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Mage: First off Mog, I'd just like to say congratulations on winning your first FML Season! It certainly doesn't seem like that long ago that we had this hunt massing Tinker first maniac running around the maps harassing the hell out of players. But as with everything else in life, time flies and the players mature. I think I can speak for the rest of the community when I say it's been a pleasure seeing your game type evolve, and I expect we'll be seeing it go even further soon. So, without further ado;Mage: How did you first find out about FML, and when did you start playing?Mog: I first found out about FML from sir Worpex. I, like many others, switched over to SC2 when it first came out, and after about 6-8 months I started really missing WC3, and getting really bored/frustrated with SC2. I started playing WC3 a little again, but didn't know where to play since bnet was overrun with hackers and all my old friends had moved on to SC2 or just stopped playing entirely. I don't remember how, but I ran into Worpex randomly and he told me they needed more players for the upcoming season of FML (It was Season 13), so I checked out the site, applied, and was accepted straight into the season! I had known Worpex for many years, having played for him in solo leagues for one of his old teams, and also having played in his old league WCO. I'm sure after my first match of the season, where I tinker hunt rushed SteppinRazer on Deathrose, then got flamed for the remainder of the game before finishing in 4th place, he regretted his decision of inviting me to the league, but I'm thankful he gave me the chance! Mage: What do you attribute your progress as a player to?Mog: I don't think I can attribute it to any one thing, because there were many things that helped me improve, and still help me improve. First, I listened to the feedback the more solid players of the community gave to me. My first few matches, I was lost. I had FFA experience on bnet ladder, but FML was a whole different challenge, and frankly, a whole different type of FFA than bnet ladder ever was. The constructive criticism players such as Magadansky, Renaud, Persuade, Wrecktify, and even Redkeekee (though his was more just criticism) gave me, really helped grow my understanding of FFA. Although it is going to sound really arrogant, I also have to attribute some progress to myself. I try to always have the mindset that I can learn and improve my game, and even though I don't necessarily practice playing games as much as others, I always take the time to watch my own replays, as well as replays of others. I watch my own replays to see ways in which I can improve. It is very revealing to know what was going through my own head while playing the game, and then seeing how wrong I was via replay. Early on, I would think I was in a good position, then watch replay and see I was getting manip'd hard by someone with 20+k more gold than me. My scouting and game sense were poor, and those are what I've always tried to improve on the most (and continue to try and improve). And of course I watch other players' replays to see their different playstyles, to see how they make decisions, and to find things I can take from their gameplay, and utilize in my own. Mage: Can you give us a little insight as to what was going through your head when you realized you had just won the Season 18 Finals?Mog: I couldn't really believe it at first. The finals game was a roller-coaster ride for me. I spawned in a decent position, but then things went south fast for me as I lost my solo vs Wreck. I thought I blew my opportunity two seasons in a row, by getting solo'd out by two superior players--Seksi last season, and now Wrecktify. I was really frustrated, because I was very nervous, and made a lot of mistakes. I knew I could have played so much better, and thought at that point the game was over for me. Then, my rebuild attempts kept getting destroyed, but since it was the finals I really didn't want to give up. Once I started getting some mining going, and the other players were finally convinced that Wreck was the strongest (which he was by far), I thought maybe I have a small chance if I play this very carefully. Even when Wreck only had 1 tree left, and I had scouted the whole map non stop for 10~ min, I couldn't really believe I was going to win. I tried to stay focused, and it wasn't until I sniped Wreck's last tree and saw that he was defeated that I finally let myself think I had won. When I saw those words I actually cracked a smile. It meant a great deal to me to win, because in my very long WC3 career, I have never won anything. I've been runner up, my league teams have made playoffs and done well, but we had never won both when I was a manager and when I was a player. So in my mind all I could think was I finally won something Mage: Now that you've won a season of FML, what are you setting your sites on as your next big accomplishment?Mog: I'm a very competitive person, and I am not satisfied with just winning one season. I know I can still improve a lot as a player, and that my game has a lot of holes in it. I don't view myself even as a top tier FFA player. I think Wrecktify, Persuade, Seksi, and Ludix are the best right now, and I still feel like I need to work more to get on their level. So that is where my sites are set. I really want to perform well again next season--to prove to myself and others I am not just a flash in the pan, but can be consistently good, rather than consistently lucky! Mage: Any shoutouts or acknowledgements you'd like to give?Mog: I would like to give a shoutout to the whole FFA community, who make this game fun and competitive still even after all these years. To all the admins, who run this awesome league. To Worpex, for giving me the chance to compete in this league even when I was an awful FFA players. And for everyone I've become friends with who have helped me improve and grow as a FFA player. Especially to Persuade, and Wrecktify, who I look up to the most as players and who have probably taught me the most. And I would like to give a shoutout to Mage, who is a great admin, and who I enjoy shoutcasting with when our schedules allow for it.
