Here an interview of the temporary sub support of Millenium Team : Hugo «Dioud» Padioleau. With him, Millenium come back on the current situation of the team plus his real position about it. Then, he talk about the progression of esport and competitive level on League of Legends.

Exclusive Interview

Obodrel : First of all, hi and thanks you for answering our questions. I think most of people already know you, but could you still say them who you are ?



Dioud : Hi everyone, I’m Hugo Padioleau aka Dioud, former support of the team aAa during the 4 last weeks of the LCS Spring. In the real life, i’m 22 from Nantes and made a Commercial License.



You just joined M as support to replace Migxa. How do you feel this arrival and the atmosphere ?



Dioud : After Migxa Departure, Doigby called me to discuss about the fact and what’s going to happen. As we spoke, I learnt M was preparing for some events, then i thought it was sad that 4 people suffer from only the one who left by himself. It’s not something whishable for a team, this is the reason why I offered my help. Off course it also help me to still have a good level in premade.

I won’t hide that playing back with ShLaYa and Doigby, 2 good friends of mine, is fine, I won’t say no to the opprtunity. The fact is that the atmoshpere is good because of this, we have funny time, we’re laughing hard, and tease each other. It’s cool to play in such a way, it helps players enhancement.



As Doigby and ShLaYa did, you participated in PGW 2013 with GSU Gaming. How was this offline event where you were already part of ShLaYa’s team ?



Dioud : This was the first event I’ve made with ShLaYa, Nono and Virtual ever. Those 3 who were my teamates in the former aAa lineup. It’s always funny to meet people for the first time and see who they are behind the screen. The most enriching thing is to discover how people react after either a loss or a win. The stakes aren’t the same so as the reacts are; on this point, I wasn’t surprised, this event was awesome, especially after our second place.



It wasn’t your first offline tournament, your participated in Gamers Assembly 2012 with LDLC. Could make a little comeback on this event to tell us what you felt there ?



Dioud : It was my first ( big ) LAN. I must admit I was quite impressed there. This was vast and my first Head to Head against internationals pro players, hmm stressful ! But it’s also these feelings which make us love this kind of event. The more the time goes, the more we realize that they are beatable, that they are just like us. In order to make this, do not be under pressure ! This LAN was for me like a beginning : no a really fine outcome, but the love of compétition which start and which doesn’t allow us to stop, we want always more !



Your path in eSport is not that simple. After PGW and GSU you played for Epsilon Esport and then came back with GSU with Doigby’s Axe. In the end this is with aAa that you became known as one of the best support, some say the aAa’s Bjergsen. How did you felt the time in Köln ?



Dioud : To be honest, everything went fast between the momentum when aAa asked me and when I arrived there in Köln ( about 3 days i think ). That’s the day I realized I just became a « pro ». You didn’t realize at first, it’s only when you meet Riot staff, the live stuff, fans, interviews, pictures etc, that it comes to mind the huge thing it is. I was lucky to play with people I already known. You just have to settle back the habits. That’s one of the reason why the matchs’ outcome were not that bad. It’s a whole thing, it’s not just me.



No use to see back more, let’s go onto something more private. I don’t know if you were already asked this question, but have you some favorite champion in LoL, and if you get one, which one and why?



Dioud : I got a favorite character, yes, I would say Thresh because you can see such impressive plays with him, when they are successful off course. But, Janna is nearly at the same floor. The character’s mechanics are interesting and you’re most of the time in a bad matchup whenn you pick her. That’s the moment when you have to play a skill matchup, it’s kind of a challenge !



Nowadays, you’re playing botlane with Nanouk as your ADC for Millenium. How do you consider the futur in this team, and what do you think of the solidarité that these players are trying to develop ?



Dioud : To my mind, I’m not seeing myself with any team yet, either M or another. I want to be able to decide what please to me. I’m helping Millenium, but I am still considering myself searching a team, and this point was clear since the beginning of our collaboration. With S4 I don’t want to make a mistake. The best way to regrets what you choose is to rush. I don’t know what M players are considering myself, it is not on our business yet. We’re playing, going duo and premade, just a healthy rhythm. It’s more like a mutual assistance ! However I appreciate players and the atmosphere, that a good mark for Millenium’s team. I hope they will be able to keep this state of mind as long as possible.



Do you think being a united team is the key to success as used to be the GG and EG until recently, or that, on the contrary, one is forced to make some changes when the player’s level decline ?



Dioud : I find it very important to be a united team. But then, few are the players who will manage to keep the same level over a long time. Some will improve when others will decline. Only then one can see the real aspect of a team : How to react ? Force yourself to play with someone who can’t get to his initial level is more frustrating than anything and I can relate to the necessity of substituting a player. Every player has his ups and downs, we’re not robots, it just need to be dealt with. Personally, it is essential to make specific trains when it seems that my level is going down. Up to now it worked and I hope it will continue. I believe that every player who became « pro » must be able to make his self-criticism, but it’s just to my mind !



How would you analyse the performances of those LCS Summer teams after all the line up changes we got to witness and who, in your opinion, is the favorite for the final victory?



Dioud : I must say I didn’t keep track of all the line up changes as there were so many of them (far too many as far as I’m concerned). Anyway, the results speak for itselves, there are two teams whose players stayed the same for around one year known as SK and MYM which are 7th and 8th. The NiP substitutes are huge but I put their success down to Bjergsen. Gambit is slowly getting back on its feet but the botlane isn’t one of their strong point anylonger. Overall, I think change can do some good but to some extent only. As for the final victory, I would picture Alternate or Fnatic (depending on whether they go for some suicidal strategies or not).



Do you follow the LCS NA and the asian leagues? If so, what do you think of their respective metas?



Dioud : I occasionally watch both of them. I mostly try to take more and more interest in the OGN. I don’t have much to say about the NA, but the asians will never cease to amaze us. There wasn’t a game from which I didn’t learn a thing. For me, the results of the World Cup already leave no doubt, whether C9 or the future EU top 1, neither of them will stand a chance to hit the podium. Alone in the EU ladder, Fnatic and GG may be able to face them as they could play against them, but except from them, I don’t think so.



Not so long ago, we heard sOAZ explaining that the new meta was a AD bruiser mid and a AP top. What is your opinion in regard to this statement knowing that M more or less takes on this meta with two sololaners?



Dioud : I’m not really fond of talking about meta lately, it can change at anytime. The double AD is something we often see with the asian, for instance. However I really like the AP top, it’s finally changing and it works pretty well. But I’m not enough of a meta strategist to really delve more into it. :3



If there were to be a new way to play you would like to bring out, what would it be and why?



Dioud : Ahah here is a good one. I have thought for a while about shifting the duo lane to the mid but with a Smite support. Based on a double jungle roaming, something like that. It’s not devoted to be successful but it’s probably a way for me to feel a little more useful as a support! Especially as if I’m not mistaken, it used to be done by a EU team, but to avoid any mistake, I won’t name it. I think it can work and that it can surprise quite a few people. It’s pretty much the same theory as the one which made the success of GG (M5 at the time) and their counter jungling with Diamond’s Lee Sin. Before that, no one ever saw that, therefore they didn’t know how to play against it.



Well, thanks for everything Dioud. Do you have anything left to say for all your fans?



Dioud : In my opinion, on a competitive level, skill is necessary but fans are a powerful factor and that’s why I’ll never thank them enough for supporting and cheering me up. It works the same way with everything, everything becomes easier when you’re supported. If I am where I am today, it’s also thanks to all those people! If you have any questions or anything, do not hesistate : www.facebook.com/Dioudy . I’d also like to thank Millenium for granting me this interview and perhaps see you soon!