28 replies to this topic

[Amidatelion]

Give me your tired, your weak,

Your aimless pilots yearning for rarer air,

The wretched refuse of your teeming pubs.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.

They shall be my foremost scrubs, these pilots who give of themselves to me. 

Like clay I shall mould them, and in the furnace of TPG forge them. 

They will be of iron will and steely morale. 

In worthless armour shall I clad them and with the burstiest guns will they be armed. 

They will be untouched by loss or stomp, no pride will blight them. 

They will have tactics, strategies and cheese so that they may face their foes on even ground. 

And there shall be a voice in the Teamspeak,

"These are my beloved scrubs, in whom I am well pleased."

 

- Amidatelion, The Lord of the Scrubs

some night when he was drunk

2015, probably

 

 

Let me be clear.

 

This will not be fun.

 

You will lose. A lot.

 

That is, if you choose to join The B-Team in Hawken's TPG competitive league. If it so happens that you have the intestinal fortitude to survive, to persevere, I promise you: you will get better. The B-Team was founded on the principle that if you throw yourself at the best of the best, over and over, without fail and without flinching, you will improve. It started as a b-league team of The Art of Warfare's Hawken division and before the end of the first season we participated in, every member had shown significant improvement. Ask anyone we played. Now that that division is defunct and I'm not constrained by TAW's recruitment policies, I am opening up membership to the public.

 

Membership includes:

• password-protected TS channels in the Officially Unofficial Hawken TeamSpeak
• priority access and admin controls to the private server The-Scrapyard
• training with anyone I can convince to give it, including top-10 players like Merl. I can convince a lot of people
• colour coordinated camo and unified icons
• entry to the upper super-1337-MLG tiers of Hawken - as a wise man once said, "If you ain't TPG, you ain't fuzzy bunny."

 

There is only one hard requirement:

 

• You must want to improve. Not that you have to improve, just that you have to put in the effort. Fair warning: my idea of effort and yours might not match up. But we can be adults and discuss that.

 

Other than that, I'd say you should be above 1900MMR. I'll still absolutely consider you if you're lower, but your baseline skills may need some work before we throw you to the sharks.

 

You should also have a broad selection of mechs and be comfortable playing them. TPG in general is not a great place for specialists, but again, I can be convinced. In particular, if you're a good sniper, I am interested in your services, that being a role that The B-Team sorely felt lacking last season.

 

Obviously, you should also be a good team player. That means offering and accepting constructive criticism in practices and following strategy and orders, given by myself or whoever's captain-designate, during scrims and matches.

 

You also kinda need a working mic. Part of that "strategy" above involves making clear calls. I guess that's a hard requirement too. Whups.

 

And just a heads-up: you're going to need a certain... indomitability to pull this off. Ask anyone who's faced Omni - morale is your worst enemy when you are getting beaten on all counts. And everyone may as well be an Omni to us.

 

But if you're interested in an unending spree of losses, vicious asskickings and brutal statistical honesty, feel free to contact me here, via PM or at hawkenbteam@gmail.com. If I don't know you, we'll throw down, get to know each other. And maybe I'll tell you why I was grinning after almost every match last year.

 

yolamus, gloriose moriamur

nos amplio

 

Edited by Amidatelion, 02 November 2015 - 10:58 AM.

[Erzunterweltler]

This is very tempting, to say the least. However, playing against better players is always a good idea, you can really learn a lot!

[Roarschak]

So wait, are you trying to recruit people or scare them away...? Of course, I suppose you're scaring away the ones you want to scare away, and are luring the ones you want to pounce on, err, train.

~Roarschak

[SOD_CyberTormentor]

I would like to participate, but probably have a complicated factor is the ping ... then I think it is more interesting to leave room for who really is to make the maximum with a good connection and a real chance to fight

[Call_Me_Ishmael]

Maybe, Amid. I am very likely to have a project with a significant overseas component coming my way, making my evening reliability unpredictable.

If I do, scout, assault, raider, vanguard.

[Molasses_Jack]

The "Scrubs" start at 1900MMR?  Crimeny.

<sigh> Perhaps I'd best forget about trying to get better at this game and just take up checkers.  I doubt I'll ever manage to even approach "Scrubs" level gameplay...

 

(It sucks, getting old.)

Edited by Molasses_Jack, 18 May 2015 - 08:29 AM.

[Zuurkern]

I'm very tempted to try this. I've been plateauing for a while now and want to up my game. The only thing holding me back (and part of the reason why I'm not getting better) is the lack of time I can put into this game because of work reasons. So I'm wondering what the requirements are in terms of time for talks, training, comps etc, as well as timezone restrictions? Can you maybe clarify this some more, Amid?

 

I co-hosted the Ultraviolent Wednesday (EU Event) for about 17 editions so I have some experience in dueling and playing with some of the best players in Hawken. Albeit in a more relaxed setting than comp play. Either way, I stood my ground against people way more skilled than me, most notably a duel against Kopra in a G2 Raider with me in a Scout, wittling him down to 90 armor before getting rekt in a fatal slip-up. I know he was probably holding back a lot but I NEED THIS OK?!

 

The highest I ever got (hehe) was 1927MMR. I've lately been hovering between 1830 and 1880. I'm now at 1868. http://hawken.heroku...m/user/Zuurkern

 

I've been buyin' 'n tryin' a lot of new mechs too. That might be part of the reason why I dropped, together with not playing enough.

 

Anyway, I'd like to see some more info on time requirements. That aside, I'm ready to eat excrement* and die. Eat my way through to the other side and come out prevailing as a force to be reckoned with.

 

* _{why is fuzzy bunny filtered but excrement is not?}

Edited by Zuurkern, 18 May 2015 - 08:51 AM.

[Zuurkern]

plz remove this post kthx.

 

not my post above this, please.

Edited by Zuurkern, 18 May 2015 - 10:26 AM.

[Amidatelion]

Maybe, Amid. I am very likely to have a project with a significant overseas component coming my way, making my evening reliability unpredictable.

If I do, scout, assault, raider, vanguard.

 

Yeah, I saw that post. Good luck with the project, I'll hold a slot open for you.

 

 

I'm very tempted to try this. I've been plateauing for a while now and want to up my game. The only thing holding me back (and part of the reason why I'm not getting better) is the lack of time I can put into this game because of work reasons. So I'm wondering what the requirements are in terms of time for talks, training, comps etc, as well as timezone restrictions? Can you maybe clarify this some more, Amid?

 

I co-hosted the Ultraviolent Wednesday (EU Event) for about 17 editions so I have some experience in dueling and playing with some of the best players in Hawken. Albeit in a more relaxed setting than comp play. Either way, I stood my ground against people way more skilled than me, most notably a duel against Kopra in a G2 Raider with me in a Scout, wittling him down to 90 armor before getting rekt in a fatal slip-up. I know he was probably holding back a lot but I NEED THIS OK?!

 

The highest I ever got (hehe) was 1927MMR. I've lately been hovering between 1830 and 1880. I'm now at 1868. http://hawken.heroku...m/user/Zuurkern

 

I've been buyin' 'n tryin' a lot of new mechs too. That might be part of the reason why I dropped, together with not playing enough.

 

Anyway, I'd like to see some more info on time requirements. That aside, I'm ready to eat excrement* and die. Eat my way through to the other side and come out prevailing as a force to be reckoned with.

 

* _{why is fuzzy bunny filtered but excrement is not?}

 

 

Well I'd need to build a team first before I can give concrete times, because I'd want to put together a schedule that gets everyone the most practice/scrim time. 

 

But I can address the big issue: I'm located in NA, and so is the vast majority of TPG. I know Elite has a history of staying awake 'till ungodly hours/waking up stupid early to make games to compete though, so maybe you want to ask him how he found that? The other issue is distance: if you're in Belgium, that's going to be one hell of a connection. We do have east coast TPG servers now though, so that's some mitigation, but The-Scrapyard is a Dallas server.

 

Still, if you're willing, we can throw down this evening.

[TURDxSANDWICH]

Hey Amid,

 

I think this sounds pretty perfect, actually.  I've been bouncing back and forth between 2050 and 2150 for about 6 months or so, and just can't crack into that next level tier.  I'd love to work at it with others in the same position and make the push together playing competitively.

 

I'd also hope this could be an opportunity to expand on the number of mechs I can play well.  Right now, there are only 3 or 4 mechs I'm comfortable playing in higher level games.  It'd be great to get some tips and pointers on the ones in which I'm not as competent.

 

My only real concern is time commitment, but maybe thats a conversation we can have via PM.

 

Thanks for opening up this opportunity.

[crockrocket]

The "Scrubs" start at 1900MMR?  Crimeny.

<sigh> Perhaps I'd best forget about trying to get better at this game and just take up checkers.  I doubt I'll ever manage to even approach "Scrubs" level gameplay...

 

(It sucks, getting old.)

This is where the "real" scrubs play: https://community.pl...se-militia-tdm/

 

 

Anyway looking forward to seeing you guys on the battlefield next season

Edited by crockrocket, 18 May 2015 - 12:23 PM.

[Silverfire]

Let me tell you a story.

 

I was looking for a TPG Team to join.

Spoiler

 

Saw The B-Team recruiting

Spoiler

 

Saw that Amid was heading it

Spoiler

 

 

I was convinced

Spoiler

 

But what else could I do, so my answer was this

Spoiler

 

Except the team name was bad and it needed a change

Spoiler

 

Now all I can think of

Spoiler

 

All the while Amid is like

Spoiler

Edited by Silverfire, 18 May 2015 - 04:49 PM.

[Amidatelion]

Let me tell you a story.

 

I was looking for a TPG Team to join.

Spoiler

 

Saw The B-Team recruiting

Spoiler

 

Saw that Amid was heading it

Spoiler

 

 

I was convinced

Spoiler

 

But what else could I do, so my answer was this

Spoiler

 

Except the team name was bad and it needed a change

Spoiler

 

Now all I can think of

Spoiler

 

All the while Amid is like

Spoiler

 

Accurate.

[Call_Me_Ishmael]

Understated, if anything.

[Tom_Neverwinter]

I'm in!!!

[Amidatelion]

I'm in!!!

 

You are!

[TGrave]

Yeah, I saw that post. Good luck with the project, I'll hold a slot open for you.

 

 

 

 

Well I'd need to build a team first before I can give concrete times, because I'd want to put together a schedule that gets everyone the most practice/scrim time. 

 

But I can address the big issue: I'm located in NA, and so is the vast majority of TPG. I know Elite has a history of staying awake 'till ungodly hours/waking up stupid early to make games to compete though, so maybe you want to ask him how he found that? The other issue is distance: if you're in Belgium, that's going to be one hell of a connection. We do have east coast TPG servers now though, so that's some mitigation, but The-Scrapyard is a Dallas server.

 

Still, if you're willing, we can throw down this evening.

 

I think the connection will be quite alright actually. Zuurkern and I are on the same connection and back when the EU servers were nearly empty, we played a lot on US servers, with our ping maxing out at 130 I think, that's still playable.

 

Since then our internet provider has been doing tons of upgrades to their network, increasing bandwidth, lowering latency. Plus we did some network upgrades on our side too. I think we should be able to get between 80-100 ping on USE servers now. :D

 

The only issue I see connection wise is the current state of Hawken servers. People are getting high pings, packet drops and even when pings are low it still tends to lag, especially in the larger servers.


 

[JeffMagnum]

hello friends i am bad at game but would like to join to get good at playing the hawkin

can i pls to join?

[Amidatelion]

hello friends i am bad at game but would like to join to get good at playing the hawkin

can i pls to join?

 

no u r spy for milge scumlords

[Amidatelion]

I think the connection will be quite alright actually. Zuurkern and I are on the same connection and back when the EU servers were nearly empty, we played a lot on US servers, with our ping maxing out at 130 I think, that's still playable.

 

Since then our internet provider has been doing tons of upgrades to their network, increasing bandwidth, lowering latency. Plus we did some network upgrades on our side too. I think we should be able to get between 80-100 ping on USE servers now. :D

 

The only issue I see connection wise is the current state of Hawken servers. People are getting high pings, packet drops and even when pings are low it still tends to lag, especially in the larger servers.
 

 

Well yeah but the server issue is everybody's issue. The only problem then is timezones. Practices are looking like they'd be somewhere between 8-10pm EST thus far.

[JeffMagnum]

no u r spy for milge scumlords

 

 no what is milgie scumlord?? i just want to play and get good at the hawkin like you

Edited by JeffMagnum, 20 May 2015 - 11:43 AM.

[Robscancer]

I'm up, if you still looking for players.

[OdinTheWise]

i think i will go for try outs, PUT ME IN COACH!

 

 

Edited by OdinTheWise, 20 May 2015 - 07:42 PM.

[Amidatelion]

B-Team recruiting is on hold pending resolution of outstanding invites and people's schedules.

Watch this space for more info.

[Liederkranz]

I'd participate (after getting the proper mindset obviously). I hate being rekt but in this case I could make an exception (?).

 

Now seriously, I was about to post something similar to what CyberTormentor said.

Spoiler

I would like to participate, but probably have a complicated factor is the ping ... then I think it is more interesting to leave room for who really is to make the maximum with a good connection and a real chance to fight

 

I'd go in but I have been playing only in BR servers lately and got my playstyle accomodated to a ping of 40. When I tried a NA server with the usual 180 ms of ping I get on those I was like "ehmmm nope, back to BR".

 

Aaaaand besides, there's the timezone thing. The only time I was in a TPG league I had a hard time because of that.

 

It's better to leave room for ppl who can take more advantage of the event by living in NA.

 

If something similar is ever done in SA servers I'd definitely go in, but with the little community we have on those I doubt a similar event would happen.

Edited by Liederkranz, 22 May 2015 - 12:44 PM.

[Amidatelion]

Isnt Argentina only 1 hour ahead? But yeah, i get you on the ping.

[Liederkranz]

Isnt Argentina only 1 hour ahead? But yeah, i get you on the ping.

 

It is 1 hour ahead of EST and 4 hours ahead of PST but the moment I was on TPG the team was composed of ppl from all around the world, that definitely added up to the mess and is not neccessarily the case with the B Team (I guess most participants will be from US).

[Zuurkern]

I vaguely, perhaps mistakenly, recall someone on the old forums wanting to start a B-Team for the EU region? Anyone remember who it was?

 

I think the timezone difference is gonna kill it for me. I'm a night owl like Elite but my good rig is at work (TGrave's apartment) so I won't be able to stay up till 4am there cause his sleeping schedule is different. My laptop only gets like 12fps with ini tweaks so that's a no go.

 

insert pic of my sad face here

[hammockman22]

I'm hanging at about 2000 sign me up if you have the space. I'm plateaued and still killing things the inefficient stubborn shoot harder until it dies way and would love to improve.