Ask TL Staff Anything - Page 247

My stance was that it is indeed perhaps not something agreeably acceptable to everyone. But to view it as something heinous or intentionally hurtful to remove my privileges was something I disagreed with, but acknowledged exterior feedback. Whether people agree or not is why I asked you to talk about it publicly (we spoke extensive via JTV Chat however).

Today I lost 3 bronze league matches and one two days ago (A ZvZ, almost a ZvT and a ZvP). I play all my opponents for at least 20 minutes and I've asked 3 to 4 of these bronze players if they minded if a Master's player was playing in their ranks to brush up on some of his/her mechanics in a safe and comfortable environment (where the concept of Macroing are less intensive and demanding, so I can focus more on my biggest issue [which has cost me games even in Bronze: replays can be provided]). None really were bothered (I have the replays if interested) and I would leave if some were ever bothered.

There's a huge misinterpretation on your part however. I'm not "staying in bronze". I am starting in bronze. I don't intentionally lose games to remain within this league nor do I humiliate, BM or attack my opponents. I play for a full 20 minutes or when I reach a 200/200 army of diverse units to practice what I was set out to do. This could be achieved in custom games, but I would get a fluctuation of equally skilled and lowered skilled opponents which would be upsetting or not a clear indication of any actual improvement on my ability to control my units.

The downside to this methodology, which I explained to you, was that build orders and other aspects of my game would become sloppy or cut corners (not scouting for example). But this would probably be refined as I improve in ranks and leagues.

The disrespect that could be viewed would be the fact that I am "wasting" their time by playing a full 20 minutes. But I see it as also allowing them to play the full extent of their ideas of builds. This doesn't validate or justify my choice to drop down to bronze, but it also takes into account another alternative perspective.

The idea of win-trading is silly. I'm not trading wins with anyone nor is the intent to stay in bronze, you're stretching a bit of truth, while Blizzard could interpret tanking one's MMR to go into bronze to gain more achievements or portraits, you already know the intent or interest and intentionally feigning ignorance.

SirJolt: I think I covered most of your disappointment. To deem an equivalent to someone who instantly leaves or cheeses him is a worse experience than someone who plays a full 20-minute game, every game to allow the other player to play to the full extent of his build. Is that acceptable? No, it doesn't make what I'm doing any less disappointing, but I can promptly say that if I just wanted to win all my games, I could do it.

In any case, for me to reverse what I'm doing is parallel to what I'm doing, just a lot faster. I'm giving the players a respectful match even if I already know the outcome (and they don't, so if they think it's a regular long game, what play experience is differing here?).

As for the less interesting. I do what I can to deem it worthwhile or interesting to watch. There are some games where I suggest the other player to expand or we find out why he made 17 cannons in his base without any ever attacking him). So the entertainment is there, I'm just not Destiny winning games with only Infestors nor do I sink to a level of obnoxious arrogance and tell my opponent off (anyone who watches my stream can see I'm relatively calm and nice person). I talk about the music I'm playing, how I like to place my overlords, etc. Half the game is interacting with your opponent, the other half is your own strategy and style which can be both education or interactive with those who disagree. With the relief of being at a low-level, the mechanics are less demanding and require less focus, thus allowing me to more freely talk and chat (I lost a ZvZ because I got greedy and he threw 6 lings and then 4 roaches at me and I promptly lost even though we had the same number of drones. It was really amazing!). In any case, I'm not bothered by nobody watching and even sometimes prefer that only 5 people are watching (makes talking to them a lot more fun and feel like it's just "between friends").

Lastly, I've already lost some bronze games. I am pretty terrible. I hadn't play any full 1 vs. 1 games or any full StarCraft games in Season for about 2 months or so? Maybe more with the occasional cheesy game.