Best posts made by calo

From the perspective of a highlander team’s best interests (as voiced from a heavy player)*, the scorch shot ban should be batched with the throwables that were banned (mad milk and jarate). I will elaborate on this fact based on the perspective of a heavy- a core member to most team fights where HP advantage dictates the outcome of a fight (most koth and some PL fights, to a certain degree).

This is not to say that the scorch shot should have been banned when the throwables were. The throwable items certainly hold the throne as more egregious attacks on the flow of highlander. The easiest point to make is how they can be applied to the mainstay strategy of saccing. The throwables effortlessly improve the equity of a sac play(eg throwing a bottle from bats to ramp on asheville while a soldier is bombing with the singular purpose to deal as much damage as possible to the area effected by the throwable before death), but I would like to argue that the attack is similar nonetheless.

In formulating pushes, there are a large number of variables to consider. This should come as no surprise, as 9v9 highlander is a competition of 18 players- 18 different individuals with their own values, ideas, and strategies all working amongst each other to prove that their side is better. In my experience, the best formula for a winning strategy is one based on solid team dynamic, trust, and direction. In order to attain all three of these flagstone ideals, sacrifices need to be made. Not all 9 players can use their directive to push the team to victory- a team needs a main caller/a voice of reason. The best teams are built not only on a strong foundation of players, but are built on a foundation that is willing to compromise. A team that is able to adapt to the confides of how their roster operates.

In order to evaluate how a team can best be run, its mandatory to evaluate the team based on high stakes circumstances. Fights that are won based on the team’s performance, rather than on an airshot or a pick from a sniper or spy.** This is what I refer to as a ‘team fight’. In a team fight, all 9 classes (or however many are alive) are in agreement that their own life is (generally) worth less than the advancement of the team, such as in the process of capturing an objective. In these circumstances, both teams are aware that the best play is to put all their chips on the table- to prove that their strategy(positioning, aim, focuses, …) is better than their opponents. These are the fights that we considered in the cases of mad milk and jarate, and these are the fights we should be considering for the scorch shot.

The similarities between the scorch shot and the throwables is best seen from an analyst’s perspective of a team fight. A perspective which pinpoints which variables are expressed in determining the outcome for the team fight. In the age of the throwables, it was often too easy to pinpoint them as deterministic factors in how a push could be evaluated. The impact of the scorch shot is more convoluted, but certainly present in a similar fashion. Im thinking of a heated match between two rivals, where both teams know that the only way to secure a victory is to press the margins-to commit on the 55% and leave on the 45% fights. The scorch shot, through it’s RANGED KNOCKBACK*** mechanic, and it’s ability to PREVENT CRIT HEALS**** denies this margin from being toyed with. I’m arguing that the flow of the game that we have come to appreciate competing over is degraded by the existence of the scorch shot. The tense moments are replaced by the likelihood that a pyro can flare your key classes.

But at the end of the day, we must reflect. At what cost is the scorch shot being banned? What are pyros losing? What are teams losing? I would argue that the losses are minimal. The arguments that seem to stick are generally the pyro v. sniper cases, but are all worth considering when banning a gun. (‘If the SS is banned, the danger shield needs to go too’ ‘Pyro should have a counter to the sniper’ ‘Pyro is already such a bad class, why make it worse?’) I dont play pyro so I dont want to comment too much on this perspective, but I would argue that the detonator should fill the niche of the scorch shot.

*I was thrust into top level UGC hl in a sink or swim environment, and gravitated to demo reviews as my north star in guiding me in my own improvement. I learned to apply the reasoning that the team is centered about the medic, and the medic/heavy are played very similarly in this game mode. My points are based on this dynamic, as it is the most familiar to myself. Though there are very many ways to play, consider listening to my perspective out of courtesy to the community we all are a part of, one which we would benefit from improving.

**Teams can choose to value team fights higher or lower, based on the ability of their pick classes/ high impact play%

***? why couldnt this be the end of discussion? someone should open this can of worms…

****BIG impact, most apperent on mids in particular, but also a surefire way to give impact to pyro even when they miss a direct.

@Mothership ill give you a hat if you run stats on this data for playoffs seeding in invite seasons 1-9

I think that the match points on koth should share a distribution with the stopwatch ones. In highlander we only play koth and stopwatch, the two should be normalized to the diminutive variable and 2 KOTH rounds (1 half) should grant 1 match point. Here is a distribution that would better approximate 3 MP shared between the two teams, as compared to the previous system.

tldr 4-2 KOTH and 2-1 STOPWATCH should be equal in matchpoints

@DolphiN I understand and youre clearly caught in the crossfire. Having the RGL badge gives me hope that you and mothership can shake the bushes the admin team is hiding under.

@DolphiN said in HL s10 Qualifiers Predictions Thread:

The rule means that the matches can be agreed to a reschedule up to 12hrs before the previously declared time, so a previously agreed Tuesday 11PM ET match cannot be decided to be pushed to Wednesday unless they notify us before Tuesday 11AM ET, along with notifying us before Monday 11AM ET if they reschedule to Monday 11PM ET. This gives us time to either put out, rescind, or edit a casting announcement.

If by bringing this rule up you think I am worried that your cast will be okay tonight, you are assessing the situation incorrectly. I am pointing out that RGL is willing and able to dole out punishments for interfering with their casts. I am pointing out that a DEFAULT MAJOR PENALTY should never be accepted fairly after this cast is done tonight.

I speak as someone who has fallen pray to these predatory rgl casting restrictions before, as my 7s team has been issued a major penalty in our grand finals match for ignoring wait for stv. Having personally paid into this page of the rulebook, I am upset to have to turn back to it today.

I have years of pent up frustration over casting restrictions. I understand that you have the two motives of ‘do not over crowd the stv-the cast can fail on the spot if this goes wrong, either laggy client(?) or more critically, loss of slot in the stv server’ as well as ‘RGL makes money from casts’. Both are convincing enough to warrant rules for casting, but I think we can all agree that thinking a group of 5 players who have paid their invite fees dozens of times between them are here to break your rules because we dont want to pay into your system. But why try to solve both issues with a single solution? You are justifying the complete control of the STV server by citing your lack of trust in non accredited casters. You are treating us like scum. Im seriously upset with this.

Dolphin, thank you for your anecdote of Kaspers casts. Really sweetens my mood.

[1010.1.4] - Casted Matches Cancellations
Matches that are to be casted must be played on the match time agreed in match comms, or they can reschedule if agreed to twelve hours beforehand so that casting can be coordinated with the production team of the casting organization. Teams that violate this rule will receive a major penalty. An appeal process can be opened up to get this reduced to a minor penalty if it was unintentional (e.g. emergency or unforeseen event pops up).

major penalty? But 4 hours seems fine today though…

Why have rules for casts? rules set up a framework for which they can be upheld. Or they can gate keep a viewership and player base, keeping the precious casting experience under lock and key. Its absurd to think its a good idea to try casting tf2 matches as an individual or small group these days, yet that is the process laid out by your ‘casting organization’ classification-a distasteful display of elitism.

@watterson I am curious as well, as the draconian casting regulations regarding official casts are certainly scary enough to cancel outstanding plans, even when there is no official response. Is it too much to ask for a little heads up?

Multiclass superstar and future(current?) pharma-baron Brad “Bradman” Man, previously championed for his acts of heroism and selflessness in the war of the wheelhouse, has lost touch with his mercenary fleet of Mann Crushers and must look elsewhere to new brothers in arms. Though weakened by this departure, the Bradman is no pushover. The thirst for blood can be seen in his eyes, felt in his gusto, heard in his crisp callouts- so long as theres no zoom meet and greet going down at the moment. Many moons have past where I have sat sleeplessly at my desk, scribbling notes and theories trying to crack the secret to the way that the Bradman operates at a fundamental level. Yet the only conclusions I can report on is how his positive presence is reflected on his peers.