Among the questions which were interesting was Bulba's rank for the top five teams in EU/NA which he found very hard to answer. He also gave a very extensive outlook on how he joined Team Liquid. In addition, he addressed his thoughts on the quick patches, and how people (in his own words) "rationalize a patch too quickly".
Almost everyone knows you're a part of Team Liquid now. Could you tell us the story behind the pick-up? How did it all start?
Bulba: I had no idea Liquid was really looking for a team. Bumblebee and I met in Denmark when we (EG) stayed there for our bootcamp. In October or so, he contacted me about making a possible team at the time. I was also frequently playing with Dignitas and had to make a decision on my future. I saw Liquid as a really amazing opportunity. Bumblebee also wanted Korok to be on the team as well as the 3 ex-coL players, Fluff, mike and TC. I was good friends with all of them (especially mike) and the team seemed to be a dream come true.
We talked with Nazgul and he expressed his desire to help us grow and It all felt really surreal. I hadn’t expected such a warm welcoming from everyone. We got to meet all the Liquid staff and even the players who I have followed since I was such an avid SC2 Fan. Heyoka and I were also pretty good friends after meeting at TI2. Liquid really feels like a family and we have an open relationship with the staff, something that I enjoy a lot. They watch our practice games (shoutout to Kennigit, pro Disruptor) and we talk a lot about everything.
[...]
How often do you practise, both individually and as a team? Do you think it's necessary to play Dota 2 full-time in order to succeed against the top teams?
Bulba: Most of us have been busy with class and school so we have not practiced much as a team. Classes and final exams are over so we hope to start playing a lot more. Practice definitely is a big part to stay on the top. Especially now that there are so many competetive teams and players. Strategies and teamwork is a significant aspect. This answer is quite unoriginal but practice Is what makes you better regardless of what you are doing. Personally, I have had to switch my role and get acquainted into a new position. I watch replays of myself and others to see what I need to work on. Playing isn’t everything. You need these extra things to be able to take on the Asian teams.
[...]
The International 2 made another thing very clear - the foreigners, except for maybe a few teams, are no match for the Chinese. Will the same thing happen to Dota 2 which has happened to Starcraft 2 and League of Legends, that Asians are generally dominating the scene? What do the foreigners need to do in order to keep up with the Chinese teams?
Bulba: I think their skill and results is above ours because of how much dedication they put and the practice they get. They practice vs each other and play more versus each other. On the other hand, we don’t as many stable top teams to play on a regular basis. LGD.int proves this hypothesis that PLAYING BETTER opponents and playing them a lot improves your own ability tenfold. How to solve this? Have faith that the Western scene will become more stable and have better teams. I hope teams like Na’Vi realize that they can’t just sit idly by and not practice or train anymore. If they want to do well in TI3, they need to take it more seriously.
[...]
Speaking of Valve, do you think they, along with IceFrog, are going in the right way balancement-wise? Do you agree that releasing a huge balance patch after a while is better, than getting the patches out, let's say, once per week?
Bulba: Everyone has their quirks with balance. Sven this, mag that but ultimately Icefrog has always created an amazing product. People are too quick to rationalize a patch and say an exaggeration(including me!). This will always be like that but Ice can’t listen to everyone. He has to make his own decisions at the end and I trust him indefinitely.
It also takes a while for a patch to realize its best playstyle. People are too quick to copy each other and not find solutions or different playstyles. This lack of innovation is what made these stupid stacking-games possible. That wasn’t what dota should be. Two teams just farming and stacking for their carry to get X items and then push as 5. No pressure, no pushing, Nothing. No ingenuity. People don’t want to think outside the box and are scared to try different things out.
[...]
If you would have to rank five best teams in the EU/NA scene at the moment, who would they be?
Bulba: Hard to outright name top 5 teams. Na'Vi, Empire, Liquid, EG, NTH=Dignitas=VP=maybe Fnatic? Sorry for cheating. This question is hard :).
Bulba: I had no idea Liquid was really looking for a team. Bumblebee and I met in Denmark when we (EG) stayed there for our bootcamp. In October or so, he contacted me about making a possible team at the time. I was also frequently playing with Dignitas and had to make a decision on my future. I saw Liquid as a really amazing opportunity. Bumblebee also wanted Korok to be on the team as well as the 3 ex-coL players, Fluff, mike and TC. I was good friends with all of them (especially mike) and the team seemed to be a dream come true.
We talked with Nazgul and he expressed his desire to help us grow and It all felt really surreal. I hadn’t expected such a warm welcoming from everyone. We got to meet all the Liquid staff and even the players who I have followed since I was such an avid SC2 Fan. Heyoka and I were also pretty good friends after meeting at TI2. Liquid really feels like a family and we have an open relationship with the staff, something that I enjoy a lot. They watch our practice games (shoutout to Kennigit, pro Disruptor) and we talk a lot about everything.
[...]
How often do you practise, both individually and as a team? Do you think it's necessary to play Dota 2 full-time in order to succeed against the top teams?
Bulba: Most of us have been busy with class and school so we have not practiced much as a team. Classes and final exams are over so we hope to start playing a lot more. Practice definitely is a big part to stay on the top. Especially now that there are so many competetive teams and players. Strategies and teamwork is a significant aspect. This answer is quite unoriginal but practice Is what makes you better regardless of what you are doing. Personally, I have had to switch my role and get acquainted into a new position. I watch replays of myself and others to see what I need to work on. Playing isn’t everything. You need these extra things to be able to take on the Asian teams.
[...]
The International 2 made another thing very clear - the foreigners, except for maybe a few teams, are no match for the Chinese. Will the same thing happen to Dota 2 which has happened to Starcraft 2 and League of Legends, that Asians are generally dominating the scene? What do the foreigners need to do in order to keep up with the Chinese teams?
Bulba: I think their skill and results is above ours because of how much dedication they put and the practice they get. They practice vs each other and play more versus each other. On the other hand, we don’t as many stable top teams to play on a regular basis. LGD.int proves this hypothesis that PLAYING BETTER opponents and playing them a lot improves your own ability tenfold. How to solve this? Have faith that the Western scene will become more stable and have better teams. I hope teams like Na’Vi realize that they can’t just sit idly by and not practice or train anymore. If they want to do well in TI3, they need to take it more seriously.
[...]
Speaking of Valve, do you think they, along with IceFrog, are going in the right way balancement-wise? Do you agree that releasing a huge balance patch after a while is better, than getting the patches out, let's say, once per week?
Bulba: Everyone has their quirks with balance. Sven this, mag that but ultimately Icefrog has always created an amazing product. People are too quick to rationalize a patch and say an exaggeration(including me!). This will always be like that but Ice can’t listen to everyone. He has to make his own decisions at the end and I trust him indefinitely.
It also takes a while for a patch to realize its best playstyle. People are too quick to copy each other and not find solutions or different playstyles. This lack of innovation is what made these stupid stacking-games possible. That wasn’t what dota should be. Two teams just farming and stacking for their carry to get X items and then push as 5. No pressure, no pushing, Nothing. No ingenuity. People don’t want to think outside the box and are scared to try different things out.
[...]
If you would have to rank five best teams in the EU/NA scene at the moment, who would they be?
Bulba: Hard to outright name top 5 teams. Na'Vi, Empire, Liquid, EG, NTH=Dignitas=VP=maybe Fnatic? Sorry for cheating. This question is hard :).
Source for full interview: Bulba's Interview with Cadred
