmost selfish reasons of a viewer trying to keep up the chance for non-standard games, well played standard games and to emphatise with a valued player in close losses and hard-fought wins.

On December 17 2011 22:12 SC2ProLamer wrote:
"Being worthy" - One Viewer's Perspective

During the past two months I've read about TLO (the progamer) being a "questionable invitee" and Dario (the person "behind" TLO) appreciating the support but feeling "unworthy" of it. This kept nagging me and though I'm a fan of TLO and the idea of actually uttering some useful support here is tempting, I have to admit that the primary reason for this post is to get this topic out of my mind.

Questionable invitee

About TLO being a "questionable invitee" I won't be able to point out any game specific details - I chose my nick for a reason - but I'll stick to a spectators point of view. I would say a "worthy invitee", as opposed to a "questionable invitee", is a player who makes people want to watch the tournament and keeps them watching as long as possible.

Progamers in general, including TLO, make SC2 look like a movie sometimes - so fluidly do units join and depart, attack, retreat, outflank or snipe specific enemy units. As I find complex battle positions (flanking, traps, counterattacks,...) more entertaining than straight clashes, my experience is, that there is a quite a decent chance to see this in games TLO is participating in. TLOs recent statement that SC2 is more like Go seems to raise this chance even further. So a tournament sporting players with a style like TLOs in the grid makes me tune in. Now that I've tuned in to watch such games, I want to see as much of these games as possible - in result my favorite player may win the tournament, but from the perspective i assumed here, that's a mere side-effect

TLO recently has been victorious against notable progamers, if he is participating, there is a reasonable chance that I might see lots of interesting games in the tournament. I have to note that I don't want to exclude straight well-known builds and tactics here, played out on such a high level I do enjoy them as well as stunning variations.

Well then, that's two out of the two attributes I would personally attach to the label "worthy invitee". Though the exact "worth" of an invitee should be left to those organizing the tournament, I can't see how TLO could be a "questionable" or "unworthy" invitee.

Support resulting in pressure - worth and value

Speaking of "worth" - what triggered me most is the idea, that my (ever so little) support might put any kind of pressure on Dario, may be even taking the fun out of playing for him - the absolut last thing I want to do.

Can I do anything about that? I don't think so. To stop viewing his stream or his games is counterproductive to TLOs progaming and leaves me with one less option for recreation. Can I help Dario in any way to feel "worthy"or lighten the pressure? Not really, for whatever reason I could bring up, he could easily put it aside as biased. Pointing out things I enjoy about his gameplay, he could cherry-pick another world class progamer performing better in a certain game in any aspect of the game I pointed out. A viciuos circle? Only if you stick to the goal of being worth of something, I would say.

I value Dario as a person with an ever questioning mindset, exploring ideas and sharing knowledge impartial of who he is talking to. Want to put that aside as biased? Dario has imself stated on different occasions that his mind sometimes doesn't stop thinking about starcraft. Where nukes and nydus were deemed (almost) useless in progaming, he found ways to show that they indeed can be useful. Watching his stream, I saw him giving advice to and sharing thoughts with fellow players who would rather be called opponents by others. I might not be able to tell you if these attributes are of worth but I do value them highly and in consequence any person posessing these attribute.

Roles On Stage and in Life

So in my conclusion on this, all this cheering and support is actually not about being "worthy", it is just an expression of being valued for the progamer and the person you are. TLO might not be the bully type of gamer directly intimidating opponents on stage and threatening brutal defeat but that's not necessary to play mindgames. In my opinion bullys are rather easy to make out and to deal with (at least mentally). Concerning the show part, I fantasize TLO with a friendly but somewhat hideous grin (supported by the famous beard) on the stage, telling his opponent that he is ever so glad to play against him and that - to honor his skills - he might have prepared a little surprise or two for him. Bet you, most oppononets will believe you and will be distracted thinking about what twisted faith is waiting for them.
To me, you are Dr. Dario and Mr. Hive

So if you feel the pressure rising, Dario, rest assured that my support and my cheers are uttered for the utmost selfish reasons of a viewer trying to keep up the chance for non-standard games, well played standard games and to emphatise with a valued player in close losses and hard-fought wins.