While I was stooging around my old barracks, I happened across one of the newer pilots to be bumped up to the higher divisions. I'd seen in dispatches that he'd been making a bit of a name on the mountain, and it occurred to me that not only was he ripe for an interview, but I hadn't as yet conned him into buying me a beer...
GG. OK, just for the record, let's have the name and who you are fighting for this time.
Sp. I'm Spike Shepard aka 'The Shepard' and I'm fighting for Heroes Support. Thanks for taking the time to interview me.
GG. No problem at all. So Spike, are you up for one of the scarce specialist slots on this dance?
Sp. Yes! I've been double rainbow for so long now.
It goes back to when I first started as a Mecha Galaxy Pilot and was with Clan SPECTRE. I was told on my first day to specialise for Clan Wars and went with a Triple Rainbow. Once I had enough mechs to make a Double Rainbow I changed and have never looked back.
GG. Theres a been quite a few shake ups at the top end in the last few months. Cyberstorm disappeared , Fusion formed and seems to be trying to poach everyone, the Brotherhood and AFF both fractured and there's been some mergers elsewhere. Any thoughts on the whys and wherefores around that?
Sp. I hear that Cyberstorm had become stagnant and there were rumours of disagreements about the direction they wanted to take. I also heard that certain clan members weren't putting the effort in. End of the day it was all rumours and no-one really knows why they split.
As for Fusion they are more or less the top players from Cyberstorm, Highlanders, AFF and Brotherhood so it's a no brainer for them to get together and dominate Division 1.
As for AFF they had so many clans they almost had one on every division, but they didn't always have the strongest clans. It was only a matter of time that some clan members decided to leave and find new challenges.
GG. Do you see any of the changes filtering down to effect you guys at all, and if so, any plans to cope with it?
Sp. We saw some of the changes last Clan War. We faced Brethren AFF which was a bit of a re-shuffle of the remenants of a few AFF clans. Most of Brethren have now joined Diamond Dragons who are playing the levels game to stay below the top 3 Divisions. They average Level 85, Heroes Support Average Level 80 So yeah, I think we'll end up with Diamond Dragons in our division.
GG. Anyone you are hoping to bump heads with again, and anyone you could do with avoiding?
Sp. Avoids are easy! Avoid Diamond Dragons as most of the lower level clan members are campers who have been around for longer than I have. Damn I'm level 80 and certain campers who started when i did or before me haven't hit level 60 yet! But they are littered with niode mechs, weapons and equipment so attacking them isn't the best thing to do.
As for hoping to bump into someone, well, I honestly haven't met a clan who stand out. I've met other Pilots who stand out but not a clan.
GG. We've seen a lot more mech drops in the prize packs the last few wars. Do you see this as a good, bad or are you just indifferent? Not just you or the clan, for the game as a whole...
Sp. I'm completely indifferent to Mech drops. Nearly all my niode mechs are bought or won as prizes for placing in clan wars. The rest were won in the recent Trick Or Treat event.
Raids are a joke as they offer the galaxy but rarely deliver. In one way it's good that mechs are offered as prizes as it gives pilots something to aim for in Clan Wars.
My grumble is with Division 1 getting a levelled up 100 ton niode mech for just turning up. Giving away Apatotrons and Fexts to players who don't need them is madness. They just scrap the mechs for niodes and keep the niode weapons. Every other division gets a few scrapables for their 8 victories. This causes a huge imbalance meaning anyone looking to get up to division 1 needs to sell their soul for niodes. I guess I just accept that, like society, there are the elite who want for nothing as they are given everything leaving the rest who want for everything as they are given nothing.
GG. You have noted your lack of luck with raid drops... some of the more senior pilots could put this down to your use of a bear totem rather than following the 'path of the raccoon'... not tempted in any way?
Sp. <laughs> No mate, the 'Bear' has won me 2 lotteries so it's not time to give up on him yet. But....if this raid is a bust I will summon the power of the raccoon for future raids.
GG. Staying with mechs, there's a fair amount of debate still going on with the really big stuff, the 95s and 100s. Have you had a chance to play with them yet and any opinions formed?
Sp. My biggest mechs are 90 tons and I can't see that changing any time soon. I'd love a Boreas but can't see that happening. As for the current 100 tonners, well, they're niode pits! No matter what equipment you buy they won't match a Regis, Torrent or Dreadnought in a battle.GG. The war is going to run pretty close to Christmas, and the raids have every chance of running through the period. Any idea how it going to effect you?
Sp. I have no big plans over the Yuletide period so I can't see the war having any effect on me. Sadly I also see another raid bust for me so I really do see the raid having no effect what-so-ever.
GG. Last thing, war or raid prize, whats on the Christmas wish list?
Sp. I think I said it earlier....Number one on my list is a Boreas, I don't need a reason for wanting one of the biggest and baddest mechs available do I? If I don't get a Boreas then I'd love an Ignis, the reason, to complete my 90 ton dino mech set, My Regis and Aspis are lonely! If it comes down to a third choice then an Anubis would also fit into my Double Rainbow quite nicely.
GG. You can just get in line for the Anubis lad.... especially after I was gyped out of one last raid...
But seriously, thanks for taking the time and sharing your opinions.
Sp. Thanks David, It's been a pleasure.
Submitted by David McCallum #701548