Week 3 in the EU, and wow, it's obviously been a while since I actually played if I don't even know who Thresh is, and there's new Sona art. It makes her look way too much like Corki in the portrait window. I am always so critical of the art in this game. Also, if I didn't mention it before, the last week and this week, the 'analysis desk' actually has really helpful breakdowns of the games afterwards with guest analysts xPeke, Hosan, and others. It's probably too high-level of breakdowns for the regular LoL player, though. I mean, "stop feeding" is most of the analysis the people in my ELO need.
Copenhagen Wolves vs Fnatic
---CW bans: Kassadin, Kayle, Thresh---Fnatic bans: Lux, Nidalee, Vi---
CW: Singed, Xin Zhao, Elise, Caitlyn, Sona
Fnatic: Shen, Volibear, Katarina, Miss Fortune, Leona
Rough times, CW.
Gambit Gaming vs Giants
---GG bans: Elise, Kennen, Mundo---Giants bans: Kog'Maw, Xin Zhao, Shen---
GG: Renekton, Nassus, Kayle, Ezreal, Thresh
Giants: Akali, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Sona
Finally, some fresh picks! And overall, a nice game. Giants won a few team fights, but GG won the last one.
Against All Authority vs Copenhagen Wolves
---aAa bans: Lux, Kayle, Vi---CW bans: Nidalee, Elise, Shen---
aAa: Renekton, Xin Zhao, Orianna, Ezreal, Sona
CW: Singed, Volibear, Syndra, Varus, Thresh
Nice first blood, CW, but your losing streak continues.
Evil Genuises vs Fnatic
---EG bans: Vi, Kassadin, Caitlyn---Fnatic bans: Lux, Xin Zhao, Thresh---
EG: Renekton, Volibear, Anivia, Ezreal, Sona
Fnatic: Blitzcrank, Kayle, Katarina, Miss Fortune, Leona
You read that right, Blitzcrank top, they're basically running two supports. And you'd think that would make it a super interesting game, but somehow, no. It is super boring, Fnatic wins. Let me just explain the gameplan in words so you don't waste 45 minutes trying to watch it: at this level of play, as I've discussed before, it comes down to possibly one single ten second team fight at the 45 minute mark. Before that, it's just jockeying for position while not getting caught out for unnecessary deaths. By 45 minutes, the only two people doing appreciable damage are the AP and AD carries. Top lane is usually just a damage soak, or maybe a diver at that point, and by bringing Kayle as their jungler, Fnatic has a lot of their protection covered for that ten second free for all. Blitz can pull enemies off carries or drag a enemy carry into the group, and has decent tankiness with the manashield and health items.
Dragonborns vs Giants
---DB bans: Kennen, Twisted Fate, Elise---Giants bans: Draven, Thresh, Xin Zhao---
DB: Kha'Zix, Kayle, Vi, Ezreal, Taric
Giants: Akali, Volibear, Ryze, Caitlyn, Sona
This game was fun. It was also 18-18 in kills at 45 minutes. It really felt like DB just let it slip, though, so the ending was a bit weak. The rest was plenty good, though.
Fnatic vs Against All Authority
---Fnatic bans: Lux, Shen, Xin Zhao---aAa bans: Thresh, Kayle, Vi---
Fnatic: Malphite, Volibear, Diana, Miss Fortune, Leona
aAa: Renekton, Jarvan, Cho'Gath, Kennen, Sona
There were some fun fights, and I want to say this was an exciting match, but... not really. Fnatic just tips the scales in their favor at about 30 minutes.
Dragonborns vs Copenhagen Wolves
---DB bans: Elise, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix---Giants: Vi, Kayle, Thresh---
DB: Xin Zhao, Amumu, Jarvan, Varus, Lulu
CW: Shen, Cho'Gath, Lux, Caitlyn, Zyra
What, DB, didn't you watch the game CW had against aAa just the day before where they got first blood at that exact spot? Finally, there's a very cool fight where everyone blew everything, which was magnificent to behold because of the number of glittery circles on the ground and one or the other colored team running away from the circle. Also, watch for the initiate at the end on the Cho'Gath while he's laughing under his own tower, and DB's ADC chasing onto the enemy fountain to get himself lasered to death.
Giants vs Against All Authority
---Giants bans: Lux, Thresh, Elise---aAa bans: Kennen, Ryze, Kayle---
Giants: Xin Zhao, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Zyra
aAa: Renekton, Vi, Nidalee, Ezreal, Sona
Zzzz. Didn't even get to see very many nice Nidalee spears, though aAa won ...eventually.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
LCS EU W2
Week 2 in the EU, and we finally get to see Dragonborns! Oh, and I had another idea for troll-games I want to see these pro players play: a 'scattegories' game where you roll the dice and you must play a champ whose name begins with that letter. For example, you roll 'K'. Your team has to play Karma, Kassadin/Karthus, Katarina, Kayle, Kog'Maw, etc. Or you have to play champs from the same area of Runeterra.
Evil Geniuses vs Dragonborns
---EG bans: Vi, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---DB bans: Anivia, Twisted Fate, Lux---
EG: Renekton, Cho'Gath, Kayle, Varus, Sona
DB: Akali, Shen, Jayce, Draven, Leona
Who to root for? Wickd vs Shushei? Wicked makes it easy, since Renekton was the original "WICKD IS TOO BOSS" champion. And, playing Akali against Wickd's Renekton makes it easy, ultimately. By the end, Wickd was taking no damage from champs or towers, or minions, apparently. Also, Froggen plays a pretty monstrous Kayle.
Copenhagen Wolves vs SK Gaming
---CW bans: Vi, Twitch, Olaf---SK bans: Zyra, Shen, Xin Zhao---
CW: Elise, Cho'Gath, Kayle, Caitlyn, Lulu
SK: Renekton, Jarvan, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Sona
CW was actually in a strong position for a long time, but SK started to turn it around at a long tower defend where CW maybe hung around one of SK's towers for just a while too long, and SK finally organized a fast engage. Sona ult, Jarvan ult, and MF ult would come out all at once to slice CW down repeatedly.
Against All Authority vs Gambit Gaming
---aAa bans: Ryze, Xin Zhao, Kayle---GG bans: Elise, Nidalee, Twisted Fate---
aAa: Kennen, Shen, Lux, Graves, Sona
GG: Kha'Zix, Vi, Karthus, Caitlyn, Lulu
Low kills in the first thirty minutes, as has become usual. I suppose, as in football, as teams become familiar with one another and extremely high skill, you'll see a spike in defense and a drop-off in scoring. Whatever the cause, aAa just seems to be a touch more hesitant in the early engages, and the always-aggressive GG begins to quickly snowball into an unstoppable force.
Evil Geniuses vs SK Gaming
---EG bans: Vi, Kassadin, Olaf---SK bans: Kayle, Anivia, Shen---
EG: Renekton, Maokai, Lux, Varus, Sona
SK: Irelia, Xin Zhao, Nidalee, Twitch, Taric
Despite Lux Froggen vs Nidalee Ocelot mid and more Renekton Wickd top vs Irelia, this game was something of a snoozer, being 6-6 in kills right up until the end of the game, and both teams playing relatively passively.
Evil Geniuses vs Giants
---EG bans: Vi
EG: Renekton, Kayle, Twited Fate, Varus, Sona
Giants: Elise, Dr. Mundo, Ryze, Kog'Maw, Zyra
Wow, even slower game. 2-0 up until 25:00, and ended at 13-0 at 35:00 in favor of EG.
SK Gaming vs Dragonborns
---SK bans: Kayle, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---DB bans: Anivia, Vi, Renekton---
SK: Shen, Hecarim, Orianna, Caitlyn, Zyra
DB: Darius, Jarvan, Lux, Draven, Taric
Even the commentators are bored, now. If you're going to watch this game, may as well do something else while you're at it. The end was alright. Maybe because DB won, since I'm a fan of Shushei.
Gambit Gaming vs Copenhagen Wolves
---GG bans: Elise, Nidalee, Caitlyn---CW bans: Ryze, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---
GG: Vlad, Volibear, Kassadin, Kog'Maw, Sona
CW: Shen, Vi, Diana, Graves, Zyra
Apparently theTess got mugged in Cologne! He's too injured to play in this game, and CW substitutes ForellenLord, who I think we've seen in the qualifying rounds. I suppose his team didn't make it? At any rate, CW seems to be pulling the upset for a long time, but just didn't capitalize with enough force, and GG gets back into it.
Giants vs Copenhagen Wolves
---Giants bans: Vi, Diana, Xin Zhao---CW bans: Kennen, Wukong, Ryze---
Giants: Elise, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Ashe, Sona
CW: Kha'Zix, Kayle, Orianna, Caitlyn, Lulu
More regular and even game, with some deaths! Unfortunately for CW, they're still winless. Also, I love Jimbz on Ashe. Giants, unlike most of the teams, are usually carried by Jimbz, and not by their mid-AP.
Standings:
EG 5-1
GG 3-2
Fnatic 2-1
SK 3-3
Giants 2-2
DB 1-1
aAa 0-1
CW 0-5
Evil Geniuses vs Dragonborns
---EG bans: Vi, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---DB bans: Anivia, Twisted Fate, Lux---
EG: Renekton, Cho'Gath, Kayle, Varus, Sona
DB: Akali, Shen, Jayce, Draven, Leona
Who to root for? Wickd vs Shushei? Wicked makes it easy, since Renekton was the original "WICKD IS TOO BOSS" champion. And, playing Akali against Wickd's Renekton makes it easy, ultimately. By the end, Wickd was taking no damage from champs or towers, or minions, apparently. Also, Froggen plays a pretty monstrous Kayle.
Copenhagen Wolves vs SK Gaming
---CW bans: Vi, Twitch, Olaf---SK bans: Zyra, Shen, Xin Zhao---
CW: Elise, Cho'Gath, Kayle, Caitlyn, Lulu
SK: Renekton, Jarvan, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Sona
CW was actually in a strong position for a long time, but SK started to turn it around at a long tower defend where CW maybe hung around one of SK's towers for just a while too long, and SK finally organized a fast engage. Sona ult, Jarvan ult, and MF ult would come out all at once to slice CW down repeatedly.
Against All Authority vs Gambit Gaming
---aAa bans: Ryze, Xin Zhao, Kayle---GG bans: Elise, Nidalee, Twisted Fate---
aAa: Kennen, Shen, Lux, Graves, Sona
GG: Kha'Zix, Vi, Karthus, Caitlyn, Lulu
Low kills in the first thirty minutes, as has become usual. I suppose, as in football, as teams become familiar with one another and extremely high skill, you'll see a spike in defense and a drop-off in scoring. Whatever the cause, aAa just seems to be a touch more hesitant in the early engages, and the always-aggressive GG begins to quickly snowball into an unstoppable force.
Evil Geniuses vs SK Gaming
---EG bans: Vi, Kassadin, Olaf---SK bans: Kayle, Anivia, Shen---
EG: Renekton, Maokai, Lux, Varus, Sona
SK: Irelia, Xin Zhao, Nidalee, Twitch, Taric
Despite Lux Froggen vs Nidalee Ocelot mid and more Renekton Wickd top vs Irelia, this game was something of a snoozer, being 6-6 in kills right up until the end of the game, and both teams playing relatively passively.
Evil Geniuses vs Giants
---EG bans: Vi
EG: Renekton, Kayle, Twited Fate, Varus, Sona
Giants: Elise, Dr. Mundo, Ryze, Kog'Maw, Zyra
Wow, even slower game. 2-0 up until 25:00, and ended at 13-0 at 35:00 in favor of EG.
SK Gaming vs Dragonborns
---SK bans: Kayle, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---DB bans: Anivia, Vi, Renekton---
SK: Shen, Hecarim, Orianna, Caitlyn, Zyra
DB: Darius, Jarvan, Lux, Draven, Taric
Even the commentators are bored, now. If you're going to watch this game, may as well do something else while you're at it. The end was alright. Maybe because DB won, since I'm a fan of Shushei.
Gambit Gaming vs Copenhagen Wolves
---GG bans: Elise, Nidalee, Caitlyn---CW bans: Ryze, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---
GG: Vlad, Volibear, Kassadin, Kog'Maw, Sona
CW: Shen, Vi, Diana, Graves, Zyra
Apparently theTess got mugged in Cologne! He's too injured to play in this game, and CW substitutes ForellenLord, who I think we've seen in the qualifying rounds. I suppose his team didn't make it? At any rate, CW seems to be pulling the upset for a long time, but just didn't capitalize with enough force, and GG gets back into it.
Giants vs Copenhagen Wolves
---Giants bans: Vi, Diana, Xin Zhao---CW bans: Kennen, Wukong, Ryze---
Giants: Elise, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Ashe, Sona
CW: Kha'Zix, Kayle, Orianna, Caitlyn, Lulu
More regular and even game, with some deaths! Unfortunately for CW, they're still winless. Also, I love Jimbz on Ashe. Giants, unlike most of the teams, are usually carried by Jimbz, and not by their mid-AP.
Standings:
EG 5-1
GG 3-2
Fnatic 2-1
SK 3-3
Giants 2-2
DB 1-1
aAa 0-1
CW 0-5
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
LCS NA W2
Week 2, some of the players are sick, do you remember? The first week was Valentines, and the week after, it seemed like everyone in the country was super gross ill. At one point there was a pause and OddOne had disappeared from his chair. Ugh, I can't imagine playing while sick. Lucky they get to pause, though. If I had an emergency sick during LoL, I'd just be AFK and my team would be so pissed.
Dignitas vs Team MRN
---d bans: Jarvan, Taric, Nidalee---MRN bans: Shen, Gragas, Xin Zhao---
d: Singed, Lee Sin, Kyale, Draven, Alistar
MRN: Renekton, Vi, Anivia, Kog'Maw, Lulu
Not much to see here, dignitas was eating their Wheaties this week. They super roll face.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command
---TSM bans: Kayle, Elise, Shen---VC bans: Leblanc, Kha'Zix, Malphite---
TSM: Renekton, Xin Zhao, Orianna, Miss Fortune, Leona
VC: Rumble, Jarvan, Gragas, Graves, Taric
Vulcun seems to know what TSM are about to do with the lane switch, but they just don't cope well.
Team Complexity vs Curse
---coL bans: Nidalee, Xin Zhao, Jarvan---Crs bans: Rumble, Shen, Kayle---
coL: Renekton, Vi, Lux, Kog'Maw, Soraka
Crs: Elise, Hecarim, Ryze, Miss Fortune, Taric
Strange bans and strange picks! Unfortunately, despite some fun with Soraka's Wish, Crs eventually becomes too much for coL.
Team Dignitas vs Team SoloMid
---d bans: Jarvan, Miss Fortune, Taric---TSM bans: Kayle, Gragas, Alistar---
d: Singed, Xin Zhao, Diana, Draven, Zyra
TSM: Renekton, Maokai, Orianna, Ezreal, Leona
Banning Kayle, Gragas, and Alistar? It's scarra, TSM, not Shushei. Also, why didn't you take Leblanc! She was not banned for once! TSM paid for it, too, so there. Dignitas played a very tight team game by taking advantage of what they knew about TSM and their comfort patterns.
Curse vs Vulcun Command
---Crs bans: Shen, Rumble, Elise---VC bans: Akali, Xin Zhao, Kayle---
Crs: Katarina, Jarvan, Ryze, Miss Fortune, Taric
VC: Nidalee, Hecarim, Lulu, Vayne, Sona
Curse must've laughed when VC picked Lulu mid. This is no pub game, friends. Curse won in 30 minutes and the score at that point was 7-4. Zzzz.
Team Dignitas vs GoodGame University
---d bans: Twisted Fate, Twitch, Nidalee---GGU bans: Kayle, Xin Zhao, Draven---
d: Singed, Vi, Diana, Ezreal, Alistar
GGU: Rumble, Elise, Lux, Cait, Nunu
Zzzz again, dignitas roll.
Team SoloMid vs Team MRN
---TSM bans: Kayle, Renekton, Jarvan---MRN bans: Xin Zhao, Vi, Leblanc---
TSM: Malphite, Maokai, Orianna, Tristana, Taric
MRN: Olaf, Shen, Anivia, Ezreal, Lulu
MRN took all the favorite champs from last week, and still got rolled under. In an interview after the game, TSM was talking about how they carefully make plans for every match, map out their strategy minute by minute. The commentator asked what the strategy was for this particular game against MRN, and he basically said, "oh, we figured we wouldn't need a strategy to beat them." Ouch.
GoodGame University vs Vulcun Command
---GGU bans: Jayce, Shen, Xin Zhao---VC: Kayle, Twitch, Katarina---
GGU: Kha'Zix, Trundle, Nidalee, Ezreal, Lulu
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Karthus, Miss Fortune, Taric
This is it, basement teams facing off against one another, one gets their first win, the other continues to be the basement. GGU brings a poke comp and wins it, but the fights are good, and the game is closer than most others this week.
Standings:
Crs 5-0 Dig 4-2
TSM 4-2 CLG 2-1
GGU 1-3 coL 0-1
MRN 0-2 VC 0-5
Dignitas vs Team MRN
---d bans: Jarvan, Taric, Nidalee---MRN bans: Shen, Gragas, Xin Zhao---
d: Singed, Lee Sin, Kyale, Draven, Alistar
MRN: Renekton, Vi, Anivia, Kog'Maw, Lulu
Not much to see here, dignitas was eating their Wheaties this week. They super roll face.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command
---TSM bans: Kayle, Elise, Shen---VC bans: Leblanc, Kha'Zix, Malphite---
TSM: Renekton, Xin Zhao, Orianna, Miss Fortune, Leona
VC: Rumble, Jarvan, Gragas, Graves, Taric
Vulcun seems to know what TSM are about to do with the lane switch, but they just don't cope well.
Team Complexity vs Curse
---coL bans: Nidalee, Xin Zhao, Jarvan---Crs bans: Rumble, Shen, Kayle---
coL: Renekton, Vi, Lux, Kog'Maw, Soraka
Crs: Elise, Hecarim, Ryze, Miss Fortune, Taric
Strange bans and strange picks! Unfortunately, despite some fun with Soraka's Wish, Crs eventually becomes too much for coL.
Team Dignitas vs Team SoloMid
---d bans: Jarvan, Miss Fortune, Taric---TSM bans: Kayle, Gragas, Alistar---
d: Singed, Xin Zhao, Diana, Draven, Zyra
TSM: Renekton, Maokai, Orianna, Ezreal, Leona
Banning Kayle, Gragas, and Alistar? It's scarra, TSM, not Shushei. Also, why didn't you take Leblanc! She was not banned for once! TSM paid for it, too, so there. Dignitas played a very tight team game by taking advantage of what they knew about TSM and their comfort patterns.
Curse vs Vulcun Command
---Crs bans: Shen, Rumble, Elise---VC bans: Akali, Xin Zhao, Kayle---
Crs: Katarina, Jarvan, Ryze, Miss Fortune, Taric
VC: Nidalee, Hecarim, Lulu, Vayne, Sona
Curse must've laughed when VC picked Lulu mid. This is no pub game, friends. Curse won in 30 minutes and the score at that point was 7-4. Zzzz.
Team Dignitas vs GoodGame University
---d bans: Twisted Fate, Twitch, Nidalee---GGU bans: Kayle, Xin Zhao, Draven---
d: Singed, Vi, Diana, Ezreal, Alistar
GGU: Rumble, Elise, Lux, Cait, Nunu
Zzzz again, dignitas roll.
Team SoloMid vs Team MRN
---TSM bans: Kayle, Renekton, Jarvan---MRN bans: Xin Zhao, Vi, Leblanc---
TSM: Malphite, Maokai, Orianna, Tristana, Taric
MRN: Olaf, Shen, Anivia, Ezreal, Lulu
MRN took all the favorite champs from last week, and still got rolled under. In an interview after the game, TSM was talking about how they carefully make plans for every match, map out their strategy minute by minute. The commentator asked what the strategy was for this particular game against MRN, and he basically said, "oh, we figured we wouldn't need a strategy to beat them." Ouch.
GoodGame University vs Vulcun Command
---GGU bans: Jayce, Shen, Xin Zhao---VC: Kayle, Twitch, Katarina---
GGU: Kha'Zix, Trundle, Nidalee, Ezreal, Lulu
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Karthus, Miss Fortune, Taric
This is it, basement teams facing off against one another, one gets their first win, the other continues to be the basement. GGU brings a poke comp and wins it, but the fights are good, and the game is closer than most others this week.
Standings:
Crs 5-0 Dig 4-2
TSM 4-2 CLG 2-1
GGU 1-3 coL 0-1
MRN 0-2 VC 0-5
Friday, April 19, 2013
LCS EU W1
Here is the link, resolution isn't the highest, but at 42:00, there is a cute recap of the epic SK v fnatic game. Day 2 games are individually loaded, and in higher resolution, later in the playlist.
Let me ask a few questions while we wait.
SK vs Fnatic (1:00:00)
---SK bans: Wukong, Malphite, Kassadin---Fnatic bans: Xin Zhao, Shen, Vi---
SK: Olaf, Cho'Gath, Anivia, Twitch, Nunu
Fnatic: Evelynn, Kayle, Caitlyn, Urgot, Taric
Interesting picks. Jungle Kayle, no Kha'Zix, two AD carry's? But as it turns out, Caitlyn is actually a good counter to Anivia! (No doubt ruining soloQ for a long time). When Anivia walled, Cait 90-caliber netted back through it or ult'd past it. When Anivia would want to push and then roam, Cait would push even harder back and pin her to the turret. It was remarkably successful. For a while, it also looked like Fnatic was also playing the players instead of the champs - remember once upon a time, when the only way to beat TSM was to anger Reginald, because there was no other way to win? It felt like Fnatic was playing that with Ocelot. Though they tell me that Ocelot's become a lot less ragey now that he's kind of the official leader of the team. Anyway, the game is low-kill, and extremely even until the very end, where one ace at 40+ minutes is always game. It certainly looks for a long time as if SK would win, with Fnatic being all squishies, and no one to stop Olaf and Cho'Gath from running through and eating lunches, but Fnatic pulls it out, as one almost expects them to.
Gambit Gaming vs Evil Geniuses (2:46:00)
---GG bans: Elise, Zed, Jayce---EG bans: Xin Zhao, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix---
GG: Olaf, Udyr, Ryze, Ezreal, Nunu
EG: Shen, Maokai, Anivia, Caitlyn, Lulu
You don't recognize the team names, because I guess Riot made them change them, but you know all the players - Gambit Gaming is Moscow 5 (probably Riot doesn't want city names causing bias - wait, Copenhagen Wolves?), and Evil Geniuses is CLG.eu (which would conflict with the NA CLG, sort of). So that's Froggen on Anivia, Wickd on Shen, Snoopeh on Maokai, AlexIch on Ryze, DiamondProx on Udyr, etc etc. Unique champs and my favorite people? Heck yeah, this one's worth watching - DiamondProx gets dragon at level 3! I wonder if I can find this game recorded from Wickd's point of view (probably not), but that would be well worth it, because his Shen went 8/0/10! His ego was probably out of control at the end.
Fnatic vs Giants Gaming (4:14:00)
---Fnatic bans: Ryze, Nunu, Xin Zhao---Giants bans: Blitzcrank, Kassadin, Shen---
FN: Malphite, Olaf, Nidalee, Caitlyn, Lulu
Giants: Wukong, Elise, Zyra, Kennen, Sona
Oddly, I am familiar with more players in the EU, so I have more rooting interest. As for champs, I like Nidalee mid over Zyra, but AD Kennen is always cool. Ultimately, though, rooting against xPeke is kind of an exercise in frustration, even though Giants pulled out some interesting early game tactics to get ahead, Fnatic knows how to come back.
SK Gaming vs Copenhagen Wolves (5:38:00)
---SK bans: Zyra, Kayle,Olaf---Wolves bans: Xin Zhao, Elise, Kha'Zix---
SK: Shen, Vi, Orianna, Twitch, Sona
Wolves: Nidalee, Cho'Gath, Lux, Ezreal, Lulu
Now I realize why I know all the EU players - they're like the Yankees and the Red Sox. Even if you don't follow baseball, you know the characters. The others in the EU are the Indians and the Pirates - still professional players, but the average joe doesn't even know your team exists. Maybe even the Yankees don't even know you exist. Anyway, that's fully on display here, when the score reaches 8-0
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming
---Fnatic bans: Xin Zhao, Ryze, Kha'Zix---GG bans: Elise, Nidalee, Shen---
Fnatic: Malphite, Olaf, Wukong, Kog'Maw, Lulu
Gambit: Renekton, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Sona
Hooray for fun champion picks! And yet it was a pretty standard face roll for GG. Team fights were good, but definitely one-sided.
Copenhagen Wolves vs Evil Geniuses
---Wolves bans: Anivia, Lux, Olaf---EG bans: Nidalee, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---
CW: Shen, Lee Sin, Zyra, Ezreal, Sona
EG: Akali, Kayle, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Lulu
Wickd Akali, woo.
Giants Gaming vs Gambit Gaming
---Giants bans: Xin Zhao, Kog'Maw, Shen---GG bans: Kassadin, Elise, Kha'Zix---
Giants: Olaf, Dr. Mundo, Ryze, Kennen, Zyra
GG: Renekton, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Sona
Commentators did a lot of discussing on various counters to plays that we have been seeing a lot of in the last few weeks. Olaf counter: Anivia wall, it's a cc that Olaf can't Ragnarok through. 2v1 top+early jungle gank: ward tri-bush and mid lane bring teleport, if the jungler is nearby, a 3v1 tower dive can turn around quickly to a 3v3 under your tower. Anyway, back to this game. Giants get out to a surprise early lead, and then do a great job of hanging on to it. Kennen becomes an awesome little monster with "shurikens of steel" so if you like Kennen or Dr. Mundo, or classic upsets, this is a good game for it. Also, the constant split push and small engage strategy of Giants makes Deman blue in the face trying to keep up with all the action.
SK Gaming vs. Evil Geniuses
---SK bans: Maokai, Lux, Anivia---EG bans: Vi, Twitch, Nidalee---
SK: Olaf, Shen, Kassadin, Ezreal, Sona
EG: Akalie, Xin Zhao, Jayce, Caitlyn, Lulu
Wickd vs Ocelot! Alas, the game is a super slow snowball in favor of SK, mostly due to their Olaf. That Olaf, OP in this patch, clearly. There are some really nice fights, though, if you can dig around for them in the 50 minute match.
Results:
Gambit Gaming 1-1 Fnatic 2-1
Copenhagen Wolves 0-2 Evil Geniuses 2-1
SK Gaming 2-1 Giants Gaming 1-1
Against All Authority 0-0 Dragonborns 0-0
Let me ask a few questions while we wait.
- Why do they still wear two headsets? If they're all in-studio, just attach a microphone to the noise-cancelling headphones? Build a noise-cancelling booth to separate the two teams?
- Can they have weeks where they play less-serious games? Dominion? ARAM? Hunt the Teemo? Ultimate Bravery? Off-role? Like, Ocelot has to play support? A Pro-Am? Where they have to stand behind an amateur player and talk them to victory? Pub play? Where they play against amateurs, but they can only play like... Teemo and Karma?
SK vs Fnatic (1:00:00)
---SK bans: Wukong, Malphite, Kassadin---Fnatic bans: Xin Zhao, Shen, Vi---
SK: Olaf, Cho'Gath, Anivia, Twitch, Nunu
Fnatic: Evelynn, Kayle, Caitlyn, Urgot, Taric
Interesting picks. Jungle Kayle, no Kha'Zix, two AD carry's? But as it turns out, Caitlyn is actually a good counter to Anivia! (No doubt ruining soloQ for a long time). When Anivia walled, Cait 90-caliber netted back through it or ult'd past it. When Anivia would want to push and then roam, Cait would push even harder back and pin her to the turret. It was remarkably successful. For a while, it also looked like Fnatic was also playing the players instead of the champs - remember once upon a time, when the only way to beat TSM was to anger Reginald, because there was no other way to win? It felt like Fnatic was playing that with Ocelot. Though they tell me that Ocelot's become a lot less ragey now that he's kind of the official leader of the team. Anyway, the game is low-kill, and extremely even until the very end, where one ace at 40+ minutes is always game. It certainly looks for a long time as if SK would win, with Fnatic being all squishies, and no one to stop Olaf and Cho'Gath from running through and eating lunches, but Fnatic pulls it out, as one almost expects them to.
Gambit Gaming vs Evil Geniuses (2:46:00)
---GG bans: Elise, Zed, Jayce---EG bans: Xin Zhao, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix---
GG: Olaf, Udyr, Ryze, Ezreal, Nunu
EG: Shen, Maokai, Anivia, Caitlyn, Lulu
You don't recognize the team names, because I guess Riot made them change them, but you know all the players - Gambit Gaming is Moscow 5 (probably Riot doesn't want city names causing bias - wait, Copenhagen Wolves?), and Evil Geniuses is CLG.eu (which would conflict with the NA CLG, sort of). So that's Froggen on Anivia, Wickd on Shen, Snoopeh on Maokai, AlexIch on Ryze, DiamondProx on Udyr, etc etc. Unique champs and my favorite people? Heck yeah, this one's worth watching - DiamondProx gets dragon at level 3! I wonder if I can find this game recorded from Wickd's point of view (probably not), but that would be well worth it, because his Shen went 8/0/10! His ego was probably out of control at the end.
Fnatic vs Giants Gaming (4:14:00)
---Fnatic bans: Ryze, Nunu, Xin Zhao---Giants bans: Blitzcrank, Kassadin, Shen---
FN: Malphite, Olaf, Nidalee, Caitlyn, Lulu
Giants: Wukong, Elise, Zyra, Kennen, Sona
Oddly, I am familiar with more players in the EU, so I have more rooting interest. As for champs, I like Nidalee mid over Zyra, but AD Kennen is always cool. Ultimately, though, rooting against xPeke is kind of an exercise in frustration, even though Giants pulled out some interesting early game tactics to get ahead, Fnatic knows how to come back.
SK Gaming vs Copenhagen Wolves (5:38:00)
---SK bans: Zyra, Kayle,Olaf---Wolves bans: Xin Zhao, Elise, Kha'Zix---
SK: Shen, Vi, Orianna, Twitch, Sona
Wolves: Nidalee, Cho'Gath, Lux, Ezreal, Lulu
Now I realize why I know all the EU players - they're like the Yankees and the Red Sox. Even if you don't follow baseball, you know the characters. The others in the EU are the Indians and the Pirates - still professional players, but the average joe doesn't even know your team exists. Maybe even the Yankees don't even know you exist. Anyway, that's fully on display here, when the score reaches 8-0
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming
---Fnatic bans: Xin Zhao, Ryze, Kha'Zix---GG bans: Elise, Nidalee, Shen---
Fnatic: Malphite, Olaf, Wukong, Kog'Maw, Lulu
Gambit: Renekton, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Sona
Hooray for fun champion picks! And yet it was a pretty standard face roll for GG. Team fights were good, but definitely one-sided.
Copenhagen Wolves vs Evil Geniuses
---Wolves bans: Anivia, Lux, Olaf---EG bans: Nidalee, Xin Zhao, Kha'Zix---
CW: Shen, Lee Sin, Zyra, Ezreal, Sona
EG: Akali, Kayle, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Lulu
Wickd Akali, woo.
Giants Gaming vs Gambit Gaming
---Giants bans: Xin Zhao, Kog'Maw, Shen---GG bans: Kassadin, Elise, Kha'Zix---
Giants: Olaf, Dr. Mundo, Ryze, Kennen, Zyra
GG: Renekton, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Sona
Commentators did a lot of discussing on various counters to plays that we have been seeing a lot of in the last few weeks. Olaf counter: Anivia wall, it's a cc that Olaf can't Ragnarok through. 2v1 top+early jungle gank: ward tri-bush and mid lane bring teleport, if the jungler is nearby, a 3v1 tower dive can turn around quickly to a 3v3 under your tower. Anyway, back to this game. Giants get out to a surprise early lead, and then do a great job of hanging on to it. Kennen becomes an awesome little monster with "shurikens of steel" so if you like Kennen or Dr. Mundo, or classic upsets, this is a good game for it. Also, the constant split push and small engage strategy of Giants makes Deman blue in the face trying to keep up with all the action.
SK Gaming vs. Evil Geniuses
---SK bans: Maokai, Lux, Anivia---EG bans: Vi, Twitch, Nidalee---
SK: Olaf, Shen, Kassadin, Ezreal, Sona
EG: Akalie, Xin Zhao, Jayce, Caitlyn, Lulu
Wickd vs Ocelot! Alas, the game is a super slow snowball in favor of SK, mostly due to their Olaf. That Olaf, OP in this patch, clearly. There are some really nice fights, though, if you can dig around for them in the 50 minute match.
Results:
Gambit Gaming 1-1 Fnatic 2-1
Copenhagen Wolves 0-2 Evil Geniuses 2-1
SK Gaming 2-1 Giants Gaming 1-1
Against All Authority 0-0 Dragonborns 0-0
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
LCS NA W1
Here's a link to the playlist, starting with the first game, CLG vs TSM! I'm excited to see these two teams, finally! I wanted to put under bans "Reginald" and "HotshotGG". Which would be the most OP bans ever. Woo. Several of the team names have changed from qualifiers, notably The Brunch Club has been picked up by sponsor Complexity (who obviously dumped the entire team that didn't qualify!!) and Fear, who is now Vulcun Command.
Team SoloMid vs CounterLogic Gaming
---TSM bans: Nunu, Nidalee, Shen---CLG bans: Olaf, Maokai, LeBlanc---
TSM: Elise, Xin Zhao, Kayle, Ezreal, Lulu
CLG: Malphite, Lee Sin, Syndra, Urgot, Taric
Slow early game - it was still 1-1 at nearly 20 minutes in. At the end, though, you see why they're top players.
Curse vs Team Dignitas
---Crs bans: Shen, Kha'Zix, Olaf---d bans: Akali, Katarina, Miss Fortune---
Crs: Nidalee, Xin Zhao, Kayle, Caitlyn, Lulu
d: Elise, Lee Sin, Gragas, Twitch, Nunu
So Curse banned tanky brutes, and dignitas banned sexy ladies? And then Crs took the remaining sexy ladies (minus Sona), while dignitas took Gragas, Twitch, spider-lady, blind-man, and Nunu? Just saying, you do better playing the sexy ladies, dignitas.
CounterLogic Gaming vs GoodGame University
---CLG bans: Twitch, Elise, Olaf---GGU bans: Nunu, Nidalee, Shen---
CLG: Cho'Gath, Xin Zhao, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Leona
GGU: Katarina, Nocturne, Diana, Graves, Taric
It was close - GGU was even ahead in kills, but CLG was ahead in gold, and, well....
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command
---TSM bans: Elise, Kayle, Nunu---V bans: LeBlanc, Maokai, Olaf---
TSM: Malphite, Jarvan, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Taric
Vul: Shen, Xin Zhao, Ryze, Kog'Maw, Sona
Nope. Reginald's a monster on Kha'Zix.
Curse vs CounterLogic Gaming
---Crs bans: Shen, Nidalee, Taric---CLG bans: Katarina, Kayle, Miss Fortune---
Crs: Olaf, Xin Zhao, Orianna, Kog'Maw, Sona
CLG: Cho'Gath, Lee Sin, Anivia, Caitlyn, Nunu
Apparently Curse was knocked out of the pre-qualifier at PAX East by CLG, and they were looking for a bit of grudge-match vengeance. And boy, did they get it, having picked up Olaf on Voyboy. CLG just didn't have enough CC to deal with the damage and health being put out by Crs.
Team SoloMid vs Dignitas
---TSM bans: Nunu, Elise, Kha'Zix---d bans: LeBlanc, Maokai, Olaf---
TSM: Renekton, Jarvan, Ryze, Miss Fortune, Taric
d: Kayle, Shen, Kassadin, Graves, Alistar
Are we never going to see Reginald on LeBlanc? Banned out every time. It would make it more entertaining. The way TSM dominates games is remarkably yawn. Farm, extensive CC, fight small fights, kill one or two, disengage.
GoodGame University vs Curse
---GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Xin Zhao, Katarina---Crs bans: Nunu, Olaf, Elise---
GGU: Rumble, Trundle, Kayle, Twitch, Lulu
Crs: Nidalee, Jarvan, Orianna, Ezreal, Sona
This game was much closer. The teams went back and forth, and GGU had an edge for a long time, but I guess the lack of direct CC was their undoing. They had both nexus turrets down and just got aced before they could finish the nexus itself.
Vulcan Command vs Dignitas
---V bans: Gragas, Kayle, Kha'Zix---d bans: Jayce, Elise, Nunu---
V: Shen, Olaf, Ryze, Twitch, Lulu
d: Katarina, Xin Zhao, Diana, Ezreal, Alistar
When dignitas picked up Katarina, I was super excited, but no. Scarra played Diana. Guess we'll never see scarra on Katarina ever again? These two teams have no wins yet this first weekend, and I dread the season for Vulcan Command at this rate - hope they don't become like, the Browns. Stay tough, guys. Even though you just got pretty rolled.
Results:
Curse 3-0 CLG 2-1
TSM 2-1 Dignitas 1-2
coL 0-0 MRN 0-0
GGU 0-2 Vulcan 0-2
Team SoloMid vs CounterLogic Gaming
---TSM bans: Nunu, Nidalee, Shen---CLG bans: Olaf, Maokai, LeBlanc---
TSM: Elise, Xin Zhao, Kayle, Ezreal, Lulu
CLG: Malphite, Lee Sin, Syndra, Urgot, Taric
Slow early game - it was still 1-1 at nearly 20 minutes in. At the end, though, you see why they're top players.
Curse vs Team Dignitas
---Crs bans: Shen, Kha'Zix, Olaf---d bans: Akali, Katarina, Miss Fortune---
Crs: Nidalee, Xin Zhao, Kayle, Caitlyn, Lulu
d: Elise, Lee Sin, Gragas, Twitch, Nunu
So Curse banned tanky brutes, and dignitas banned sexy ladies? And then Crs took the remaining sexy ladies (minus Sona), while dignitas took Gragas, Twitch, spider-lady, blind-man, and Nunu? Just saying, you do better playing the sexy ladies, dignitas.
CounterLogic Gaming vs GoodGame University
---CLG bans: Twitch, Elise, Olaf---GGU bans: Nunu, Nidalee, Shen---
CLG: Cho'Gath, Xin Zhao, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Leona
GGU: Katarina, Nocturne, Diana, Graves, Taric
It was close - GGU was even ahead in kills, but CLG was ahead in gold, and, well....
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command
---TSM bans: Elise, Kayle, Nunu---V bans: LeBlanc, Maokai, Olaf---
TSM: Malphite, Jarvan, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Taric
Vul: Shen, Xin Zhao, Ryze, Kog'Maw, Sona
Nope. Reginald's a monster on Kha'Zix.
Curse vs CounterLogic Gaming
---Crs bans: Shen, Nidalee, Taric---CLG bans: Katarina, Kayle, Miss Fortune---
Crs: Olaf, Xin Zhao, Orianna, Kog'Maw, Sona
CLG: Cho'Gath, Lee Sin, Anivia, Caitlyn, Nunu
Apparently Curse was knocked out of the pre-qualifier at PAX East by CLG, and they were looking for a bit of grudge-match vengeance. And boy, did they get it, having picked up Olaf on Voyboy. CLG just didn't have enough CC to deal with the damage and health being put out by Crs.
Team SoloMid vs Dignitas
---TSM bans: Nunu, Elise, Kha'Zix---d bans: LeBlanc, Maokai, Olaf---
TSM: Renekton, Jarvan, Ryze, Miss Fortune, Taric
d: Kayle, Shen, Kassadin, Graves, Alistar
Are we never going to see Reginald on LeBlanc? Banned out every time. It would make it more entertaining. The way TSM dominates games is remarkably yawn. Farm, extensive CC, fight small fights, kill one or two, disengage.
GoodGame University vs Curse
---GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Xin Zhao, Katarina---Crs bans: Nunu, Olaf, Elise---
GGU: Rumble, Trundle, Kayle, Twitch, Lulu
Crs: Nidalee, Jarvan, Orianna, Ezreal, Sona
This game was much closer. The teams went back and forth, and GGU had an edge for a long time, but I guess the lack of direct CC was their undoing. They had both nexus turrets down and just got aced before they could finish the nexus itself.
Vulcan Command vs Dignitas
---V bans: Gragas, Kayle, Kha'Zix---d bans: Jayce, Elise, Nunu---
V: Shen, Olaf, Ryze, Twitch, Lulu
d: Katarina, Xin Zhao, Diana, Ezreal, Alistar
When dignitas picked up Katarina, I was super excited, but no. Scarra played Diana. Guess we'll never see scarra on Katarina ever again? These two teams have no wins yet this first weekend, and I dread the season for Vulcan Command at this rate - hope they don't become like, the Browns. Stay tough, guys. Even though you just got pretty rolled.
Results:
Curse 3-0 CLG 2-1
TSM 2-1 Dignitas 1-2
coL 0-0 MRN 0-0
GGU 0-2 Vulcan 0-2
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Dead Space 3, Day 2
We are really big fans of Visceral Games and the Dead Space franchise, so we don't harbor any anger or resentment for the lack of .... "Dead-Space-ness". Just a vague sense of... boredom. A lack of edge-of-our-seats, pants-wetting terror that was what provided all the entertainment value in the first place. It's just an emptiness, not a disappointment. Like, we watched an episode of River Monsters that was more harrowing.
Anyway, we're cruising through the game at a good clip. I had expected us to be moving faster than last game, because when Xian is alone, he often will just hover in doorways before going through - sometimes refusing to go through at all, saving and quitting the game instead. Did I mention that we had quickly made it to Chapter 5 in our very first day, while in Dead Space 2, it took over a year? This time, we're moving incredibly fast, partly because I'm an active participant; once a room is empty, it's time to move onto the next, so I open the door and trigger the next wave of baddies. Not that he needs time to sit and cry anymore, most locations are well-lit and, according to Xian, he doesn't fear being overwhelmed by baddies if I can save him.
We discuss it idly while riding one of the interminable elevators in the game. Were there this many elevators before? It feels like we've spent a solid percentage of our time riding back and forth in elevators.
"I told you, people have been saying it's not scary," Xian said, pacing back and forth in the tiny elevator.
"And I was telling you, it's not about adding multi-player. Look around us. We're fighting real humans. They've taken away the 'last survivor, backs against the wall' mentality," I disagreed, reloading both weapons in irritation.
"It's still perfectly acceptable gameplay," he said as we exited the elevator, resorting to one of his favorite gameplay aspects, stomping corpses. "It's just maybe a little disappointing that it's not scary."
"I don't know, the human opponent does kind of affect gameplay," I countered, spotting the orange sight-beams of enemy military. "It's an irritating chest-high wall, Gears of War knockoff," the crouch mechanism is dumb, so I strafe out of cover between volleys to pick off enemies. "I'm not a military man, I'm an engineer, dammit!"
"Well, I am," Xian says, taking care of the rest of the gun-wielding enemies.
"Then why do you have a plasma cutter, may I ask?"
"I have no idea. But the plasma cutter used to be the best weapon of all."
"But now with all this customization of guns, looks like that's not true anymore." I spot a necromorph crawling out of a nearby air duct and wait for it to get to its feet before stasis-ing it, alerting Xian to turn around. He puts a thousand bullets into it.
"Overkill much?" I joke, but the 'doubletap' rule is standard for zombie games, so despite criticizing, I stomp every corpse in the room once.
"They all drop a ton of stuff. Look, got all that ammo back." Not that I could see what his drops are, but the baddies did drop ammo for me as well, and the universal ammo clip made it so I was stuffed to the gills with ammo for every gun.
"Hey, why can't I give you this stasis pack?" Xian complains.
"My inventory's full up," I replied, staggering over to him, loaded down with health packs and ammo.
"Heal yourself, already!" He demands, and I remember that he can see my health if he can see my back. Thanks, full immersion. Since I don't feel very threatened by the enemies, nor punished by the death sequences, I haven't been using my health packs. When we die, the screen merely turns red and informs you that 'Your Partner Has Died' or 'You Have Died', with potentially a torso-less Isaac lying on the ground.
Anyway, we're cruising through the game at a good clip. I had expected us to be moving faster than last game, because when Xian is alone, he often will just hover in doorways before going through - sometimes refusing to go through at all, saving and quitting the game instead. Did I mention that we had quickly made it to Chapter 5 in our very first day, while in Dead Space 2, it took over a year? This time, we're moving incredibly fast, partly because I'm an active participant; once a room is empty, it's time to move onto the next, so I open the door and trigger the next wave of baddies. Not that he needs time to sit and cry anymore, most locations are well-lit and, according to Xian, he doesn't fear being overwhelmed by baddies if I can save him.
We discuss it idly while riding one of the interminable elevators in the game. Were there this many elevators before? It feels like we've spent a solid percentage of our time riding back and forth in elevators.
"I told you, people have been saying it's not scary," Xian said, pacing back and forth in the tiny elevator.
"And I was telling you, it's not about adding multi-player. Look around us. We're fighting real humans. They've taken away the 'last survivor, backs against the wall' mentality," I disagreed, reloading both weapons in irritation.
"It's still perfectly acceptable gameplay," he said as we exited the elevator, resorting to one of his favorite gameplay aspects, stomping corpses. "It's just maybe a little disappointing that it's not scary."
"I don't know, the human opponent does kind of affect gameplay," I countered, spotting the orange sight-beams of enemy military. "It's an irritating chest-high wall, Gears of War knockoff," the crouch mechanism is dumb, so I strafe out of cover between volleys to pick off enemies. "I'm not a military man, I'm an engineer, dammit!"
"Well, I am," Xian says, taking care of the rest of the gun-wielding enemies.
"Then why do you have a plasma cutter, may I ask?"
"I have no idea. But the plasma cutter used to be the best weapon of all."
"But now with all this customization of guns, looks like that's not true anymore." I spot a necromorph crawling out of a nearby air duct and wait for it to get to its feet before stasis-ing it, alerting Xian to turn around. He puts a thousand bullets into it.
"Overkill much?" I joke, but the 'doubletap' rule is standard for zombie games, so despite criticizing, I stomp every corpse in the room once.
"They all drop a ton of stuff. Look, got all that ammo back." Not that I could see what his drops are, but the baddies did drop ammo for me as well, and the universal ammo clip made it so I was stuffed to the gills with ammo for every gun.
"Hey, why can't I give you this stasis pack?" Xian complains.
"My inventory's full up," I replied, staggering over to him, loaded down with health packs and ammo.
"Heal yourself, already!" He demands, and I remember that he can see my health if he can see my back. Thanks, full immersion. Since I don't feel very threatened by the enemies, nor punished by the death sequences, I haven't been using my health packs. When we die, the screen merely turns red and informs you that 'Your Partner Has Died' or 'You Have Died', with potentially a torso-less Isaac lying on the ground.
LCS EU Qualifier, Day 2
Here is the link to the TwitchTV vod. Deman called the Amumu-MF combo: "Curse of the Sad Bullet-Time"
Millenium vs Copenhagen Wolves Game 1 (0:44:00)
---M bans: Wukong, Evelynn, Kayle---CW bans: Olaf, Elise, Kha'Zix---
Wolves: Shen, Cho'gath, Morgana, Ezreal, Lulu
M: Jax, Amumu, Fizz, Miss Fortune, Zyra
After each team's performance in Day 1, I was surprised to see Wolves come out with an early edge which they pushed into an overwhelming advantage.
Millenium vs Copenhagen Wolves Game 2 (1:39:00)
---M bans: Shen, Olaf, Cho'Gath---CW bans: Wukong, Evelynn, Elise---
Wolves: Kha'Zix, Lee Sin, Zyra, Caitlyn, Nunu
M: Jax, Kayle, Fizz, Ezreal, Lulu
This game was very even until the end. Wolves just pulled out of a fight or two on top, and at a late game stage, that's death.
Dragonborns vs Against All Authority Game 1 (3:05:00)
---DB bans: Twisted Fate, Elise, Kha'Zix---aAa bans: Xin Zhao, Draven, Olaf---
DB: Evelynn, Amumu, Kayle, Ezreal, Zyra
aAa: Karthus, Shen, Wukong, Ashe, Sona
Don't try any of what you see here at home, kids. Hosan and Spontexx just hang around after the rest of DB is dead, poking at the five-man mass of aAa and taking damage in return. Luckily for them, their gambit somehow works, Shushei respawns and teleports behind aAa, and they nab the ace.
Dragonborns vs Against All Authority Game 2 (3:58:00)
---aAa bans: Xin Zhao, Olaf, Kayle---DB bans: Elise, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix---
aAa: Nidalee, Shen, Evelynn, Ezreal, Sona
DB: Jarvan IV, Lee Sin, Zed, Draven, Taric
Lane switch mania! And, though the action starts early with towers going down early, and although DB gets first blood, aAa just musters a remarkably boring domination win.
Dragonborns vs Against All Authority Game 3 (4:44:00)
---aAa bans: Xin Zhao, Olaf, Kayle---DB bans: Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix, Evelynn---
aAa: Elise, Shen, Lux, Graves, Sona
DB: Jayce, Cho'Gath, Nidalee, Ezreal, Zyra
Whew, 12-1 aAa. What happened, DB.
Giants vs Mousesports Game 1 (6:11:00)
---Giants bans: Elise, Evelynn, Dr. Mundo---mouz bans: Twisted Fate, Kassadin, Ryze---
Giants: Katarina, Lee Sin, Zyra, Kennen, Nunu
mouz: Renekton, Olaf, Kayle, Ezreal, Leona
Rare champs in use, and the Kennen running around with the Nunu made for some interesting double-ults. Coupled with an ugly mess of an early gank on Katarina bot and mouz is eventually run under.
Giants vs Mousesports Game 2 (7:02:00)
---mouz bans: Twisted Fate, Kassadin, Katarina---Giants bans: Dr. Mundo, Evelynn, Elise---
mouz: Renekton, Shen, Ryze, Varus, Taric
Giants: Wukong, Olaf, Zyra, Kennen, Sona
mouz manages to catch the Wukong out level 1, but they didn't bring ignite! The Wukong lives with 18 health left, can you believe it. mouz makes me wonder, they're the only team in either NA or EU that I've seen that will surrender. They surrendered both games. I mean, I know how LoL works, when it's hopeless, it's hopeless, but surrendering both games of a best-of-3 just seems.... odd. That's the best word I can find for it.
MeetYourMakers vs Fnatic Game 1 (7:53:00)
---MYM bans: Blitzcrank, Nidalee, Kha'Zix---Fnatic bans: Twisted Fate, Jayce, Wukong---
MYM: Evelynn, Kayle, Vlad, Miss Fortune, Nunu
Fnatic: Rumble, Olaf, Zyra, Urgot, Taric
Not that I really thought that MYM had a chance here, but Fnatic really put down the hurt early and often.
MeetYourMakers vs Fnatic Game 2 (8:40:00)
---MYM bans: Blitzcrank, Nidalee, Kha'Zix---Fnatic bans: Twisted Fate, Wukong, Jayce---
MYM: Evelynn, Xin Zhao, Kayle, Caitlyn, Nunu
Fnatic: Shen, Olaf, Zyra, Urgot, Taric
Similar bans and line-ups, but early game changed. Each team seemed to be using the other's aggression against them. It was closer for a while, but the result was the same.
Millenium vs Copenhagen Wolves Game 1 (0:44:00)
---M bans: Wukong, Evelynn, Kayle---CW bans: Olaf, Elise, Kha'Zix---
Wolves: Shen, Cho'gath, Morgana, Ezreal, Lulu
M: Jax, Amumu, Fizz, Miss Fortune, Zyra
After each team's performance in Day 1, I was surprised to see Wolves come out with an early edge which they pushed into an overwhelming advantage.
Millenium vs Copenhagen Wolves Game 2 (1:39:00)
---M bans: Shen, Olaf, Cho'Gath---CW bans: Wukong, Evelynn, Elise---
Wolves: Kha'Zix, Lee Sin, Zyra, Caitlyn, Nunu
M: Jax, Kayle, Fizz, Ezreal, Lulu
This game was very even until the end. Wolves just pulled out of a fight or two on top, and at a late game stage, that's death.
Dragonborns vs Against All Authority Game 1 (3:05:00)
---DB bans: Twisted Fate, Elise, Kha'Zix---aAa bans: Xin Zhao, Draven, Olaf---
DB: Evelynn, Amumu, Kayle, Ezreal, Zyra
aAa: Karthus, Shen, Wukong, Ashe, Sona
Don't try any of what you see here at home, kids. Hosan and Spontexx just hang around after the rest of DB is dead, poking at the five-man mass of aAa and taking damage in return. Luckily for them, their gambit somehow works, Shushei respawns and teleports behind aAa, and they nab the ace.
Dragonborns vs Against All Authority Game 2 (3:58:00)
---aAa bans: Xin Zhao, Olaf, Kayle---DB bans: Elise, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix---
aAa: Nidalee, Shen, Evelynn, Ezreal, Sona
DB: Jarvan IV, Lee Sin, Zed, Draven, Taric
Lane switch mania! And, though the action starts early with towers going down early, and although DB gets first blood, aAa just musters a remarkably boring domination win.
Dragonborns vs Against All Authority Game 3 (4:44:00)
---aAa bans: Xin Zhao, Olaf, Kayle---DB bans: Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix, Evelynn---
aAa: Elise, Shen, Lux, Graves, Sona
DB: Jayce, Cho'Gath, Nidalee, Ezreal, Zyra
Whew, 12-1 aAa. What happened, DB.
Giants vs Mousesports Game 1 (6:11:00)
---Giants bans: Elise, Evelynn, Dr. Mundo---mouz bans: Twisted Fate, Kassadin, Ryze---
Giants: Katarina, Lee Sin, Zyra, Kennen, Nunu
mouz: Renekton, Olaf, Kayle, Ezreal, Leona
Rare champs in use, and the Kennen running around with the Nunu made for some interesting double-ults. Coupled with an ugly mess of an early gank on Katarina bot and mouz is eventually run under.
Giants vs Mousesports Game 2 (7:02:00)
---mouz bans: Twisted Fate, Kassadin, Katarina---Giants bans: Dr. Mundo, Evelynn, Elise---
mouz: Renekton, Shen, Ryze, Varus, Taric
Giants: Wukong, Olaf, Zyra, Kennen, Sona
mouz manages to catch the Wukong out level 1, but they didn't bring ignite! The Wukong lives with 18 health left, can you believe it. mouz makes me wonder, they're the only team in either NA or EU that I've seen that will surrender. They surrendered both games. I mean, I know how LoL works, when it's hopeless, it's hopeless, but surrendering both games of a best-of-3 just seems.... odd. That's the best word I can find for it.
MeetYourMakers vs Fnatic Game 1 (7:53:00)
---MYM bans: Blitzcrank, Nidalee, Kha'Zix---Fnatic bans: Twisted Fate, Jayce, Wukong---
MYM: Evelynn, Kayle, Vlad, Miss Fortune, Nunu
Fnatic: Rumble, Olaf, Zyra, Urgot, Taric
Not that I really thought that MYM had a chance here, but Fnatic really put down the hurt early and often.
MeetYourMakers vs Fnatic Game 2 (8:40:00)
---MYM bans: Blitzcrank, Nidalee, Kha'Zix---Fnatic bans: Twisted Fate, Wukong, Jayce---
MYM: Evelynn, Xin Zhao, Kayle, Caitlyn, Nunu
Fnatic: Shen, Olaf, Zyra, Urgot, Taric
Similar bans and line-ups, but early game changed. Each team seemed to be using the other's aggression against them. It was closer for a while, but the result was the same.
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