Division 3 preview.

2007-03-12 15:40 by Hooraytio

Welcome to my preview of division 3 EQL5. My prediction for final standings is the order of wich I present the teams.

Division 3
New and old enemys cross paths

The maps

The clans in division 3 have voted for tb3 only but it was a close voted wich ended 7-5 in favour of tb3 only. I can imagine that clans like Morituri and Chosen voted for cmt maps and maybe also Clan Metally Troopers and Mean Machine but these are only qualified guesses from my side. Now especially Morituri and Chosen who relied on cmt4 during eql4 has to choose another map to win and earn them those extra points, however as we all know Chosen are fairly good at e1m2 for example. On the other hand there are some tb3 exclusive clans here like Demolition Crew and NoPasaran who would experience trouble on the cmt maps in my opinion.

The teams

Jokkmokk
These guys are my candidates for the top spot in div3. Even though they have lost TheEvilDog to Slackers II I think they will make short work of most of the clans here in div3. Their main contenders for the top spot in NQR10 Silver A, Core and A2K, have been moved up the ladder to division 2 this season. In their most recent official games they have had easy wins versus clans like Chosen and Hard Guns Crew and a little rougher rides versus Core, even though Jokkmokk won 2-0 here, and A2K to whom they lost 0-2. Another clan also in division 3, Dies Ater took a nice scalp when they stole a map from Jokkmokk to secure their 1-2 result but I think Jokkmokk will take them down 2-0 in EQL5.

I can absolutely see Jokkmokk taking the top position in division 3 but as always it depends on the current form and lineup. With Smala, Mogge, ITS4REAL and Zaq/Lilld they will make good results versus all the other clans. I would have to say that Smala is their key to victory now that TheEvilDog has left the team.

Strengths: Smala, Mogge and DM3
Weaknesses: 4th guy?

On a rumour their ranks could very well be strengthened by Sassa who recently have played in Suddendeath and Shadow Minions A-team.

Ballistic
This mix of players from all over Europe is also a strong contender for the top spot here. With Marvel, Desmo, Batfink and Squeeze, who plays extremely good with his 90-110ms, they have a very strong lineup for division 3. They are currently in the lead of their Silver B group in NQR10 where they have won versus clans like Fraggers United, Suddendeath II and Demolition Crew for example and have an 8-2 map record. This clan also features Fausto who is a keen uploader of qw clips to frag of the week over at qwdrama.com and judging by his hot moves in those clips he is also a player you have to be on the lookout for. Last but not least they also have kippo von DM2 on the team although I haven?t seen him play that much lately, but maybe that?s just me missing out on stuff.

Strengths: Marvel, Batfink and TB3
Weaknesses: Getting good pings

Fraggers United
One of my personal rival clans left out there these Finns have improved a lot again after being in the lower regions of the divisions for a while. In their recent official games in NQR10 they have managed to take a map from the good Hungarian team JUGS and a quite easy 2-0 win versus Morituri. In EQL3 they ended up dead last in division 3 scoring only 1 point but it seems they have decided to stay in division 3 after all. With a lineup of Bamsen, Oho, Ari and Katsku or Anza they could make good results this season as the opposition this time around is a little easier than last time. These guys are good all around on tb3 and I don?t think they miss the cmt maps that much. They will end up near the top3 and could very well take 1 or 2 points from both Jokkmokk and Ballistic.

Strengths: Bamsen *mur*, TB3
Weaknesses: consistency of their lineup

NoPasaran
The Russians of NO! have been quite inactive lately and they really have to step up on the practice games to get in shape. Their first match in NQR10 was a disaster getting outfragged by Core. In the second game they woke up a little and stole a point from Jokkmokk and with a little upset they actually took home 2 points from A2K in an excting game. They clearly have some momentum here and if they keep it up they will beat most of the clans in this seasons division 3. Last season they only played 5 out of 13 games in division 3 but still managed to finish on eight place with 10 points. When playing versus NO! you have to be on your toes on DM3 and DM2 since they are quite tough on these maps. They key for weaker clans to score points on them is to be good at e1m2. Especially since glad isn?t in their team anymore this map has become a little weakness for them.
In conclusion, if NO! start practicing a little more they will definitely end up at least in top5 this season.

Strengths: Starlam, Xpr and DM3
Weaknesses: E1M2 and 4th guy

Dies Ater
The new pride of Germany managed to end up in second place in division 4 last season but got knocked out of the playoffs by Morituri in the semi finals. This team wont miss the cmt maps much either as they are fairly strong on all the tb3 maps. Something Chosen got a taste of during their group game last season with Chosen winning cmt4, Dies Ater taking home E1M2 easily and also DM3 after a nail biter where Dies Ater just squeezed by Chosen in the last minutes of the game. So far in NQR10 they have had a rough time with 3 straight losses versus Core, Jokkmokk and Hard Guns Crew and scoring only 1 point against Jokkmokk. There was some ping whine after that game but I think Dies Ater has to face the fact that Swedish players always will have ping advantage?. These guys won?t end up in top3 but on the upper half of the score board for sure. All though they haven?t played that bad I would like to see Uig back otherwise they will drop some easy points here and there versus some of the weaker clans. Rotten might just be the guy to fill Uigs shoes though if he decides not to play that much this season.

Strengths: Cyrax, Soma, Uig
Weaknesses: 4th guy

O CLA
These North America stationed Brazilian, American and Canadian quakers have so far done a great job in their Bronze B group. All though being accused for cheating versus oldones, against whom they won 2-0, you cant avoid being amazed by how good they play with those pings. They lost early in the season to Mean Machine but since that game they have won 10 maps and lost 1 placing them in second place of the group at the moment. Judging by the statistics DM3 is their best map with 100% efficiency and DM2 is their worst map so far. Even though they have made some good results so far in NQR this will be a lot harder for them. Not only do they have to face better clans they will also still have their ping disadvantage.

Strengths: DM3 and Animalboy
Weaknesses: Ping disadvantage

Demolition Crew
Demolition Crew had a hard time last season in division 3 scoring only 5 points in nine games and they have also had a rough start in NQR10 with one win in three games. As all polish clans they struggle a little with the pings but their latest additions raptor and predator seems to ping good to wargamez at least. They also have some trouble with E1M2 but they make up for it with a solid DM2 performance backed up with some really good plays on DM3 as well. This team wont miss the cmt maps much either all though they have played some really good games on CMT3 from time to time.
I would have to say that this season wont be as bas as the previous one but they still wont make it much higher than middle of the table.

Strenghts: DM2
Weakness: E1M2

Chosen
Winners of EQL4 division 4 this clan has always mixed some really good results with totally awful ones. On a good day they could beat most of the clans this season but then again, you cant have good days all the time can you now? As always Chosen will struggle on DM3 while maybe making an upset here and there on E1M2 and maybe DM2. Their NQR10 season hasn?t been all that good with only one win in 5 games, always getting soundly beaten on DM3 while closing in on the opponents on E1M2. The only team that really crushed Chosen in both maps are A2K. Also div1 Billy in Hard Guns Crew outfragged both Chosen and his teammates in a not so close 2-0 show. In their game versus Clan Metally Troopers they did a really good job on DM2 and E1M2 while Clan metally Troopers just managed to squeeze past Chosen for the DM3 win.
I don?t really see Chosen end up in the top or the bottom but more likely they will score some points here and there and make it to the middle places.

Strenghts: E1M2, equally good players
Weakness: DM3, few practice games

Clan Metally Troopers
These guys are perhaps one of the most overrated clans around since everytime they win a game with mega in the lineup the other players of the community tend to shout with one voice: CMT=DIV2!. This isn?t true all though players like mega and jenna are really good Clan Metally Troopers cant seem to be consistent enough to fulfil the community?s wishes. Right now they mostly play without both mega and jenna and to be honest their NQR10 season haven?t been very good so far. They have been out scored 2-0 versus both Core and A2K but they made a heroic effort to secure a win on DM3 versus Chosen before getting beaten on both E1M2 and DM2. I still think Clan Metally Troopers can make some good games here and after speaking to hfg the other day I am sure that if jenna makes a come back it will have a very positive effect on their performance. Since mega is more of a one man army they could do just as well without him but as far as I know a good player always make some sort of difference. Right now mega isn?t even on their lineup.

Strenghts: Jenna, DM3
Weakness: 3rd and 4th guys?

Paranoia
Old Finnish clan who makes a comeback now. Their lineup consists of many good players but it is left to be seen if they can get a good team play going and not fall into the idle shadows again. As far as I know they are mostly in it for the games and will probably not practice that much according to a .spam message by one of their members. They will most likely not end up on the top half of the standings and I see this season as a nice come back trial for them.

Strenghts: Some good players
Weakness: Few practice games

Morituri
The limeys are back again and this time they follow Dies Ater and Chosen from division 4 up to division 3. After a not so thrilling final game of the EQL4 division 4 playoffs versus Chosen where they lost 1-3 they are hungry for revenge I am sure. This team will be one of the teams who have the biggest disadvantage of not being able to choose CMT4. They always make a solid performance on this map and some easy points will be forever lost for them now. On the other hand they are also good at DM2 and E1M2 wich they have proven by beating Chosen on E1M2 during the previously mentioned final game of division 4. So far in NQR10 they have lost two out of two games and four straight maps versus Demolition Crew and Fraggers United. I think Morituri just like Chosen will find it hard to switch from division 4 to division 3 and also Morituri wont make it past mid table here.

Strengths: Fer, Gore and DM2/E1M2
Weaknesses: 4th guy, few pracs

Mean Machine
This team has absolutely crushed all opposition in NQR10 Bronze B so far winning 12 maps and losing only 1 to O CLA. They seem to have good teamplay and equally skilled team members wich helps a lot when you don?t have to rely on one or two player to all the work all though Skillah seems to be on a hot streak. This season will be a test for them since they haven?t played many games versus this sort of opponents before.

Strengths: Teamplay, TB3
Weakness: Lower division experience only

In conclusion I think this will be an interesting season with a lot of great games. I am looking forward for some of the clans to prove me wrong about their performance and I wish you all the best of luck.

/Hooraytio

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Comments

Pages: 1 | Previous Next | Total of 20 comments | First Last comment first

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#1 2007-03-12 15:58 by cyr (84.132.3.XXX)

it's a pleasure every time i read hooray's div-previews. good job there once again!

#2 2007-03-12 16:26 by 1tsinen (83.102.43.XXX)

GJ again Hora :). I have a weak feeling that i maybe could make the div5 preview, but hopefully its just a feeling that goes away ;P

#3 2007-03-12 17:06 by olaf (81.178.64.XXX)

good job but you forgot to mention nihmachine for mor

he's been benchpressing 6 shamblers every day as a *warmup*

so hot right now

#4 2007-03-12 18:49 by billy (193.25.3.XXX)

a little off topic but sure i have to whine!:D jokkmokk are _totally_ misplaced this season, and i do not see a reason why A2K is div2 and JMK is div3, cause JMK is like tons better, more solid teamplay and better individual players for sure, the loss to A2K was just an accident i believe cuz not much later they owned CORE...ah and while HGC was mentioned in the article, i cant quite see how u compare an easy win JMK vs Chosen (+300 frags) to a jokkmokk hard fought win vs HGC (+60 frags on 2 maps?) but i've seen horatio at least trying to comment on each hgc game that we arent as good as we think we are :P i hope JMK wins NQR silver so we can see the eql admins make a fool of themselves :E

#5 2007-03-12 18:50 by billy (193.25.3.XXX)

oh, and i see nopasaran! and DC really underrated here, but what could you get from a svenska ego :P

#6 2007-03-12 18:56 by Hooraytio (89.160.23.XXX)

i havent specced all games billy and judging by the score (wich i did) jmk vs hgc doesnt look that hard.

and yes, NO! and DC might be underrated but they dont play that much atm either, i als said that if NO! started playing they would be much better than they are right now

in their most recent game they lost a close e1m2 to chosen but won quite easy on dm2 and dm3.

#7 2007-03-12 19:00 by Hooraytio (89.160.23.XXX)

and also:

"horatio at least trying to comment on each hgc game that we arent as good as we think we are"

the one thing i did comment was that "a2k got owned by a bad qizmo" in your nqr game vs them. i have never said that you guys are not as good as you look

sorry if you feel that way tho billy <3

#8 2007-03-12 19:09 by Hooraytio (89.160.23.XXX)

not look btw, think ;)

#9 2007-03-12 19:15 by billy (193.25.3.XXX)

heh, well that clears up a bit :) but still dont see how a 23 frag win on dm3 is easy for jmk, unless thats their secret tactic to let us lead for 10 mins of the game :D anyway , no! is really starting to take up the pace and the fight for the 2 remaining playoff spots in silver between HGC A2K and NO! will be really close! kram horatio ;)

#10 2007-03-13 09:09 by Emotio (194.47.150.XXX)

hay guys
whats going on in this thread???

#11 2007-03-14 13:46 by edvin (81.235.153.XXX)

Billy, don't know where you have seen us been "owned" by jmk? because all our games has been very very tight... like the nqr game lost 10 frags against them on e1m2 and overtime on dm3.. :S even tho i think to that jmk would be in div2 :>

#12 2007-03-17 13:25 by Zaq (81.227.246.XXX)

First of all, when core now has recruited mille and we lost theevildog to sr2 core is a much much more stronger team then us.
Ted is/was one of our most active players and im guessing that our activity will go down since hes out and smala got a job...(smala needs 12-13 hours of sleep and
now he works 8 and then he gets all whiny and stuff ;) )
So with the most active in jmk right now is the ones u refer to as "4th" players, therefore i think div3 should be just fine for us.
only time shows.

#13 2007-03-18 21:30 by xpr (89.179.242.XXX)

nice preview :)

#14 2007-03-18 23:51 by soma (85.93.203.XXX)

once again a nice preview by hooraytio. enjoyed the read as usual!

#15 2007-03-19 12:38 by STEEK (206.24.48.XXX)

Good prediction, So far we lost to the group right above us and beat the group right below us! You must have God powers, or our clan felt obligated to follow your ranking :P

#16 2007-03-19 23:28 by Darkstorm (81.13.10.XXX)

nice job hooraytio
Starlam ftw, my old mate :E

#17 2007-03-24 19:35 by Skillah (217.76.20.XXX)

Hehe nice to read the predictions.
Let's see if we will finish last this season according to Hooraytio :D

If not, You owe me a beer man! :E

#18 2007-03-27 19:22 by Hooraytio (89.160.23.XXX)

thats a deal skillah

#19 2007-04-06 19:29 by Skillah (217.76.20.XXX)

Seems like you can better put my beer in the fridge already Hooraytio! I like em served cold :-)

#20 2007-04-10 00:51 by Hooraytio (81.232.166.XXX)

there are still alot of games to be played tho

ill put the beer in the freezer last minute if you are correct! :P

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