Solariz> I'm sitting down here with Atomicboy, captain of Protection, first place squad in last years league season. Solariz> How are ya? Atomicboy> hehe Atomicboy> I'm doing fine, nice to be back ... :) Solariz> What's been on your mind lately as league draws near? Atomicboy> hmmm whether or not there will be more than 5 squads that can stay together long enough to see the start of the season. Atomicboy> So many ppl leaving and going to new squads, and then leaving them.... it's getting crazy. Solariz> A big problem discussed with many of the people I've talked to. Solariz> What part about that makes it a problem to you? Atomicboy> Well, in order for the league to be stable we need stable squads with stable members. We will never have the perfect Atomicboy> league, there will always be problems, but I'm more concerned than ever about ppl leaving and squads dissolving. Atomicboy> Without stability, the league will be very hard to manage, as we saw last season. Atomicboy> ...but it may just be last minute "getting to a final squad before league starts" moves so, who knows. Solariz> I'm sure you've heard plenty of grief on this next topic... Solariz> A lot of people are looking at the league as being a race for second, or even third place. Solariz> How do you respond to that? Atomicboy> as in Protection already has 1st locked? Solariz> Right Atomicboy> Well, we have had a couple matches with the other "top" squads around here, and have been successful, but it seems to me Atomicboy> that league doesn't care how big your squad is in main DSB, it depends on how good you work as a team. I think that is Atomicboy> what Atomicboy> Danger proved last season. In my opinion, they were, in the one practice game we played with them after the season had Atomicboy> ended, the best squad we had played (as a squad in league). Atomicboy> I think if you play as a team, and have everyone in your squad understand that you are aiming for an overall goal, and Atomicboy> not individual.... well anything, then you have a better grasp at playing as a team, and that is the only way to play Atomicboy> against Atomicboy> us or any other squad that played last season. Atomicboy> Although we put a lot of time and effort into what we do, until someone wins the final, it ain't over until the fat lady Atomicboy> sings :) Solariz> Hehehe, well I certainly hope that holds true this season. I for one would love to see some close runings. Solariz> Now then, do you think DSB as a community is ready for league? Atomicboy> no Solariz> Why not? Atomicboy> Because rules and even the very structure of the league are all up in the air at this point. I supplied my last 2 cents Atomicboy> on this subject on the msg board. I guess only captains and league heads can read that though. Solariz> Do you think the upcoming Captains Meeting setup by BoL0 will help any? Atomicboy> Well, I'm sure it will, but I still fear that the rules that get voted in will limit us to playing small games. I'm not Atomicboy> sure if you have heard what I am pushing for, but I really feel the one player advantage pushes squads to recruit and in Atomicboy> turn Atomicboy> have a larger, more prepared squad for league play. If that rule gets voted out, we will see small squads consistently Atomicboy> playing 8-8 games, and not having any reason to recruit more, since if they have 8 strong players, why would they want to Atomicboy> get Atomicboy> another 4 possibly weaker ones just to play 12-12, when some of the more established squads have at least 12 strong Atomicboy> players. They would be smarter to play 8-8, which would limit the amount of total players in league. Atomicboy> I am pushing for the one player advantage, OR to simply make league a 12-12 league, show with 12 or play with what you Atomicboy> got like all other leagues are. When I say this I do not say it because I want to play with OUR best chances, I think it Atomicboy> benefits Atomicboy> all to play this league with a minimum of 12-12 for better games. Atomicboy> That would mean, if we had the "top" squads (if you want to call them that) playing each other all the time, which I feel Atomicboy> would be boring. I want to play all the squads, like I did last season. Actually, last season we didn't get to play Atomicboy> Danger, Atomicboy> and it really was a let down, because both squads really wanted to play (it was due to the previous squads dropping out Atomicboy> and such that we could not). Atomicboy> I hope for league sake that all squads get to play each other, and that we enforce one of those two rules, to ensure big Atomicboy> games. I know for a fact, because I've seen the rosters, that all the new smaller squads have enough to do this at this Atomicboy> point. Solariz> So I take it with that mentality, that you are against loops' idea for 2 divisions in league? Atomicboy> No, not against loops. Well, I don't feel that DSB is the kinda place where that idea will work. It works as an Atomicboy> amateur/pro structure for leagues with like 30 squads, but all of those leagues are 4-4 duel leagues, so that accounts for Atomicboy> the larger Atomicboy> number of squads. We probably will never have that amount of squads, simply because it takes so many to make one good Atomicboy> league squad. And like I said earlier, I don't like the idea of playing only a couple squads, I have fun playing all Atomicboy> squads. Atomicboy> And it doesn't help smaller squads to not see good competition, if they hope to strengthen their skills as a squad. Atomicboy> I think it limits a lot of aspects about league. Atomicboy> The only squads that dropped out last season due to losing were sunny boys and firedroids, and they were destined for Atomicboy> dissolving anyway. There were many, many squads with losing recs (c-force, war pigs, Psirens, rens - they were 5-4 Atomicboy> because of 2 Atomicboy> forfeit wins) that played the whole season, and there was a major squad, Redhawks (original) that dropped out after Atomicboy> losing one game, when they were 4-1, so I don't think there is a problem with squads leaving when they lose a couple. Atomicboy> There will always be squads dissolving and ppl leaving for other ones, there is no remedy for this, and this 2 division Atomicboy> thing I don't think is the answer. Solariz> Well if this is a sign of anything, its a sign that the Captains Meeting will be quite full of debate. Solariz> Is there anything you are particularly excited about this league? Atomicboy> hehe there will be if the league follows close to the way I have suggested ;) I think this way, it would create more Atomicboy> 12-12 games, and possibly many more 13-13 or 14-14 or higher games, and that is where the real fun is. Atomicboy> I like league, but keeping it a "competitive" thing I think is vital, I am looking forward to seeing if it continues in Atomicboy> this fashion. Solariz> What do you think about the refs this time around? Many old faces have left and new ones brought in (me being one). Atomicboy> Last season the reffing job was tough, I think there needs to be 2 refs there no matter what. It's too much for one ref Atomicboy> to handle, not always, but sometimes there are problems and one ref can't do it all. As for new refs, I really like you Atomicboy> actually, you have done everything extremely well so far, and have always still had time to answer private msgs, which I Atomicboy> thought was very impressive. And if you know me, you know I don't kiss ass, and I don't hand out compliments unless they Atomicboy> are Atomicboy> well deserved. Otherwise, most refs are good, I don't remember any big problems with refs last season, except one who Atomicboy> started both halves with a //go! to only the other squad, but otherwise I am not worried about them, tango will teach them Atomicboy> well. Solariz> Hehehe well thanks very much, I just hope I don't mess up :P Yeah, Tango's been a great Ref Coordinator so far and Solariz> everyone else has confidence in him. Solariz> Do you predict any problems this season? Atomicboy> Loops has mentioned he is worried about squads dropping out due to losing a couple, I have said above that should not be Atomicboy> a concern, but I am worried of a couple of these new squads with vet players dropping out after they lose a game or two. Atomicboy> Many egos in here can't handle defeat, and I fear some of these squads are not built on commitment, and therefore are Atomicboy> very susceptible (spelling?) to this situation. Atomicboy> I would just like at this point to let it be known how much I respect War Pigs, they have seen it all, from being the Atomicboy> best squad in DSB, to losing games and having many leave, to rebuilding and hopefully making a strong run this season. I Atomicboy> really Atomicboy> admire the backbone in that squad. And I hope they continue on forever. Atomicboy> That's what squads should be like. People leave their friends and everything, It sickens me. Atomicboy> hehe sorry Solariz> As do I. I've been around dsb for almost 2 years now, and it would be a shame to see all the old vets go. Solariz> Would you be willing to share any predictions you have on the squads this year? ;) Atomicboy> I don't really have predictions, I think there are some new squads that appear to have it together, but it's hard to say. Atomicboy> For those of you that think it's not a good idea to have these smaller squads play the better ones, look at what Danger Atomicboy> did last season: came into the league in the middle of the season and ended it with a 6-1 rec, and finished third, above Atomicboy> many Atomicboy> established DSB squads. I would like to see this happen again, but we will limit ourselves if we incorporate 2 divisions. Solariz> If there was one thing you could wish for this season, what would it be? Atomicboy> That Protection wins :) Atomicboy> I'm not all lovy dovy... Atomicboy> I play to win, but in that, getting there and winning and losing is where the fun is. Atomicboy> If we lose a bunch of games, it won't distract me, but make no mistake, I'm here to do the best I possibly can, and a Atomicboy> winning attitude goes a long way. Atomicboy> There was a war pig last season who said he didn't care how many games they won or lost, but he was just tired of players Atomicboy> not showing up for games. That to me is a good attitude - you want to win, you can take the defeat, but you want to give Atomicboy> it Atomicboy> all you have. Solariz> Definitely a great attitude to into it with. Solariz> Well I think that about covers things, anything you want to add? Atomicboy> Yes, if you are on a squad, don't ever leave unless things are very bad there for you, or unless it dissolves. Too many Atomicboy> players are becoming squad jumpers. This is a lower form of DSB'er than a tubebomber hehe. Stick with your squad. Solariz> Thanks very much for sitting down and chatting with us today Atomicboy. Atomicboy> lol np, btw, who is the musical guest? I missed the openings ;) Solariz> lol I haven't gotten to that part of this whole interview job :P Atomicboy> lol Solariz> Atomicboy, leader of the squad Protection. A squad that's sure to make waves this season.