Behind the Username is an interview series where I ask some questions of the people I meet in and around the SEA region and local tournaments.
Today I have a chat with Nicolas '[fray] ChadMann' Russo, Team Manager of Frenetic Array and a moderator of SC2SEA.com.
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To get this rolling, how long have you been involved with Starcraft, and have you always played Zerg?
I've been playing starcraft since I was a wee lad on a dial up modem...(so 1998??) Through SC1 and BroodWar I played Protoss. I loved the way they played in BW and the match ups felt amazing playing Protoss.
I did start playing Protoss in StarCraft 2 but the race never really felt the same. It was easy but didn't suit the style of play I enjoyed most. I played around with Zerg a lot as a preferred offrace and eventually made the decision to switch. I've never looked back. The swarm has me now.
How did you decide upon your username?
it's a two part nick name... When I was younger, I had a nick name of Chad.. Not sure why, just kinda stuck for years and years... Eventually I was playing games with the moniker 'Chad'. Then one day a mate of mine, who went by the name DogMann thought it would be cool if a few of us used the Mann suffix on our names.. I liked the look of ChadMann and so it kinda stuck. it's probably been my go-to tag for the better part of a decade.
You've now played SC2 over all three expansions and, as we all acclimatise to the new meta, what are your thoughts on the three incarnations of Starcraft in terms of the progression of gameplay?
Wings has a special place in my heart. It was a great time to play Zerg and the meta & game felt really fun, fresh and like there was so much more to explore. Heart of the Swarm started out really well for me also, I loved the changes to the game but I feel the meta there got really stagnant. I really reignited my passion to the game during the last few months and had probably my best season on ladder towards the end (in regards to ladder points, rank, confidence in my play and improvement overall).
Legacy is still so new, I feel like it's a lot more fun already but I'm quite concerned with some elements of the balance and design. It will be exciting to explore it when I have the time to play and watch others far better than me explore and learn this new game. I do see a lot of potential and from what I've heard with Blizzard moving forward, I think it's going to be an amazing game for years to come.
Please describe your playstyle in ten words or less.
I like to have fun
A lot of us, whether in tournaments or on ladder, have games which stick in our memory as being more fun or entertaining than others. Do you have a war story or favourite match you'd like to share or brag about?
Yeah, a few infact. Taking the few scalps I have off 'good' players always sits highly with me. But one of the more memorable and fun games was at my first ACL on the gold coast back in 2012 I think? vs eve.Signs. I was playing Protoss back then and had a pretty tidy +2 blink stalker build that I used to great affect in that game.. but he always traded well enough to just hold on and eventually his skill and experience out did my unprepared strategies. I didn't think I would make it past the blink stalker timing, I'd either lose or win. In fact I think it was one of the longest games in ACL for quite some time...
When the game continued for so long, I didn't really know what to do. Credit to him, he played amazingly and it was a super fun game to play (that I eventually lost) but it felt so good to take such a strong player to the ropes and almost clinch what would have been one of the bigger upsets at the tournament. Other than that, the few successful 5gate Chargelot games I've done have been great fun.
I've had a few great memorable games though. One in a clan war vs ToR in my first week of switching to Zerg. it was a masters/GM level tournament and as TA was so confident I went out first (a lowly diamond) ToR responded in kind with a solid diamond zerg that I dispatched in a nice macro game. But the next game was verse one of their GMs (I can't remember who) and as a avid fan of Targa and his banelings, I pulled out the old Targa banes. While I didn't win the game with that, I managed to give myself an unloseable lead that I held onto moving in roach macro and sweeping my opponent out of the game. The cheers and support I got from the TA guys will stick with me for a long time. The pride I felt to represent my clan so well and give them a great lead in the clan war was fantastic (I was quickly dispatched after that by Pezz).
Another great game was in the BSG Clan League finals. I managed to take out two opponents and was in match point against a great Protoss I'd lost to previously. I managed to replicate the great Pinder's Poo build relatively well (Chargelot/archon with Archon toilet). And took an amazing position to force a favourable vortex to win the game, series and the tournament for my clan.
I missed out on the Vortex days =p
With all the games you've played, on ladder and in tournaments, who would you consider your greatest rival at the present time?
hmmm.. Hard question.. I think a lot of people have a rivalry against me, but I've not really got anything against anyone in the scene... Most people are really great to play with and I just enjoy the match. However, I have a personal vendetta against bad protoss players that have been propped up by imba builds and stupid timings. It always sucks to watch someone with incredibly bad mechanics and skill able to beat someone that has somewhat of an idea about this game.
Ice of recent has had a bit of hype against me. Cheesing me out of a few games and every time I hold his cheese I toy with him and show him the power of my macro play.. heheheheh.
Miles is a great guy and I love my games vs him more than anyone.. We've had quite a few games (recently on ladder too) and I always really enjoy playing against him.
Hang on... back to the 'game that sticks in your head' question...
Playing sentry only vs Pinder at ACL Gold Coast and winning. pylon blocking his expo's and stealing gasses to keep the gas lead and take a 3/3/3 advantage going into the final fight where after losing his sentries, he remaxed with Archons.. I'd rebound the hallucinate key to the hallucinate probe key and surrounded his archons with about 1000 hallucinated probes, all while my sentries tickled his archons to death... That was a ******* amazing fun game (the series was 1-1 and I forfeited the third. ... game 1 was a 20 min no rush where I maxed sky toss and he made a vortex and archons and rekt me.
How could I forget that game ^_^
That definitely sounds like a fun game =D
I'd like to shift focus for now onto your team, Frenetic Array. Please tell me about fray's history with Starcraft 2 and your part in it
Ahh Frenetic Array owner came to me a few years ago offering to bring a team I had (Carnage eSports) over to fray. I decided that if I had complete control over the roster I could still support the guys I've decided to back and support so I brought the majority of the Carnage roster with me to fray.
The team grew from there with the additions of Iaguz and Petraeus. We very quickly had a really strong team and the motivation within the team to improve was amazing. I couldn't have hoped for a better team as a manager. The players were so motivated to play and improve. Soon we were arguably the strongest overall team in Australia and South East Asia. However the team grew outside what an Australian organisation could get to, the international offers came in and I was so proud to be able to help these guys take the next step into the international arena. This saw us revisit our line up and completely relaunch the team to what it is today. We have a great bunch of talented players with stacks of potential and skill. I really believe some of these guys could be the next Petraeus or Iaguz etc.
Merging with the NZ guys was great and I am so happy to have the guys on board. The team now feels like it's in a great place and while I'm not around anywhere near as much as I would like - the team is improving and learning together, which is awesome
My part in the team is irrelevant without the amazingly talented and dedicated guys. Essentially I act as a mental coach, keeping focus, dealing with tilt and trying my best to motivate and boost the passion!
Before I touch more on the present day, would you be happy to share with us a bit more about your first team, Carnage eSports?
A mate of mine was playing in their BattleField team and when their owner expressed an interest in StarCraft 2 I was contacted. I spoke with my good mate EdgE and we formed the team together. Hand picking some great potential talent and some of the stalwarts of the scene at that time. The team was a big learning curve for me as after a few months we found out the owner had been stealing from our sponsorship support and he vanished. Leaving me as one of the few people willing to try and keep the organisation afloat.
I managed to bring it from the brink of collapse to a part of Team Razer and a relatively successful org. However, with very few people willing to step up to make it happen the work load got too much and when I was given the chance to move onto Frentic Array I took it. It was a massive decision for me to take and something I still look back on. I was so proud of Carnage, but Frenetic Array presented greater opportunities for the players I managed, so with their best interests at heart, I took on the change to fray. I made sure I set up some sort of management in Carnage on my way out, but the team was never the same.
As an SC2 team manager, what are your thoughts on Legacy of the Void, and the potential opportunities the expansion might bring?
I think the great HotS players are still going to be great players in LotV if they put in the effort. it's a great reset and can level the playing field if experienced players sit back on their mechanics. If the up-coming players put in the effort to find the stronger strategies and stay ahead of the meta while improving their skill they can certainly topple the 'stronger' or historically more successful players. So in that regard, it's great for me to do what I can to motivate exploration in the game and practice to learn the meta.
The fray guys have been great with sharing stacks of reps and discussing games as much as possible. Sure there is heaps more we can be doing but we have the right footings and I think with some new inhouse practice and theorycrafting sessions we might just be able to take a step up again within the ranks of SEA teams.
I also believe there is a lot of support coming down from Blizzard and the future looks really good for the competitive scene.. Essentially, I only see good things. However, with most eSports titles - I do think the clock for this game is certainly ticking and there will be a time when a new RTS comes out as the go-to strategy game.. I hope to see you all on AOE7SEA.com >.<
Haha, SC3SEA.com more likely
I'd like to throw in some questions about the Oseanic Starcraft 2 Championship series. Firstly, taking a look at the current rankings, what are your thoughts on them? Any favourites or early predictions for the grand finale this year?
Solar is going to win and not drop a map. As far as the SEA contingent, I think Iaguz, Petraeus, NXZ, Wally and PiG and likely to be our heroes on the day. Depending on the bracket luck I hope we can get some SEA representation into the top 4.
I hope so too!
Of the various partnered OSC tournaments, which do you get a chance to keep up with/enjoy the most?
hmmm.. With my schedule at the moment - it's hard to keep track of any of them. Probably SEACraft though. it's always a great tournament and Philosopher is an amazing guy that deserves more credit for his efforts. (along with all of the OSC team and tournament organisers!! )
Agreed wholeheartedly. Shoutout to Philosopher!
On the topic of competitive events, what is your favourite Starcraft 2 tournament format - both as a player and team manager? (i.e Daily Cups, Single/Double Elim, GSL/WCS style ongoing group stage, round robin, etcetera?)
I've always enjoyed getting the most opportunity to play as possible, so less single elimination and more group tournaments > bracket play. like the ACL Format etc... I've also always enjoyed team leagues as in this 1v1 game it's the only time you feel as though you're playing for more than just yourself. The team spirit the forms around team leagues is amazing and the strategy for me as a manager to pick a line up really comes into play (which is great fun too!!)
The team league was really exciting to follow, and it would be good to see more seasons of it in the future.
Would you share with us all a bit more about yourself outside of SC2? Favourite food, music, pastimes etc?
Yeah, Ahhh I live just outside Byron Bay where I work in Real Estate. I have a family with two beautiful girls (Sienna 6 and Grace 1). I love all sorts of music, mostly upbeat stuff that can get me up and grooving! As far as pastimes, I love to swim and surf but spend so much of my time working and spending time with my family.
Outside of that I try and squeeze in a few games here and there and being a part of this great community. Food, hmmm there are so many amazing things to eat in this region. Famous for it's beautiful beaches and amazing food. One of my favourite restaurants in town is an incredible Sushi place. So I guess Sushi must be one of my favourite foods ^_^
On a scale of 1 - 'Cleaned sinuses', how much wasabi do you use?
0. Not much of a Wasabi fan to be honest.. sometimes I mix a bit in with my soya sauce. But not alot. This particular restaurant has such amazingly tasty food there is barely any need to put anything on it.
On a more personal note, is there a moment in time which you consider particularly important or formative for who you are as a player and person now?
Within SC2? not really, it's something that I've grown with slowly. As far as personally, certainly. There have been numerous moments in which I felt myself growing as a person. Each time I take a lesson and try and move forward. I'm a very positive person and try my best to be supportive of others and their endeavours. Positivity and having control in your life have been incredible life lessons. No excuses, just control to find the fix and mitigate problems as much as possible.
Finally feel free to self-promote, give sponsors shout-outs, and drop some links here if you want folks to follow you on the various social media/streaming sites
Nicolas Russo: Umm.. Just support my team and cheer for us.
@Frenetic_array or Frenetic Array on facebook.
And support all the guys in the team on twitter:
@frayPox
@fray_Crimson
@frayFlux
@frayChase
@frayRize
@tehonlyalopex
@ErosIsBad
@frayHuT
@fray_Fourby
@frayMiley
Sheldon 'Seither doesn't have twitter, cheer for him and convince him to get on the twitter hype train!! I've been @fray_ChadMann. Thanks and gl hf
Thank you for taking the time to have a chat with me today, and I wish you and your guys the best of fortune in Legacy of the Void!
Thanks mate, it's been a great interview - thanks for your time
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Seriously though, Seither mate, get a bloody Twitter. How the hell are we meant to hype you up on social media?!
Meeting Nick at ACL Melbourne was a lot of fun, and it was a pleasure to be able to put together this interview with him.
fray
Keep being awesome, and GLHF all!
___________________________________ #WhyILoveSC2: Writing articles and interviews for the OSC and Exile5.
@x5_Crescendo - follow for SC2 info, interview alerts, and fanboy gleetweets.
Last edited by x5.Crescendo; Mon, 30th-Nov-2015 at 9:38 PM.
Great interview Crescendo. Was finally good to hear from Chadmann, definitely one of the stalwarts of the community! Really looking forward to seeing how the Fray SC2 team develops in 2016
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twitter PhilosopherSC2
Every zerg who goes SH must die ~ Nemesis
Great interview. Thx James for posting and to ChadMann who is someone that has done a hell of a lot for this scene. Deserves all of our gratitude. I got a lot of respect for Frenetic Array both past and present. Looking forward to many fun games of Starcraft for years to come.
___________________________________ "Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you." - Tyrion Lannister
've had a few great memorable games though. One in a clan war vs ToR in my first week of switching to Zerg. it was a masters/GM level tournament and as TA was so confident I went out first (a lowly diamond) ToR responded in kind with a solid diamond zerg that I dispatched in a nice macro game. But the next game was verse one of their GMs (I can't remember who)
was just reminded it was Skrawl...
Thanks for the interview Crescendo was fun to think back on my time with SC2.. I have been tempted to write a tell all blog about my time with eSports. But I might save it for when its time to 'retire'.
Sick read, was amazing to go through all the team shit together back in the day Chad. You helped me too much. Also this monitor you got me is still going strong :P.
I remember that clan war with TA. Well no I don't I was sleeping the whole time. I do remember losing 4-0 in a bo7 with TAriichard. I think I still owe him a blowjob.
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