Post-Ladle 31 Tactics Discussion

[apparition]

It's been an hour or so since Ladle 31 and people are still hyped about it. The participation was awesome; there were so many people playing and watching. Speeders must have felt like they were playing on Notorious Emoticon's turf as I think all the specs were rooting for NE except for Speeders members Distort and Oblivion Oblivion, by the way, you certainly acted like an idiot as a spectator throughout the finals - I can't believe you weren't banned. Or is that why you came into the server as 3 different names acting retarded? (Flex, there's the random insult in my SP thread that you wanted)

Aside from lag, most of the discussions today were about how amazing Notorious Emoticons played. I can't agree more. Spook, Rudy, Pun, Olive, Arks, Titan, Freako... the defensive and offensive skills of those players blew everyone away. They just barely lost, and I am surprised they did.

Did anyone else feel like today's games were very different from last Ladle? The way the game was played today demonstrated just how creative and adaptive tronners are. Holes and closed defenses were present, but by no means did they win anyone matches. It just shows how critical sumo/survival skills are. I really do think that sweepers playing their best (Fofo and Flex especially) is what kept both teams alive in the finals. Whoever came out on top was based on surviving long enough to see the other team make mistakes and the skill to capitalize on them.

There were a few new tactics employed in Ladle 31. If you feel like taking credit, discussing, or asking questions about them, then this might be a good place to do so.

[DDMJ]

We knew how to beat SP, but we didn't.

[Cody <3]

our match vs TX


very awesome ladle day!! can't wait for next month! I thought everyone played their best and the turn out couldn't of been better(except for the win of speeders!!! urg you guys !)

p.s we also had a very secret plan to take down speeders, but tx prove themselves to us by beating us =[

[Titanoboa]

I'd like to say that in these finals, both teams were pretty even on the tactics part (even if SP seemed to be tighter - atleast offensively), and obviously pretty even on the "skills" part too, but it was the skills and experience (the others on my team aren't exactly unexperienced, but SP have been playing lotsa ladle finals recently) that decided in the end.

What I'm saying is, people are catching up with SP's tactics, but SP still has some decent skill to back it up.

That's my impression - watching from NE's base. I'm sure most specs have a better overview.

[Kijutsu]

Gz nunchuks on almost beating TX, such close scores!

Gz Speeders on winning the ladle 3 times in a row, well deserved.

[PsYkO]

We knew how to beat SP, but we didn't.

Everyone knows how to beat us. I know how to beat everyone. Doesn't mean either happen lol.

I don't know the situation with oblivion, but apparently he was just sticking up for the clan hes been apart of for 6 years? Can't blame him for that..

I wouldn't root for us either. Who knows the next time a team wins 3 in a row?

As I mentioned in the Ladle 31 discussion, all three of our opponents brought out new defenses.

Tx tried step defense with 3 sweepers instead of 2. We were admittedly overwhelmed by the skill and numbers, but knew we just had to adapt and relax until they started hurting themselves because of the cluster rather than helping. After a little bit of calming down and relaxation, the next two matches were very one-sided.

CT had Xyron inside the core zig zagging and puuqie as the defender outside, with emphasis as sweep. The two biggest problems they faced was centering and what happens when puuqie died. Xyron was covering only 70% of the zone so when puuquie either died or cracked, it was just a matter of ganking. I do give them credit on the fact that I don't think once they screwed eachother up. I always thought with this style of defense that the defenders hurt eachother more than the attackers, but they played well together. I think with more practice they will be on top of their game.

Notorious Emoticons had the most creative sweep style. They made one long step style sweep around the defensive zone. Although the sweeping technique keeps the attack out of contact with the defender for an extra 30 seconds or so, there is no threat to the offense. Once they stopped, their sweep played very very well. The best pair of the tournament IMO.

Speeders did the same thing as we have done the last two ladles but we did come into this one wanting to shut up all the people who think we couldn't win without constant holing. I am the proudest of this ladle victory the most because every team had a month to prepare, and we only had 10 minutes or less to adapt to their new style.

Fortress is so exciting. Strategies are going to be changing every ladle.

Ok, back to insults

[Titanoboa]

props to rudy for making that sweeping style up btw.
I was sceptical at first because 1)I didn't think it'd work as well as in theory and 2)I thought it'd be super boring.
Scepticism fails, sometimes.

[apparition]

I don't know the situation with oblivion, but apparently he was just sticking up for the clan hes been apart of for 6 years? Can't blame him for that.

Logs = reliable. It was Distort that was sticking up for SP. Oblivion was just being incredibly stupid.

You should be proud of this victory! You faced many different obstacles to obtain it!

And before you guys all throw hissy fits about what I have to say, just chill out. It's all good!

You didn't just have 10 minutes or less to figure out how to continue pwning. You've had many months to perfect your play style together. Also, just like all of us who were trying to come up with tactics to counter yours, you had a whole month to consider how to adapt your strategy, play style, attitudes, etc to what we'd be doing. You were prepared and you know it. Especially since you knew that we'd be gunning for you!

You kinda stepped on Durka's points about their situation with your description of how radical you guys were during the second and third matches. I don't think your wins vs TX were based on your adaptation to their methods. Their methods effin disappeared in the second and third matches! What were you adapting to? From the way people talked about it, they shut you guys out in the first round. And if they didn't have the problems they did in the second, it just makes sense that you would have had a more difficult time getting to the finals Unfortunately, all the excuses in the world don't change the fact that you guys beat TX and CT to get to the finals. That's no easy task.

Finally, consider for a moment that a team of players who haven't been playing together for very long (especially compared to how long Speeders has) got this close to shutting you guys out in the second match. You had an incredible comeback in that match, and they very nearly had you in the third. I have no idea how that happened as I was too busy nearly shitting my pants on the sidelines

I'm not trying to take the credit of winning this Ladle away from you, as it doesn't really matter anyway. You won the most epic Ladle of all time It just seems like you're taking away credit from your opponents and ultimately coming to the conclusion that you're too radical for all of us losers. It's that damn "view from the top", dude!


Edited for grammar problems. Tactics.

[Kijutsu]

Ahhh, post-ladle butthurt-bliss.

Loves it.

[apparition]

I jus don't think you guys understand. All I'm really saying is we need to do tactics and stuff.

[Hoax]

After playing against SP at last I don't see what the big fuss was all about last ladle regarding tactics; they're just a really good team and holing is only part of a strategy.
3 in a row is an acheivemnt and it's forced everyone else to step up thier game; looking forward to the next one

After another really close final maybe the match scores should be put on the wiki now?

[Olive]

Didn't think we would almost beat sp considering the little amount of training we had since arks and I joined. So watch for us next ladle! (concord: Dont you dare putting us on spot 5 in the power rankings next time.)

Gratulations to SP, the holes were a pain in the arse.

I've never been that hungry playing a ladle.

The matches vs. the Freelancers were very competitive too though. Dlh created a nice straight box around the zone and lasted 2-3 minutes every round like that. The rest was fierce as always only the server was so laggy.

@Psyko the double defence titan and rudy performed lasted 1-2 minutes each round.

[PsYkO]

Please keep the thread about tactics then? Your whole post was bashing. My post was 20% defending and 80% my thoughts on tactics.

[PsYkO]

Olive, I meant extra 30 seconds compared to our sweep or other block tactic sweeps. You are right and I agree, prob more closer to 2 min than 1

[apparition]

@Psyko (obviously)

My first post opened banged out some thoughts and a few insults to Oblivion (obliging Flex) and then opened a discussion on the tactics used. However, your commentary on the other teams' tactics, whether you realize it or not, made you sound high and mighty, dude. The way you started your post was pretty awesome. So TX tried step defense with 3 sweeps, but huzzah and alas! they were no match for us! And CT tried this, but I guess I had to give them credit for not screwing themselves up... NE had a sweeping technique that held us back momentarily... Weak bro.

You did just win 3 ladles in a row and you deserve credit because that's effin crazy, but I didn't think that gives you the right to take credit away from the teams you played. I decided to give some back because they deserve it.