When I first thought about this interview, I wanted to hear the stories of the band of salty ragers first attending a LAN together. The perception that Bob Ross Fan Club has earned in the Heroes of the Storm community is nothing to envy, however their responses really provided some insight into the team. After my experience chatting with the team members and even with their awesome manager Pat, I can certainly say that the bad reputation is unwarranted.
How did you manage to win Heroes Rising?
Ken: Endurance.
Erho: Funyuns.
McIntyre: Going into the tournament, we knew we had the talent to take on every other team that we had to play against. Because of that, this tournament was about endurance because of the early loss to C9. You could see us burn out a little during our SK game, but after taking the 2-0 against COG we knew we had a chance. Went into Day2 with the energy to take down C9.
Fan: Like the others said, endurance and keeping your mentality good made a big difference. I was used to playing gauntlets of NA teams. so getting knocked into the losers bracket in ro8 didn't really bother me. We all wanted to rematch C9 because we knew we could beat them, and we knew we could beat every team in the tournament as long as we played well.
Who really pulled out the clutch this time around? Does anybody deserve an MVP award on BRFC? Is there anybody on your team who REALLY tried to throw? Who is the throw-master?
Erho: Everyone on the team can, at times, throw a game. The key is to be consistent in avoiding that type of play. In terms of MVPs, games that stands out in my mind was the Infernal Shrines game 2 vs C9 with the McinFalsdad and my 5 man mosh pit vs. SK to turn the games around. Special mention: Everyone playing like gods on BHB vs C9.
Ken: I feel like I almost played perfectly on my medic game, my tyrande game I think I landed 99% of stuns also. Zuna played an amazing Sonya in the Dragon Shire game against C9. Erho’s Mosh against SK and Mc’s Falstad were highlights also. Fan’s abathur looked super annoying to play against and it was on my team, so i can’t imagine what C9’s comms were like that booty bay game lol.
Mc: If this team continues to do well, we will make a run at Blizzcon this year, without a doubt. That’s our goal. If bumps happen on the road, then we will have to adjust
Fan: I think everyone played extremely well at times and faltered at others. The important thing is when one player falters, the other four can cover because they are all still playing very well. Everyone plays poorly at some point, but the poor plays can be salvaged as long as you have teammates that play extremely well most of the time.
Zuna: Everyone played strong. In certain games, people had their ups and downs.
Mc: I don’t think anyone threw for us, as we ended up winning all the games that we needed to. Some deaths hurt alot, like the death on BFE against c9 before the boss. But alot of the time it’s important to not get bogged down and frustrated when things like that happen and continue to find a way to win the game. This is where clutch plays tend to happen, and outplaying the other team is important. I will say that after the gust double kill on c9 our team knew that we had the ability to beat them and I feel like that play was important to our success in the rest of the series.
Are you really the best team in NA? How much did this tournament mean to you?
Erho: We’ve proven through a previous tournament that we’re stronger than any other NA team with very little practice, with the exception of C9. This tournament’s goal was to prove to ourselves that we’re better than C9. Even after we lost to C9 in the winner’s bracket, we still knew that we were better players individually than they are. We just need time to figure out our opponents and discipline ourselves as a team unit. Luckily, we were able to do that mid tournament. So: yes.
Ken: We are only going to get better, I feel like C9 will make more roster changes or stay at the level they are at now.
Fan: I’d like to think so, but there definitely are some very strong contenders in NA for that title, and likely more contenders to come in the next few months. We will have to work hard to maintain the spot.
Zuna: If you base it off results, we're the best in NA.
Mc: We have shown through tournament results we definitely could be considered the best NA. We only needed to prove to ourselves that we could beat C9. In this tournament, we did that after beating every other top team in NA. It’s hard to say we aren’t the top team in NA but we are now the team to beat. This tournament felt even sweeter because we were funded by the community. Winning it for them meant alot to me, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything without them.
As Cloud 9 heads to China, Bob Ross Fan Club remains in the land of the free, home of the brave. Is training in China worth it? Is Bob Ross Fan Club prepared to win at an international level? Are there any international teams that you admire?
Erho: As of now, we feel we need more preparation for international play as a team. There are a few Korean and Chinese teams that we would lose a best-of-3 to. Playing internationally is always worth it, provided there is good prize money involved. MVP Black is my favorite international team and I study Sign and Lockdown’s play.
Ken: China has 2-3 teams better than us, and Korea has 1 (as of right now). I really like Merryday, as his positioning is the best of all support players. I learn a lot from Chinese/Korean teams.
Fan: Training in China is worth it: I learned a lot from my time there, and overall the scrims there seemed to teach me more than the scrims in NA. I admire teams like eStar and MVP Black.
Zuna: Training in china could be worth it but getting training just from tourney games alone isn’t enough.
How was the experience of this LAN? I understand that for a couple of you, this was your first LAN experience: did the LAN environment impact your play? How?
"The experience overall was positive, our team got along and getting to hang out with them was fun by itself. Being able to take down the Blizzcon champions was just the icing on the cake."
Erho: The LAN itself was fun. This was my first LAN, though I’m experienced being in front of large crowds. The only time nerves got to me was during the first set vs. C9. They had been completely eradicated by day two, though.
Mc.: As far as playing at LAN, it impacted my game in a positive way. You get so focused on your screen that the crowd behind it only becomes a blur and the emotion that the crowd shows towards your play only makes you want to play better. I know that after making several plays myself and hearing the crowd get excited, I only wanted to make more plays for them. I definitely enjoyed my first lan.
Compared to the other LANS you've been to, how were the conditions at HR? Any interesting stories from before/after the tournament?
Erho: My team trolled me all weekend because I thought that one of the managers was really cute, and I said that she reminded me of Natalie Portman. Apparently, I put all of them on permanent tilt, because they thought she looked nothing like her.
Fan: Other than some long technical delays (especially during day 1 on second stage), I think the tournament was pretty well done for a grassroots event, considering there was a very small staff running it. I’d also suggest free water and snacks for players next time but other then those two things I think everything was fine.
Zuna: For a grassroots tourney, it wasn’t that bad. It definitely lacked a lot of things.
Ken: The audio situation on stage was pretty bad, I actually ended up putting a headset inside of my shirt. The chairs were horrible, they wouldn’t lock straight up and you had to either sit up with no back support or lean back a bit, both of what I’m not accustomed to with my Maxinomic at home. I really hope they have water/snacks for the players next time, and areas where teams can practice without being seen by other teams. It’s not really fair to compare a new tourny like this to LCS/Worlds, though; they did a great job for a first time running tournament, and they will only get better.
Mc: I will say that day 1 of the tournament was pretty bad and the “2nd stage” was not being run by anyone involved in the tournament or atleast it felt that way. We sat around for atleast an hour before playing due to technical issues but after that it felt like they had started to get everything settled as far as audio gear goes and it went smooth day 2.
What do you think of the Murloc Geniuses news?
Erho: I’m surprised that they lasted as long as they did with such mediocre results. It’s about time they made roster swaps.
Ken: Doesn’t suprise me, but it kind of does. Lol.
Fan: I wasn’t really surprised, but at the same time I didn’t really expect it to happen.
Zuna: People make changes especially after tournaments, I’m just suprised it took so long.
Mc: Something needed to happen and they decided this was best. GL to both parties.
Compared to other teams you've been on in the past, how is the in-game team synergy for Bob Ross Fan Club? Does everybody get along outside of the games? Any great personal traits that the community is missing out on? (team jokester, the cook, the "clean one", etc.)
Erho: We all have similar personalities and approaches to the game, so we all got along very well since day one. Average day consists of trolling in skype chat and TS3, streaming and playing HotS until scrims. Replays usually right after scrims (if we need them). McIntyre is by far the most hyped up member of the team. He starts getting wild even during draft.
Fan: We get along well, in game communications are very smooth most of the time. Mc tilts Zuna probably 50% of the scrims, usually with the weirdest talent builds ever.
Zuna: We get along really well. It’s just that I feel like Mc lives to troll me.
Mc: I think that it's crucial to keep Zuna on his toes. That way, I can maintain his desire to play the game at the highest level, which pumps up the whole team. If he isn’t tilted, we aren’t winning.
Are there any false perceptions the community may have about any of you? Has your play ever been impacted by pressure that you've felt from the community?
Erho: The community never impacts me on personal level. The perception from the community that we’re all salty toxic ragers is false in a lot of ways, and we know that from playing with each other. We’ve been playing into that persona in order to gather popularity, and it’s been amusing.
Other teams will say, we won’t have longevity or we will disband if we lose, because they are scared of us and it makes them feel better to think that.
Fan: I don’t think the community has false perceptions of me, and I am a pretty straightforward person. I play the game as best as I can, and try my hardest to win in any way that I can.
Zuna: Lots of the community feels like I’m toxic or bad at the game. I just wish a pro player would say something.
Mc: I just try to do my best and represent a top player in HoTs to the best of my ability. By doing so, I will hopefully help to grow the HOTS scene in a positive way.
How are the living situations for you all? Is there a team house? Any plans that you could reveal as far as living situations are concerned?
Erho: I live in an apartment and pay rent. We’re unsure about a team house at the moment, but it’s being discussed.
Ken: I live in a house with two of my brothers (zuna is one of them). I would love to get a gaming house so we can all share the same ping, and not pay rent.
Fan: I live in an apartment in Berkeley with some other Berkeley people.
Zuna: I live with two of my brothers.
Mc: I live in an apartment and also pay rent. A team house could be cool but isn’t required.
Were there any heroes that you found surprisingly impactful at Heroes Rising? Why do you think they were so impactful?
Erho: Falstad. He is an amazing ranged carry. He provides good sustain and burst through his kit, while having a global AND the best disengage ult in the game? OP, man.
Ken: Falstad is pretty amazing if played at the top level. He has the highest mechanical ceiling cap of all the ranged carries.
Fan: Falstad, Zeratul, and Raynor all exceeded my expectations of how strong they would be. Falstads global and gust are extremely versatile, as is Zeratuls cloak/strong early game roam and vp. Raynor just hits like a truck the longer the game goes on.
Zuna: Tassadar and Zeratul. Zeratul's roaming and annoyingness, and Tassadar's invincibility with his infinite sight.
Mc: Falstad has always been my sleeper so I’m glad people think he is actually as good as I always have :)
Are there any sleeper-OPs that you would like to call attention to? Any quirky heroes that any of you like to play in quickmatch or HL?
Erho: Although I play tanks competitively, my quirk hero is Nazeebo. Not sleeper OP, but definitely can do work in HL if played properly.
Ken: My thrall.
Fan: I’d probably say abathur. Very few teams run it but on a few maps with good comps it's definitely extremely strong.
Zuna: I feel like Hammer and Nova are really strong atm.
Mc: Mine at the moment has to be Nova. She can one shot alot of the “meta” heroes at the moment
How do you feel about the current state of balance in the game? What are some additions that you'd like to see Blizzard make to the game? Are there any other games any of you enjoy to play together besides HOTS?
Erho: I’m happy with the pace of the game currently; it punishes mistakes much harder (dying faster, longer death timers). In the future, I’d like to see some of the stun heroes nerfed a bit.
Ken: I like where the game is at right now, i’d prefer them to make the current maps better though and nerf the op heroes. I feel like the last few heroes have been very underwhelming personally, and would like to see awesome heroes coming out in the future.
Fan:I’d like to see a bit of an increase in the rate of balance changes, but overall am fine with where the game is right now at a competitive level. It deteriorates a lot when you go down to the HL level though.
Zuna: I play a bit of WoW, but, besides that, mostly HOTS. I use to play CS/H1Z1, though.
Mc: I play Smite outside of this game and casually play Halo with friends. I do currently enjoy the state of the meta. I can’t wait for more heroes to be introduced that actually feel like I can choose them during draft
What do you think of Greymane? How does the team respond to new heroes coming out? Does a person get to call dibs? Who's learning Greymane?
Erho: Everyone learns the hero. Greymane will be played by Zuna, Mc or Fan.
Ken: Haven’t looked at him yet, but I don’t really play heroes that aren’t support when they are new.
Fan: I think Greymane is most viable as a ranged assassin with the potential to turn worgen at the right times. Playing him as melee won’t work in the stun meta he is too vulnerable for that. I imagine we will have several people able to play greymane and just see what hero combinations fit best.
Zuna: Greymane seems weak because he doesn’t have sustain for how squishy he is but pretty much it comes down we all play it and whoever needs to play the other two carrys wont play greymane.
Is there any person that BRFC could not go a day without? Who is the lifeblood of the team, both competitively and personally?
Erho: Zuna.
Fan: I think everyone brings a lot to the table, so it's hard to make a single decision.
Zuna: Very hard to say. I feel like it’s all of us, not just one person.
Mc: Definitely the whole team. We all bring some flavor to the pot
Why the name Bob Ross Fan Club? Is this permanent?
Erho: We formed up during the time Twitch.tv was launching their creative directory and Bob Ross was streaming 24/7, it seemed appropriate. This is obviously not permanent as we’ve been looking to sign with an organization since day one.
Zuna: Permanent till sponsored.
Mc: Happy little team!
Are we to assume that the roster is permanent? Is BRFC's commitment to Heroes long-term?
Erho: No one would be on this team if their commitment wasn’t long term. The roster will remain the same as long we’re winning and there are no roster locks for tournaments. This is eSports. Much like other sports, our team has the understanding that we are on this team because we are considered to be the best, if not top two in NA for our respective roster spots. If that ever changes, we all understand we can be replaced if underperforming. This atmosphere has been extremely rewarding for pushing us to win.
Ken: I think we all want to stay together as long as possible. For me personally. I just want to keep playing while I believe my skill is at the top of NA.
Fan: No roster is ever permanent, but we are definitely looking to be in this for the long term. Definitely looking to win some Blizzcon championships.
Zuna: It’s very hard to say, "no matter what we’ll be the same 5." Things happen, whether it's in real life, or in the game. But we’ll definitely be sticking together for as long as possible.
Any final thoughts? Shout-outs? Anything to tell your fans?
Erho: Shout out to FLCarguy, and the Heroes Rising/eSports arena teams. Krajee is my bb.
Ken: Thank yot to all the fans! And my team for putting up with me.
Fan: Shoutout to Rentaro, Xsquire, FLcarguy, and all our our fans who crowdfunded us and cheered for us. Looking forward to showing you all more great matches!
Zuna: Shoutout to my boi Kruglife, FLcarguy, Xsquire and all the people who donated to the gofundme.
Mc: Thank you to all our fans and people who support us, as well as everyone who donated to get us to HR. Shoutouts to my fitness consigliare, Michelle, and my family for supporting me. Also shoutouts to these boys for catching NA by suprise with me.
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