So I wanted to do a little something different and I thought it would be nice to do Spotlight Interviews with Old Timers & Newcomers.  This interview with TTL Thrasymachus is the first Spotlight with a Newcomer.  Thrasy stands out for many reasons. 

1. Thrasy brings laughter to the game which is one of the main reasons we are here to HAVE FUN. 
2. Thrasy also brings a serious side to the game with his way he can take charge in a game (if necessary) and get his team to communicate and work together. 
3. Even though Thrasy could not be at the FloridaLan he still took time to send Gunslingers stickers that he had made to the Lan just to show that he was still there in spirit. Your Gunslingers “Thank you”.
4. Last but not least, not only does Thrasy come here to bring laughter to our games and life but he also does it in the ER.

Thrasy has a ridiculous work schedule and still finds time to come here after being in the ER for hours on end and having I am sure NOT SO NICE days, and graces us with his comical stories, his antics, his laughter, his jokes (that are dorkish at times) and his dedication to this clan.  I myself hold the utmost respect for Sir Thrasy as a Gunslinger and as a Friend.  Thank you Thrasy for your time, your laughter and your TTL friendship.

Enjoy the Interview. Venus

1. I know you have answered this question a bazillion times but what made you choose Thrashymachus?

Well a long time ago in a place far far away I studied philosophy.  In fact I mostly just studied the Greeks.  Plato’s book on the theory of justice is done through the dialogue of two characters.  Thrasymachus was the character who took the stand that might makes right.  His position is that the ones that make the rules are the strong.  It seemed appropriate for an environment where you are attempting to dominate all around you to take that moniker as a GT.  Now in hindsight it’s a long and ridiculously hard name to pronounce and maybe I should have picked something easier but Chubbyhands was already taken.

2. Where are you from? What do you do for a living? (I asked this as I know the answer and want everyone else to know what he is truly about)

Yeah so I’m from Hotlanta but now am living in La.  I am a ER physician.  This will the first time I have ever really publically stated this.  I don’t really like to talk much about it cause once people figure out you’re a doctor they treat you different.  I don’t know.  In reality I’m just some dude who liked school too much and figured out the best way to prolong it would be to go to medical school.  It’s a great job but you have to give up your whole life to do it. 

3. How did you find your way to TIED THE LEADER?

Noka. Hate to admit it but all you who have to deal with my hyperactive, over-caffeinated  pregame lobby incessant chatter can blame him. We randomly matched in a MM game.  I ended up partying up with them. I got on his FL and then one day a few weeks later I get this message from Noka saying that I should come over and check TTL out. At first I figured it was a spam message but thought Id give it a shot anyway. When I got to the website it was just the type of community I was looking for. 

4. What made you want to become a part of TTL?

Man tough question without answering like some kind of prepubescent dweeb in love with the prom queen.  Well I think it’s the high quality of gamers.  Not necessarily a clan looking for a bunch of ringers but one that you can enjoy your gametime with.  I am constantly impressed with the good sportsmanship of the group.  I really like the professional attitude of everyone and I enjoy my H3 time more now than I ever have.  I have never really had this kind of gaming experience before. There is so much good sportsmanship here I feel really lucky to be a part of such a great group.

5. What is your favorite weapon?  What is your favorite vehicle?

Well certainly the BR has to be my favorite. I know that MLG can be a touchy subject around these parts to some but its where I used to spend a whole lot of time trying to learn and improve my game.  I am by no means the best with it but it is one of the most versatile weapons in the game.  I don’t think that there are many good/great players out there who can get to that level of skill without mastering this weapon.  Lately I have been trying to learn about leading my shots but its always a work in progress.  Vehicle you say?  Well probably the hog.  It’s the only vehicle Im decent at using.  I don’t do it much cause there are soo many RK that are better at it than I am but you get a good hog team out there and they can totally dominate the entire game. 

6. Is there a certain achievement that you set out to accomplish?

Another set yourself up to sound like a db question (obligatory shout out to the squad).  I’m guessing you mean in Halo and not in real life (I just deleted my real life answer.  It was something about medicine and doing the right thing but I forget).  No no real achievements except to help my team.  I don’t think that I’m the best player but I do think that I have a good idea of what needs to happen in game.  If I can be an influential force in the game and help my team to win then that’s enough.  I enjoy doing the roles that don’t get too much credit but really help the team (support slayer etc).  For a time I really wanted the General but I think Ill be ok without it.  In reality I don’t think that Im good enough to be a general anyway.

7. What is your favorite game variant? And why?

Slayer….all freakin day…Although I will admit the coordination and teamwork of playing with the GS has made objective games pretty fun.   I guess it’s relatively obvious why I was always going to go strike.  I will admit that although that I find slayer more fun I find playing objective games with GS more satisfying/rewarding.  We played a game the other day (assault on Standoff) where the coordination was phenomenal and it was so satisfying to have that much teamwork. 

8. On a more personal note: What is a secret passion you have? Sports? Hidden Talents?

Secret passion: please insert rude and disgusting sexual comment…No just joking…Uh lets see I love to cook.  I used to cook in a variety of restaurants.  I was going to go to culinary school but ended up down the medicine path instead.  I cooked for 7 years and ended up learning enough to be comfortable in the kitchen.  I really enjoy cooking for others(I almost never cook for myself  I just don’t care enough) and most enjoy my cooking.  I love trying to cook new things.  As a side note I am currently cooking Beer can chicken on the grill for some co-workers

9. Where do you see yourself in your life a year from now?

Well pretty status quo but living in BR (that’s Baton Rouge).  Working in the hospital while trying to squeeze in as much H3 time as I can without ruining my studies.  I still have 2 more years of my residency so I committed to BR for the short term.

10. What is one of your most favorites memories since you have joined TTL?

Well one of my most favorites (WTF?)…uh…anyway is that I was inducted as a total random. I guess I never really figured out how hard it was to get into TTL until I was a GS. I was just some random that got paired up with Noka in MM and then (for some unknown reason he sent me a note to come check out TTL) came over to the forums and started posting.  I found some really good games and through some stroke of luck (which probably means all the overlords were drunk on the same day) got inducted.  Most of the GS knew someone in RL prior to getting in but I was just another random posting love notes on the forums trying to get some games in with GS.  I remember getting onto the forums (that day) and seeing all this extra crap that I had never seen before. That’s when I knew.  I was soo pumped. It was only after checking my messages about “Welcome Thrasy, There are a ton of new boards to read so DeeJ’s letter may give you a few tips to where you can go…” that I deduced I was in…the funny thing is I was so excited I wanted to tell everyone but ,of course, no one would understand.  I told my girl and she was excited for me(probably placating my juvenile enthusiasm again).  It’s an honor to be associated with such a group and hope to have many more great games with everyone here at TTL.  Looking forward to Chicago…Look for me Ill be the white guy drinking Miller High Life.

Written by Bunny:

BSG brought out the community leaders of BSG Alekat, BSG Surgeon, BSG Cashmere, BSG kaBOB, BSG Daffy, BSG Krabs, BSG Red 32, and BSG SaltyOldDog. The Gunslingers brought out TTL Stuicide, TTL Fate, TTL Gilthanis, TTL Tortacular, TTL Balzy, and TTL Milk.

Game One: Lowhill on Valhalla
This game was a quick one. The hogs were rollin’ and bodies were flyin’. TTL drove and BRed their way to victory. TTL wins 50 - 24…

Game Two: Multi-Flag CTF on Standoff
The game was a hard fought entrenchment. The teams were at each other the whole game. TTL would make a push and BSG would sneak off with their flag. BSG brought the flag home through the middle of the field twice but were stopped short on a third return trip home. TTL held out with slaying. TTL wins 3 - 2…

Game Three: One-Bomb Assualt on Last Resort
This game was marked by it’s defensive play. While BSG were able to get a few quick arms, TTL managed to return the package to sender. In the final Sudden Death, TTL Stuicide laid down a last ditch arm and TTL Gilthanis pulled out a 6 v 6 extermination. TTL wins 1 - 0…

Game Four: King of the Hill on Avalanche
BSG just kelt their wheels spinning in a game that TTL just couldn’t get started. BSG pulled away with an early lead and never looked back. BSG wins 250 - 210…

Game Five: Slayer on The Pit
BSG hopped out to the early lead again. But, when Balzy has a long barrel in his hands, there is almost no hope. TTL wins 100 - 92…

A new community has been started and their wheels are already turning. However, no one should win their very first clan challenge right? TTL gave BSG that answer by taking them down 4 - 1.

A great thank you goes out to the members of Buddy System Gaming for good games and good times. There will be many more skirmishes between these two brother communities for sure. If you haven’t visited their site before, I suggest you do.

Written by Oboe Crazy:

Game One: Slayer on The Pit: TTL Wins 50-40

Life and Death

What better way to start the challenge then with a standard match on a standard map. The first 30 kills of this game kept both teams within one or two points while vying for map and weapon control. Around kill 35 we broke through their lines, Waynoka putting newly spawned rockets to good use as I backed him up with regen and sniper. By the time we took over their sniper tower we’d also taken over the lead, and when the game suddenly ended it was almost a surprise. Good game.

Game Two: Shotty Snipers on Last Resort: SG wins 50-49

One Last Kill

Tense does not begin to describe this game. We walked a razors edge filled with nerve-wracking, nail-biting stress that literally came down to the last kill. A cat and mouse game on Last Resort swept away in the final 30 seconds of the game where kill or be killed became not just reality but a game winner. SG found us first and scored that final headshot, winning the game. But in the post game it was obvious from the nervous laughter and gasping that we were too busy having heart attacks to chat. Good game.

Game Three: Vehicle Insanity on Avalanche: SG wins 50-39

Death from Above

Our Roadkill desperately wished to participate in the glory of Slayer. The Pit was a neutral game, the Shotty Snipers picked by SG, so we chose a map and game to allow the men and women in blue a chance to shine. Insanely fast spawning vehicles outpaced the splaser respawn, leading to a warthog around every corner and a Hornet in every sky. But despite it being our game SG showed they could kill in vehicles as well as with BRs. They rolled as a pack and simply outslayed. Good Game.

The fine folks from Subliminal Gaming showed discipline, patience, and grace, and gave our BRs a run for our money. It was a pleasure facing them on the field of battle, and I look forward to a rematch!

Enjoy the Interview. Venus

1. What inspired you to pick TTL Al Capown?
Well, it took me a couple of hours to come up with this one. I wanted something unique, as I don’t like adding numbers or “x, l, o” to my tags. I really like gangster movies, and I had just recently seen The Untouchables, with Robert De Niro playing Al Capone. I took Al Capone and added a gaming twist to it with the word “pwn”, but also wanted to keep the name similar to the original spelling, so that lead to Capown.

2. You have been a member of TTL since 2/23/07 but how did you find your way here?
If my memory serves me right, I was first introduced to TTL through bsangel. As most know, she is from The Cavegirls, and this was the first gaming community I come across while in my first clan, Truth Regret. After that, I was later introduced to Dweezle, and from that point we
were always gaming together. When my clan fell apart, Dweezle convinced me to apply for recruitment for TTL. The rest is history.

3. What is your favorite game variant and why?
I have many that I like, but if I had to pick one it would be Multi-flag. This variant allows us Gunslingers to perform to our full potential. Having squads allows everyone to go do their thing, knowing that everything else is taken care of. Ex: If I’m in a Banshee controlling center field or helping strike team, and see a Mongoose drive by, I know I can let it slip by. Having some HG in the party, I feel confident that they can take care of it with a heads up, which allows me to not be distracted by it and help else where.

4. What is your favorite flavor Jelly Belly Bean ?
(if you have never tried them, go buy a bag and come back and answer this!)

Hard to know my favorite flavor, as I haven’t tried that many kinds of Jelly Beans. There are around 50 total I believe. Of the ones I have tried though, Watermelon was one of my favorites. Flavors that I would like to try, that I haven’t, would be: Blueberry, Coconut, and Piña Colada.

5. When did your love for the Banshee begin?
It all started with the campaign of Halo 2, and I never stopped enjoying it. It has definitely changed since Halo 2, but I have adapted, and turned it into a force to be reckoned with.

6. Did you try other vehicles or was the banshee just your first love?
I have always enjoyed driving/flying all of the vehicles in the Halo series. Believe or not, my first love was not the Banshee. Back in Halo 2, I really loved to drive around in the Warthog…especially in the campaign. It took me awhile to get the hang of the Banshee in Halo 2, but with everything else it takes practice.

7. When did you decide to go for 10k and how does it feel to achieve that goal?
I don’t remember when I first decided to make this a goal of mine, but it was probably in the 1 to 3 thousand range. This was back when I wasn’t the top pilot out there, and had a lot of competition. It wasn’t until I hit my 7,777 mark (which by the way was to show appreciation to Bungie) that I realized I had pulled ahead of the pack, and was in the top spot. From that point on, the others had no chance. It feels nice to set a milestone like this, and be the first person in the entire Halo community to have that many Banshee kills.

8. What is next for you and do you have plans to master another machine?
I don’t have any plans yet, but I am sure something will come along. Maybe I could get 7,777 Ghost kills and splatters at the same time. I have already mastered a majority of the vehicles in Halo, but if there is one I would like to be better in, it would be the Warthog. I want to learn better routes on the maps, and if possible, I want to perfect a
way to get away from those damn Choppers.

9. How many of those 10k kills were accomplished while flying drunk?
(Nodak’s personal question)

I believe the exact number is 9,989. I had to be sober on all the even numbers (1,000 through 10,000, and one for 7,777), so that I could hit those numbers exactly. LOL

10. Would you say this statement is true? Popeye + spinach = Capown + alcohol (another personal question from Nodak)
That is true at the beginning of the night. The number of generals we have beat on Friday Night Shots is amazing. I wish I had the numbers for it. As the night goes on though, I start to miss a lot of my shots and eventually start gazing at the clouds and stars if we are playing on Valhalla. That is actually a true story. I watched some films clips of a FNS one day, and noticed that I was doing that during the last game I played of the night.

Extra bonus question: What is one of your favorite gaming memories that stands out since you have been a member of TTL?
Ouch, that is a tough one. It is hard to recall many memories after playing 7k+ H2 matches and 6k+ H3 matches. I really do have a lot of stuff I could mentioned here, but one that comes to mind right away would involve a game of Halo 2, on Containment. The game type was Multi-flag, and the person involved was Tortacular. The only reason I bring this one up, is because it was discussed a couple of months back. Don’t ask me how either of us remembered this moment, but since we did, it must have been memorable. At the time I was part of Strike Team, and the situation was me sitting above their base for a full minute straight waiting for a perfect time to grab the flag or to wait for backup, which ever come first. Well, backup arrived in the form of Tort sneaking up behind me and before anything could be said, him bursting into the base giving away both of our positions. We both went down in flames, but had a good laugh after that, and again, not sure what made us bring it up in a recent conversation.

That was a memorable online moment, but if I had to give a memorable offline TTL moment, it would be L Askan getting me drunk and….well, you can PM me if you want this to go on :o. My first meeting with the Gunslingers was at the Penny Arcade Expo, up in Seattle, where I got to meet L Askan, L0coM0tive, KP, and bs angel. I had a blast all weekend,
and can’t wait to go back.

TTL Al Capown only does TTL appreciate your Banshee skills but so do other communities!

Just a little something to show you are admired within the Halo Community!

Special Thanks to Louie Black (from H3Wheelmen.com) for the “Shout Out”!

TTL VENUS
(Newcomer interview coming soon)

Written by Bunny:

AoR Flatline came out firing with AoR Outlaw, AoR Kilby, XMA77Y, and matt1242. The Gunslingers fielded TTL Fate, TTL Homicide (now TTL KaL eL), TTL Los Jacklos and TTLGilthanis.

Game 1: Multi-Flag on Pit
AoR decided that they were going to bring the fight to TTL early and got a quick capture. However, TTL decided they would have none of that and put the lock down on their base and attacked like wild dogs. TTL wins 3 - 1…

Game 2: Team King on Construct
Again, AoR came out firing first, but TTL outslayed to the end. TTL wins 250 - 149…

Game 3: Team Slayer on Narrows
A quick game on the record, but a tight game to the players. While it may look like TTL ravaged AoR, the game was a nail biter to those involved. TTL wins 50 - 33…

Game 4: Team Oddball on Guardian
It was a battle to hold the jungle and sniper. The two went back and forth. TTL ran the ball around and ran away with the game. TTL wins 214 - 164…

Game 5: Team Slayer on Onslaught
TTL ran together like a pack of wolves and AoR couldn’t deal with 6 bullets flying at them all at the same time. TTL wins 50 - 29…

The competitive winds have blown through the area and TTL has sustained the AoR tornado. More fights are the only reasonable way to end this battle.

TTL would like to thank the great folks at the Army of the Republic for giving us a great competitive fight. This was just one squad from the great community and Tied the Leader would be pleased to entertain future fights with more divisions of AoR. Good Game.

Written by Oboe Crazy:

TTL vs Fallen Unity

Fallen Unity challenged TTL to a Legendary Map Pack Brawl the weekend before our Florida LAN. Thus the write-up is slightly delayed, but the memories of those good games are still fresh. We played three games, one on each of the new Halo 3 maps, though the Avalanche game had to be restarted due to lag. This will forever haunt me, as my personal best moment of the entire evening came in that lost lag game where I splattered someone with the brute chopper. When does a Sniper get to do that?!

But a clean game was more important than a giddy sniper, so we restarted some routers, restarted some parties, and restarted the match.

Game One: One Flag CTF on Avalanche: TTL wins 1-0

Pass the Flag
Zeuz want Scorpion. Zeuz get Scorpion! That’s pretty much the main reason we chose this game. We wanted to play with big guns, and the Scorpion on the One Flag Covie vs Human variant of Avalanche is the biggest gun in the game. But in the end the single score had nothing to do with a vehicle or a big gun…it came down to a desperate game of pass the flag. It took four Gunslingers to manhandle the flag on foot into our base, passing it like a baton as each fell from splaser or sniper or grenade. But it paid off in the end. Good game.

Game Two: Neutral Bomb on Ghost Town: Fallen Unity wins 3-1

7 Explosive Minutes

It was agreed beforehand that the winner of the Avalanche game would take the unenviable Blue Team position on this game, forcing us to protect the Sewer Base. We’d come prepared with strats and layouts and team fire, but the tenacity of the Fallen Unity push stalled our initial bomb rush. For 7 and a half minutes the bomb lay on the ground as we danced and fought with each other. The game itself only lasted 11 minutes! Once it was finally owned by FU they quickly scored twice. We rallied with a quick score of our own, but simply could not keep rockets out of our base to keep them from a final score. Good game.

Game Three: Slayer on Blackout: Fallen Unity wins 100-80

Sword Duel

What did we do right? A lot. We held power positions and weapons. We team fired like champs. We called out positions and kept tabs up everywhere. What did we do wrong? We just couldn’t slay the same way the FU guys could. They matched us kill for kill, then pulled ahead as they’re key slayers managed to set up shop on top of BR tower and show us the fury of their BRs. Though down below a fierce fencing matched raged. Thanks to both teams holding onto swords for key moments at one point there were three Sword Wielding Spartans running around the map! But in the end FU simply outslayed us. Good game.

The wonderful folks over at Fallen Unity gave us the opportunity to dig deep into the Legendary maps, exploring strategies, nooks and crannies, tactics, and fun that we hadn’t really explored before. They were fierce games against good people, but what we learned in the process was more than enough prize. Good games!

WereNotGodz is a small clan who take pride in their maturity, and enjoy playing the game. Their also on their way to becoming a competitive clan, as you can see below!

Written by Ranger:

Multi-flag CTF on Valhalla
Score 3 - 1, WNG wins.

They controlled center hill and played very aggressive, we probably should have actually pulled one of our two defenders off of HG duty to assist in re-taking the hill. Someone kept leaping up from the depths of our base unexpectedly, stealing the flag, going out center man cannon, and then they just dragged the flag slowly over the hill as we all piled up corpses. It was actually kind of embarrassing that they were able to do that. I’m thinking I’ll re-watch the video of this to see where that sucker kept coming from.

Low Crazy hill on Guardian
50 to 27, WNG wins.

The hills moved faster than expected, 30 seconds instead of the 60 seconds we were anticipating, which cost us some time early on. We got savvy, started to catch up, outslayed the poo out of them, and they managed to keep their folks in the hill more than us. From my perspective, it came down to some better spawns on their side. They’d all spawn inside a hill. We’d grenade them all out and move into the hill. The hill would move near to where they were spawning. That kind of thing. Then again, I might just be making excuses. Cool Props to Angel who picked up an overkill!

Assault on The Pit
1-0, WNG wins.

Not sure what exactly went wrong. I’m really surprised they scored at all. Their strategy mostly involved bringing the bomb sword side, between our sniper tower and our main platform. We’d stop them there, and they’d run in droves straight for the bomb. We’d kill ‘em and kill ‘em and somehow they kept coming, overran us, and were able to set us up the bomb. We failed to make a sufficiently coordinated offensive to garner any points.

1 Flag on Last Resort
2-0, WNG wins.

Their first flag nab was a fluke, in my opinion. I don’t remember exactly how it went down, only that it shouldn’t have happened. As with the other games, they seemed to move better as a team on the offensive. They’d get the flag a little ways out, we’d stop them, they’d pick it up carry it a few more feet, we’d stop them, etc. etc. and eventually they outpaced our spawns and got it past seawall. Oh, they also pushed a giant crate ontop of their flag one time which confused the heck out of me, as I ran around it trying to find the flag until my invisi wore off - but really, we just couldn’t seem to hit their base all at once.

Slayer to 100 on Standoff
100 - 85, WNG wins.

We started off rough. Zeuz was black screen for the first 2 or 3 minutes or so of the fighting. He finally dropped and it was another minute or two before we could get him back in the game. By that time, they had pulled a very commanding lead. They controlled the laser. Eventually we were able to wrest the laser away from them and, with dual hogs running, caught all the way back up and surpassed their score. We kept it even to about 80 or so kills when we lost control of laser again and their hog + team shooting mopped us up.

Thanks go to all the folks at WereNotGodz for a great challenge. Check out their website at WereNotGodz.com .

Written by Bunny:

TTL Gunslingers vs. Loading Reality

Loading Reality is a well known community. Well, now the Gunslingers have become acquainted with the group on the battlefield. While the communities met on the virtual Halo field, there was a simultaneous attack on the Call of Duty field. Fun was had by all dying repeatedly!

Halo

In Halo, Loading Reality fielded a team out of multiple other communities to make an awesome, fun team. Players include Netprints, OcR Hurricane, PimpinPikmin, Suicidalthought, CrAzYbRoS, and Strunky. The Gunslingers made a crew of similar magnitude of TTL Bunny, TTL Tortacular, TTL mvuakali, TTL Al Capown, AmericanNightmr, and TTL MB021.

Game One: Neutral Assault on Stand-off
The game was back and fourth for a long time. LR made a big push once and killed off all of TTL to get a critical arm. LR wins 1 - 0…

Game Two: Slayer on Construct
Talk about tooth and nail, this one was a nail biter the entire time. The lead switched hands numerous times throughout the battle. In the end, it was a sword lunge that won it. TTL wins 100 - 99…

Game Three: Lowhill on The Pit
Lesson learned by TTL from previous Lowhill games on The Pit, the turrets are your friend. Another tight game yet. TTL wins 50 - 44…

Game Four: Multi-Flag on Rat’s Nest
Again, if I expected anything less, a hotly contested battle. Waves rippled back and fourth for both teams but there has to be a winner right? TTL wins 3 - 2…

Winning and losing isn’t the key to any of these challenges. It’s all about having fun and bringing communities together. Anyway, TTL wins 3 - 1 over all.

Call of Duty 4

On the Call of Duty 4 side of things, Loading Reality decided to show our boys how to play the game.

Game One: Search and Destroy on Backlot
TTL managed to throw down on one of the rounds, however the LR crew was just too overwhelming to overcome. LR wins 4 - 1…

Game Two: Domination on Pipeline
LR held down two and TTL couldn’t break through. TTL never mustered up enough power to take the time lead. LR wins 201 - 130…

Game Three: Domination on Crash
Stunned from the last domination game, TTL mounted a little more resistance. Still not enough to overcome the pressure. LR wins 201 - 151…

Game Four: Team Deathmatch on Strike
LR’s skills shown through while they pulled further and further ahead. LR wins 860 - 650…

Game Five: Sabotage on Vacant
LR pushed and pushed hard. TTL could not hold back the onslaught. LR wins…

They came, they saw, Loading Reality conquered. At least the Gunslingers can always fall back to Halo for support. Overall LR swept the Call of Duty challenge.

A big thanks goes out to the crew that Loading Reality has at their site for allowing a Halo and Call of Duty challenge to happen simultaneously between these two communities. The Gunslingers look forward to entertaining many more crews from the Loading Reality squad. They were a blast to play with. We encourage any and all to check out their site if you haven’t done so already at the Loading Reality Forums.

TTL vs Cirque de Geezers

I was warned before our matches with the fine folks from Cirque de Geezers to wear my sunglasses. Not because of the radiant happiness they exuded, but because of the “bling”. Apparently they play more social than ranked and most members have glorious gold under their ranks. But the sparkle from the joy they brought to the challenge far outshone any yellow bars.

Pre-challenge Mixer: Spikeball

You Got Stuck

A custom among the Cirque is a pre-challenge mixer. Teams are scrambled and rearranged, then thrown onto Sandtrap to play a game of insanity. There are no winners or losers here, only giggles as we enjoy the sticky THUMP of a grenade sinking into flesh or the slow burn of a fire bomb.

OK, so I have the flaming shoes instead of the flaming helmet.

Then it was time to move to the meat of this meal…

Game 1: Last Resort CTF: TTL Wins 2-0

3 on 1

There is an gigantic amount of satisfaction that comes from teamwork. Both sides had it in spades, but my picture to sum up this game shows the way my fellow Gunslingers rose to each other’s aid. The score is only the exclamation point on the end of a sentence that says “82 of our 128 kills had assists!” Good game.

Game 2: Standoff Multi-Bomb: TTL Wins 3-1

Splaser Bonanza

You can never have too many lasers on this map. More to the point, you can never give Tortacular too many lasers. In a game and map dominated by warthogs, the best thing my team did to win was to lay red beams of death at Torts feet. Good game.

Game 3: Rats Nest Neutral Bomb: CDG Wins 2-1

Hammer Time

Someone told Cirque that it was time for Grifball. Despite an amazing arm by Venus for our lone score we were defeated at ground zero. Teamwork meant flocks of Gunslingers soared together headlong into disarming bombs, only to be met with a solid defense. Good game.

Game 4: High Ground Shotty CTF: CDG Wins 2-1

Bunny Hops

I might be bunny hopping my way to our score, but the real hero is the real Bunny behind me. This killer rabbit kept Cirque on it’s toes, and while we lost the game in the end it was Bunny leading the charge that kept it close. Good game.

Game 5: Valhalla Slayer: CDG Wins 100-91

Banshee Drained

Who knew there were this many power drainers on one map? Cirque did, and between those and a killer Banshee we were put to the test. Despite a triple kill of epic proportions by Lupes, some amazing driving and flying by Monte and Zeuz, and Max continuing to kill long after his death, it was Cirque’s game all the way. Good game.

The entire TTL team was a professional batch of classy folks who stuck together through good and bad and came out with a good game. And the exact same cane be said for KitKat and her crew of Cirque Geezers. It was an honor to share a good game with you.

-TTL OboeCrazy, TTL Bunny

Our latest recreational challenge pitted us against the Silent Knights. This challenge was a blast, as our opponents were good people. Check out TTL Bunny’s write up to hear our side of the story and catch of a summary of the action.

Written by Bunny:

An old community with a new Halo group came to us looking for a fun fight. The Silent Knights have a large gaming outstretch with a quaint little XBL division that has some great characters in it. Now, the two communities are forever linked. Fun killing has occurred.

Silent Knight armored up with people like Distorted Sky, ShadowOfDiamond, BU377is1337, GhostlyNemesis, mechTRIGUN1, xXsNiPeRsTeVeXx, and Gatsukar. TTL strapped and saddled up with TTL Xerxdeej, TTL Killer, Ma Duece 50, TTL Gunny and TTL Tortacular.

Game One: Lowball on Guardian

Lots of fighting, killing all around. No one team out-slayed the other. Gold lift and Blue Room were heavily contested. SK just couldn’t get a hold of the ball for long enough. TTL wins 50 - 9…

Game Two: Team SWAT on The Pit

Headshots and team shotting were keys here. Looks like SK has steadier hands. SK wins 50 - 41…

Game Three: Multi-flag CTF on Valhalla

Usually the middle is the key position in this game, but these two teams don’t seem to have that notion. This is usually a game that TTL takes pride in, but not this day. SK wins 1 - 0…

Game Four: Shotty Snipers on Valhalla

A first time try in H3 challenges for TTL, SK came in with the steady hand from SWAT and confidence from CTF. But, TTL camped their spots and made some smores. TTL wins 50 - 38…

Game Five: Slayer on Standoff

Riding on the wings…err, rather the wheels of their fearless leader, TTL Xerxdeej, TTL guns down SK. TTL wins 50 - 24…

A new ally has been gained from this experience with SK. Also, TTL gains a new notch in their gun belts with a 3 - 2 victory.

A thank you goes out to the large Silent Knights community, and more precisely their X-Box Live group, for some great games and good humor. All of the members in this challenge made a great example for the entire community. Please visit their site and get some games in with the group, The Silent Knights. Let me tell you, there is nothing silent about them.