The Art of Warfare Blogs: TAW Blogs

In-The-Scope : Zoloft

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.