Reign of Gaming

My point is that their chemistry isn't being solved by their roster changes. Their talent level isn't drastically improving either. Why do teams usually make roster changes? The player isn't playing well and they need fresh blood. CLG swaps around good players and doesn't fix their issues.

As for Jiji leaving on his own. If you read his post he says this:

"end of news story is even if they didn't decide to give link the starter position i feel like i wouldve wanted to let him have it because of the above reasons and uncomfortableness"

That doesn't appear to be his decision, though he wasn't opposed to it when it happened.

I believe that Moscow 5 certainly is deserving of praise for their year (and I certainly mentioned them). The reason I didn't include a section on the EU scene is because it didn't develop in 2012. Moscow 5 certainly did, but the EU scene won Season 1 and has always been good.

Fnatic's resurgence and CLG.EU certainly give EU a lot of depth going into Season 3 and I look forward to watching them all compete in 2013 :)

I had not seen that particular thread, but it is certainly echoing on the same conversation I hoped to spark here. It's always nice to know you're thoughts are always on the same wavelength with the designers. I've known Riot to utter similar things in the past, but never that detailed before and it is always refreshing to see they are monitoring and viewing the situation in the same way that the public is.

Thanks I'll append it!

Do they bother me personally? No not at all, but I know why Riot punishes for it and have no problems with them doing so. This is a game played by a multitude of people several of which skew young. Cursing is generally where banter starts to turn ugly.

I'm sorry you feel that way but you're certainly entitled to that opinion. I am not personally offended when people curse in most situations and certainly not when they do it in video games, but I think that using them as insults towards other players is generally over the line.

It is but that doesn't mean everyone does it well ;)

I think you make a very strong point about Fnatic. Actually watching in lane you could see that Nrated set up a majority of the kills for Rekkles and really helped him snowball and carry the games late.

You are arguing the same points I am. I have an entire section dedicated to teams that don't build around a specific player, but that is an option players do. Maybe "star" was the wrong word to use but they build around a certain player having success and carrying them to victory.

Does every team do this? Of course not. I never once stated they did. In fact read the conclusion again of the piece.

Finding players who have games that compliment each other and the team as a whole, that have champions that mesh will with their teammates champions and a number of other things are just as important as finding a player who is just simply good.

I 100% agree that styles and attitudes matter, it's one of the points I made in the piece. You argue about how the team fits together matter and you couldn't be more right. I've heard all this somewhere before:

It's not as simple as what does this player do with his skill in game to help the team win, but is the player the right fit into the team to complete the puzzle.

Read the article again and tone down the rage at me saying certain teams are built around specific players because you are arguing the same basic things I am. We might not agree on that point, and I will stand by what I said about it but you are certainly entitled to say that is wrong. However, my larger point and yours are the exact same.

Thanks and you might be right about the names. It's hard to give concrete examples and not have people's personal perceptions and biases come into play.

The message can be lost in a jumble of words and explaining little details but that is definitely the essence of this piece and a couple others I have published lately :)

I appreciate the criticism but don't cherry-pick arguments please. I never claimed that other players weren't good on these teams or you could surround them with anyone and win. In fact I never once called anyone bad or just some random.

My assertion in this piece, and I'm sorry if it doesn't come across clearly enough is that teams have over-arching goals that determine success, one of which centers around getting a "star" fed. Chaox and Dyrus are very talented LoL players and can certainly carry games on their own.

However, TSM's goal is to get Reginald to a place where he can shine and lead. It won't happen every single game, but that's how they have the most success the same with Maknoon and Najin Sword.

I stated the Azubu teams as denying this approach and preferring a team-oriented philosophy which several other teams try as well. I'm talking about crafting a team and their mindset going into games and tournaments. Both can (and do) work but it is dependent on the individual players and personalities to sync in one of these two ways