Long time Garm3n user who switched to Gmang - love gmang...

Well it's part of the natural cycle of NA tf2 really.

You have two subcurrents over here - the b4nny/Tyrone school of thought where you generally play more cautiously (they've been doing this since like s6) and carefully. There are several teams that emulate this throughout every skill division.

And the x6/Mix^ school of thought where you generally play more aggressively and attempt to utilize even the tiniest of advantages. Likewise, several teams run variations of this style throughout every division.

Up until this previous season they'd always traded championships. If anything a lot of what I saw from Epsi reminded me of a better Mihalys flow from s11 NA (double gunboats, pocket demo for fights, active healed scouts). Which dominated the US scene until they hit LAN despite a few of the players not being the stand out on their class (this was not the case for Epsi of course).

I'd certainly disagree that the optimal way to play in our rule set is to play passively. Most of the other teams in LAN contention were aggressive teams (some even hyper aggressive), but they all had roster problems throughout the season (mix^'s med merry go round, Dummy dropping from Tri-hards, mad men's scout problems), that were crippling in comparison to HRG which had been the same for some time and until the cutting of Cyzer, had been basically the same for a year, and in the case of 3 of its players far longer.

From the sounds of Lanksy's post i49 video, we may be seeing the death, or at least a strong modification, of the old HRG/LG/Qxg/eMg style of play. You could maybe liken it to, for EU purposes, when the old Dignitas team broke apart and things tended to get more passive for a time - we're seeing the opposite in NA.

If you happened to miss the forums last year, after the NA victory at i46, a lot of hoopla was made about the EU rule set in general - it's no surprise that similar hoopla is now being made about the NA rule set. it's pretty obvious why some folks from the EU scene would feel nervous about it - despite its being used in EU UGC leagues and tournaments/cups what have you.

It's funny because a year ago it was the 30 minute timer and no unlocks that was causing the EU to lose to Mix^ and LG, now that HRG has gone down, it's suddenly our potentially longer matches with win limit mechanics that caused HRG to be sub-par.

Anybody could have told you HRG was going to struggle at i49 if nothing else than because they'd not played normal Tf2 in a month because of the quickfix and had no time to get back into the swing of things - and shade's heal distribution and sometimes questionable positioning shows at least he was mildly effected. Things happen - no reason to get all panicy and throw the baby out with the bath water - furthermore a few EU tournaments have been run with the NA system (which to my understanding is also used in OZfort) and nobody noticed anything earth shattering to my knowledge.

Indiana has been humid with oodles of rain. Luckily it's supposed to be in the 70s tomorrow.

My plants like it, I do not.

Luckily for me I have multiple windows and a trusty little fan I use at night (I prefer to sleep with it being ice cold).

Should have already found a team - I am confused and will require some form of breakfast cereal to cope :(

GL Che.

I got a CM Quickfire Rapid for 20$ new on ebay a few months back.

I'm pleased.

In my own mind, at the medic part, I heard an angry growl saying "I'm sorry soldier, but if I heal you we'll lose mid - jump away jump away, where'r my scout!?"

Great work still :D

Even if they took EVERY IM team from last season they still probably wouldn't get 10 - so they have to yoink somebody from somewhere - either by drawing up newly made teams or sacrificing the upper open teams on the altar of the 4th division. Not to mention that it's within the realm of possibility that the entire bottom half of invite may be IM teams from last season. Because the (in the old sense) High- and Mid++ tiers have such a huge rate of attrition.

What sparrow said

Ictus helped me out in a big way s13 - stand up guy.

go right ahead :D

I have a history degree and was the history tutor for my college back before aforementioned degree lol.

I could pry help I'd assume lol. The US isn't my specialty but I could pry handle anything a HS course would throw at you lol.

sezco is just sleepy. He'll be ok.

In general, drunk people feel the need to share - I think this is true for some at least lol.