ARMA 2 is one of TAW's healthiest divisions. At the core of any large division is a hardened group of regular members who have fun and provide an open and accepting environment for players to be introduced to the TAW way of life in. In the ARMA 2 division, one such member is Ginge. Ginge is a corporal with less than six months in TAW who has already put in a two medal performance record and achieved a place in th DI offices. QuinoaAOC of the newsletter team sat down with Ginge and grilled him about what it's like as a rank and file member of the AM Division.
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When AM command decided to launch a third battalion, you were one of the first members asked to step in as a DI. What do you feel made the officers choose you for this task?
Well, I believe that AM command chose both stonkingbyte and I to become the 3rd Battalion's first DIs because we both were interested in the ace/acre battalion and we had the experience needed to teach other about the game and the mods that we use to play.
In just five months, you have been awarded two medals for conduct becoming of a member. Which of those are you most proud of and why?
I am most proud of my battlefield conduct medal. I say this because of the work that my squad and I accomplished together for us to receive this award.
As a "rank and file" member of your division, what do you feel is the leading reason behind AM's success as the largest division currently in TAW?
I think that the environment that the arma division operates in is one of the main reasons for it having and maintaining its position as the largest group in TAW. I say this because the the leaders and members involved in this division are very kind and helpful and this draws players in and then keeps them in.
What made you choose TAW over the other clans available in Arma II?
The main reason for me joining TAW was actually some great experiences I had on the public servers. For example, one of my very first times playing on TAW servers there were many members of TAW online, they let me join them in their side mission squad and we had some great, organized fun.
What made you stay with TAW once you joined?
Just the great community we have here, the members are al, helpful and nice. Also, the large verity of games that we offer.
Of all the things AM brings to the table for its members, which do you feel is the most important?
I think that one of the most important things that the arma division brings to the table is that it gives players a great place to come have some great organized play and some great missions to play with squad mates.
What is something your fellow members might be surprised to know about you personally?
Something my fellow members may be surprised to know is that, yes I am actually a redhead.
What other games do you enjoy playing besides Arma II?
When I'm not playing arma I enjoy many other games such as; tribes ascend, ghost recon online, counter strike 1.6, crysis 1 and 2, minecraft, and basically anything that TAW offers.
Is there anything you would like to share with the rest of TAW about the AM division?
If you ever feel like coming down for a great night of fun missions the 3rd battalion (ace/acre) practices on Sundays at 7pm EST.
In almost every "In The Scope" interview there is at least one question that essentially asks "What is it about TAW that keeps you coming back to us everyday when you play?". The answer to that question is almost universally "The People". The people in leadership and the people in the enlisted ranks are what make TAW, TAW. TAW has some real characters and no one better exemplifies this that the whimsical Captain serving as XO of ARMA 2's 2nd Battalion, Metalcoholic. QuinoaAOC of the newsletter team took a few minutes of the good captain's time and delved into what it is about the people that has drawn so many players to the AM division. In a strange turn of events, Metalcoholic actually beat the opening question to the punch with a thanks and a question of his own.
At first let me say thank you...I think...for this honor. Are cupcakes incuded? Can I bring some?
You're most welcome but alas, there are no cupcakes, if you bring them, please bring enough for everyone, my home is secure but 1452 angry, cupcake craving TAW mebmers may be a bit more than I can handle.
You have spent the last four months as the XO for the European Battalion of Arma II, but you are listed from Nevada. Do you live in Europe now or is there another story as to how an American came to help lead an EU Battalion?
Well I had spent some time in our AM 1 USA Batallion and as much as I loved it.. The pratice times were not jiving with the Las Vegas life style, not to mention 4pm on a sunday, cuts into my football. So I moved to over to AM 2 EU and well, had a blast. As time went on I found myself fixing more than I broke and ended up a Master Gunny. That was tons of fun, I'm defnitely an NCO at heart and love to hang with the guys, but as the (sneaky) TAW gods saw fit it wasn't long before I found myself XO in the very company I "grew up" in as a PFC and NCO. A bit of a wild trip in retrospect, but this division is full of great guys. things happen because of them, and they make me shine.
Tell us a little more about yourself. What makes you you?
The lack of sleep and an all meat vegan diet. Maybe The 17th Century ganster rap.
Oh and of course I dont take life to seriously, life is to short to be taken with any sort of consideration.
Plan for the worst, make for the best. Respect the future but live in the moment. I thnk im happier for it.
Do you have any hobbies or other activities outside of gaming to occupy your free time?
Well I play a bit of guitar, and I'm loving DADGAD right now. If I'm not home you could find me at the local pub during happy hour (happy day really),
or banging away on my Toca drums on the Strip.
And I'm sure the guys in AM 2 battalion will tell you... I do love my guns, and I do a fair amount of shooting if i can. If I can't then there is always shooting at the kids in the desert with my Airsoft m249. Good fun.
If its not that its all music. I am a complete metal head, yet manage to listen to a lot of folk, bluegrass, progressive, or just plain odd music. The AM 2 guys dont get it, but im still trying. Portishead anyone?
What brought you to join The Art of Warfare over other gaming clans in Arma II?
The people. Playing with the guys as a public player was totally diffrent compared to every other server I had joined. People were actually helpful, and there was an over sense of teamwork. I liked that and decided to check it out. the rest is history.
I think that ideal I saw then is what I really push for in the batallion now. We may not be professional gamers. But we ARE professionals who play games.
I like that, I want to keep that brotherhood and professional attitude around.
Of your accomplishments in TAW, which one makes you the most proud?
Doing my part to keep the batalion together and strong. Things don't always work out how you want them to, but a lot of guys worked VERY hard to make this batallion what it is today, and i'm proud to have been a part of that. We have come a long long way in 6 months, and that is exciting. It's like watching a city grow around you. When you can see the results of hard work it pays for itself, ya know?
What makes Arma II successful as a game and as a division in TAW?
GREAT question.
We are fortunate enough as a division to play as a team 95% of the time to complete a mission, as apposed to against each other ala team vs. team. It makes for a very different player dynamic. Yes we do team vs team matches, and special events to keep it competative, but the core of our division is co-op mission play. When you get 30-50 guys on a server kicking tail with A-10's, Tanks, blackhawks, and good ole fashion ground pounding as a team.. your bound for a good time.
Another big bonus In the world of ARMA 2 is you can do/make anything. The modding is only limited by your knowledge, that means we can cater to most peoples play styles in a single mission and keep things fairly fresh for the guys. From WW2 to Vietnam to Today, we can make a unique mission for our guys and play them how we see fit. makes for a lot of play space. :)
What is one word that you feel best represents your division as a whole?
Mallemaroking
What are some of the things that TAW brings to the table that makes Arma II an even more enjoyable game for members of your battalion?
The people. We have a lot of great mature players. Many of whom in our battalion have met up for game conventions and the like. That never would have happend had they not met in TAW. There really are six degrees of seperation between us (often less), and it really shows here in TAW. Some of us are neighbors in real life and never would have known it otherwise. Others of us live thousands of miles away, but with lasting friendships. That also never would have happend without TAW.
I've always said in TAW, you come for the gaming, but play for your friends... and thats awesome.
Do you have any parting words for the rest of the clan?
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Sun Zhu - The Art of War
Ever wonder what secrets lie within the world and current events? Come join us and play for free this weekend
When: From Friday, August 3rd at 4pm GMT until Monday, August 6th at 7am GMT
New players: We are so proud of what we have made and want YOU to join us and try the game out for FREE this coming celebration weekend! Get the client here and create your account using the form on the right, and you are ready to join us in the celebration this weekend!
This weekend only we are hosting a meta-game where you will win a special in-game t-shirt AND 1200 bonus points* (for the in-game store) if you solve 30 in-game missions!
There will also be free fireworks for everyone! This weekend only you will be able to claim free fireworks - 20 per character! Brighten the sky and lighten the mood in these dark days, it's time to party!
We have also set up a special leaderboard for the celebration, showing the 100 most dedicated mission solvers in The Secret World universe. Do you have what it takes to make it to the top this weekend only?
This celebration also contains our first monthly new content update which went live on July 31st, "Issue #1: Unleashed." Welcome to new content to explore and mysteries to uncover.
Originally posted by Draxton
First off, I want to thank you all for supporting TAW’s Community Fund this last month. You all managed to raise $2254.86 to help TAW not only maintain the website and teamspeak but also support our future website development. I want to give a special thank you to the Treasury (Jedi and TBone) for coordinating this fundraiser. Without both these guys, we would be lost! I would also like to put a special thank you out there to CPL_StonkingByte, winner of the CIC for the Day drawing, and his division Arma for allowing me to join them for their Tuesday practice!
I was honestly a little unsure of how the CIC for the Day would go when I first conceived of it, but I was overwhelmed at the great suggestion from StonkingByte to interview the Central Command. I was very impressed with the great questions he asked, and we have linked this interview at the bottom of this article. I strongly suggest you have a listen, especially if you are a new member. I hope this is the first of many opportunities to have such a great dialogue!
Equally enjoyable was my invitation to attend an Arma practice with StonkingByte. I was a little nervous joining an all new game, but I installed the programs and anxiously waited for Tuesday. I don’t really have the words to describe the experience I had! At first I was overwhelmed with what appeared to be a very complex game, but once I got established it flowed so smoothly. For those of you that don’t know the game of Arma, it is unlike any game I have played. Focusing less on eye candy and more on content, Arma is a thrill to play!
After a quick tutorial from NoCents (thanks by the way), I jumped into the channel and received my briefing in the custom mission created for the evening. Arma gives members the ability to created custom scripted content, of which I am told our own CC member Lucky is quite the expert. I was assigned to Dog Squad and tasked with the dangerous mission of crossing open territory to recover SMAWs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) from a destroyed convoy in order to support some civilians that had taken cover in a nearby crater. The coordination in the Arma team was spectacular as they covered dedicated zones and communicated with incredible efficiency.
We next played on what I think was called a “domination” map. We were tasked with attacking a series of cities and clearing them out. After getting my assignment, I loaded up in a giant Chinook helicopter. After “dust off” with my night vision goggles on and the roar of the rotor blades, I felt a visceral thrill like I was on a special ops mission to Abbottabad! While my squad attacked the city from the West, coordinated hits were coming in from all directions. Our ground and air assets worked together to finally rout the enemy and clear the town. The second city was even more challenging and I found myself para dropping in more times than I would like to admit!
I want to thank again Arma for their hospitality. I will be back as soon as I can. I am still a full time player in BF, so I can’t let my platoon down. Thanks again to StonkingByte for a great interview and a great time! (Be sure to have a listen below). And thank you all for your continued support of TAW!
Click here to listen to the audio recording
IcarusCommander in Chief
The latest issue of From The Battlefield is now available. The Vanguard edition is jam packed with news about TAW's newest and fastest growing divisions. A must read for any and all TAW members.
Read about two exclusive In-The-Scope interviews with Master-Odin and Bamsen. One, a new-blood commanding the helm of TAW's fastest growing team. The other, a harden veteran attempting to resurrect a team long forgotten.
We also delve into the mind of iKon, a new member of TAW and a veteran of the DOTA series.
Shadowmage is back in his Indie-Game Corner where we look into Vessel.
Did you make the Top 100? Find out who ranks among the longest serving member's of our community. TAW would not be where she is today without the loyalty and dedication of these members.
To view the latest issue, just click on the button below, if you haven't already be sure to subscribe to receive the newsletter automatically through email.
*From The Battlefield is a Bi-Monthly Newsletter published by The Art of Warfare with the help of the TAW community and TAW Media Division. If you have questions regarding the newsletter please contact us at TAWGaming@taw.net
A lone man wandered through a maze of pipes, gears, mortar, and steam, seeking to undo the damage he has unknowingly wrought. From the shadows, stalkers with eyes glow with the light of science and bodies that radiate the pure power of the earth follow him, mindlessly hunting the stranger. The only weapon and tool carried by the man is a large backpack, to which is attached a nozzle, ready to release torrents of water. This lone man is the vanguard, both, for and against his science.
In the game Vessel, you play as a lone steampunk scientist, a genius who has changed the world with a singular creation. Automata created from liquid and powered by science, his creation creates impossibly cheap labor for the burgeoning industrial world. But all is not well as, after being locked out of his own lab by his creation and infiltrating it, word spread of how his creation is causing havoc and...evolving?
Throughout the game, you manipulate levers, buttons, and various Steampunk-inspired machinery to reach your goals. But first and foremost, you manipulate liquid and your creations. The puzzles of the game are wonderfully designed; they feel both organic to the setting, and are genuinely interesting and challenging, using the mechanics of the games in interesting ways. As the game progresses, you get new toys, new enemies, and different fluids, all making the game more complex, but still manageable.
It is a game that challenges the mind and the occasionally the reflexes. I cannot help but think of it as a more mature, more interesting, and more puzzling Super Mario Sunshine. While not free, I found the charm and uniqueness of Vessel to be far too much to not recommend. The game can be found on Steam, occasionally for cheap during a sale, or on Strange Loop Game's website. A demo is even available, so this game can pull you in before you even spend a dime.
The DOTA 2 division, in their quest to dominate the whole of TAW, demanded a second interview. Not literally of course, but a game that spins up over 50 members in just a few weeks while still in closed beta certainly demands recognition. The newest member of the leadership team in DOTA 2 is NA battalion XO Killacrazy's right hand man, MSG iKon. iKon ripped through the ranks, moving from recruit to Field Specialist in under a month and has been instrumental in building the membership base. As a long time DOTA player new to TAW, he was perfect to represent the strengths of both the clan, and DOTA 2 as a game, to the rest of TAW. QuinoaAOC has the scoop.
--Let’s start by telling everyone a little about you, what might someone be surprised to know about you?--
Howdy, my name is Nathan “iKoN” Edgemon. I have been brought on by Master Odin to help out the DOTA 2 Division. I am currently attending Texas A&M University and will be a senior Mechanical Engineering Major, who is currently interning at Cameron. I have played video games ever since I was 2 years old; Whoop Super Mario 3 on the Nintendo entertainment system. I have played nearly every game under the sun all the way from casual to pro level. I guess a surprising fact is that I have an addiction to peanut butter M&M’s and have competed at a professional caliber in video games, my favorite teams was genesis AD and DOTA.
--Do you have any special hobbies or activities outside of online gaming/TAW?--
I enjoy playing disc golf, training for the iron man, and cooking. Yes guys do cook, trust me my girlfriend appreciates those nice dinners made from scratch.
--What made you decide to join up with TAW?--
I saw you guys on the joindota site so I applied. I also don’t mind teaching new players how to play and my professional gaming days were over. So I spoke with Denied and Master_Odin about joining TAW, and that the people here were great. They offered me a spot on as a training specialist due to my knowledge of the game, and next thing I knew I was offered a spot as a Field Specialist and jumped on the opportunity.
--What have been some (if any) difficulties in Spinning up your respective game?--
Well for one the game is still in beta, but I believe it will strike like wildfire once the game gets released it has already taken over as the number on played game on steam currently. Once the Asian, mainly the Chinese, scene make a shift from DOTA 1 to DOTA 2 we will begin to see player multiple by the days.
--What do you do to recruit?--
I guess we do three main stream types of recruiting. First there is the 5/6 community DOTA 2 sites such as join DOTA, DOTA fire, and a few others. That we continue having our members bump to show activity, and continue to gain more members. Our second method is word or mouth. Through this process we have already had 6/7 members join due to the fact that the current TAW member is enjoying his time. These are personally my favorite recruits because it means we are really having a solid community and developing as a team. Lastly is when we pub stomp and then throwing down the Taw website after the “gg” at the end of a game brings in a few extra people as well. These methods are how we continue to grow and are up to 52 members with about 12 to still boot camp, and we are hoping to continue to expand and grow larger.
--What are some of the differences you have seen that separate the different units in DOTA?--
Personally I believe that Valve has done an excellent job porting the game from the original Warcraft III mod, Defense of the Ancients. It is also nice to not have to play on the Chinese servers again. The graphics are better than any of its game type currently out there and it has Valve backing this transition. I see a bright future for DOTA 2 once it becomes free to play. Also check out The International 2 which will hold the top 16 teams in the world to face off for 1 million dollars.
--Where you a DOTA player from the old days or did you start with DOTA 2?--
I have played the original DOTA for nearly 9 years. I dabbled a little bit in beta Hon and tried a game or two of LoL, but neither t suffices my urge to play DOTA.
--Are there any other games that you occupy your time with outside of DOTA 2?--
The only other game I am currently playing is Dragon Age II, but I still have multiple games that I may play with some of buddies from time to time. Also I will have an occasion mine craft session with my girlfriend.
--What has been the number one thing about the DOTA 2 division that has kept you coming back to play with TAW?--
The reason I continue playing is due the willingness of the TAW members who want to improve their game play and become better players. Yes my Shakespeare moment! In all honestly I really enjoy the members and people that play in TAW the community is what has gotten the members up to over 1000.
--Every member believes his or her division is top dog in TAW, what do you feel sets DOTA 2 apart from the rest of the clan's divisions?--
That’s always a good thing each member should stick up for their own game, and of course DOTA 2 dominates all. What sets DOTA 2 apart from all the other games is the layers and depth that it is required to play this game at a high level. The complexity and diversity of each game gives a unique experience to the player every time you start a new game.
--What made your game ‘doable’ to quality for a spin up?--
Its a new flavor on an old game and there really is not much of an American side so their are lots of fresh recruits on the market. Hmmm, The fact that it the highest played game daily on steam or that it requires a whole never level of thinking that only DOTA players understand. Watch out other divisions were coming for ya
--Was the initial spin up process easy?--
We did not even break a sweat
~Shout Out Dota 2 Team
World of Warcraft has had a tumultuous history with TAW to say the least. After the original WW division collapsed amid numerous scandals, many felt the game would never return to TAW again. Instrumental in the rebirth and redemption of WoW was former Age of Conan XO and OS support team member Bamsen. CherryLaneKilla caught up the the always upbeat WW first officer.
--What might someone be surprised to know about you--
I’m a Baker but I wasn't always a baker I used to work for the forest service, with foxes the very wild animals specifically the endangered “Kit Fox” . I really didn’t get into gaming until I was in my late 20’s I was an Outdoor person , nowadays I'm more of a stay at home, relax after a hard day & go out fishing once or twice a week type of guy. It’s funny how our lives evolve and change.
Yes! I collect and sample tea! I know it sounds crazy but I love the flavors and mass variety I have drawers full of nothing but tea =) O and did I mention I love to fish?
I was part of a long lasting clan for almost 11 years, they been around 23 now but very inactive, I started playing the game “Age of Conan” where I use to be a GM for the company. I was recruited by Booklet & Ridgewalker to TAW and said that I could be a valued asset to TAW & after seeing the family and community I was hooked!
We already have great people we just want more great people. ;)
We are attempting to do more one on one recruiting in order to personalize the guilds feel & direction we are heading, in by doing so it seems to be working quite well.
--What are some of the differences you have seen that separate the different units in WOW?--
Nothing, I think World Of Warcraft is not better or stronger than any other unit in TAW we have a great community and we all started at some place at some time and all units have great leaders in place.
--Where you a WOW player from the old days or did you start with WOW?--
I been playing World Of Warcraft since right after they launched, an old man in my age now I asked why they didn’t have a unit already, well the rest is history and here I am now.
--Are there any other games that you occupy your time with outside of /WOW?--
Yes just got Nucular Dawn [Thanks Ekis!] & World of Tanks [Thanks Subrat!] I also play Age Of Conan & Team Fortress 2. I think playing many games in the community not only lets you see what TAW offers, but keeps you from hitting a wall in your current game you play., it's always nice to have something fresh to play.
--What has been the number one thing about the /WOW division that has kept you coming back to play with TAW?--
Well I have a little quote I like saying and I think everyone should live by it really. “Good Better Best Never Let It Rest Until Your Good Is Your Better & Your Better Your Best"We are constantly growing and learning and I truly believe just when you think your the best at something there's always something new to learn.
--Every member believes his or her division is top dog in TAW, what do you feel sets DOTA/WOW apart from the rest of the clan's divisions?--
Well to be honest we don’t feel we are different from any other division.
Due to the fan base of four million subscribers, we like the direction if brings our community and with the new updated attendance policies, makes TAW a more MMO friendly community
With the help of vanguard leaders “Wardy” & “Kingcheese” & our corp commander spin up leader “Doc” there has been allot of positive direction from all chain of command lines, to get the ball going. We have, many returning members from the prior division make this a solid core along with our new Taw blood. Recruits & members themselves really make the end of the day fun & easy.
Vanguard This time round we are giving the VG teams a break from the newsletter and will focus on how a game is selected for Vanguard and then what happens when it is a horizon and then spin up team. For those that do not know what Vanguard do or are new to TAW then this should give you a rough idea. Vanguard is the very first place where the game meets TAW and TAW members get to see if the game works within The Art of Warfare. Any game can have a chance within TAW providing it gives a team based play and allows our members to excel with Leadership, gameplay and of course teamwork. The game must have a good fan base and member base to succeed within TAW and leave vanguard. Placing a game in Vanguard allows us to monitor its progress and to watch the team build, to guide it into the correct place and also to support the Spin Up Leader (SUL) when building the team. It is the SUL which places the first bricks down in the foundation of the building of a unit. The command structure of Vanguard are there to ensure that the game has the best opportunity to get into the TAW Army and to give guidance to the newly appointed SUL. So how do we get a game into TAW ? I hear you ask , well the short answer is that any TAW member can put a game up for consideration (see below for the link and also the explanation of the different phases within Vanguard). The game then enters the potential games list (PGL) and then is discussed at length with VG, Army Command and CiC see below for full process. Here is the link for the form to suggest a new game https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGZvd0FIODI0MFkyLW1wZW8yczY4SHc6MQ Now let's look at the explanations and process that each game goes through. Potential Game Initially VG log any games from the interest game poll to those already noted on their VG internal game list. From this the VG staff carefully review each game for it’s suitability within TAW. Even if deemed suitable, it does not guarantee a game will join the TAW ranks if there is a lack of interest within the TAW community or a suitable spin up leader cannot be found. Horizon Team If there is TAW interest and a spin up leader but the game has not yet been released, then providing there is a release date or at least a playable version of the game it can join Vanguard as a Horizon team. As a Horizon team it will be open to external recruiting but not internal TAW transfers (although a couple of members will be allowed to help the development of the team.) The main focus of a Horizon team is to prepare for the Spin up phase. This means setting the team structure, creating at least one mandatory event per week as well as appointing DIs (and maybe SOs) and getting the recruiting started. Spin Up Team A Spin up team is for a game that is already released or has switched over from Horizon. As a Spin up team it is open for external recruiting as well as internal TAW transfers. This is the main building phase for a game where it starts a massive recruiting drive and the team starts to find its shape. Inevitably there will always be ups and down with each unit in VG. However it is at this stage that future leaders are found and the training of staff go into overdrive to ensure that the team lives up to the TAW ethos and gameplay. Launching as a division There are various requirements that a team must fulfill to enable it to be launched out of Vanguard of which full details can be found on the Vanguard Wikis on the TAW website. In brief it needs its full complement of staff (including SA if needed), be holding two events per week, active wiki, funds for server if needed. Summary In summary Vanguard is the starting place for new units in TAW. We are never strangers but part of an ever growing family of people within TAW . When building a team it is always VG Command’s goal to ensure that we bring you well structured, suitable and fantastic new units to join your corps or into the TAW community. We are always looking to future leaders for future games. Therefore please don't be afraid to come and chat with the VG staff about your aspirations or drop both uWardy and Kingcheese an e-mail.
When the newsletter team set out to build a piece centered around Vanguard, there was no way the crew in charge of the fast rising DOTA 2 division could be ignored. With Master Odin at the helm, the DA group has rapidly amassed 52 members despite recent turmoil amongst the burgeoning division's leadership. CherryLaneKilla caught up with Master Odin, who took just enough time from his busy schedule of leading DOTA 2 out of Vanguard to answer a few questions.
--Let’s start by telling everyone a little about you, What might someone be surprised to know about you?--
I have a love for B rated stuff, whether it movies, books, or games. Nothing better than turning on the Sci-Fi channel and seeing that
Sharktapus or "Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus" is on as it's just fun to see the cheesy effects and bad acting and lines.
I swim for my college team which during the year ends up taking up a ton of my time. Between morning practice, out of the water training, and afternoon practices, I'm looking at
20+ hours a week being taken up, in addition to work and school!
I used to play Left 4 Dead, and playing solo in that game was really annoying due to how versus was 4v4, so little to no communcation would end up just
destroying a team. I ended up googling "L4D clans", ended up on a forum TAW was advertising on, and decided to give TAW a spin. Got bootcamped
almost 3 years ago, and I've been with TAW on and off again ever since then bouncing between a couple different divisions after the LD died.
--What have been some (if any) difficulties in spinning up your respective game?--
I think something that stands us apart from other spin-up teams is the change our leadership has gone through in our short history. Our original spin-up SO switched
to another spin-up team and the original spin-up lead has left TAW as well. I was originally just a DI when the DOTA division got spun up, but somehow I've found myself
being the spin-up leader.
We try to recruit both in-game and on forums. On the forums, we have a recruiting post that we have on all the major boards, that talks about TAW, with what it's about, its history, etc.
as well as some points about our division such as what you could expect with us and practice times and all that. In-game, we wear the [TAW] tags, and if the game goes well (whether people
are nice or we do well), we'll generally say "www.taw.net, friendly clan! Join!" or something to that effect at the end of a match. For the most part though, it seems like the forums
have been our best help in the exciting growth we're seeing.
--What are some of the differences you have seen that separate DOTA from other games?--
I think some of the biggest differences between DA and other divisions is just the scope of matches. When we compare ourselves to something like AM or BF, they've got matches that can consist
of like 32-64 guys no problem. For us, if we don't have exactly some multiple of 5, we don't have full teams. We need exactly 10 people to run an in-house. It makes practices slightly odd
because of it and so you'll generally see a couple people watching our in-house while we've got a pub team of 5 as it's rare to always see a number divisible by 5 always, just ask the LL division!
This of course affects how we deal with ranks, as we don't really need a PL/FL to manage the overal goal of a platoon during a match. The only thing that is really consistent is squad leaders.
The smaller sizes though gives us some interesting opportunities not really afforded to larger matches, such as the concept of "ad-hoc events" where we can run those full games if 10 people
show up online unlike AM or BF that really need the larger numbers to run events/battles.
--Were you a DOTA player from the old days or did you start with DOTA 2?--
I never played the original DOTA as I got into PC gaming a couple years ago, well after its initial peak. I originally played League of Legends as my first introduction to the "MOBA" genre, and
I ended up being in the LL division within TAW for a while because of my interest, though eventually it started to wane with how Riot was managing LoL and some other factors. Once I saw what
Valve was doing with DOTA 2, I knew I couldn't ever really go back and have been playing DOTA 2 minimally since last November with major interest a couple weeks before TAW announced its division.
--Are there any other games that you occupy your time with outside of DOTA?--
As one of the people in TAW that has one of the largest steam libraries I'm sure, I've got a lot of games I like to play. The only other MP game that I play with frequency is TF2 at the moment, and I'm
playing through the Sam & Max series, with then a whole host of games beyond that. My backlog is way too big.
--What has been the number one thing about the DOTA division that has kept you coming back to play with TAW?--
The sense of team and family that exists in all divisions of TAW to at least some extent. Everyone is friendly, and it provides you with a fun atmosphere to play games with, even if it seems like everyone's
W/L ratios drop a bit (haha)! There are also members which playing with have definitely made me a better player for it, by pointing out my mistakes and giving me tips and suggestions to be better, in a way that I
can easily take to heart and don't just react angrily towards as it's done in a constructive manner. When it's provided to one member, it's nice, but when we have ways to give it to a whole division of people, it's
indispensable, especially with seeing the rate of growth of some people. At the end of the day, that's really the biggest thing that TAW offers opposed to solo playing, is the environment to get better, and fix bad habits.
I frequent a site called SomethingAwful which has a thread on DOTA 2 that has a bunch of great players posting in it, not everyone has that resource and so end up doing some silly stuff that they might never notice.
--Every member believes his or her division is top dog in TAW, what do you feel sets DOTA apart from the rest of the clan's divisions?--
The stuff I mentioned above about team sizes and what have you. However, how many divisions can say they've seen a growth of 40 members in a month, especially compared to such a giant like WoW which is also being spun-up at the same time as us. Pretty hard not to be proud of what the division has become, especially if you're the one leading it!
--What made your game ‘doable’ to qualify for a spin up?--
The interest in the game is probably what has made things so easy for us. Since DOTA 2 is a straight port of DOTA 1 from the Warcraft 3 engine to Valve's Source, the player base between the two games isn't really split, and even though DOTA 2 is still in closed beta, it's hitting the highest played game on Steam at something like 68,000 peak everyday. Once it comes out of the closed beta and is f2p, I can only imagine that number becoming even larger considering just how popular DOTA 1 is after something like 6 years under the current developer, IceFrog (with a couple years before him where it wasn't as nearly balanced or really the DOTA we all know and love).
The game looks nice, you can be competitive as soon as you start playing (as there's no "out of game" progression beyond cosmetic items that do nothing for you), and is well balanced and rather unique, all things that make the game popular and have a lot of longevity. Couple that with the booming impact DOTA 2 is having on the e-Sports scene, it's going to be really interesting. The comparisons of course between LoL can only help both games improve as both have to, on some level, compete with each other with features and that force both companies to innovate on some of their design philosophies and interfaces (the biggest being the spectator interface).
The spin-up process is interesting as initially, the first time it was tried for a spin-up, it was turned down by CC as not being popular enough (or at least that's what I've been told). So it took a couple tries, but once
we got the official go ahead, things have been smooth sailing since then as we've been able to quickly replace the management of the division that's left.