renegadesgg-blog

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Renegades take down Team Liquid after a tense game! #NALCS

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Do you believe in RNG? LCS Spring Split arrives

Renegades were originally founded as Misfits, a strong-willed and ambitious challenger team comprised of a mixed bag of solo queue standouts and former LCS professionals. Determined to qualify for the North American LCS, the hungry bunch adopted the Renegade mantle, embracing a fresh identity and ideology along the way.

Riding the encouraging support of our fans, we remained resilient until the final whistle, defeating Team Coast in five games in the NACS finals. As Renegades, our passage into North America’s most competitive League of Legends circuit was successful, becoming the then-newest members of the NA LCS.

None of which could be possible without the out pour of support of our growing fan base. Whether you’re rocking our trademark bandanna or simply sharing uplifting messages on social media, our drive for excellence is fueled by you, our supporters. We couldn’t and wouldn’t have it any other way.  You are worth every battle.

While assembling Misfits, every member had a bit to prove. But as Renegades, now inhabitants of the LCS, we look to challenge North America’s most talented League of Legends teams in history knowing full well, as has always been the case, we will have to come together to achieve our dreams. We embrace the challenges we are about to face as we continue our growth in hopes of offering you, the fans, something meaningful and true. They’ll be hurdles along the way, but no victories are won without a battle.

“Now that Renegades is in the LCS, we all have a strong desire to drive the team forward towards being as good as good is,” says Crumbz. “The benchmark for that is of course the NA LCS, any losses will only make us learn faster to get to that goal. To be honest I have never had the experience to have many fans, but while the organization is new it certainly doesn’t feel that way with so much loving support.”

“It is an honor to be in the start of something great. Thank you for all your support,” he added.

Our next adventure begins Saturday when we take on the Team Liquid at 3:00 p.m to kick off our inaugural LCS split. Get your red bandanas ready.

There’s a long road ahead, but when hasn’t there been? It won’t be easy.

Being a Renegade never is.

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Introducing the Banditos

Less than a year ago, the team that would become Renegades assembled with the intention to qualify for the North American LCS. Today, another League of Legends team under the Renegades brand declares a similar ambition, this time across the Atlantic. This time, as Banditos.

And like before, a handful of former LCS professionals and promising challenger players come from difference directions, different experiences, with one common denominator: the drive to win.

“After spending some time in the professional LoL scene, I learned a few harsh realities about the inner workings of a team,” states Ali “Alicus” Saba, who will be joining Renegades as our EU team manager. “This experience helped me determine what exactly I was looking for when it came to selecting players.

He added: “I’m really happy to have found such smart, handsome, talented and communicative individuals; and more importantly I’m incredibly excited for us all to play under Renegades. Even though we’ve had a lot of offers, it was a rather easy decision since we were looking for the perfect balance between structure and family, and we feel Renegades brings exactly that.”

The Bandito most recently seen in the LCS is Erik “Tabzz” van Helvert, a Dutch marksman who has played AD carry for Lemondogs, Alliance and this past season, Elements.

Another former LCS player, Matthew “Impaler” Taylor, joins to man the jungle. Impaler, who previously jungled for Supa Hot Crew and Team Coast, spent season five on Ex Nihilo, a Challenger team that fell short of LCS expectations this summer.

“I’m overjoyed to announce our partnership with Renegades. I’m a big fan of their American team and the promotions they do make me laugh so fucking hard,” says Impaler. “I’m looking forward to playing with a fresh roster and I hope we can show everyone we’re an organized bunch of Banditos.”

Taking up the mantle of top lane will be Barney “Alphari” Morris, who competed on teams that stood victorious in the PGL as well as ESL UK, going 19-0 with Team Infused.

Former GIANTS! Gaming substitute Marc “Caedrel” Lamont will take the reins of mid lane. Caedrel also spent time on GIANT!’s sister team, becoming the Spanish champions twice as a member of Giants Underdoges.

Rounding out the starting roster is Finnish support player Aleksi “Hiiva” Kaikkonen. Hiiva spent this past season with Team Nevo, Gamers2 and Denial eSports before heading over for a short stint with paIN Gaming.

Marcin “Xaxus” Maczka and “DxAlchemist” Bui will also be joining the roster as substitutes for top and mid, respectively.

We are excited to provide the infrastructure and support to such talented and potential-filled roster over in Europe. With the competitive fire in each of our new Banditos, we are confident in our new team’s ability to succeed during the upcoming 2016 European Challenger Series Spring Split.

Manager: Alicus Head Coach: Daku Top: Alphari Jungle: Impaler Mid: Caedrel ADC: Tabzz Support: Hiiva Sub/Top: Xaxus Sub/Mid: DxAlchemist

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As our inaugural split as a member of the North American League of Legends Champion Series (LCS) creeps around the corner, we are pleased to finally announce the acquisition of European AD carry Aleš “Freeze” Kněžínek.

The newest Renegade, who has been around the professional scene since 2012, spent this past season in the European LCS as a member of the Copenhagen Wolves. While leading CW to the quarterfinals of the 2015 Spring Split playoffs, Freeze became recognized as one of the top marksman in the region, gaining additional praise for his highlights on exciting champions such as Kalista and Draven.

“I always wanted to try playing in NA since it’s something completely new,” says Freeze on why he pursued the opportunity to play in NA. “New culture, new country, new players to defeat and dominate.”

Freeze joined our team in Korea for six weeks for our offseason boot camp, taking the opportunity to gel with the team and prepare for the upcoming split.

He added: “Renegades seemed very friendly to me and I know Alex and Crumbz very well which I feel like will help me with the transfer.”

The addition of Freeze will complete our roster with four returning faces from our LCS qualification in August: top laner Oleksii “RF Legendary” Kuziuta, jungler Alberto “Crumbz” Rengifo, mid laner Alexey “Alex Ich” Ichetovkin and support player Maria “Remilia” Creveling.

The NA LCS returns on Saturday, Jan. 16, with Renegades scheduled to face off against Team Liquid at 3:00 PM PST. While you cheer along your favorite Renegades, why not put some of them together and win some cash at Alphadraft?

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After getting swept in the quarterfinals of 2015 Spring Split Playoffs, Counter Logic Gaming made a handful of changes heading into the Summer Split. The most intriguing acquisition: head coach Chris Ehrenreich, the first NA LCS coach with a traditional background in sports.

The 28-year-old Ehrenreich was thrust into the role shortly before the start of the split, having to make most adjustments on the fly while learning the ins and outs of his own team and the scene. Under the tutelage of him and strategic coach Tony “ZikzLol” Gray, CLG saw its most successful LCS split to date, leading to the organization’s first Worlds appearance in three years. Ehrenreich’s stern, authoritative and team-first philosophy quickly became favorable within the community, crediting his coaching style as one of the key remedies for the lack of wholeness that plagued previous iterations of CLG.

It’s been two months since his departure from CLG, which can feel like an eternity in esports. And to jump start the next year of esports, we were able to sit down with Ehrenreich to talk about what he’s been up to and some of his thoughts on several ongoing discussions within the scene.

After your departure from CLG you mentioned that you’d like to stick around the scene and pursue the chance to coach again. What have you been doing this preseason to prepare for your next opportunity? What’s your career outlook in esports for this next year?

I take pretty detailed notes on all my daily activities, and I keep a goal/failure “journal” at the end of every day. So most of my early offseason was spent reviewing the time I spent with CLG, identifying places I needed to improve and grow, and then coming up with ways I thought would best accomplish that next go around. Especially our boot camp and Worlds experience showed particularly large weaknesses in my ability to handle the position, so I spent the most time reviewing notes and considering ways I could have handled things differently.

Also took a lot of time off to spend time with my wife. Work/life balance in esports isn’t great, and I definitely failed at that more than anything else I think. It’s one thing that gave me pause and made me reconsider actually staying in the scene.

As far as outlook for next year, hopefully good. I had some interesting offers and a ton of incredibly good conversations with people in the scene. I didn’t spend a lot of time networking during my first split so getting to just have in depth conversations with a lot of people in the space was really refreshing.

What is your opinion on the dual coaching setup CLG had? Were there any issues specific to you not being the “strategic coach” as well? What are some pointers or bits of advice you have for Team SoloMid’s coaching staff, primarily head coach KC Woods, to make their arrangement a success?

I think the structure itself is actually pretty good. It’s really beneficial for both parties because they can mentor each other and make up for each other’s weaknesses while they both grow into more complete coaches. There are a lot of skills teachers/traditional coaches can bring to guys who have spent a lot of time amassing analytical game knowledge, and vice-versa. Just takes a lot of work to make it a successful relationship!

Strategically I was lucky Tony has such a good game mind. I definitely got some odd looks from players from time to time! I once called Darshan’s TP plays a “show of military force” – that became a meme pretty quick. But overall I tried to admit when I didn’t know something which I think conveyed respect for the amount of knowledge the players have about the game (it’s a lot!). I’m actually really lucky because now I have a great foundation of game knowledge that I didn’t have coming into the job, especially because Tony and Zaq are naturally really good teachers.

I think TSM is a whole different beast culturally. I think he’ll do really well there! However, with the players and staff they have assembled there’s probably no excuse not to win – and that can lead to a lot of pressure to perform for everyone. Everyone knows how that kind of pressure can sour an environment when things don’t go well. So maybe focusing on the pressure that puts on the players would be my only advice, but I have no doubts he’s well aware of that, he comes from one of the most prestigious athletic schools in the country. Oh, also, don’t think you can one versus one any of your players, you can’t. I tried and failed already.

What are some of the things you learned or picked up while coaching CLG that have helped you become a better coach?

The obvious answer is game knowledge. You really can’t understate its importance. If Phil Jackson went to go coach a Bronze V team it isn’t like he could just magically take them to LCS, haha.

In this past season of Western League of Legends we’ve seen the role of a coach grow tremendously and become an integral part of many team’s success. What are some of your visions, ideas or hopes for the coaching role in esports this next year?

I think for teams who can do it, bring in someone with outside experience. Doesn��t really matter how detailed their background is, and if they don’t have game knowledge that’s fine, there is a lot current players and, more importantly, staff can learn from them. Anything is better than nothing; strive for staff development the same way we strive for player development.

I definitely don’t like the “traditional sports does it so esports should too” argument. It needs the addendum of “…because its good for and applies to esports.” Blindly copying something just doesn’t work. The same goes for people when they speak about the Korean scene.

There is massive room to flesh out the coaching and support infrastructure in our region. Teams should look to reinvest in their current staff for sure. Either send them to school or bring in people with experience to help train them and teach them new skills. I don’t know many industries where you simply stop learning because you got the job and teams should look to help facilitate that with their coaching staff (it’s what they’re doing for players by having coaches in the first place!).

Recently Riot has announced their plan to shift to from a best-of-one setup to a best-of-three format for the NA LCS starting with the Summer Split. The European LCS will also be changing it up, moving to a best-of-two setup. Which setup do you fee is the most ideal? What kind of coaching changes do you anticipate with these new formats?

From a coaching perspective Bo1 is horrid and boring, so any change is good change. Good Lord was I glad when the regular season ended. Never felt like we could try out a different strategy because if you lost with it that was it. You lost and you don’t get to fall back onto your comfort strats. LCS stage play is so much different from scrims it takes all the adaptation and strategy and mental resilience out of the equation.

As far as most ideal? I’m a fan of more games, so Bo3. I’m also American so the Bo2 format is weird and rather unsatisfactory, ties are lame. Ideal is a whole different ballpark though, and I’m not a League Ops guy so my opinion is just that: opinion. Pretty uninformed one too, sadly.

They both place a much bigger emphasis on preparation and a coach’s ability to respond under pressure and be a true leader. A Bo1 is very easy to “cheese” or come out with some unexpected strategy and just win a game off that. Doing something unexpected consistently is much more difficult. It gives teams a chance to showcase their ability to respond to adversity quickly and with a level head. It definitely gives coaches more of a chance to make an impact on the team during game day.

Right now coaching LCS feels a lot like boxing: you spend all week getting your guys ready, prepping as best you can, then you send them on stage to get punched in the face repeatedly while you watch from the crowd. Was one of the more frustrating parts of being an LCS coach, actually. I really respect CS:GO for having in-game coaches available to players.

Speaking of changes, with the venture capitalists buying into the NA LCS and Challenger circuit, more resources are coming into the hands of North American teams. Thinking as an executive, what are some of the organizational changes or practices would you put forth to aid the development of your own team?

Most of these teams are looking into multiple esports, so I’d establish something like an “Athletic Director” in the collegiate field for them. Help coordinate branding, culture, paperwork, staffing, and compliance across all teams. Really lame stuff, I know, but they’re useful.

Ultimately like I said earlier, invest in all of your staff – not just the players (though they definitely deserve it too). Hire lawyers, compliance officers, all those unsexy positions that the public doesn’t need to hear about, and never will if you get good ones.

Establish budgets for your staff to work with. There are a lot of cool untapped ideas as far as performance equipment, practice setups, etc., that aren’t easy to implement without a budget. Invest into your teams beyond just salaries. Hire great people and give them the freedom to do great things for your organization.

With two-thirds of the NA LCS Spring Split rosters projected to be imported players from Europe and Asia, it’s fair to say that domestic prospects have some growing to do. What would be your own approach to start developing more homegrown NA talent? What are some of the disadvantages of importing too much as a region?

I hope the imports never stop coming, then I can say I was part of the last real NA team to win an LCS split!

Jokes aside, I think importing players is fine. I’d prefer importing ones who spoke English because you lose out on some of the personal connections being part of a team brings if you can’t even communicate together, but even that can be overcome. Yes, NA talent needs to develop. Bringing in imports just makes their competition better. Sink or swim at that point. Ember’s model, if what half they say is true, is the one I’d copy to drive home grown development. It’s just very hard to carry on those ideals when everyone immediately jumps down your throat at every chance they get. The world is too cynical, haha. I wish them the best of luck and nothing but success personally.

Imports (NA vs EU vs imports) honestly is a fan discussion. Coaches care about player development. If you give me five young guys my only measure of success is if they’re better athletes and people at the end of my tenure with them. Where they hail from, or go back to, at that point isn’t my concern. Do I send these kids back to the world better than I found them? How much better? In what ways? Those are the only questions I have to have positive answers to in order to sleep well at night. So to me, there’s no disadvantage of importing too many players from somewhere else. They worked hard enough to get noticed by our region, let them come if they want to.

Who were the biggest winners of the NA offseason and why?

Ohh such a hard question, the entire region improved drastically. I’d say TSM & IMT. It’s hard to pick any single one of the top 4-5 teams, no way to call a clear winner between those two until games are played (and the rest of the offseason rosters are announced).

TSM got Doublelift and YellOwStaR. YellOwStaR is lauded as one of the best leaders in the West, and if Doublelift came out tomorrow and said I was the worst coach he’s ever had and I looked funny I still wouldn’t have anything bad to say about him. His work ethic and dedication is undeniable. He’s very much the Kobe Bryant of our region, in my opinion. They kept Bjergsen, and got the best NA candidate they could for top. Rounded it out with an excellent support staff from prestigious organizations within their respective fields. I’m not sure what else you could ask for.

IMT put together a stellar roster out of absolute nothingness. I don’t think there’s a single LCS team who wouldn’t be ecstatic to have that roster and coaching staff, and it was put together by a guy who just waltzed into the scene out of nowhere. They built an entire organization filled to the brim with talent in almost no time flat. Sure, money helps, but there are plenty of people with money who still make really bad decisions. IMT managed to, by all accounts, avoid those pitfalls.

That isn’t to say both teams don’t have immense amount of work to do to “mesh,” but they did everything possible to set themselves up for success. Can’t see who else I’d put above them, but definitely can’t pick between them either.

What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned thus far in your esports career?

Don’t buy furniture in California if you’re from the east coast! Or if you do: don’t suck at your job.

Real advice/lesson: try to come with the perspective that everyone, no matter what, is coming from a good place. Esports is filled with people who are insanely passionate about what they’re doing (especially Rioters, despite the community hate the company tends to generate). Appreciate and respect it, you’ll have a much better time.

Any shoutouts or anything to add?

Shoutouts to Travis as well as Damien from Team Liquid. They both gave me tons of really good advice and were two of the more welcoming people in esports that I met despite the endless hard time I gave both of them. Same for HyperX and Razor, I don’t have sponsor obligations anymore but they both always seemed to go far out of their way to interact with the team in a positive way. Always more than just a “business relationship” with those companies so yeah, they’re good people as far as I’m concerned.

With the NA LCS poised to return in a few weeks, spice up your viewing experience by putting together your dream team on AlphaDraft for the chance to win some paper.

This interview has been edit for clarity.

Photos via Riot Games Flickr

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The Journey

As the wheels lifted off the tarmac, hundreds of people shifted uncomfortably in their seats attempting to sleep, their minds unable to rest as they focused on the excitement of their journey. In 1770, it was probably not so different for the sailors starting their voyage of exploration with Captain Cook. The ropes creaked and the sails cracked as the wind took the ship across the ocean to discover new lands. Unlike Cook’s voyage long ago, the sounds of this journey were not marked by the snapping of canvas or crashing of waves for this vessel’s medium was not the ocean, but rather the sky. The passengers instead heard the voice of the pilot as he announced “We are expecting an ontime arrival with an estimated travel time of thirteen hours.” The pilot’s voice faded, but five minds were not so focused on sleep, or even the length of their journey. Rather, these five minds, each with its own excitement, dreamt of the coming weeks.  As the cabin lights dimmed and the last pillow was handed out by the flight attendants, Justin “JKS” Savage, Chad “Spunj” Burchill, Luke “Havoc” Paton, Aaron “AZR” Ward, and Yaman “Yam” Ergenekon rested comfortably. Their focus was not on the plane or the pillows, instead they all focused on a town, in a desert, in the United States of America: Las Vegas.

The City

Some speak of it with telling excitement, others with hushed whispers. There are things that happen there that no one talks about and if they do tell their story it would only be after several shots of liquor. Even after lubrication, the conversation would be tense, the teller would be uneasy, his eyes shifting around him as he looked for who else could be listening. It is a place fortunes are made and lost. A town that tests morals, if there are any left at all. At night and into the morning there are lights, dancing, and drink. In the late mornings, people stumble out of hotel and casino doors shielding their blurry eyes from the brightness of the desert sun, each wincing at the heat as their heads swim in the revelry from the night before. It is a town for some to forget, and others to remember. For the five Renegades flying high above the Pacific, it is a place for their dreams to be realized.

The Renegades

Ninety days. The time scale bounced around their heads as all five Renegades stood outside the airport in Las Vegas. The heat shimmered from the concrete, the sun reflected off the buildings, and huge sparkled the glass pyramid in front of them. Spunj pulled his red bandanna from his back pocket and tied it around his neck, lifting it above his nose he glanced up at the sky, “Sand storm coming.” The other four glanced where he looked, each nodded their agreement, pulling the bandannas over their faces they swung their bags on their shoulders and walked towards the waiting city.

A cab pulled up beside them on the road. The passenger window rolled down, a man, his face ageless and covered in innumerable wrinkles, leaned over and asked, “Where to?”

“The Downtown Grand,” JKS spoke from behind his bandana, “got room for all of us mate?”

“Depends; how long you here for? Only got room for so much luggage,” The cabbie peered out the window looking for their bags.

“Ninety days,” Havoc spoke as he raised his bag, “We came to work.”

The cabbie nodded quickly, “Throw em’ in the back then, I can take all of you. The Downtown Grand you said? Must be serious to be staying there, that places costs a pretty penny.”

“Our employers treat us well,” AZR said as waited for the others to load their bags in the trunk of the cab, “Besides, the Downtown Grand was made for the best.”

“Right you are,” The old man squinted through the sun’s glare at him as he spoke, “Elvis stayed there, as did Ali. They say walking those halls you can feel the presence of greatness. You better, given the price of the place,” the old man cackled to himself, “The beds better be made of clouds for that much money.”

The Renegades climbed into the cab. The last door swung shut and the cabbie took off. He sped through the line of cars waiting at the airport and into the city. A few minutes later, passing a giant golden lion, the cabbie slowed to a stop, “Better hurry gents, looks like a storm’s coming.”

Yam leaned forward, “You don’t have the date do you mate? I’m all messed up from the flight.”

“It’s the twenty eighth,” The old man peered at him, “You never told me what you’re here for.”

“Been too long since there was a new champion in this place,” Yam looked around at the other Renegades, “thought it was about time someone changed that.”

The cabbie grinned, his wrinkled face weirdly spread. The Renegades stood shoulder to shoulder as the cabbie sped off returning back the way they had come. Spunj shifted the hat on his head, “You ready boys? The Turner League isn’t going to win itself.” The Renegades nodded and one by one walked into the hotel. As door slid shut behind them the first bit of sand scattered against the glass.

With upcoming events with Counter Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends, spice up your viewing experience with a bit of AlphaDraft. Put together your dream lineup and win some cash prizes.

For all of Singularity’s content check out his website.

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Today we’d like to announce the acquisition of Team ApeX, a young and gifted team deriving from Gigantic, a free-to-play MOBA in its beta stages.

“We are extremely honored to be part of an organization like Renegades, says team manager and substitute player David “Kittenblazer” Collins. “We are very excited to begin working with them and show how our relationship can benefit the both of us. Gigantic is definitely in a position to be the next big competitive title, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic that they have chosen us to lead that charge.”

Similar to our League of Legends and Counter Strike: Global Offensive squads, Team ApeX will officially be taking up the Renegade identity, adopting our trademark red bandana and player first approach. Alongside our sponsor AlphaDraft, we are confident we’ll grow together as Gigantic emerges into a premier title.

Despite the early accomplishments on their own, the newest Renegades are confident this Gigantic change will be one to help the roster succeed long term.

“When we first saw that Monte and Renegades were looking into Gigantic, we were so excited over the idea that an organization of that status had taken interest in the game we love so much,” Kittenblazer added. “We all really respect the organization and think that Renegades respects Gigantic and wants to see it grow into a popular competitive title. “

Kittenblazer, alongside colleague Max “Bogden” Xiong, have been instrumental in the growth of Gigantic’s competitive scene, developing the matchmaking system nicknamed the Gigantic Draft. Without it, teams would be unable to create their scrim or competitive matches.

The newest Renegades, who came together in August, have already seen plenty of success, being continuously top contenders at the weekly Guardian Arena events, the game’s weekly tournaments attended by the title’s top teams. With confidence in Gigantic as a game and an eSport, we are excited about the new opportunities our new lineup and organization can accomplish together.

With upcoming events with Counter Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends, spice up your viewing experience with a bit of AlphaDraft. Put together your dream lineup and win some cash prizes.

Manager: David “Kittenblazer” Collins

Flex: Doug “dougthedoug” Armstrong

Ranged Carry: Christopher “BixLe” Dunbar

Ranged Carry: Jason “Samurai Ed” Boettcher

Assassin: Cainan “SkippyFo” Howard

Initiator: Paul “Scougie” Williams

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Renegades flies to Seoul this off-season to practice for the next season of the LCS in 2016. We believe that Korea will provide the best scrimmage environment for the team and and assist us in adapting to the many changes Riot has in store for 2016. Seoul will be our home for the next six weeks and we look forward to developing both our players’ individual skills and our team synergy. 

Thanks to all the RNG fans who will support us in the Spring split and the help from our sponsor AlphaDraft!

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Have you seen a better looking CS:GO team? We don’t think so.

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A wild Maple appeared last night on Remilia’s stream. We have the cutest bot lane. 

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Awesome fanart by Peter Adrian!

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Awesome fanart by Peter Adrian If you haven’t heard, she will be playing in the LCS! Also, be sure to check out Remilias Twitter here: https://twitter.com/RNGRemi

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A few Renegades attended the LCS today.

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“I was there when it began. When we were misfits... When we became outlaws... I was there. Today I saw titans. #RNGWIN “ -Rob “Leonyx” Lee, LA Renegades General Manager

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Riot catches up with our veterans Alex Ich and Crumbz.