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TURGID
INTERVIEW
Former member of RiZe-Gaming Counter-Strike team.
Afternoon Paul, thanks for taking the time to
chat to Pro-HL for our readers can you given them a little info about you.
Hello mate, yes no problem. My name is Paul Stangroom, 21 years old, currently
playing for team Rize. I've been playing Counter-Strike since about 1999,
online since 2000, so a long time.
Been playing for rize for long?
II joined Rize in December 2004 when they had a team reshuffle.
Would you say you're a 'hardcore' Counter-Strike player?
INot so much now, I mainly just play private clan wars with Rize official wars
and the odd mix with close friends, when I first started I was playing in
publics constantly and would of considered my self as hardcore.
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[RiZe]TurgidMonkey |
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What do you think makes a elite Counter-Strike player?
You're got to have the skill to start with, but experience helps a lot and
loads of practice too. Being able to read the game well also helps a lot.
What is the one single hardest skill area to master in Counter-Strike that
sets players between being very good & elite?
Reaction & Aim You can know the game inside out, be in the right place at
the right time every round and still lose because of those 2 things.
Most of my team moan a lot about tactics and we
all know in Counter-Strike tactics are very important but I always think you
still need players with top aim & reaction skills what's you're view can
team out smart & win against all odd with good tactics or do you still
require the aim?
As soon as you start moaning at each other the only way you'll beat the other
team is if your better, good communication is vital to win any game, if your
tactics are better than the other team aim doesn't mean as much but depends on
the other team. If their aim & reaction out plays your team then even if
you have better tactics you will still come out bottom.
Do most if not all top CS teams us TeamSpeak for all matches?
All online games yeah, LANs are different depends on the rules of play but
online yes you'll be at a disadvantage if you're not on some sort of comms
system.
For those new clans starting up out there who might be reading this, a
question on tactical rushing... When you rush a bomb site how do you normally
do it? Full, fast rush or do you split rush or hang back pick one or two off
then rush?
Hmm well depends on the spawn you get A good spawn means you can get right in
the bomb site before or at the same time as the other team giving you a better
chance if not timed splip rushing is the best option.
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"If you lose a pistol
round there are two choices, deagle rush or eco the round. I personally prefer
eco-ing"
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[RiZe]TurgidMonkey |
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Not to give your own team tactics out but have you even used the tactic of
who's nearest at spawn takes that position or do you allocate position for all
team members before the match?
Depends on the map there's not many maps that require that tactic the one that
springs to my mind is de_prodigy. It's a must to use spawn to dictate your CT
position other than de_prodigy there's a few spawns that give you an advantage
for a quick shot can be taken sometimes.
Another question on tactical play, in the teams you've played for to they
have strict rules on weapon buying and what are your views on this subject of
tactical weapon buying?
Heehee yeah there's nothing worse than 4 AWPers. Again this goes back to good
communication again, most teams have AWPers assigned, and if they don't AWP
someone else might want to. You can't be to strict when it comes to weapon
buying because every player is different but as long as you don't go over the
top with AWPs your generally ok.
What's the score with 'ECO-ING' rounds, no money is it better have the team
save or buy what they can in your view?
If you lose a pistol round there are two choices, deagle rush or eco the round.
I personally prefer eco-ing, it's the safest bet. Smoke rushing and getting the
bomb down is a good idea lets you buy the following round even if u lose.
In your time of playing Counter-Strike where would you say the most action
is at? When I mean action what I really mean is where do the top teams play
at?
Well, CS has changed a lot in a short space of time, top clans don't really
play in normal leagues they tent to play at LANs only the best league in the UK
is CSGN, clan bases UKIE is good too with some quality teams entering, its a
shame really that the likes of 4K (4Kings) don't enter online comps anymore
really but its the way "pro" CS has gone.
What are your views on systems like #cs.gather on mIRC etc, do you fine the
level of skill to be high or is this again another place for those lower end
players to hang around at?
Hmm haven't played on any of them for a while now, were a great idea but from
what I remember the skill level wasn't the highest. Great place to start out
though get some proper game experience, much more useful than a normal public
server play.
Looking at Counter-Strike based leagues & cups you attacked ED
(Enemydown) for being very "newbie" like and I quote "Any half
arsed team could top the premier" what makes you say this and how could
the ED crew improve their image with the elite teams?
LoL its a good starting point for a clan but for a team like Rize we want play
better quality teams more often to help us improve leagues like that are full
of whiners and hackers, the best thing they could do is develop an anti-cheat
system as good as CSGN to wipe out cheating also its such a hassle when teams
don't accept results because they expect you of cheating isn't worth the
hassle.
Talking of hackers, In Counter-Strike Source the biggest issue at the moment
seems to be that of cheaters, thanks to Valve VAC2 is now out and will help put
an end too some of those cheater. What is your view on cheaters & do you
think cheating is on the up or down in Counter-Strike?
I hate cheating in every form it comes, 'config kiddies' are just as bad as the
wall hackers as far as cheating getting worse I'm not really sure, I think its
as bad as it has always been VAC2 will help if they update it all the time but
even so the only way you know players aren't cheating is to play them at a LAN
or join CSGN with there lovely anti-cheat.
What is the number one biggest problem in Counter-Strike to date?
Cheating & Configing
For me it would have to be the way the
community is so spaces apart... In HLDM it was a very close community every one
knew every one else. The team you currently play for rZ' from you're current
team sponsorship status & results seem to be doing very well you mentions
they won Division 3 of CSGN CS1.6 league what other results has the team had in
other leagues like ClanBase?
Well we won the first 3 qualifying games in the UKIE cup we got a tough group
but didn't do to bad although I don't think we'll be progressing further we
still have one game to play in that. As for CSGN we should be going to the
finals and that's LAN based.
In order of status what would you say are the top 5 Counter-Strike
leagues/cups to be in, eg: clanbase cup, nations cup, esl, cpl, cal, csgn, ed,
twf, jolt etc?
Well CPL is at the top, then ESL, not so sure about CAL but if you're in the
USA it's the one to be in, ClanBase cups are always good to get into, I like
the Nations Cup then the likes of ED Jolt etc, follow near the bottom.
You mentioned back there about the pro's all but gone from online gaming
what do you make of the decision made by the former SK players to leave &
reform NiP?
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" I hate cheating in
every form it comes, 'config kiddies' are just as bad as the wall
hackers"
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[RiZe]TurgidMonkey |
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Well I'm not total sure what went on, from what I heard basically they didn't
like SK and their manager taking the cut of there winnings. So decided to
reform there old clan to keep more, which is good for them bad for SK I think
I'd do the same.
A classic case of going too commercial I'd say. Why is it that none of the
big teams have moved over to Counter-Strike Source?
basically its a totally different game if it played identical to CS I'm sure
they'd move across I know I would.
Talking between some Counter-Strike Source teams 'CS' maps are seen to be
'newbie' like and all so called elite teams only play 'DE' maps, is this true?
Do teams really think like this?
Yeah 1.6 is very much like that.
Strange why is that?
'CS' maps are a bit of a waste of time, the hostages are so random and don't
follow you well enough that's one main reason. Also the idea of getting in and
out again is a lot tougher than getting in and holding.
I see so teams like a goal like planting the bomb rather than just killing
all the other team?
Yeah
Which players have had the biggest impact on you with the Counter-Strike
world and why?
I'm kind of "do it myself" and learn that way type of player, not
sure any one player has taught me a lot I've learn lots of things from watching
pro demos and playing along side people but haven't really had a mentor or
anything.
I'm going call out 3 choices and would like to know which you would
chose… Ready? AK47 M4a1?
M4a1
AK47 AWP?
AK
M3 Scout?
Scout
Finally scout or AWP?
Scout. You'd understand if u saw some of my running scout headshots
In all your time in Counter-Strike has there been any teams you'd love to
play for?
I'd love to of been good enough to play in any of the top clans in the big
comps such as 4K (4Kings).
Thanks m8y for your time any last words to the readers and to your fellow
team mates?
Thats ok, thanks for reading hope I'm not to boring. Good luck everyone
All best in CS hope to see you in CSS soon. I know some of the other MOD
guys who knew you from the old-skool days would love to see you again.
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