We recently had an interview with Zoloft, check out what he has planned for TAW@WAR IV.
1. For the readers, can you please state your name, rank and current position within TAW.I’m 1LT Zoloft, the Commanding Officer of Team Fortress Division’s 4th Battalion.2. Do you remember who did your bootcamp? What was it like?Nesfero was my Drill Instructor, and it was like being bootcamped by a tentatively excited Elcor (for those of you familiar with Mass Effect).3. Why did you join TAW? What made you decide that TAW was where you wanted to be?I joined TAW because my partner, Terror [BF CO], said great things about it. I don’t have much time for social endeavors, and being part of a gaming community again (6 years sober from WoW!) was something I was missing. The Code of Ethics was the single most important factor in deciding that this was a group I wanted to be a part of. At the time of joining, I had never played an FPS before, and the kindness and patience shown to me by the TF members while learning to play further solidified my decision to make TAW my new home.4. Do you play any games (outside of your division) that TAW members can frag you on?I’m gently wading into Nuclear Dawn, but Team Fortress is my baby. Perhaps at some point I’ll come into some money and get Battlefield 3 so that I can frag Terror et al.5. What do you do outside of TAW?I’m a third year medical student. 1.5 more years and you can call me Dr. Zoloft. Each couple of months I change rotations, and right now I’m on Family Medicine. The TF division can attest to the ridiculous stories from the Trauma Surgery rotation. Just wait until Psychiatry!6. Has your experience with TAW helped you accomplish anything in the real world?I would say that TAW has definitely helped me stay connected to the world outside of medicine and get some perspective about things. Also, because the vast majority of members in the TF division are high-school and college-aged, it’s been a great opportunity to mentor these young people and help them learn effective leadership, collaboration and conflict resolution skills. TAW has definitely given me a stress-relief outlet and an overarching project to be proud of.7. You’re spear heading the upcoming TAW@WAR IV. What can you tell us about it?We’re really excited to be hosting this upcoming tournament. Team Fortress 2 is a great free-to-play, class-based, first-person-shooter that is fast-paced and has something suited for any play style. It requires lot of collaboration and communication, so the groups with the best teamwork will be victorious. For the tournament, in keeping with the laid-back spirit of the game, we’re going to keep it chill and focus on having a great time and getting to know lots of folks from other divisions. For each day of the tournament (Dec 4, 11, 18) we’re going to play a different game mode with the victors receiving a tab commemorating their superior performance. In Payload, one team escorts a cute little train along its tracks from one end of the map to the other, while the other team does everything in their power to keep that from happening. In Control Points, one team captures and the other defends crucial territorial landmarks. In King-of-the-Hill, both teams duke it out to maintain 3 total minutes of control of a single point. Finally, in Capture-the-Flag, teams are both attacking and defending simultaneously to steal the opposing team’s intelligence briefcase and bring it home to their base a total of 4 times. Teams will be randomized for each match of the tournament so you’ll get to meet many different folks, and if you can’t make it to one of the days, it’s no big deal.8. Your favorite hat?The Baker Boy, especially when painted Slate. It is ADORABLE.9. What is something you’d like non-members to know about TAW?TAW is truly a community and anyone can find a home here. It is one of the bastions of civilization in a troll-infested world. In TF Division in particular, we have a lot of female and LGBT folks who can play games without being subjected to harassment, and that’s something that is really rare in the gaming world and something to be really proud of.10. Is there anything else you would like to add that you want our readers to know about?Feel free to come on down to the TF Division’s TeamSpeak channels anytime you wish. There are always people on, we are a really friendly group, and we would love to teach you how to play or how to rock some faces off during TAW@War. Be warned, though: Once you visit, the urge to transfer to TF may be irresistible.
For their time and dedication, Zoloft will be awarded our In-The-Scope member tab for completing the interview.
The newsletter team recently had an interview with Fraulein of the Team Fortress 2 Division.Below, you'll find some interesting answers to the questions we asked.1. For the readers, can you please state your name, rank and current position within TAW.My name is Fraulein, Lieutenant Colonel, Division Commander of Team Fortress 2.2. Do you remember who did your bootcamp? What was it like?My bootcamp was done by ShadowMage, and as I remember it was pretty straightforward and informal - just a rundown of the rules and regulations, practice times and so forth. I think a couple of the other command members sat in on it too, which added to the fun atmosphere!3. Why did you join TAW? What made you decide that TAW was where you wanted to be?At the time, our new SO TheJoker and I were unaffiliated - it had been about a year since I’d even touched TF2, and she’d managed to convince me to join her and play on some pubs. The server she picked happened to be the TAW one, which was populated by ShadowMage, Eriopolis, Armony and Protodroid. We had some excellent games, and a little bit of messing around (the screenshot of the player tower we built was on the old forums, I don’t know if anyone has access to the image anymore.) I honestly think what made me want to join was the activity of the server - that people were talking to each other, and being respectful. Shadow and Armony managed to persuade me to check out the website, and the Code of Ethics made my decision final. I wanted to be a part of this organisation.4. Do you play any games (outside of your division) that TAW members can frag you on?I do own Red Orchestra 2 and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, though to be entirely honest I’m absolutely awful at both of them! I’ve also been considering getting a hold of BF3, once I have the funding - however, Arkham City is still in my to-buy list.5. What do you do outside of TAW?Currently I’m a second year student at university in Scotland, doing Anatomical Sciences, and hardcore studying for my genetics exam in the next few weeks. I also function as the Equality, Welfare and Disability Representative and Vice Chair of the Student Council, which has been a pretty demanding task so far.6. Has your experience with TAW helped you accomplish anything in the real world?My TAW experience helped my election to Vice Chair of the SRC, and the skills I’ve learned through TAW and every position I’ve been in thus far - DI, SO, DO and DC - have helped me immensely with managing the monthly meetings! I’m also currently applying for a part-time job in GameStation, so I’m hoping it helps.7. Your Division is hosting the upcoming TAW@WAR IV. How does that make you feel?Incredibly excited! Last TAW@War was my first, and I took a big role in preparing for and publicising the event, scurrying from division to division to let the wider membership know about this fantastic opportunity to mingle and make friends from a pool of people that they normally wouldn’t get the opportunity to meet.This time around, I’m turning the reins over to my protégé, TF4 CO Zoloft. I have every confidence in him, and I truly believe that he’s going to do an excellent job.8. Your favorite hat?Hard question! Although I do have a fond spot for my Massed Flies Mountain Cap, I think the “favourite hat” award has to go to the Vintage Vintage Tyrolean that TheJoker gave me just after I joined TAW.9. What is something you’d like non-members to know about TAW?As a TAW member, you’re not just part of your division, you’re part of the whole clan. I can’t speak for every division, but down here in TF, we’re not just a group of people who play together; we’re a family, and we’re always happy to welcome new folks - and I fully believe that it’s the same across the rest of this massive organisation!10. Is there anything else you would like to add that you want our readers to know about?TF NA practices are held 9-10pm EST every Wednesday and Sunday, with non-mandatory practices every other night of the week. TF EU hold theirs 7:30-8:30pm on the same nights, so if you want any training, tips, or just plain ol’ practice before TAW@War IV, come on down!For her time, effort and dedication, Fraulein will be awarded our In-The-Scope member tab for completing the interview.
The TAW Media team has been working hard in bringing a brand new newsletter format to the TAW Community. Our new format will now be available directly to members by email sent to their inbox. If you want to receive the TAW newsletter, you must first subscribe to it by clicking here. (Or visit the wiki page by clicking the Newsletter logo on the front of taw.net).Members who subscribe to the newsletter will receive all of the latest and greatest information about the TAW Community on a bi-monthly basis.Things you will see in the new format:A message from Leadership. You’ll receive important information from the leadership of TAW or the Media team.In-The-Scope Interview - Our Get to Know, Feature Article that interviews varies members of the TAW Community.The Video Spotlight – The latest and greatest TAW featured gameplay footage or videos pertaining to the gaming community.Upcoming Events – We’ll let you know when and where an event is happening in TAW.Member Generated Content – Condensed articles and featured post/blogs or polls from the TAW.net community.Themed Content – We’ll cover various topics such as TAW@WAR, the CIC Election, Vanguard, TAW Divisions, Tips & Tricks and much more.Awards and Contest – TAW Media will hold various contest and announce awards/commendations given to members of the TAW Community. The newsletter is ever evolving and will only be successful if we get the help from the TAW.net community. We only ask that if you have an event, article, blog, post, video or anything else you want people to know about, that you let us know first. We’ll make sure the members of TAW know about it. If you’d like more information about From The Battlefield, please check out the wiki page or send us an email at TAWGaming@taw.netLTC DeadXOnTAW Media Division Officer