EPT
So who's coming out of retirement to bolster the ranks? Shall we have a poll?
GSTL Returns in 2026! - Page 2
| Forum Index > SC2 General |
|
Creager
Germany1965 Posts
So who's coming out of retirement to bolster the ranks? Shall we have a poll? | ||
|
Balnazza
Germany1374 Posts
On August 14 2026 20:27 WombaT wrote: I can’t lie, so I won’t deny. But nah in general I love team leagues, but for me I think teams need that certain degree of continuity to build the kind of identity I can get invested in, be they heroes or villains to me. I mean hey it’s more StarCraft so can’t complain too much! In the past while though I’ve found it’s difficult to forge actual teams that feel like actual teams for such leagues, there ain’t that many left See it this way: Team competitions are how we foster such teams that you might eventually find appealing. In AoE 2, just this week "The League" started, a big 3v3 team league. Most teams playing the Division 1 are not generally known for outsiders. Like the only big name there is Vitality. But the rest are teams and clans that have been formed over years. And even if the name of the team isn't familiar, the cores are known. But AoE 2 always had some sort of team events, even if it wasn't the biggest focus. But what incentive was there for players to be in a team since WTL ended? Except for the few who still get paid of course? Why would any Mid-GM player join a clan? | ||
|
Duplicity85
16 Posts
On August 14 2026 22:56 Creager wrote: I see where you're coming from and "organically" formed teams with history and rivalries are preferable for the majority of us, I'd wager, but the way I see it this is more a case of "beggars can't be choosers", so I'd rather take this over getting nothing. Who begged for this though ya know? I love that they are bringing it back don't get me wrong, but i don't believe that the "beggars can't be choosers" argument is valid here, at all. One reason why the "pro-scene" became very stale is because of the lack of new talent. It's the same 16-32 players getting preferential treatment in almost all tournament brackets. If you look throughout the majority history of tournaments, the "pros" are always given easy opponents in the early stages of brackets. The entire bracket is not drawn at random but the "pros" are given the easy matches early and are basically guaranteed to not have to play an equal skill opponent till the later stages of the bracket. Doesn't exactly scream fair competition when certain players are intentionally given easy rounds early to guarantee they advance to the later stages. Players can see it clear as day and that is probably why there really isn't any new blood because they know that established pros get preferential treatment. If you want the scene to grow, maybe make every single tournament bracket 100% random and no invitationals? | ||
|
Bilalaziz
United States1 Post
| ||
|
TheDougler
Canada8324 Posts
GSTL was actually my favorite. What teams are still around these days? It's been many years since I've been in touch with that. Any chance there's any remnant of Slayers still kicking around? I'm guessing SKT1 and KT Rolster are still kicking, what about Startale, Prime, and Incredible Miracle? I could get back into Prime... Is Maru still on Prime? | ||
|
Balnazza
Germany1374 Posts
On August 15 2026 08:26 TheDougler wrote: Amazing!!! GSTL was actually my favorite. What teams are still around these days? It's been many years since I've been in touch with that. Any chance there's any remnant of Slayers still kicking around? I'm guessing SKT1 and KT Rolster are still kicking, what about Startale, Prime, and Incredible Miracle? I could get back into Prime... Is Maru still on Prime? ...I know you said you didn't check "many years", but that sounds more like you were in a coma... Even on the chance that I'm missing sarcasm by a mile here, to answer all of your questions: None of those teams are still involved in SC2 except for SKT1 (with herO), but to answer for Esports in general: SK Telecom T1 is now just called T1, they are the most succesful LoL-Team of all time and are 50% owned by Comcast now. KT Rolster is only involved in LoL StarTale renamed itself to SBENU and eventually got bought by Afreeca, which is now called SOOP Prime got royally fucked because of Life and his buddies, the team went belly up with the matchfixing scandal Incredible Miracle renamed a few times, I think they eventually turned into either DRX or Dplus, can't remember. Oh and SlayerS went out of business even before everyone else left SC2 | ||
|
TheDougler
Canada8324 Posts
On August 15 2026 08:31 Balnazza wrote: ...I know you said you didn't check "many years", but that sounds more like you were in a coma... Even on the chance that I'm missing sarcasm by a mile here, to answer all of your questions: None of those teams are still involved in SC2 except for SKT1 (with herO), but to answer for Esports in general: SK Telecom T1 is now just called T1, they are the most succesful LoL-Team of all time and are 50% owned by Comcast now. KT Rolster is only involved in LoL StarTale renamed itself to SBENU and eventually got bought by Afreeca, which is now called SOOP Prime got royally fucked because of Life and his buddies, the team went belly up with the matchfixing scandal Incredible Miracle renamed a few times, I think they eventually turned into either DRX or Dplus, can't remember. Oh and SlayerS went out of business even before everyone else left SC2 Hah! Much appreciated. No coma. I was dating a woman who's ex was a SC BW pro from 2017 to 2020, and so I stopped watching during that and didn't really pick it up again except maybe Blizzcon, and to occasionally watch Serral smash some international tournament or another. I'm actually very surprised KT Rolster isn't around anymore though. Kinda figured it was a long shot with the other teams. But KT Rolster is so iconic I figured they'd be around. SOMEONE needs to be "T1"'s rivals I would think. So like, which are the main SC2 teams these days then in Korea? Edit: Jeez I really have been out of it... I'd never HEARD of Onyside. Surprised Neeb is with them, is he in Korea these days? Edit2: Looking at GSL 2026 Season 2 results, seems like after Onyside our boys in Blue are the next strongest team... Too bad there's only three of them. But Clem and Cure seems like a good start to a competent GSTL team. | ||
Waxangel
United States33709 Posts
On August 14 2026 03:56 WombaT wrote: Cool to see some more content, but is it just me who doesn’t really get the point of team leagues when there’s so few actual teams left? Be it the Kespa teams, or rooting for a Liquid, or having your favourite eSF team there’s something to attach to, stuff was fun It's going to be a throwback to the earlier BW or War3 days, where it's more the feel of a more casual "clan war" than KeSPA Proleague. That has its own merits, and a necessary adjustment to the time. Without the live element until the finals, I hope production tries to give us a decent amount of the team voice chat (like the most ambitious versions of WTL) or other elements that reflect the atmosphere. | ||
|
ShowTheLights
Korea (South)1718 Posts
THE BEST TEAM LEAGUE PLAYER TO EVER PLAY | ||
|
Agh
United States1108 Posts
On August 15 2026 10:40 Waxangel wrote: It's going to be a throwback to the earlier BW or War3 days, where it's more the feel of a more casual "clan war" than KeSPA Proleague. That has its own merits, and a necessary adjustment to the time. Without the live element until the finals, I hope production tries to give us a decent amount of the team voice chat (like the most ambitious versions of WTL) or other elements that reflect the atmosphere. Was more or less my take on it. Post sc2 launch the "team" aspect for e-sports in general has pretty much been in a steady freefall. Team leagues and clan wars still house some of my fondest gaming memories dating all the way back to war2. Always had extra motivation to win because you felt like you were letting your friends down otherwise. I do hate that 2v2 in sc2 just isn't fun to watch or play - which sucks because I thought the 4x 1v1's 1x 2v2 was the best format, with standard all kill being right behind. Curious what the finalized details for the teams and their players will be. | ||
|
Freeedom
United States201 Posts
| ||
|
TheDougler
Canada8324 Posts
On August 15 2026 11:26 ShowTheLights wrote: SLAYERS MMA THE GSTL FUCKING GOD HAS TO RETURN THE BEST TEAM LEAGUE PLAYER TO EVER PLAY A-EFFIN-MEN!!!!! You're speaking my language man, so many great memories watching MMA. | ||
|
Garnet
Vietnam9056 Posts
| ||
|
seraki
46 Posts
| ||
|
Creager
Germany1965 Posts
On August 15 2026 05:12 Duplicity85 wrote: Who begged for this though ya know? I love that they are bringing it back don't get me wrong, but i don't believe that the "beggars can't be choosers" argument is valid here, at all. One reason why the "pro-scene" became very stale is because of the lack of new talent. It's the same 16-32 players getting preferential treatment in almost all tournament brackets. If you look throughout the majority history of tournaments, the "pros" are always given easy opponents in the early stages of brackets. The entire bracket is not drawn at random but the "pros" are given the easy matches early and are basically guaranteed to not have to play an equal skill opponent till the later stages of the bracket. Doesn't exactly scream fair competition when certain players are intentionally given easy rounds early to guarantee they advance to the later stages. Players can see it clear as day and that is probably why there really isn't any new blood because they know that established pros get preferential treatment. If you want the scene to grow, maybe make every single tournament bracket 100% random and no invitationals? I feel like you're completely missing the point here and I'd like to see some proof to your very bold claim that is basically "16 years of SC2 esports competition were rigged", so please feel free to share your insights. Speaking of 16 years of SC2 esports the argument is perfectly fine IMO, we aren't entitled to anything at this point in time and should instead be happy with whatever we are still getting. Could things be done differently to improve the landscape? Sure. Is it very likely due to the popularity of the game? Not so sure. | ||
|
bela.mervado
Hungary418 Posts
On August 15 2026 19:39 Creager wrote: I feel like you're completely missing the point here and I'd like to see some proof to your very bold claim that is basically "16 years of SC2 esports competition were rigged", so please feel free to share your insights. Speaking of 16 years of SC2 esports the argument is perfectly fine IMO, we aren't entitled to anything at this point in time and should instead be happy with whatever we are still getting. Could things be done differently to improve the landscape? Sure. Is it very likely due to the popularity of the game? Not so sure. I thought this fellow was complaining about seeding, upcomers having lower ELŐ or weaker seed. To him: there are quite a few small competitions aimed for non-pros. It's never enough, really, I guess, but there is a place to compete. | ||
|
WGT-Baal
France3569 Posts
| ||
|
Balnazza
Germany1374 Posts
On August 15 2026 10:01 TheDougler wrote: Hah! Much appreciated. No coma. I was dating a woman who's ex was a SC BW pro from 2017 to 2020, and so I stopped watching during that and didn't really pick it up again except maybe Blizzcon, and to occasionally watch Serral smash some international tournament or another. I'm actually very surprised KT Rolster isn't around anymore though. Kinda figured it was a long shot with the other teams. But KT Rolster is so iconic I figured they'd be around. SOMEONE needs to be "T1"'s rivals I would think. So like, which are the main SC2 teams these days then in Korea? Edit: Jeez I really have been out of it... I'd never HEARD of Onyside. Surprised Neeb is with them, is he in Korea these days? Edit2: Looking at GSL 2026 Season 2 results, seems like after Onyside our boys in Blue are the next strongest team... Too bad there's only three of them. But Clem and Cure seems like a good start to a competent GSTL team. Until last year we had something called the "World Team League" (WTL). It was a chinese-run team league that featured basically all the best teams in the world, but it was purely offline. Back then, ONSYDE (which btw is not the same as the korean org Onside, I hate that so much :D) was sponsored by Team Vitality, one of the biggest orgs in the world. But ONSYDE itself is just run by some SC2-enthusiast if I recall correctly. Sadly, when WTL closed (because they said it wasn't feasable to run a team league anymore when big orgs would pick up singular players for EWC) most teams also closed down. So to answer your question "who are T1s rivals": Well, in SC2 technically ONSYDE, but really, T1 also only has one player. The korean scene is pretty much crumbled to like 20 players, so there isn't much in terms of teams. Globally the biggest rivals of ONSYDE are Team Liquid and BASILISK, but they rely mostly on foreign players. Was more or less my take on it. Post sc2 launch the "team" aspect for e-sports in general has pretty much been in a steady freefall. Team leagues and clan wars still house some of my fondest gaming memories dating all the way back to war2. Always had extra motivation to win because you felt like you were letting your friends down otherwise. I'm with you, I love team leagues. Team Leagues basically brought me into Warcraft 3. The issue was that these team leagues were essentially money gobbling pits of hell back then. The gold standard for that will always be the NGL One Finals Season 2, in which Team WE had to win the thing just to break even. Turns out, bringing over four koreans to Germany (already not bringing their Chinese players) and staying in an hotel for four days pretty much gobbled up the entire prizemoney. There is a reason why the WC3L eventually would host its finals in China instead of in Germany. Also, at the end of Warcraft 3, the WC3L also was running this absolutely terrible format because after the banking crisis in 2008 most teams were running out of money. In a year or two we almost lost all teams that had any history in the game, which is basically what carries team leagues, right? It is cool to see the best players, but you also want the storylines, the history of teams, the rivalries. Can't have that when two of the three biggest teams in your league (4K and MYM) close down within a year. And it feels like that carried over to SC2 aswell. Sure, there were team leagues and GSTL probably worked "well" in Korea, because Koreans were used to having the mostly smoothly running Proleague. But globally, team leagues were faded so far back...and TOs clearly learned from the NGL-mistakes and shifted a lot of the team league finals to online, which also killed a lot of hype. | ||
|
TelecoM
United States10889 Posts
| ||
|
Light_VIP
Australia109 Posts
On August 14 2026 05:20 Waxangel wrote: Definitely glad to have GSTL back, but I feel like if they had been more transparent earlier and given fans a set funding goal that would make GSL Code S Season 3 possible, they had a decent chance of hitting that mark. Every GSL broadcast they showed the amount left to raise if we wanted a GSL Season 3. For whatever reason the community wasn't very excited for it. | ||
| ||
