descentchampions.org

This thread is for pointing out something positive about another pilot.

I felt compelled to maybe list a couple things about a few pilots since I'm notoriously bad at handing out props/compliments and a master of dishing out BS remarks!

I'm making an effort here....I'm finding this easier since I'm not competing now


I thought I would let others join in on the positivity should they feel compelled.

I'll just kinda work my way down the rankings somewhat.

Mark392:

Cameron, I used to tell myself that my poor attitude was a result of pushing myself for perfection. Since perfection is not really attainable it led to my often being frustrated which lead to outbursts. Unfortunately & fortunately Mark392 has proven that theory wrong.

He showed that excellence is attainable while always remaining incredibly positive. Mark is so 'sweet' in his match comments that it makes my teeth hurt. Too sweet perhaps....but better than the sour atomic bombs I provide.

Mark, you're consistently the best pilot I've ever had the pleasure of playing against. I've never faced a pilot, in this history of Descent, that is more well rounded than you.

You are a true master of this game... one of the best in any era...if not THE best of any era!

Birdseye:

"I knew Birdseye when..."

So, way back in the kali days....I would randomly join a game of anarchy and play a few kills and then simply challenge whomever was in first place in that game to a 1 v 1. As fate would have it, Birdseye was in 1st position in a game and he accepted my challenge. The level was NYSA. So I hosted up NYSA 1 v 1. This kid was super confident that he was going to beat me. We played to 10....as was fairly popular at the time thanks to Case's D1 Ladder.

He lost that game 10-2. He was stunned. How he responded to this loss is the beginning of our friendship though. He basically demanded that we play 1 v 1 as often as possible. So, I was personally involved in the early days of his 1 v 1 career. I knew him before he became famous for his 1 v 1 skills.

Eventually he got really good ....and I convinced him to join the *GOP* clan with me. (Gods of Pain).
When we had become the 2 best pilots in that group and had fallen out of favor with the leader of that group I decided I wanted to form my own clan. I 1st told Birdseye and he was all in. He said...let's do it. So the |UF| was born (Untamed Force) and we were the founding members. We ended up putting together the largest collection of badass players ever assembled and literally became the greatest clan in Descent history.

Eventually Birdseye would rise to historic fame on the IDL and put together the most impressive win streak the Descent world had ever seen (at the time I had a decent streak myself in modern times against the modern masters *pats self on back*.

Birdseye and I had become really good friends during this time but eventually he surpassed my skill and demands for his time as #1 on the IDL got in the way and we spoke less and less.

Eventually....some drama on the IDL started about me and my brother. Long story short, I was accused of playing for my brother and was also accused of knowing my borther was on the IDL as 2 pilots and did not report it. Well, I didn't play as my brother but the 2nd part is true. A massive investigation ensued and my IDL Descent career was on the line. The only punishment that existed at the time was basically a life-time ban.

Birdseye took to the forums and really defended me. He may have been insturmental in saving me from banishment. The IDL had to write a new rule....a new form of punishment to handle my situation. They came up with the kick45.

(Side note: after my 45 day kick...I came back witha vengence and tore the UT a new butthole and gave them several LT losses until they finally let me back in to the UT)

Birdseye, if I never thanked you back then....and I would hope that I did. I just want to say how much I appreciate you standing up for me and having my back. I never forgot that you did that for me....even at a time where we weren't active friends like we had been before.

I don't have to speak to Birdseye's skill as a D player. Everyone knows the legend of Birdseye. I knew him before he was legend. I knew him as my friend.

Souljah:

I knew him as Bubble back in the day. We were never friends....we may have had friendly moments but they were rare. Bubble was basically a Descent enemy of mine and it was pretty heated.

Bubble doesn't play Descent today. Souljah does. I would have thought it impossible to shed your previous persona/nick and start a new. I assumed I could never be anything other than Jediluke. Souljah proved it IS possible.

I'm proud of who bubble grew up to become. He always was really good at Descent and I've always known that I could lose to him at any given moment. He is a pilot I have feared for a long time.

Souljah has some of the greatest vulcan the D world has ever seen...but I'm sure I don't need to tell you guys that. You've likely been victim to it personally.

Souljah and I never became besties....but we aren't enemies anymore....and I have to say....I have massive respect for your skills.

Drakona:

I've often said ... "I HATE THIS GAME!!" out of frustration and anger. There was nothing I hated more on this planet than to lose to another pilot. Part of me always thought that when I lost....that person who just beat me was surely thinking... "HA! I'm better than Jediluke!!!" ....and that just really got under my skin and drove me to atomic explosions of attitude! I'm messed up in the head, I know this.

I'm sorry to all of you that beat me and instead of being complimented by me and congratulated by me....you got my spit in your face. I never saw it as the pilot's accomplishment for beating me. I only saw it as my failure to win and I knew my failure would be celebrated publicly. I placed immense pressure and rediculous expectations on myself and this was always a recipe that lead to disaster. It turned me into the pilot that loves to be hated and I regret that I wasn't more like Mark392 or Drakona.

Like I said.... I've often declared my hatred for this game. Well... I've never loved it more than when I've played Drakona.

I knew Drakona when..... I knew her when she was a teenager that was enthusiastic about playing Descent....but frankly wasn't very good at it. She's good at it now. Nay, she's GREAT at it now! She surpassed all my expectations on how good someone could become after having been stuck at a lower skill level for so many years.

bouncing around here....

Tobycat found me online out of the blue and told me that Descent is being played again. He dropped me off at the Rangers and introduced me and got me setup and pretty much never showed up on the Rangers server again.

I tried to play anarchy with the rangers guys....but my heart was always in the 1 v 1 arena. Rangers were kinda anti 1 v 1. I posted about Descent being played again on the DBB and apparently Drakona and Lotharbot saw this and found their way to mumble. Thank God they did.

A few months go by...

Drakona had coded the |UF| ladder back in the day....so I approached her and Tom and asked if they would be interested in starting another ladder with me. They responded with "We were just waiting for someone to ask us!"

The DCL was born. It has been the greatest Descent experience of my career and one of the 2 most positive things I'm most proud of that I will leave behind to this community. The other thing....is Drakona herself. She is the first true student I ever took under my wing.

I achieved many amazing stats on this ladder that I should be proud of....and I am....but I'm most proud of the pilot that Drakona has become. I really enjoyed being her sensei and she was the perfect student and friend.

Descent is what it is today.....because of Drakona. She was absolutely vital to the rise of the DCL and Retro. She devoted so much of her precious personal time to give us all the gift that we have today. I appreciate all you've done for this community!

So...I had mentioned how much I hate to lose and what a sore loser I can be.

When our training began...I told her that I could only teach her how to beat me....and that that should be good enough to maybe beat a few other pilots.

She started out as a pilot that was super happy to get 3 or 4 kills on me in a game. She felt she really accomplished something special if she got over 5. Well....eventually that pilot became a threat. I remember the first time that I genuinely thought....holy crap...I might lose THIS match to her....this might be the moment it happens! It was in RIP...and it went to over-time but I pulled it out.

I knew I couldn't keep her at bay forever. Eventually she did topple me.....and it's the first time I can remember not being truly angry at having lost. It was, in fact, the first time I was ever happy for the person that beat me. I was proud of what she had accomplished. I knew I had been a large part of her success and I felt nothing but pride at how she toppled me. She would go on to beat me several ....SEVERAL more times in my DCL career.

Drakona....thank you for truly understanding me and handling me with care when I did lose to you. You never made me feel angry at a loss to you and you always gave me a chance for revenge. Thank you for being the only fan-girl I've ever had. You have always been my cheerleader and I could not appreciate you more.

Of all the great things that have happened in this modern era of Descent..... you are the best part of it all for me.

Rethink/Diablo/Tommy

Man, I have to admit...of all the people that were coming to may LAN 2 years ago...I was a bit concerned about you. I thought you were gangsta/thug and intimidating. Man, did I have you all wrong! You were such a pleasant surprise. You were a big hit with my wife and kids too!

You bring a lot of joy with you and you are just fun to be around.

Speaking about people that have not been complimented by me when they have beaten me. You know you are one of them. I'm sure it didn't help that sometimes I could destroy you....and other times I couldn't prevent you from beating me. That frustrated me soooooo much!

But man....bottom line....you are the single BEST overly streaky player I have ever witnessed.

When you are on....you beat the best. You deserve props and respect. You have mine.

You are fun to play and more fun to hang with. I consider you a friend and am really glad I got to meet you and hang with you.

much love.

bahamut:

You were my modern era version of bubble. We were ugly to eachother early on and it was a long tough journey but we arrived at a place of mutual respect and admiration.

A few years ago...this punk kid told me that he was giong to beat me. Period. All he had to do was play me more often. Boy...if THAT didnt' piss me off! I thought....this disrespectful little $hit!!!

Turns out, he was right.

He eventually handed me one of the worst beatings of my life.

I was very afraid to play you. You had a unique way of playing and were super dangerous with fusion....you also had that other ingredient that sets me off when mixed together. A bad connection to me.

Man, just know....all the crappy things I said to you. I take them all back. I like the man you grew to become and wish I was more like you.

I wish you nothing but the best in your life and I'm here if you need me for anything......just say the word.

Oh, and I believe you'll get your Descent mojo back.....you can't get as good as you were and then suddenly lose it all. Clear your mind. Focus on the now. Be present in what you do and you'll find it.

Sirius:

I'm not entirely sure you are human. You are either Data from Star Trek or the single coolest most chill guy ever to exist. If I had to guess...it's the latter one.

I suspect that if you came to this LAN and you were playing a DCL match....and I stood behind you and pulled on your golden locks mid match...u would very evenly state...."um...yeah...so that just happened" and continue on your match like no big deal.

As far as I know....EVERYONE likes you. I don't think it's possible to dislike you.

Oh, and thank you for playing me 1 v 1 in my early days on the rangers....you were always willing and you were my biggest rival for a short time there.

chill out!

Morfod:

I know you think you "can't get no respect"...you ARE the Rodney Dangerfield of Descent. I respect your climb to GOLD. You earned it with some amazing piloting and some rediculous fusion.

more than that....your personality is infectious. I know cuz I can't seem to find a cure for this crap!

Your absence from the podcast was painfully evident (absolutely no offense to Roncli)....your total absence from Descent during those few weeks was noticable and unpleasant.

You are a bit of a celebrity around here and we're better off with you around than not.

On a more personal note. I want to thank you for ultimately telling me what you thought of my behavior in games with you and how it affected you. I'm not particularly happy with the method in which the message was delivered but it was received loud and clear. I hope you noticed that I have been very respectful and mindful with regards to my commentary in games with you and I also hope you know the serious effort that takes on my part not to screw that up and remain consistent.

I put forth that effort not because you expect it or demand it of me (not saying u said that)...I do it because I DO respect you and like you.

I felt a lot of emotions when we were going through our little episode....you saw the full gambit of it first hand in the way I responded and handled it as the silence lingered.....but ultimately I'm just thankful that we came out on the other side in a place that we are both happy to be.

I'm rooting for you.

and I want you to know that I respect you.