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First off, a big thanks to Claushouse for putting in the effort to taking care of HoN for what most likely is everyone's last season. You did a good job documenting and keeping things entertaining in the last gasps of breath of this shitty game.
Potenza vs. Sweet
Potenza: Iron Survivor, Okyo, Qpr, Resurrected, Tarnish. Subs: Dour, Olde, Coroner, MITB
Sweet: Riverside, Jones, Engineers, Dak, Burnt. Subs: Vitja, Sirius, Eric Clapton, "DontAxeMeButImAFgt"
A few starters were missing this last Sunday, so we've postponed this game. Winner has to play Pandora most likely immediately after. MITB should really be starting but is probably too inactive. Potenza is led by the strong mid-range pushing of Iron and Okyo, the clear leaders of this squad. Qpr, Tarnish, and Resurrected play pretty similar and will likely do most of the work sniping and cleaning up. Sweet's lineup hasn't really changed much from two seasons ago, the only main change being Burnt replacing an inactive VT (pos). As always, Riverside and Jones (assuming he stays alive for more than 5 seconds) will do the pushing with Engineers vulching and Dak/Burnt radaring. I fully expect both rounds to be close, with Potenza possibly eking out a win first round. The primary difference between the squadrons is that Potenza will likely need either Iron or Okyo to carry in order to win, while the kills should be more balanced on Sweet (deaths not so much as Dak and Burnt will stay alive more). Potenza will need to have to regroup well and be efficient with their kills - aka not dying to strays after killing one opponent. They also need to learn when to not over-push, with the 3rd-5th players being able to hold their own if Iron or Okyo struggle. In the end, Burnt will probably be a menace with his ability to split up teams while getting away in the process, leading to some easy kills from the rest of his players. Sweet 2-0.
Sweet vs. Pandora
Sweet: Riverside, Jones, Engineers, Dak, Burnt. Subs: Vitja, Sirius, Eric Clapton
Pandora: Ease, Mythril, B4sERman89_X, Beam, Let. Subs: Obi, Amputate, siaxis
Pandora actually has Chuckle and CrimsonX, neither of whom played a single LD game which really speaks to the shittiness of this shitty game. Three core members of Season 15's Thunder (Sweet barely beat them in a close 2-1 series) have returned: Ease, Mythril, and B4sERman89_X. Those three alone should be able to get 40 kills a game, taking the pressure off Pandora's 4th/5th. It is clear that Pandora hasn't really settled on a lineup yet, playing Cape/Spezza/Amputate/others all throughout the season. Of the choices, Let (Misled 2.0) and Beam (either decent or horrible) would be my best choice, and having Obi available as a clutch sub certainly can't hurt. It will be pretty clear how this game will turn out - Geisha/Mythril will be fighting Riv/Jones much of the game, and the rest will spend a lot of time sniping/vulching. If Beam/Let can't stay alive, the game will go to Sweet. I don't think Ease cares nearly as much this season, but he will easily pull his weight. Expect this to be a slower-paced game, as members of both teams know how to adjust to all aspects of the game. It will be interesting to see how Pandora handles Burnt, as he's been part of that Thunder core so many times in the past. I'm going to go with Sweet in 3, based on comparing the 4th/5th players. One of Beam/Let will either die out early or choke, leading to some much-deserved Ease-raging. Jones might die out early in one of the games with his aggressive shoot-first mentality, but the balance of Sweet will win out in the end. Sweet 2-1.
Fierce vs. Raid
Fierce: Apok, Deez Nuts, Skepsis, Vash, Raazi. Subs: Welt, Tripin, Death Row
Raid: Best, Reaver, Bon, Stylez, Vys. Subs: Kyou, Racka?
Fierce suffered a huge loss with the departure of Lasenza, but has found a pretty good replacement in Vash. Anyone who's seen Apok play over the years will know that he will be the primary force in pushing/luring/lagging through the enemy's lines. Deez Nuts is the other major half of the one-two punch, and Skepsis/Raazi may clutch a game or two. I don't think Vash has been very active, and Fierce has done fine playing Welt/Tripin occasionally, but expect his return in the playoffs as he'll be needed against a squad like Raid. This band of warbirds from all over the place has struggled through the season but has pulled together in the playoffs in the blowout win against Cobra. Interestingly, Kyou and Racka probably should be starting but have gone incommunicado recently. I don't know how well these guys get along with each other, but Best/Reaver have emerged as the clear leaders and have pulled their squadron through a crippling fuckover by Thix. Bon (Duke-) has also really stepped up his gameplay this season, playing with a calm confidence reminiscent of Deez himself. Expect the gameplay to contrast starkly with Pandora/Sweet, as both squads are aggressive and eager to end things quickly. The squad that regroups just a bit faster, vulches a bit quicker, and stays alive a bit better will be the victor. The season game was very close, and I actually think Raid has better depth than Fierce. I'm going to predict Raid taking Round 1 and then losing in 3, primarily because Fierce players have had more time to play with each other over the seasons and know their roles. Fierce 2-1.
Potenza vs. Sweet
Potenza: Iron Survivor, Okyo, Qpr, Resurrected, Tarnish. Subs: Dour, Olde, Coroner, MITB
Sweet: Riverside, Jones, Engineers, Dak, Burnt. Subs: Vitja, Sirius, Eric Clapton, "DontAxeMeButImAFgt"
A few starters were missing this last Sunday, so we've postponed this game. Winner has to play Pandora most likely immediately after. MITB should really be starting but is probably too inactive. Potenza is led by the strong mid-range pushing of Iron and Okyo, the clear leaders of this squad. Qpr, Tarnish, and Resurrected play pretty similar and will likely do most of the work sniping and cleaning up. Sweet's lineup hasn't really changed much from two seasons ago, the only main change being Burnt replacing an inactive VT (pos). As always, Riverside and Jones (assuming he stays alive for more than 5 seconds) will do the pushing with Engineers vulching and Dak/Burnt radaring. I fully expect both rounds to be close, with Potenza possibly eking out a win first round. The primary difference between the squadrons is that Potenza will likely need either Iron or Okyo to carry in order to win, while the kills should be more balanced on Sweet (deaths not so much as Dak and Burnt will stay alive more). Potenza will need to have to regroup well and be efficient with their kills - aka not dying to strays after killing one opponent. They also need to learn when to not over-push, with the 3rd-5th players being able to hold their own if Iron or Okyo struggle. In the end, Burnt will probably be a menace with his ability to split up teams while getting away in the process, leading to some easy kills from the rest of his players. Sweet 2-0.
Sweet vs. Pandora
Sweet: Riverside, Jones, Engineers, Dak, Burnt. Subs: Vitja, Sirius, Eric Clapton
Pandora: Ease, Mythril, B4sERman89_X, Beam, Let. Subs: Obi, Amputate, siaxis
Pandora actually has Chuckle and CrimsonX, neither of whom played a single LD game which really speaks to the shittiness of this shitty game. Three core members of Season 15's Thunder (Sweet barely beat them in a close 2-1 series) have returned: Ease, Mythril, and B4sERman89_X. Those three alone should be able to get 40 kills a game, taking the pressure off Pandora's 4th/5th. It is clear that Pandora hasn't really settled on a lineup yet, playing Cape/Spezza/Amputate/others all throughout the season. Of the choices, Let (Misled 2.0) and Beam (either decent or horrible) would be my best choice, and having Obi available as a clutch sub certainly can't hurt. It will be pretty clear how this game will turn out - Geisha/Mythril will be fighting Riv/Jones much of the game, and the rest will spend a lot of time sniping/vulching. If Beam/Let can't stay alive, the game will go to Sweet. I don't think Ease cares nearly as much this season, but he will easily pull his weight. Expect this to be a slower-paced game, as members of both teams know how to adjust to all aspects of the game. It will be interesting to see how Pandora handles Burnt, as he's been part of that Thunder core so many times in the past. I'm going to go with Sweet in 3, based on comparing the 4th/5th players. One of Beam/Let will either die out early or choke, leading to some much-deserved Ease-raging. Jones might die out early in one of the games with his aggressive shoot-first mentality, but the balance of Sweet will win out in the end. Sweet 2-1.
Fierce vs. Raid
Fierce: Apok, Deez Nuts, Skepsis, Vash, Raazi. Subs: Welt, Tripin, Death Row
Raid: Best, Reaver, Bon, Stylez, Vys. Subs: Kyou, Racka?
Fierce suffered a huge loss with the departure of Lasenza, but has found a pretty good replacement in Vash. Anyone who's seen Apok play over the years will know that he will be the primary force in pushing/luring/lagging through the enemy's lines. Deez Nuts is the other major half of the one-two punch, and Skepsis/Raazi may clutch a game or two. I don't think Vash has been very active, and Fierce has done fine playing Welt/Tripin occasionally, but expect his return in the playoffs as he'll be needed against a squad like Raid. This band of warbirds from all over the place has struggled through the season but has pulled together in the playoffs in the blowout win against Cobra. Interestingly, Kyou and Racka probably should be starting but have gone incommunicado recently. I don't know how well these guys get along with each other, but Best/Reaver have emerged as the clear leaders and have pulled their squadron through a crippling fuckover by Thix. Bon (Duke-) has also really stepped up his gameplay this season, playing with a calm confidence reminiscent of Deez himself. Expect the gameplay to contrast starkly with Pandora/Sweet, as both squads are aggressive and eager to end things quickly. The squad that regroups just a bit faster, vulches a bit quicker, and stays alive a bit better will be the victor. The season game was very close, and I actually think Raid has better depth than Fierce. I'm going to predict Raid taking Round 1 and then losing in 3, primarily because Fierce players have had more time to play with each other over the seasons and know their roles. Fierce 2-1.
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