SEM_56
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Good afternoon, everyone. Right from the start, a heroic surprise. I'm just sitting here, not bothering anyone, and planning to record a video about the swamp, and then I get a message on AIM, "Let's play!!!"
I was really surprised when I saw the nickname; I've wanted to chat with this person for a long time, a legendary and, at the same time, open-minded individual: =Stinger=
I'll rephrase a saying that fits this topic and then we'll start the interview: Only the most worthy make the heroic world better!!!
So, let's begin...
Question 1: How did you get into Heroes, and what motivated you to dedicate a certain amount of your time to this game?
Stinger
I studied at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, lived in a dormitory there. Our dormitory had a huge computer network. At first, like most students, I played Quake, then Counter-Strike. Somewhere around 2003, I think, I went to a classmate's place, and his roommate was playing Heroes II. To my shame, I didn't know anything about Heroes before that. Anyway, I stood there, watched, saw what he was doing, and I liked it. I played it for a while, and then, again, I went to another friend, Aztec. He was playing Heroes III online with someone from the dormitory. And that's how it started... we started hanging out playing HoMM3. There were always people to play with in the dormitory, but we only played fixed maps, and the level was quite low. Then it went further...
SEM_56
Cool, great.
Stinger
I haven't finished yet.
))
Aztec, who was originally from Yakutia, had a classmate named Den, whose parents bought a two-room apartment in the Moscow suburbs. Den did everything he could to get us, Aztec and me, hooked on Heroes; he bought a computer and installed Heroes. Besides the computer, the house had 2 mattresses, and that was basically all we needed to play hot-seat )) we didn't leave there for weeks... Then, after some time, Aztec found out that tournaments were being held in Moscow. Deciding that it was time for us to stop hanging out at Den's place and start participating in tournaments, we signed up for our first Chaos tournament. That was in the summer of 2004.
The question was, what nickname should we use? Well, I didn't think for long, knowing that I was unbeatable, and I chose the nickname gepu)l(on )))))))
Surprisingly, I managed to win the first 2 games in the tournament, but then I ran into Joker, who put me in my place. And after that, having already been eliminated from the tournament, I just watched how people played, learned, and realized that my level was very low. I started taking lessons from the top players in games for money )))) And later I changed my nickname to Stinger.
SEM_56
And can I ask why Stinger?
Stinger
That's another story about my obsession )))
SEM_56
I'm not in a hurry...
Stinger
I got into a game called Disciples 2, and I didn't stop until I played it several times for each faction, I was really hooked on it. I spent a month at Den's place until I finished it...
Well, when the expansion with the elves came out, there was a unit called Stinger.
For some reason, I started to like it.
SEM_56
I see...
Question 2: What is your vision of the game? What guides you, and where does this, shall we say, exceptional ability to implement what's on the map come from?
Stinger
In general, I learned the most from Bishop's playing style. And he always tried to do everything as quickly as possible, but at the same time reliably. Therefore, when I start a game, I always try to decide what I want to do to my opponent.
Whether it's a quick rush with a warrior, a mage, or something else.
That's why I like strong castles the most, which don't need any additional buildings. On SoD, that's Dungeon, Rampart, Tower. If we're talking about a quick advance to the opponent.
Perhaps this scheme is very simplified, but the result is what matters. I don't like long, drawn-out games, especially if I have to save.
And as for the vision of the map, it's already automatic, I guess, just experience.
SEM_56
Great. Question 3: What were your first and most significant victories for you personally? Who were you playing against, where, and what were your feelings at the time?
Stinger
The most significant victories for me were in the early stages, victories over Chaos. We gathered at a club near Taiga, played Heroes for money. We had a series of games, me with Tower, him with Castle. In this series, I convincingly won. The feeling was like when you achieve something you've been striving for for a long time. I especially remember a game where I dug up the Grail on day two with Tower ))) I remember it more as a funny moment. Another significant thing for me is that every time I came to Minsk for tournaments, which was at least 5 times, I didn't lose a single game there and won all the tournaments, or shared 1st-2nd place once with Andre and once with Alex. This is, so to speak, my pride.)
SEM_56
Oh, or wow :-D
I still can't get confirmation, so I'll ask you: did you beat Utopia on the first day?
Your report:
“In SoD, if I played, it was Shakti 110 + two of my own at 35 plus 4 hidden spots, and that's it, on the third day, two convoys of 3 break through with 114 lochs, and there were 3 more convoys of 2-2-2, and there was Pandora on the pigs for a rush.”
“Sword +2+2, expert offense, bless, and on 116 I really wanted to take Utopia, which I did, losing 100 trigons and all the rush.”
Stinger
Well, yes, it happened )) It all depends on the situation, and specifically, whether there will be a Utopia that can be taken, and there were opportunities to take Utopia on the 1st week more than once, but there wasn't the Utopia itself ))
SEM_56
Question 4: A tournament against a team of the best players in the world, was there such a thing? What can you tell us about it?
Stinger
What tournament are you talking about? ))
SEM_56
You and 4 other people: you, Forrest, Alex the Great, DS-Vasya, I don't remember who the fifth one was. against guys from Lithuania (Black Knight), England, Denmark, and someone else, 5-0 in your favor.
Stinger
Ah, about that... I didn't think of it as a team of the best players in the world )))
SEM_56
What was the name of that session?
Stinger
Tournament Bai vs. WCL
SEM_56
World League?
Stinger
Yes, basically, nothing special... just, knowing that the opponent was playing Castle, I trained Dungeon and won... Well, and I got lucky in a couple of moments in the game, of course, but you can't do without that component ))
SEM_56
You trained Dungeon and won... I don't quite understand, can you explain?
Stinger
Dungeon doesn't lose momentum with a more or less acceptable start.
That is, it starts taking all the objects literally from day 1: lairs, hidden spots, convoys, and so on, while Castle waits for the angels to be built on the 1st week... yes, of course, archers look much stronger on the 2nd week, but still, I intended to get to the center faster and take it, which I did.
SEM_56
Question 5: The latest tournaments, including Michurinsk, what can you say about them, and what is your attitude towards such tournaments, that is, traveling somewhere outside of Moscow and Russia in general?
Stinger
My attitude towards such trips has always been extremely positive. I like to travel, in general. And I can highlight the tournaments in the estate near Minsk, organized by Balamut, Vasya's tournaments, they were more focused on poker, as well as the tournaments in Kingisepp. And about Michurinsk, I can only say good things, I've been there 3 times already, and every time Eric does everything at a high level.
SEM_56
And the last question: what is your attitude towards your title as one of the strongest Heroes players on the planet, and what advice would you give to everyone who is just starting to take more or less serious steps in the Heroes community?
Stinger
I'm fine with it, I was aiming for it))) And the advice, as in any business, is to practice and strive for self-improvement!
So, we chatted and started a game, I'm Tower, Torosor - Stinger, Castle, Caitlin (was black)!!!
I learned a little about his family: his wife is Irina, he has a daughter who turned 2 years old on Monday, everyone sends their congratulations (may she grow up and make her parents happy)...
Thank you for the interview, I was very glad to chat, I hope it won't be the last time. With respect, a simple Ukrainian guy from Kyiv - SEM_56!!!
I was really surprised when I saw the nickname; I've wanted to chat with this person for a long time, a legendary and, at the same time, open-minded individual: =Stinger=
I'll rephrase a saying that fits this topic and then we'll start the interview: Only the most worthy make the heroic world better!!!
So, let's begin...
Question 1: How did you get into Heroes, and what motivated you to dedicate a certain amount of your time to this game?
Stinger
I studied at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, lived in a dormitory there. Our dormitory had a huge computer network. At first, like most students, I played Quake, then Counter-Strike. Somewhere around 2003, I think, I went to a classmate's place, and his roommate was playing Heroes II. To my shame, I didn't know anything about Heroes before that. Anyway, I stood there, watched, saw what he was doing, and I liked it. I played it for a while, and then, again, I went to another friend, Aztec. He was playing Heroes III online with someone from the dormitory. And that's how it started... we started hanging out playing HoMM3. There were always people to play with in the dormitory, but we only played fixed maps, and the level was quite low. Then it went further...
SEM_56
Cool, great.
Stinger
I haven't finished yet.
))
Aztec, who was originally from Yakutia, had a classmate named Den, whose parents bought a two-room apartment in the Moscow suburbs. Den did everything he could to get us, Aztec and me, hooked on Heroes; he bought a computer and installed Heroes. Besides the computer, the house had 2 mattresses, and that was basically all we needed to play hot-seat )) we didn't leave there for weeks... Then, after some time, Aztec found out that tournaments were being held in Moscow. Deciding that it was time for us to stop hanging out at Den's place and start participating in tournaments, we signed up for our first Chaos tournament. That was in the summer of 2004.
The question was, what nickname should we use? Well, I didn't think for long, knowing that I was unbeatable, and I chose the nickname gepu)l(on )))))))
Surprisingly, I managed to win the first 2 games in the tournament, but then I ran into Joker, who put me in my place. And after that, having already been eliminated from the tournament, I just watched how people played, learned, and realized that my level was very low. I started taking lessons from the top players in games for money )))) And later I changed my nickname to Stinger.
SEM_56
And can I ask why Stinger?
Stinger
That's another story about my obsession )))
SEM_56
I'm not in a hurry...
Stinger
I got into a game called Disciples 2, and I didn't stop until I played it several times for each faction, I was really hooked on it. I spent a month at Den's place until I finished it...
Well, when the expansion with the elves came out, there was a unit called Stinger.
For some reason, I started to like it.
SEM_56
I see...
Question 2: What is your vision of the game? What guides you, and where does this, shall we say, exceptional ability to implement what's on the map come from?
Stinger
In general, I learned the most from Bishop's playing style. And he always tried to do everything as quickly as possible, but at the same time reliably. Therefore, when I start a game, I always try to decide what I want to do to my opponent.
Whether it's a quick rush with a warrior, a mage, or something else.
That's why I like strong castles the most, which don't need any additional buildings. On SoD, that's Dungeon, Rampart, Tower. If we're talking about a quick advance to the opponent.
Perhaps this scheme is very simplified, but the result is what matters. I don't like long, drawn-out games, especially if I have to save.
And as for the vision of the map, it's already automatic, I guess, just experience.
SEM_56
Great. Question 3: What were your first and most significant victories for you personally? Who were you playing against, where, and what were your feelings at the time?
Stinger
The most significant victories for me were in the early stages, victories over Chaos. We gathered at a club near Taiga, played Heroes for money. We had a series of games, me with Tower, him with Castle. In this series, I convincingly won. The feeling was like when you achieve something you've been striving for for a long time. I especially remember a game where I dug up the Grail on day two with Tower ))) I remember it more as a funny moment. Another significant thing for me is that every time I came to Minsk for tournaments, which was at least 5 times, I didn't lose a single game there and won all the tournaments, or shared 1st-2nd place once with Andre and once with Alex. This is, so to speak, my pride.)
SEM_56
Oh, or wow :-D
I still can't get confirmation, so I'll ask you: did you beat Utopia on the first day?
Your report:
“In SoD, if I played, it was Shakti 110 + two of my own at 35 plus 4 hidden spots, and that's it, on the third day, two convoys of 3 break through with 114 lochs, and there were 3 more convoys of 2-2-2, and there was Pandora on the pigs for a rush.”
“Sword +2+2, expert offense, bless, and on 116 I really wanted to take Utopia, which I did, losing 100 trigons and all the rush.”
Stinger
Well, yes, it happened )) It all depends on the situation, and specifically, whether there will be a Utopia that can be taken, and there were opportunities to take Utopia on the 1st week more than once, but there wasn't the Utopia itself ))
SEM_56
Question 4: A tournament against a team of the best players in the world, was there such a thing? What can you tell us about it?
Stinger
What tournament are you talking about? ))
SEM_56
You and 4 other people: you, Forrest, Alex the Great, DS-Vasya, I don't remember who the fifth one was. against guys from Lithuania (Black Knight), England, Denmark, and someone else, 5-0 in your favor.
Stinger
Ah, about that... I didn't think of it as a team of the best players in the world )))
SEM_56
What was the name of that session?
Stinger
Tournament Bai vs. WCL
SEM_56
World League?
Stinger
Yes, basically, nothing special... just, knowing that the opponent was playing Castle, I trained Dungeon and won... Well, and I got lucky in a couple of moments in the game, of course, but you can't do without that component ))
SEM_56
You trained Dungeon and won... I don't quite understand, can you explain?
Stinger
Dungeon doesn't lose momentum with a more or less acceptable start.
That is, it starts taking all the objects literally from day 1: lairs, hidden spots, convoys, and so on, while Castle waits for the angels to be built on the 1st week... yes, of course, archers look much stronger on the 2nd week, but still, I intended to get to the center faster and take it, which I did.
SEM_56
Question 5: The latest tournaments, including Michurinsk, what can you say about them, and what is your attitude towards such tournaments, that is, traveling somewhere outside of Moscow and Russia in general?
Stinger
My attitude towards such trips has always been extremely positive. I like to travel, in general. And I can highlight the tournaments in the estate near Minsk, organized by Balamut, Vasya's tournaments, they were more focused on poker, as well as the tournaments in Kingisepp. And about Michurinsk, I can only say good things, I've been there 3 times already, and every time Eric does everything at a high level.
SEM_56
And the last question: what is your attitude towards your title as one of the strongest Heroes players on the planet, and what advice would you give to everyone who is just starting to take more or less serious steps in the Heroes community?
Stinger
I'm fine with it, I was aiming for it))) And the advice, as in any business, is to practice and strive for self-improvement!
So, we chatted and started a game, I'm Tower, Torosor - Stinger, Castle, Caitlin (was black)!!!
I learned a little about his family: his wife is Irina, he has a daughter who turned 2 years old on Monday, everyone sends their congratulations (may she grow up and make her parents happy)...
Thank you for the interview, I was very glad to chat, I hope it won't be the last time. With respect, a simple Ukrainian guy from Kyiv - SEM_56!!!
Ушел с героев, пока пряники)