EsportsJohn Profile Blog Joined June 2012 United States 4833 Posts Last Edited: 2018-02-16 16:20:28 #1



Yin and Yang How SoA Eclipsed RPG



Written by: Midseasons





HGC Bracket and schedules on Liquipedia HGC Bracket and schedules on Liquipedia



The competition in China is constantly changing. Players move in, players move out, teams cycle in through a revolving door and bring various results and playstyles, and the metagame itself changes rapidly with each series. But in spite of the ever-shifting environment, China has managed to achieve a delicate balance.



SPT and CE perch atop the standings like final bosses while newer teams tend to struggle for even a single win. The middle tier is constantly churning though, with teams rising to the top while others sink to the bottom. In order for one team succeed, another must fail.





How SoA Eclipsed RPG



In the



On the other hand, SoA was fixed at the bottom of the standings. A team that had been established in late 2016, SoA wasn’t exactly brand new to the scene, but they hadn’t made any splashes either. That trend continued into the first phase of HGC with a months-long losing streak.



One year later, the situation





Start Over Again







SoA’s strength as a team has always been their resilience and adaptability. This was even true during their eight-month loss streak, and has helped push the team to improve ever since. SoA isn’t the best team in China—that spot remains locked in a battle between ChallEnge and Super Perfect Team—but they are a definite contender for the top three. Yet as high as SoA has come, the team continues to evolve. SoA does better every phase, and we’ve yet to see their peak.



, broadcaster for HGC China, is one of the most passionate voices about bringing Chinese HotS to the west. Kendric proudly identifies SoA as his favorite team, and he was quick to name SoA’s individual talent.



SoA has had a roster change every single season with only uncleG and FeIye remaining the core players, and season after season did they improve. Right now their tank player LCLONG is said to be one of the region's very best, but he needs a bit more time to fit in. Furthermore, their ranged Assassin Moli is incredibly talented and only 16 years of age—he still goes to school.





Rocket Propelled Grenade







In contrast with SoA’s evolution, RPG is a team set in its ways. The core roster has been playing together a long time. Originally, they started out with mixed results as



Unfortunately, roster longevity is a mixed blessing in Heroes of the Storm. Many of the longest standing teams having unparalleled synergy but eventually burn out their creativity. In the west, teams like Cloud9 and Team Liquid have suffered from long-term rosters, and in a quick-paced region like China, it’s even more important to remain flexible.



RPG has strong players on its roster, including two BlizzCon veterans, but their accomplishments in 2017 aren’t translating to the new year. This may have to do in part with the battleground changes and RPG’s admittedly mediocre macro play, but it seems like the team has been unable to adjust to the metagame at all. In Phase 1, RPG boasted the most feared Illidan player in China—but where is Illidan in the current meta?







Kendric couldn’t quite place his finger on RPG’s problem either. Try as he might, he was unable to come up with a sound explanation for their slump, but he did have a few theories.



They are the only team in China who is relying on the same roster as last year—not a single player change. Their roster consists of gifted individual players like loktar (legendary ranged assassin who was used by CE as a sub at BlizzCon) and sa (support player who was used by SPT as a sub at BlizzCon). Their front line, chicken and wang, used to be strong in 2017, but in 2018, they look much weaker and less impactful, most notably due to small hero pools and predictable playstyles.



According to the Chinese casters, they've been scrimming the least of all teams—a potential explanation to their disappointing results. However, as crazy as it sounds...on a good day, they can beat anyone in the league.





Chinese New Year



One part of the phase ends, but it’s a new year for the teams in China. Win or lose, the delicate balance between them will remain constant. It’s up to the players themselves to decide whether to embrace the game and improve or give in to the negative aspects and fall into obscurity.



SoA is a team with an enormous amount of heart, and that heart is named uncleG. Watch any given SoA VoD from any point in the team’s career, and uncleG’s positive energy is unmistakable. The team captain has a signature smile no matter the outcome, and that spirit has become synonymous with SoA over time. Right now, they’re a fourth place team with the potential to become a first place team, and that’s capturing hearts around the globe.



RPG wasn’t able to take many maps this phase, but the wins they did find were decisive. Hopefully the holiday offseason will clear their heads and help them bounce back. If even one of their players can recapture that lost spark, the fire can spread to the rest of the team. RPG has the talent to win, but now they need their hearts in the game.













Fern “Midseasons” Rojas hails from Los Angeles and covered HGC China for LiquidHeroes all throughout 2017. Returning to the region has been an exciting trip for Midseasons. Follow our whole team’s Twitter for live updates and news from every region, and follow Midseasons for more on China!









The competition in China is constantly changing. Players move in, players move out, teams cycle in through a revolving door and bring various results and playstyles, and the metagame itself changes rapidly with each series. But in spite of the ever-shifting environment, China has managed to achieve a delicate balance.SPT and CE perch atop the standings like final bosses while newer teams tend to struggle for even a single win. The middle tier is constantly churning though, with teams rising to the top while others sink to the bottom. In order for one team succeed, another must fail.In the first phase of 2017 , RPG was the team to watch. Coming up from qualifying rounds, their play was fresh and eye-catching, and it was clear they had the talent and drive to threaten the top teams. Before long, RPG quickly began defeating some of the league’s more established talent, and their exciting play made them a favorite among the western HGC China fanbase.On the other hand, SoA was fixed at the bottom of the standings. A team that had been established in late 2016, SoA wasn’t exactly brand new to the scene, but they hadn’t made any splashes either. That trend continued into the first phase of HGC with a months-long losing streak.One year later, the situation has reversed entirely . These days, SoA is one of the most respected teams in the region while RPG seems unable to win a single series. This reversal of fortunes might be shocking to those who check in on China here and there, but those who watch the region closely, it’s happened gradually over time. With the playoffs approaching at the end of February, it’s worth taking another look at these teams and reflecting on what a difference a year in the Nexus makes.SoA’s strength as a team has always been their resilience and adaptability. This was even true during their eight-month loss streak, and has helped push the team to improve ever since. SoA isn’t the best team in China—that spot remains locked in a battle between ChallEnge and Super Perfect Team—but they are a definite contender for the top three. Yet as high as SoA has come, the team continues to evolve. SoA does better every phase, and we’ve yet to see their peak. Michael “KendricSwissh” Kratzel , broadcaster for HGC China, is one of the most passionate voices about bringing Chinese HotS to the west. Kendric proudly identifies SoA as his favorite team, and he was quick to name SoA’s individual talent.In contrast with SoA’s evolution, RPG is a team set in its ways. The core roster has been playing together a long time. Originally, they started out with mixed results as Team DDT . The evolution from DDT into RPG was a big step forward for the team, and they’ve been stable ever since.Unfortunately, roster longevity is a mixed blessing in. Many of the longest standing teams having unparalleled synergy but eventually burn out their creativity. In the west, teams like Cloud9 and Team Liquid have suffered from long-term rosters, and in a quick-paced region like China, it’s even more important to remain flexible.RPG has strong players on its roster, including two BlizzCon veterans, but their accomplishments in 2017 aren’t translating to the new year. This may have to do in part with the battleground changes and RPG’s admittedly mediocre macro play, but it seems like the team has been unable to adjust to the metagame at all. In Phase 1, RPG boasted the most feared Illidan player in China—but where is Illidan in the current meta?Kendric couldn’t quite place his finger on RPG’s problem either. Try as he might, he was unable to come up with a sound explanation for their slump, but he did have a few theories.One part of the phase ends, but it’s a new year for the teams in China. Win or lose, the delicate balance between them will remain constant. It’s up to the players themselves to decide whether to embrace the game and improve or give in to the negative aspects and fall into obscurity.SoA is a team with an enormous amount of heart, and that heart is named uncleG. Watch any given SoA VoD from any point in the team’s career, and uncleG’s positive energy is unmistakable. The team captain has a signature smile no matter the outcome, and that spirit has become synonymous with SoA over time. Right now, they’re a fourth place team with the potential to become a first place team, and that’s capturing hearts around the globe.RPG wasn’t able to take many maps this phase, but the wins they did find were decisive. Hopefully the holiday offseason will clear their heads and help them bounce back. If even one of their players can recapture that lost spark, the fire can spread to the rest of the team. RPG has the talent to win, but now they need their hearts in the game. Strategy