I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes at ESEA News or tf.tv articles but there's been a lack of content covering Invite so I thought I'd write a power rankings list. These are partially based off scrims and conjecture as well as matches completed so far. Are write-ups bland? Is my information off? Let me know.
The "players to watch" I chose are those whose performances I think will be important for their team to win on next week's map cp_snakewater.
1. High Rollers Gaming
Pretty hard to dispute last season's undefeated LAN champions as the current number one team, especially when they've been as strong as you’d expect in scrims and matches so far this season. Since they haven't changed their roster since last season I have a hard time coming up with much to say about these guys that hasn't been said already. This team has some of the best players of their respective classes and perhaps the best teamwork and "meshing" at the moment. It will be hard for anyone to contest them for the top spot but I could see some teams taking more rounds off them as the season progresses.
Players to watch: b4nny, shrugger/Ruwin, lansky
2. tri hards
tri hards boast an impressive roster with arguably the best overall “flank classes” in NA. The team has consistently good mid fights with tri using gunboats to team up with blaze for aggressive mids that apply heavy pressure allowing for boomer, clockwork, and dummy to mop up the enemy team. tri hards will likely look to wipe the enemy team and push to last as often as possible in their next few matches to shut down any resistance, especially against the previous champions HRG. If tri hards end up not winning their mids look for kbk to escape to last and call for creative and aggressive pushes to reclaim ground.
Players to watch: tri, kbk, clockwork
3. Apocalypse Gaming
AG has been up and down in scrims up to this point but proved themselves as a team to watch after their win over Classic Mixup on cp_badlands. A bit of a dark horse this season, AG has put together a solid lineup that allows its members’ strengths to shine. indust and rando play the uber game fantastically while sweater and Boink put out high damage without taking many heals. This season seems to be a breakout season for the scouts squider and Kapoww, who have been performing well in both scrims and matches. The teams’ loss to The Runaway 5 on process displays their vulnerabilities, however, but of any team I feel AG has the most room to adapt to their opponents as the season progresses.
Players to watch: rando, squider, indust
4. Classic Mixup
Last season’s runner-up, Classic Mixup contains some of the best and most experienced players in NA. The team has changed its roster and positions more than any other Invite team, however, and has struggled to find a groove to stomp the competition as they did in seasons past. Platinum and harbleu have returned to their soldier roots and do an effective job supporting their scouts, and I predict the heavy classes to be an integral part to the team’s success on cp_snakewater. Seagull on demoman and mason on medic will be of particular importance in Mixup’s match against Top Guns, where they’ll be subject to the relentless damage of Zbryan and grape at mid.
Players to watch: Platinum, enigma, Seagull
I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes at ESEA News or tf.tv articles but there's been a lack of content covering Invite so I thought I'd write a power rankings list. These are partially based off scrims and conjecture as well as matches completed so far. Are write-ups bland? Is my information off? Let me know.
The "players to watch" I chose are those whose performances I think will be important for their team to win on next week's map cp_snakewater.
1. High Rollers Gaming
Pretty hard to dispute last season's undefeated LAN champions as the current number one team, especially when they've been as strong as you’d expect in scrims and matches so far this season. Since they haven't changed their roster since last season I have a hard time coming up with much to say about these guys that hasn't been said already. This team has some of the best players of their respective classes and perhaps the best teamwork and "meshing" at the moment. It will be hard for anyone to contest them for the top spot but I could see some teams taking more rounds off them as the season progresses.
Players to watch: b4nny, shrugger/Ruwin, lansky
2. tri hards
tri hards boast an impressive roster with arguably the best overall “flank classes” in NA. The team has consistently good mid fights with tri using gunboats to team up with blaze for aggressive mids that apply heavy pressure allowing for boomer, clockwork, and dummy to mop up the enemy team. tri hards will likely look to wipe the enemy team and push to last as often as possible in their next few matches to shut down any resistance, especially against the previous champions HRG. If tri hards end up not winning their mids look for kbk to escape to last and call for creative and aggressive pushes to reclaim ground.
Players to watch: tri, kbk, clockwork
3. Apocalypse Gaming
AG has been up and down in scrims up to this point but proved themselves as a team to watch after their win over Classic Mixup on cp_badlands. A bit of a dark horse this season, AG has put together a solid lineup that allows its members’ strengths to shine. indust and rando play the uber game fantastically while sweater and Boink put out high damage without taking many heals. This season seems to be a breakout season for the scouts squider and Kapoww, who have been performing well in both scrims and matches. The teams’ loss to The Runaway 5 on process displays their vulnerabilities, however, but of any team I feel AG has the most room to adapt to their opponents as the season progresses.
Players to watch: rando, squider, indust
4. Classic Mixup
Last season’s runner-up, Classic Mixup contains some of the best and most experienced players in NA. The team has changed its roster and positions more than any other Invite team, however, and has struggled to find a groove to stomp the competition as they did in seasons past. Platinum and harbleu have returned to their soldier roots and do an effective job supporting their scouts, and I predict the heavy classes to be an integral part to the team’s success on cp_snakewater. Seagull on demoman and mason on medic will be of particular importance in Mixup’s match against Top Guns, where they’ll be subject to the relentless damage of Zbryan and grape at mid.
Players to watch: Platinum, enigma, Seagull
5. The Mad Men
Intermediate champs The Mad Men have been up and down since their move into Invite and will need to pull it together for their match against third-place pick Apocalypse Gaming. The team will need high damage from rr across the point at mid with coordination from alfa and YouMustMike to stanch any aggression from enemy soldiers. MemphisVon excels at making plays to salvage situations and will likely be relied on if things start to go south for the team. bl4nk likes to apply damage with unconventional ubers to allow the scouts to frag the retreating opponents and will lead the transition fights for the team.
Players to watch: rr, YouMustMike, MemphisVon
6. Top Guns
Top Guns will be looking to establish themselves as among the top dogs in their upcoming match against Classic Mixup. The heavy classes will need to compete with Platinum and company at mids I’d predict to be composed mainly of whose-soldiers-damaged-who. Zbryan and grape have been competitive so far with every other soldier in invite and PYYYOUR will tango with Seagull in what should be nail-biter-how-is-that-soldier-still-alive-everyone-is-hurt mid fights. Ninjanick has adjusted quickly after his jump from Vector Gaming and distributes heals well to accommodate his teammates’ play styles. Carnage will need to land some meatshots to make up for the loss of justin’s headshots when the team needed picks to either stay in the game or take it. While I think many of the fights will rely on the work of Top Guns’ heavy classes, seanbud’s propensity to go big in dire situations could save his team should the need arise.
Players to watch: Zbryan, grape, carnage
7. The Runaway 5
Like The Mad Men, r5 has been relatively inconsistent in both their scrims and matches, with an impressive win over AG in their first Invite game but two consecutive losses following. The roster has plenty of new talent hungry to prove themselves as the weeks go on but they’ll need to iron out some kinks if they want to win a LAN spot. duwatna regularly puts up big damage numbers and will be vital to pushes against HRG on snakewater, while downpour and the Australian yuki will have to contain the likes of shrugger, cyzer, and the dreaded Tagg-bomb. Ma3la and overseer seem to work well together and could lead successful pushes to throw the former LAN champs off their game.
Players to watch: yuki, Ma3la, duwatna
8. Solace eSports
The last team to complete their roster, Solace have the misfortune of playing some of the stronger teams towards the beginning of this season. They’ve had close scrims with more established teams in the past and certainly have room to improve on their teamwork as the weeks go on. Soldiers milo and Panic complement each other well and I could see Panic repeatedly killing medics in transitions between snakewater mid and second while milo denies any harm to his medic chimpfeet. Scouts Giffy and Bdonski have made impressive Invite debuts and will be key players to fragging the other team at mid fights as long as they can stay buffed. xalox has maintained a powerful presence in his matches so far while staying alive as often as chimpfeet. I think Solace will develop into more robust team as the season progresses, but the team will need to outmatch their competition in the coming weeks if they want to make LAN.
Players to watch: xalox, Bdonski, milo
5. The Mad Men
Intermediate champs The Mad Men have been up and down since their move into Invite and will need to pull it together for their match against third-place pick Apocalypse Gaming. The team will need high damage from rr across the point at mid with coordination from alfa and YouMustMike to stanch any aggression from enemy soldiers. MemphisVon excels at making plays to salvage situations and will likely be relied on if things start to go south for the team. bl4nk likes to apply damage with unconventional ubers to allow the scouts to frag the retreating opponents and will lead the transition fights for the team.
Players to watch: rr, YouMustMike, MemphisVon
6. Top Guns
Top Guns will be looking to establish themselves as among the top dogs in their upcoming match against Classic Mixup. The heavy classes will need to compete with Platinum and company at mids I’d predict to be composed mainly of whose-soldiers-damaged-who. Zbryan and grape have been competitive so far with every other soldier in invite and PYYYOUR will tango with Seagull in what should be nail-biter-how-is-that-soldier-still-alive-everyone-is-hurt mid fights. Ninjanick has adjusted quickly after his jump from Vector Gaming and distributes heals well to accommodate his teammates’ play styles. Carnage will need to land some meatshots to make up for the loss of justin’s headshots when the team needed picks to either stay in the game or take it. While I think many of the fights will rely on the work of Top Guns’ heavy classes, seanbud’s propensity to go big in dire situations could save his team should the need arise.
Players to watch: Zbryan, grape, carnage
7. The Runaway 5
Like The Mad Men, r5 has been relatively inconsistent in both their scrims and matches, with an impressive win over AG in their first Invite game but two consecutive losses following. The roster has plenty of new talent hungry to prove themselves as the weeks go on but they’ll need to iron out some kinks if they want to win a LAN spot. duwatna regularly puts up big damage numbers and will be vital to pushes against HRG on snakewater, while downpour and the Australian yuki will have to contain the likes of shrugger, cyzer, and the dreaded Tagg-bomb. Ma3la and overseer seem to work well together and could lead successful pushes to throw the former LAN champs off their game.
Players to watch: yuki, Ma3la, duwatna
8. Solace eSports
The last team to complete their roster, Solace have the misfortune of playing some of the stronger teams towards the beginning of this season. They’ve had close scrims with more established teams in the past and certainly have room to improve on their teamwork as the weeks go on. Soldiers milo and Panic complement each other well and I could see Panic repeatedly killing medics in transitions between snakewater mid and second while milo denies any harm to his medic chimpfeet. Scouts Giffy and Bdonski have made impressive Invite debuts and will be key players to fragging the other team at mid fights as long as they can stay buffed. xalox has maintained a powerful presence in his matches so far while staying alive as often as chimpfeet. I think Solace will develop into more robust team as the season progresses, but the team will need to outmatch their competition in the coming weeks if they want to make LAN.
Players to watch: xalox, Bdonski, milo
9. Vector Gaming
Vector Gaming returns with the usual suspects plus foster on medic. Vector’s mids generally consist of both soldiers mile and jaybenaduchi bombing for a medic kill while the rest of the team plays back and retreats with their medic in tow to repush with uber. I feel this could work particularly well considering the map and matchups Vector has. Additionally transition fights are generally strong for the team as Hibachi and doze focus targets well with their demoman DougyG’s damage.
Players to watch: mile, Hibachi, jaybenaduchi
10. ROOT PLUS SIX
ROOT PLUS SIX is yet another team I feel plays inconsistently between scrims but can take rounds off teams who underestimate them. Loronix’s flanks can stop a team in their tracks and sezco’s 1v2’s can open advantages for their combo to work with. Teams who neglect the flank in their pushes can expect the duo to get behind the enemy team to wreak havoc as soldiers Rick and marmadukeGRYLLS repush with their medic Stratovarius. unf returns to Invite with his effective demo play and will be important in helping his team win mids.
Players to watch: sezco, Loronix, unf
9. Vector Gaming
Vector Gaming returns with the usual suspects plus foster on medic. Vector’s mids generally consist of both soldiers mile and jaybenaduchi bombing for a medic kill while the rest of the team plays back and retreats with their medic in tow to repush with uber. I feel this could work particularly well considering the map and matchups Vector has. Additionally transition fights are generally strong for the team as Hibachi and doze focus targets well with their demoman DougyG’s damage.
Players to watch: mile, Hibachi, jaybenaduchi
10. ROOT PLUS SIX
ROOT PLUS SIX is yet another team I feel plays inconsistently between scrims but can take rounds off teams who underestimate them. Loronix’s flanks can stop a team in their tracks and sezco’s 1v2’s can open advantages for their combo to work with. Teams who neglect the flank in their pushes can expect the duo to get behind the enemy team to wreak havoc as soldiers Rick and marmadukeGRYLLS repush with their medic Stratovarius. unf returns to Invite with his effective demo play and will be important in helping his team win mids.
Players to watch: sezco, Loronix, unf
"good mid fights with tri using gunboats to team up with hero for aggressive mids that apply"
later blaze
"good mid fights with tri using gunboats to team up with hero for aggressive mids that apply"
later blaze
[img]http://i.imgur.com/g43Kvhx.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/g43Kvhx.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/g43Kvhx.jpg[/img]
dummy"good mid fights with tri using gunboats to team up with hero for aggressive mids that apply"
later blaze
wooooops, fixed.
[quote=dummy]"good mid fights with tri using gunboats to team up with hero for aggressive mids that apply"
later blaze[/quote]
wooooops, fixed.
If you decide to continue, try to add the record of each team next to their name and if possible maybe get a guest to write the blurb for your team.
If you decide to continue, try to add the record of each team next to their name and if possible maybe get a guest to write the blurb for your team.
Great write up, the only thing missing is the MOTW.
Great write up, the only thing missing is the MOTW.
CondescendingCandlestickGreat write up, the only thing missing is the MOTW.
My MOTW write up can be found here
http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/9083-esea-s14-tf2-invite-motw-week-2-hrg-vs-mixup
[quote=CondescendingCandlestick]Great write up, the only thing missing is the MOTW.[/quote] My MOTW write up can be found here
http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/9083-esea-s14-tf2-invite-motw-week-2-hrg-vs-mixup
so this is what you were doing during that root plus six match.
so [i]this[/i] is what you were doing during that root plus six match.