Timotheus_
Breakfast
zShades
Shakal
Sney
Tarsiz
matteaz
Ceres30
DoubleOcean
naghma654
Pancrol
Elvaenor
bogusangus
Feloteix
Rorarimbo
Lokalo
Socksyy
Vinch & Dark: Vs. DauT is not a hard game; 2k-2k4 in a year.
Huehuecoyotl22
Welcome, Vinchester and Dark as representation of Russia A in the upcoming Nations Cup. Although Russia is a big country and has several 2k-2k2 rated players they have never been a contender for the top ranks in Nations Cups. Today we will discuss your perspective for the 2020 Nations Cup and your careers more in detail.
Vinch to the left, Dark to the right.
Why did you choose the AoE nicknames Vinchester and Dark?
Vinchester: My first online game was Day of Defeat: Source (kinda same as CS). I played with my cousin and he was big a fan of Supernatural. If you don’t know, there are two brothers, Dean and Sam Winchester in the movie. So he suggested to take same nicknames. I was Sam Vinchester and he was Din Vinchester. Yes, with two mistakes in his nick, 11. So after I joined my first team, I left it with only Vinchester and here it is.
Dark: My first nickname was Dynamite, because I was young and hot I liked this name. One day I decided that I’ll stream, if I have setup for this. My idea was to make everything dark: chat, overlay and even make a mod, changing grey to black in AoE. After this I changed my name to Dark.
How old are you and since when do you play Age of Empires 2, have you played Age of Empires 1/3? What are your expectations and wishes for AoE 4? If you could add one thing from AoE 1 and one from 3 to add to AoE 2, what would it be? For the upcoming AoE 2 Definitive Edition, what are your hopes? Did you play in the beta?
Dark: I am 15 years old. First time I played AoE 2 I was 9 (I don’t remember properly). I sometimes played with my brother on HD. Some time after my brother stopped playing with me and I started to play alone a lot. After like 3 years I started to play on 1k8 level (HD rating). One day (2 years ago) I saw a Russian-speaking 2k1 player (HD rating) and he told me about Discord. Only 1.5 years ago I started to play on Voobly. At the beginning I was 1k5. I reached 2k recently and was invited into the VIK clan. I think I improved a lot very fast and hope to continue. I have never played any AoE except AoE 2. I am sure DE is very interesting and hope to see it on Voobly in the future.
Vinchester: I am 21 years old now. I played AoC first when I was 6-7 years old vs. AI. My first LAN game was in 2010. So I am playing AoE for 9 years. I never played AoE1/3, when I got back to AoE 2 and started to play it online. To be honest, I don’t know anything about AoE 4. Can’t say what better to add from AoE1/3, because I don’t remember enough from those games.
I didn’t play in the beta of DE. I hope there will be no big lags and bugs.
How is your experience with DE now that it has been released for a month?
I like it. I still have some issues, but I suppose everything can be fixed without problems. I think we just need more people playing. And adding some good features every month, like a little better specs. Better mechanics (like add ctrl + alt move which ignores everything in user patch). Better pathing. Timeline in records. Possibility to play from recs instead top players. Possibility to see fight recap (like how many units die and who lost more resources). Other features from capture mode.
In which clans have you been since you started to play AoE 2 online?
Dark: VIK (Berserkers).
Vinchester: RF (Rush Fighters), VIK (Berserkers), Wolfpack.
Vinchester, did you at any time get invited to or consider joining one of the more recent big teams like TyRanT, Aftermath, Secret, Heresy? I think you were often considered a candidate.
This is gonna be funny, because I don’t remember for sure! 11.
I think I was invited into aM or Heresy (or both) when they just started. But I usually decline it, because teams start for me from TGs together with voice, or just spending time in chat or on Discord and not from inviting and accepting. Well, I was inactive when they were playing a lot and as a result I am out of it.
How would you describe your playstyle and how much has it changed during the last years?
Dark: I think I am a very good build order player, 11. Also I have amazing speed and micro. That’s why I like to micro a lot every game. But I have very little experience.
Vinchester: Not long time ago Melkor said that I am a good macro player and it’s hard to play vs. me on 200 pop for Arena players. So now I probably like to play multitask games and it makes me to play fast.
When I just started to play on 2k+ level most of the Russian players considered me like a micro player, who can kill 15 archers with only 5 and doesn’t matter how much better you play if u can’t kill units before ballistics, 11.
Vinchester, you have almost reached a 2k5 1v1 rating and also some very good tournament performances. However, although you have been considered a top 10, maybe even top 5 player for short periods of time, you did not stay there for a long time. Can you explain a bit, why you have many phases of low activity and don’t aim to participate in that many tournaments, as you surely would have the potential to participate in the invitationals with good prize money.
It started with WK. It took a long time to learn the new balance and to be honest, I feel, like I know nothing about water fight for now, which is sad. So I played Dota 2 a lot, started to work and rent a flat with my friends. All those together didn’t leave time to play AoE a lot. So now I am trying to play as much as I can. And I think that players like TheViper, TaToH, MbL became much stronger since the time, when I was in top 5-10.
Dark, as a rather new and unknown player, what were your most remarkable and challenging steps reaching your current level? Where do you see yourself in 6 and 12 months?
I didn’t have any difficult stage in my progress. In 6 months I see myself at 2k2. In 12 - 2k4. I will work hard on it.
Can you tell something about the recent development in the Russian(-speaking) AoE community? I know in the past you had quite regular tournaments, your own forums. Is it still the same way and did the member activity grow or decline in 2019?
Dark: I think 2019 is the most progressive year for Russian players. There are 2 players who reached 2k3 and 3 players who reached 2k (including me). I hope we will be top country in some years if the next ones would be like this.
Vinch: Not really. From 2010 to something like 2015 there was an active client (same as Voobly) rusaoc.ru. It was the biggest Russian community which I know and I started to play AoE 2 online there. But today nobody plays there and most of the Russian community based on Discord and other social networks chats. I think it’s a lower amount of people, but I don’t really know most of them.
With which setup and at what place do you usually play? Would you add a photo of your gaming setup?
Dark: I don’t like my setup, because I have a very old pc and it’s lagging a lot. Also I have a mouse which cost 3 $. It jams sometimes, 11. I play only at home.
Vinchester: I played from 3 different places last year :D.
Do or did you stream? What is your stream link, how often do you stream and what is special about your stream?
Dark: No, I haven’t streamed before but hope to do it in the near future.
Vinchester: Yes, I am streaming. I am trying to stream often, like 3-4 times a week, but sadly I have drops for months, because don’t have enough time. Usually I am trying to explain as many things as I can about the game. And I am streaming in English. Here is the link for my stream: You are always welcome! https://www.twitch.tv/vik_vinchester.
Which city do you come from/live in? What do you like/dislike about it and where would you like to move to?
Vinchester: I was born and live in Moscow. The only thing I don’t like is the absence of sea and the cold weather, 11. Overall this is a good city, and I would probably like to stay here. But I always have a wish to travel and see the world. Probably once I will find a place, where I will want to live instead of Moscow.
Dark: I live in Moscow. I like it because it’s very comfortable to live and all my friends, teachers and parents are living here. So I don’t want to move anywhere.
Now to your favourite things:
What is your favourite food and drink?
Vinchester: There is nothing better than strawberry cake with cream in our life. About drinks? Probably I like everything sweet. Juice, tea, coffee a little bit, compote.
Dark: I don’t like junk food. I can eat every dish I have in my country. My favourite drink is coffee.
Which foods from your home country/region and family background would you recommend?
Vinchester: Not sure you will understand what I mean. Stuffed peppers by my mom is something crazy. And of course borscht.
Something like that (picture below) I guess, but with different ingredients. What does your mother put into them?
Exactly! I can’t really say. I don’t know. And probably it’s mostly different.
Dark: From Russian national cuisine I’d recommend any kind of cutlets and salad called “Herring under a Fur Coat”.
What can you cook well yourself and how often do you do it?
Vinchester: I was living alone for 2 years and the biggest problem for me was cooking. I don’t really do it well, but I can make some kind of salads, sandwiches, pitas, pasta and other easy stuff.
Dark: Not a lot of food I can cook but if it’s needed, I will make food for myself. I rarely cook food for myself.
What would you put on top of a pizza?
Vinchester: No idea what exactly, but my mom and girlfriend doing it perfectly for me. I will ask them another day
. Same as about stuffed peppers, it’s always different. I like it overall, like dough, amount of ingredients etc. And it’s mostly standard, meat pieces, tomatoes, red pepper, mayonnaise mixed with ketchup (it may sound strange, but she doing like this sometimes),mushrooms, cheese.
Dark: Lots of cheese, tomatoes, hot pepper and basil.
What is your favourite colour? (Does not need to be one of the 8 AoE II colours.)
Dark: Violet.
Vinchester: I like blue and green. But after I started to play AoE 2 where one of my idols Pyc_Storm played as purple, I started to play with this color and now I really like it.
I think it’s a good choice. Since some top players have their known colour. TheViper is always connected with yellow, BacT with orange, Chris was green. Some don’t have a typical colour, but I do always imagine you as the purple player.
I also think this is a little advantage when you are doing TG. If you know all your team colour, then it’s easier and faster to analyze the game score, which is an important skill.
What is your favourite animal?
Vinchester: Tiger.
Dark: Little kittens.
What/where is your favourite place on Earth?
Vinchester: Hard to say. I really like to visit different places. But one thing I am sure about, I like sun and hate cold, 11. So my place is somewhere on the sea, where it’s good weather and has sweet berries.
Dark: I like to be at home most of all. Also I like places where I see my friends.
What is your favourite song at the moment, of all time (can be top 5)?
Dark: Idk, I like any kind of music. My favourites are Minimal and Techno.
Vinchester: Atm: September - Earth, Wind & Fire; Of all time: 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite; Tim McMorris - On Top Of The World; Kyla La Grange - Cut Your Teeth (Kygo Remix).
What is your favourite recent movie, of all time (can be top 5)? Who is you favourite actor?
Dark: I like “Person of interest”. I haven’t watched a lot of movies and can’t consider a favourite actor.
Vinchester: Nothing special atm. Of all time: Revolver; The Departed; Inception; Pirates of the Caribbean; Fast and Furious; Harry Potter.
What are your favourite books?
Dark: I like books about self-development a lot. My favourite is called “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie.
Vinchester: “Martin Eden” Jack London; Richard Bach “One”.
Do you have a favourite athlete/sports team? (football, basketball etc.)
Dark: I don’t watch sport teams.
Vinchester: I was playing football on professional level from 6 to 18. I don’t like watching it at all, but I really like FC Barcelona and MU for a while (my cousin is a fan of them).
Why did you stop? It’s probably an easy answer, but would you share. I know that from U19 players only a small percentage makes it into the first professional divisions, but would you have had a chance or was the reason to stop a different one?
It’s not easy to say. Always a couple of factors. I was playing in CSKA and Lokomotiv (those you probably know, but some others also). In CSKA I played 4 years with Fedor Chalov, who you probably know as well. We are friends. In Loko I graduated to youth team, but I didn’t practice a lot there, because I started to study at the university and also realized that professional football is not for me. My health isn’t great for it as well. Not sure whether I need to describe this. And the last problem is corruption. It’s hard to say who is better, when you are talking about two players on the same position but with different teammates. So, you need much more than just playing good to be in team and I don’t like it
.
I think I understand most of what you say. Professional football is much more than just playing. Physically and mentally demanding.
What are your favourite traits on a woman?
Dark: I like when a girl is sociable and beautiful.
Vinchester: Hard to say. If I understood your question properly, then I realised that being clear and truthful is important for me.
What time do you usually go to sleep? What do you like doing before sleeping?
Vinchester: It depends. Sometimes I get back home late, because of my work and then I go to sleep at 2-3 a.m. Then I am usually drinking some tea with food with my gf before sleep. In case if I have a habit for a couple of days to sleep at 10-11 pm, then the best thing I do before sleeping is reading.
Dark: Usually I go to sleep at 23:00 Moscow time. But I go later quite often.
If there was anything you could tell your 16-year-old self, what would it be?
Vinchester: Try more and be more focused on things you do.
Dark: 11. I say: “keep going”.
First interviewee under 16, so the question turned around, 11.
Which countries have you visited? And where would you like to go to? Why?
Vinchester: I had a nice trip in 2017, when we had the Voobly LAN in Gent. I have been in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. I would like to visit as much as possible. I don’t have a priority. Where I will go, when will I get money? It will depend only on my mood at the deciding moment.
Dark: I’ve been in England, China, Germany and Ukraine. I have some friends in Germany. Want to visit them again. I was in a small town in England, so I want to visit a big city. Ukraine is pretty much the same as Russia except some things. In China, sorry, but it was not that great.
Why? Which city? And why did you go to China?
I was in Changzhou. There was one of my dance competitions, same thing with Germany, England and Ukraine. I don't like that because I can't eat their food, that is so hot. I was there for 3 days and have eaten only 2 times. Think it was a bad food court, but I couldn't change it. Other things were fine, but food completely killed me. Hope to visit some bigger cities with better restaurants.
Which languages can you speak and which would you like to learn?
Vinchester: I consider I am good with English, but my girlfriend keep saying that my English is terrible. Especially the grammar part, 11. I was studying French for some years at school, but I remember almost nothing. Je parler France. (No, 11)
Dark: For my age I speak English well and it seems like people can understand me, but I will try to be better. Also atm I learn Spanish at school. Would be great if I will speak it at least like English.
I agree with both of you. Your English is not bad, but both have a lot of small mistakes which I correct. If you’re 15 now and can speak Russian, English and Spanish well before you are an adult, that is quite good.
What are your hobbies beside AoE?
Vinchester: It’s gonna be hard to explain, but I am playing a table game called “Mafia”. There is a lot of versions of this game, but I like the one which called Classic (or tournament) Mafia. There are ten people playing in one game. 6 citizens plus a sheriff (they don’t know who they are) vs. 2 mafia and 1 don (they know who they are). Players are speaking with each other and trying to get, who is lying (mafia).
Dark: My main hobby-sport is dancing. I have already trained for 10 years. It’s a couple dancing and there we have tournaments. You can ask me personally about it if you are interested. There is one of videos with me: https://yadi.sk/i/PzDJqU5aKn2niw (for your knowledge this dance is slow waltz).
Who would you like to meet once, who you have not met? One AoE player and one other person.
Vinchester: Interesting question. Let’s start with AoE. I suppose Pyc_Storm is the one, who I have never seen and would like to meet. No idea why, but this guy was my idol when I started to play AoE 2. When I started to think I have to realize that my choice is bad, because there is always a better and more clever human in my mind. So probably I am thinking too much about this question, but my answer is somebody who I will meet later and wonder how crazy he is.
Dark: I want to meet every top player in AoE. Need to try hard to play on some LAN with them.
Do you have an AoE idol?
Vinchester: For a long time it was Pyc_Storm. For now I consider there is only one professional in all AoE 2: TheViper.
Dark: At the beginning I was a fan of Vinchester. I tried to copy everything he did even played as purple color and trushed on Arena, because I thought that was the easiest way to become a top player. And every time I was playing with Discord my friends laugh at me then I was up to Castle age at 30 mins after trush on Arena, 11. But now I really want to be like Liereyyy. Just play one game a year and still can beat Viper at some tourney, 11.
What is your favourite civilisation, map and unit?
Vinchester: Map is BF vs. Atacama (on Arabia, 11). There is still nothing better than making Mangudai as Mongols.
The map answer is the best one I have read so far, 11.
Dark: Nowadays nothing can stop lancers, except stop button it seems, 11. But to be serious, my favourite civ is Mayans on most of the maps. I am considered a Arabia player but atm I’m losing a lot there and it makes me hate this map. Probably for 1v1 I prefer Arena and for TG - BF. My favourite unit is the conquistador.
What is your favourite in-game sound?
Vinchester: Baridohchun.
Can you explain? I think I can recognise it, but I can’t remember what it means. I haven’t played enough these last years
.
I am not sure as well. Dench is pro on sound, he knows all of them. That probably is Mongol’s vils saying when you send them on house at the start.
Dark: Scorpion’s taunt.
If Arabia did not exist, which map do you think everyone would be playing as much as people play Arabia (and not Serengeti etc., which are just very similar to Arabia)?
Dark: Maybe some hybrid maps with water and land, I don’t know.
Vinchester: Hm… Any other map with open start and possibility for Feudal fight (some kind of Arabia, 11).
Who is your favourite and least favourite 1v1 opponent?
Dark: I didn’t play a lot vs. top players. But at Rise to Glory I was confident, playing vs. Fire, also easy opponents for me are Vinch and Dench because I know everything they will do. Also played a couple of games vs. slam, he is not that hard. Played one time vs. Laaan and he did dr fc into arambais with zero walls on Arabia, if I played a bit better, I could beat him.Those are pretty much all the top players I’ve played against.
Vinchester: I like to play vs. DauT, usually not a hard game. And it was really impossible to play vs. slam, when he played a lot of AoC.
Who is your favourite team mate for a 2v2?
For just playing:
Vinchester: VIK_dfs.
Dark: Vinch, qwin, repard2.
Also outside of the game:
Vinchester: VIK_dfs.
Dark: Vinch, Dench.
Would you live with him/her together in one apartment for a month or a year? With one bedroom or two?
Vinchester: No, 11.
Dark: I think it would be great to live a couple of days with my team. Probably playing AoC.
In the new expansions (after AoC), what is your favourite new civilisation and unit?
Vinchester: Indians, Imperial Camel.
Dark: Slavs, Kamayuk.
Which 4-5 players from your country do you think will form the A team in the upcoming Nations? Which maps would you like to be included apart from Arabia, Nomad, Islands? Would you prefer the Nations Cup to be on Voobly or on the new Definitive Edition?
Dark: I think Russia A is Vinch, Dench, me and repard/Kerch/Speedlimit. Of course I prefer Voobly!!
Vinchester: Kerch, repard, Dench, Dark, me. I prefer DE with good technical support. But I didn’t play TG enough.
What is your goal for the 2020 Nations Cup? Which teams do you think will reach the top 8? Do you think Russia has a better chance in 3v3 than 4v4?
Dark: My goal for NC is to play like a beast and take all the games and also make Team Russia a very good team, which will be dangerous in any tournament. In top 8 will be China, Finland, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, Russia and Germany if Viper plays for it, 11, actually it could be any strong team. I think for us 4v4 is better.
Vinchester: Better chances for 4v4. My goal will be top 4. If my guys will do it, I will be proud of them. No idea who will be top 8. It depends on practice only. Especially with new civs if they will be there.
Which 4 players would you like to see forming a team? (can include inactive players)
Vinchester: Me, Pyc_Storm, Pyc_Derpt, Arreat/Kerch/repard/Dench.
Dark: If you mean from Russians, I think the best team would be Vinch, Keif (in his good shape), repard, and Dench or Arreat (I don’t know for sure how good he was playing but he was great).
What do you think about Nili’s Apartment Cup 3? I think Russians need a visa, right?
Vinchester: I am trying to get a visa anyway. I was planning a trip close to those dates in Europe. So it won’t be a problem. I really want to get there as player.
Now time went on. A few words about your match against Villese?
I think I played more games, but the day we played, I felt myself super unprepared and I did many mistakes which I never did during the last months. Well, I was extremely nervous.
Dark [Answer before the match]: I can’t play DE atm. Hope Vinch will fly to Germany (instead of me 11).
What kind of tournament would you like to participate in in 2020, after the Nations Cup? Which maps, 1v1 or teams, what kind of brackets (e. g. with group stage or single or double elimination).
Vinchester: MAKE TOURNEYS WITH OPEN QUALS FOR AT LEAST HALF OF THE SPOTS. MAKE A BETTER SYSTEM WITH CIV AND MAP PICKS AND BANS. AND YOU DON’T NEED TO THINK. JUST COPY FROM OTHER GAMES LIKE DOTA, CS ETC. Sorry. I will participate in most of them, if I will not leave AoE.
Dark: Idk yet. I need to have a higher rating for most of the tourneys. Maybe I will participate in MoA6 if it will happen.
Or Aspiring Experts 2, if it happens in 2020. I think it would be good, but maybe exclude players who reached top 8 or so in the last version.
When you visit AoEZone and Voobly, is there something you really like or would like to have improved?
Dark: I visit AoEZone very rarely, so can’t say anything.
Vinchester: I miss top players records.
What is the funniest moment in your life you experienced because of AoE?
Dark: I know a lot of funny moments in the AoE community but for me the funniest is this video, made by Dench: https://youtu.be/UkSkKdjvO-Q.
Vinchester: I don’t know what to answer, 11. I really like everything happening in my life. And last years AoE friends are fully connected with other things I do. I got Dench come to Moscow from another city, same like TheCart. Warrior is always around and visiting. St. Petersburg is where dfs lives. Dark became part of our community.
Choose:
Chris or DauT?
Vinchester: Chris
Dark: DauT
Tim or TheViper?
Vinchester: TheViper
Dark: TheViper
Edie or Terror?
Vinchester: Who are they?
Dark: Terror
Metal or DraCoNT?
Vinchester: Metal
Dark: Metal
T90 or ZeroEmpires?
Vinchester: T90
Dark: T90
Hunter or farmer?
Vinchester: Hunter
Dark: Farmer
Wolf or jaguar?
Vinchester: Wolf
Dark: Jaguar
1v1 or 4v4?
Vinchester: 3v3
Dark: 4v4
Feudal Age or Imperial Age?
Vinchester: Imperial
Dark: Imperial age
Nomad or Islands?
Vinchester: Islands 1000000%
Dark: Nomad
What would you do to make the world a better place?
Vinchester: Share positivity.
Dark: People should be more helpful to each other, respect each other and be positive.
If you were not in a relationship, and could date anyone, who would it be?
Dark: Not yet.
Vinchester: My GF ^^.
Write a poem/rap of 8 lines (or more) about something AoE-related, either in English or your native language.
Vinchester: Oh sorry, I am not creative, 11.
Dark: It will be stupid mistake
To let us Arena to take.
Coz one of us is infected,
He’ll go up after food is collected,
Will put towers on your face
To take all of your space.
Good luck other flank to your castle drop
Against the guy, booming with hundred pop.
But there is the one who is titanic
He always has Memb panic,
Dying to wolves around,
But he won’t do loom in this round...
For so long your head will bounce
After playing against the arena clowns.
(About our team 11)
Add one more comment or question for me or someone else.
Vinchester: Thank you very much for this interview. I am not reading forums a lot, but I read some of your interviews, when you start asking me about that. It is crazy! And sorry for delaying it for a huge time. I think self organization is my biggest issue. Have a nice time everyone who will read this.
Love you <3 ~Vinch.
Dark: Big thank you for letting me take part in this interview, and see you in the Nations Cup 2020!!
Thank you a lot for the interview and good luck with your tournaments in 2020. Dark, now we will keep an eye on you to see where you are in 6 and 12 months. If the expert scene switches to DE, I think getting 2k4 in 2020 will be rough. Vinchester, I hope we can still see you in many tournaments in 2020, although you did not manage to qualify for NAC 3.
Vinch to the left, Dark to the right.
Why did you choose the AoE nicknames Vinchester and Dark?
Vinchester: My first online game was Day of Defeat: Source (kinda same as CS). I played with my cousin and he was big a fan of Supernatural. If you don’t know, there are two brothers, Dean and Sam Winchester in the movie. So he suggested to take same nicknames. I was Sam Vinchester and he was Din Vinchester. Yes, with two mistakes in his nick, 11. So after I joined my first team, I left it with only Vinchester and here it is.
Dark: My first nickname was Dynamite, because I was young and hot I liked this name. One day I decided that I’ll stream, if I have setup for this. My idea was to make everything dark: chat, overlay and even make a mod, changing grey to black in AoE. After this I changed my name to Dark.
How old are you and since when do you play Age of Empires 2, have you played Age of Empires 1/3? What are your expectations and wishes for AoE 4? If you could add one thing from AoE 1 and one from 3 to add to AoE 2, what would it be? For the upcoming AoE 2 Definitive Edition, what are your hopes? Did you play in the beta?
Dark: I am 15 years old. First time I played AoE 2 I was 9 (I don’t remember properly). I sometimes played with my brother on HD. Some time after my brother stopped playing with me and I started to play alone a lot. After like 3 years I started to play on 1k8 level (HD rating). One day (2 years ago) I saw a Russian-speaking 2k1 player (HD rating) and he told me about Discord. Only 1.5 years ago I started to play on Voobly. At the beginning I was 1k5. I reached 2k recently and was invited into the VIK clan. I think I improved a lot very fast and hope to continue. I have never played any AoE except AoE 2. I am sure DE is very interesting and hope to see it on Voobly in the future.
Vinchester: I am 21 years old now. I played AoC first when I was 6-7 years old vs. AI. My first LAN game was in 2010. So I am playing AoE for 9 years. I never played AoE1/3, when I got back to AoE 2 and started to play it online. To be honest, I don’t know anything about AoE 4. Can’t say what better to add from AoE1/3, because I don’t remember enough from those games.
I didn’t play in the beta of DE. I hope there will be no big lags and bugs.
How is your experience with DE now that it has been released for a month?
I like it. I still have some issues, but I suppose everything can be fixed without problems. I think we just need more people playing. And adding some good features every month, like a little better specs. Better mechanics (like add ctrl + alt move which ignores everything in user patch). Better pathing. Timeline in records. Possibility to play from recs instead top players. Possibility to see fight recap (like how many units die and who lost more resources). Other features from capture mode.
In which clans have you been since you started to play AoE 2 online?
Dark: VIK (Berserkers).
Vinchester: RF (Rush Fighters), VIK (Berserkers), Wolfpack.
Vinchester, did you at any time get invited to or consider joining one of the more recent big teams like TyRanT, Aftermath, Secret, Heresy? I think you were often considered a candidate.
This is gonna be funny, because I don’t remember for sure! 11.
I think I was invited into aM or Heresy (or both) when they just started. But I usually decline it, because teams start for me from TGs together with voice, or just spending time in chat or on Discord and not from inviting and accepting. Well, I was inactive when they were playing a lot and as a result I am out of it.
How would you describe your playstyle and how much has it changed during the last years?
Dark: I think I am a very good build order player, 11. Also I have amazing speed and micro. That’s why I like to micro a lot every game. But I have very little experience.
Vinchester: Not long time ago Melkor said that I am a good macro player and it’s hard to play vs. me on 200 pop for Arena players. So now I probably like to play multitask games and it makes me to play fast.
When I just started to play on 2k+ level most of the Russian players considered me like a micro player, who can kill 15 archers with only 5 and doesn’t matter how much better you play if u can’t kill units before ballistics, 11.
Vinchester, you have almost reached a 2k5 1v1 rating and also some very good tournament performances. However, although you have been considered a top 10, maybe even top 5 player for short periods of time, you did not stay there for a long time. Can you explain a bit, why you have many phases of low activity and don’t aim to participate in that many tournaments, as you surely would have the potential to participate in the invitationals with good prize money.
It started with WK. It took a long time to learn the new balance and to be honest, I feel, like I know nothing about water fight for now, which is sad. So I played Dota 2 a lot, started to work and rent a flat with my friends. All those together didn’t leave time to play AoE a lot. So now I am trying to play as much as I can. And I think that players like TheViper, TaToH, MbL became much stronger since the time, when I was in top 5-10.
Dark, as a rather new and unknown player, what were your most remarkable and challenging steps reaching your current level? Where do you see yourself in 6 and 12 months?
I didn’t have any difficult stage in my progress. In 6 months I see myself at 2k2. In 12 - 2k4. I will work hard on it.
Can you tell something about the recent development in the Russian(-speaking) AoE community? I know in the past you had quite regular tournaments, your own forums. Is it still the same way and did the member activity grow or decline in 2019?
Dark: I think 2019 is the most progressive year for Russian players. There are 2 players who reached 2k3 and 3 players who reached 2k (including me). I hope we will be top country in some years if the next ones would be like this.
Vinch: Not really. From 2010 to something like 2015 there was an active client (same as Voobly) rusaoc.ru. It was the biggest Russian community which I know and I started to play AoE 2 online there. But today nobody plays there and most of the Russian community based on Discord and other social networks chats. I think it’s a lower amount of people, but I don’t really know most of them.
With which setup and at what place do you usually play? Would you add a photo of your gaming setup?
Dark: I don’t like my setup, because I have a very old pc and it’s lagging a lot. Also I have a mouse which cost 3 $. It jams sometimes, 11. I play only at home.
Vinchester: I played from 3 different places last year :D.
Do or did you stream? What is your stream link, how often do you stream and what is special about your stream?
Dark: No, I haven’t streamed before but hope to do it in the near future.
Vinchester: Yes, I am streaming. I am trying to stream often, like 3-4 times a week, but sadly I have drops for months, because don’t have enough time. Usually I am trying to explain as many things as I can about the game. And I am streaming in English. Here is the link for my stream: You are always welcome! https://www.twitch.tv/vik_vinchester.
Which city do you come from/live in? What do you like/dislike about it and where would you like to move to?
Vinchester: I was born and live in Moscow. The only thing I don’t like is the absence of sea and the cold weather, 11. Overall this is a good city, and I would probably like to stay here. But I always have a wish to travel and see the world. Probably once I will find a place, where I will want to live instead of Moscow.
Dark: I live in Moscow. I like it because it’s very comfortable to live and all my friends, teachers and parents are living here. So I don’t want to move anywhere.
Now to your favourite things:
What is your favourite food and drink?
Vinchester: There is nothing better than strawberry cake with cream in our life. About drinks? Probably I like everything sweet. Juice, tea, coffee a little bit, compote.
Dark: I don’t like junk food. I can eat every dish I have in my country. My favourite drink is coffee.
Which foods from your home country/region and family background would you recommend?
Vinchester: Not sure you will understand what I mean. Stuffed peppers by my mom is something crazy. And of course borscht.
Something like that (picture below) I guess, but with different ingredients. What does your mother put into them?
Exactly! I can’t really say. I don’t know. And probably it’s mostly different.
Dark: From Russian national cuisine I’d recommend any kind of cutlets and salad called “Herring under a Fur Coat”.
What can you cook well yourself and how often do you do it?
Vinchester: I was living alone for 2 years and the biggest problem for me was cooking. I don’t really do it well, but I can make some kind of salads, sandwiches, pitas, pasta and other easy stuff.
Dark: Not a lot of food I can cook but if it’s needed, I will make food for myself. I rarely cook food for myself.
What would you put on top of a pizza?
Vinchester: No idea what exactly, but my mom and girlfriend doing it perfectly for me. I will ask them another day
. Same as about stuffed peppers, it’s always different. I like it overall, like dough, amount of ingredients etc. And it’s mostly standard, meat pieces, tomatoes, red pepper, mayonnaise mixed with ketchup (it may sound strange, but she doing like this sometimes),mushrooms, cheese.Dark: Lots of cheese, tomatoes, hot pepper and basil.
What is your favourite colour? (Does not need to be one of the 8 AoE II colours.)
Dark: Violet.
Vinchester: I like blue and green. But after I started to play AoE 2 where one of my idols Pyc_Storm played as purple, I started to play with this color and now I really like it.
I think it’s a good choice. Since some top players have their known colour. TheViper is always connected with yellow, BacT with orange, Chris was green. Some don’t have a typical colour, but I do always imagine you as the purple player.
I also think this is a little advantage when you are doing TG. If you know all your team colour, then it’s easier and faster to analyze the game score, which is an important skill.
What is your favourite animal?
Vinchester: Tiger.
Dark: Little kittens.
What/where is your favourite place on Earth?
Vinchester: Hard to say. I really like to visit different places. But one thing I am sure about, I like sun and hate cold, 11. So my place is somewhere on the sea, where it’s good weather and has sweet berries.
Dark: I like to be at home most of all. Also I like places where I see my friends.
What is your favourite song at the moment, of all time (can be top 5)?
Dark: Idk, I like any kind of music. My favourites are Minimal and Techno.
Vinchester: Atm: September - Earth, Wind & Fire; Of all time: 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite; Tim McMorris - On Top Of The World; Kyla La Grange - Cut Your Teeth (Kygo Remix).
What is your favourite recent movie, of all time (can be top 5)? Who is you favourite actor?
Dark: I like “Person of interest”. I haven’t watched a lot of movies and can’t consider a favourite actor.
Vinchester: Nothing special atm. Of all time: Revolver; The Departed; Inception; Pirates of the Caribbean; Fast and Furious; Harry Potter.
What are your favourite books?
Dark: I like books about self-development a lot. My favourite is called “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie.
Vinchester: “Martin Eden” Jack London; Richard Bach “One”.
Do you have a favourite athlete/sports team? (football, basketball etc.)
Dark: I don’t watch sport teams.
Vinchester: I was playing football on professional level from 6 to 18. I don’t like watching it at all, but I really like FC Barcelona and MU for a while (my cousin is a fan of them).
Why did you stop? It’s probably an easy answer, but would you share. I know that from U19 players only a small percentage makes it into the first professional divisions, but would you have had a chance or was the reason to stop a different one?
It’s not easy to say. Always a couple of factors. I was playing in CSKA and Lokomotiv (those you probably know, but some others also). In CSKA I played 4 years with Fedor Chalov, who you probably know as well. We are friends. In Loko I graduated to youth team, but I didn’t practice a lot there, because I started to study at the university and also realized that professional football is not for me. My health isn’t great for it as well. Not sure whether I need to describe this. And the last problem is corruption. It’s hard to say who is better, when you are talking about two players on the same position but with different teammates. So, you need much more than just playing good to be in team and I don’t like it
.I think I understand most of what you say. Professional football is much more than just playing. Physically and mentally demanding.
What are your favourite traits on a woman?
Dark: I like when a girl is sociable and beautiful.
Vinchester: Hard to say. If I understood your question properly, then I realised that being clear and truthful is important for me.
What time do you usually go to sleep? What do you like doing before sleeping?
Vinchester: It depends. Sometimes I get back home late, because of my work and then I go to sleep at 2-3 a.m. Then I am usually drinking some tea with food with my gf before sleep. In case if I have a habit for a couple of days to sleep at 10-11 pm, then the best thing I do before sleeping is reading.
Dark: Usually I go to sleep at 23:00 Moscow time. But I go later quite often.
If there was anything you could tell your 16-year-old self, what would it be?
Vinchester: Try more and be more focused on things you do.
Dark: 11. I say: “keep going”.
First interviewee under 16, so the question turned around, 11.
Which countries have you visited? And where would you like to go to? Why?
Vinchester: I had a nice trip in 2017, when we had the Voobly LAN in Gent. I have been in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. I would like to visit as much as possible. I don’t have a priority. Where I will go, when will I get money? It will depend only on my mood at the deciding moment.
Dark: I’ve been in England, China, Germany and Ukraine. I have some friends in Germany. Want to visit them again. I was in a small town in England, so I want to visit a big city. Ukraine is pretty much the same as Russia except some things. In China, sorry, but it was not that great.
Why? Which city? And why did you go to China?
I was in Changzhou. There was one of my dance competitions, same thing with Germany, England and Ukraine. I don't like that because I can't eat their food, that is so hot. I was there for 3 days and have eaten only 2 times. Think it was a bad food court, but I couldn't change it. Other things were fine, but food completely killed me. Hope to visit some bigger cities with better restaurants.
Which languages can you speak and which would you like to learn?
Vinchester: I consider I am good with English, but my girlfriend keep saying that my English is terrible. Especially the grammar part, 11. I was studying French for some years at school, but I remember almost nothing. Je parler France. (No, 11)
Dark: For my age I speak English well and it seems like people can understand me, but I will try to be better. Also atm I learn Spanish at school. Would be great if I will speak it at least like English.
I agree with both of you. Your English is not bad, but both have a lot of small mistakes which I correct. If you’re 15 now and can speak Russian, English and Spanish well before you are an adult, that is quite good.
What are your hobbies beside AoE?
Vinchester: It’s gonna be hard to explain, but I am playing a table game called “Mafia”. There is a lot of versions of this game, but I like the one which called Classic (or tournament) Mafia. There are ten people playing in one game. 6 citizens plus a sheriff (they don’t know who they are) vs. 2 mafia and 1 don (they know who they are). Players are speaking with each other and trying to get, who is lying (mafia).
Dark: My main hobby-sport is dancing. I have already trained for 10 years. It’s a couple dancing and there we have tournaments. You can ask me personally about it if you are interested. There is one of videos with me: https://yadi.sk/i/PzDJqU5aKn2niw (for your knowledge this dance is slow waltz).
Who would you like to meet once, who you have not met? One AoE player and one other person.
Vinchester: Interesting question. Let’s start with AoE. I suppose Pyc_Storm is the one, who I have never seen and would like to meet. No idea why, but this guy was my idol when I started to play AoE 2. When I started to think I have to realize that my choice is bad, because there is always a better and more clever human in my mind. So probably I am thinking too much about this question, but my answer is somebody who I will meet later and wonder how crazy he is
.Dark: I want to meet every top player in AoE. Need to try hard to play on some LAN with them.
Do you have an AoE idol?
Vinchester: For a long time it was Pyc_Storm. For now I consider there is only one professional in all AoE 2: TheViper.
Dark: At the beginning I was a fan of Vinchester. I tried to copy everything he did even played as purple color and trushed on Arena, because I thought that was the easiest way to become a top player. And every time I was playing with Discord my friends laugh at me then I was up to Castle age at 30 mins after trush on Arena, 11. But now I really want to be like Liereyyy. Just play one game a year and still can beat Viper at some tourney, 11.
What is your favourite civilisation, map and unit?
Vinchester: Map is BF vs. Atacama (on Arabia, 11). There is still nothing better than making Mangudai as Mongols.
The map answer is the best one I have read so far, 11.
Dark: Nowadays nothing can stop lancers, except stop button it seems, 11. But to be serious, my favourite civ is Mayans on most of the maps. I am considered a Arabia player but atm I’m losing a lot there and it makes me hate this map. Probably for 1v1 I prefer Arena and for TG - BF. My favourite unit is the conquistador.
What is your favourite in-game sound?
Vinchester: Baridohchun.
Can you explain? I think I can recognise it, but I can’t remember what it means. I haven’t played enough these last years
.I am not sure as well. Dench is pro on sound, he knows all of them. That probably is Mongol’s vils saying when you send them on house at the start.
Dark: Scorpion’s taunt.
If Arabia did not exist, which map do you think everyone would be playing as much as people play Arabia (and not Serengeti etc., which are just very similar to Arabia)?
Dark: Maybe some hybrid maps with water and land, I don’t know.
Vinchester: Hm… Any other map with open start and possibility for Feudal fight (some kind of Arabia, 11).
Who is your favourite and least favourite 1v1 opponent?
Dark: I didn’t play a lot vs. top players. But at Rise to Glory I was confident, playing vs. Fire, also easy opponents for me are Vinch and Dench because I know everything they will do. Also played a couple of games vs. slam, he is not that hard. Played one time vs. Laaan and he did dr fc into arambais with zero walls on Arabia, if I played a bit better, I could beat him.Those are pretty much all the top players I’ve played against.
Vinchester: I like to play vs. DauT, usually not a hard game. And it was really impossible to play vs. slam, when he played a lot of AoC.
Who is your favourite team mate for a 2v2?
For just playing:
Vinchester: VIK_dfs.
Dark: Vinch, qwin, repard2.
Also outside of the game:
Vinchester: VIK_dfs.
Dark: Vinch, Dench.
Would you live with him/her together in one apartment for a month or a year? With one bedroom or two?
Vinchester: No, 11.
Dark: I think it would be great to live a couple of days with my team. Probably playing AoC.
In the new expansions (after AoC), what is your favourite new civilisation and unit?
Vinchester: Indians, Imperial Camel.
Dark: Slavs, Kamayuk.
Which 4-5 players from your country do you think will form the A team in the upcoming Nations? Which maps would you like to be included apart from Arabia, Nomad, Islands? Would you prefer the Nations Cup to be on Voobly or on the new Definitive Edition?
Dark: I think Russia A is Vinch, Dench, me and repard/Kerch/Speedlimit. Of course I prefer Voobly!!
Vinchester: Kerch, repard, Dench, Dark, me. I prefer DE with good technical support. But I didn’t play TG enough.
What is your goal for the 2020 Nations Cup? Which teams do you think will reach the top 8? Do you think Russia has a better chance in 3v3 than 4v4?
Dark: My goal for NC is to play like a beast and take all the games and also make Team Russia a very good team, which will be dangerous in any tournament. In top 8 will be China, Finland, Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, Russia and Germany if Viper plays for it, 11, actually it could be any strong team. I think for us 4v4 is better.
Vinchester: Better chances for 4v4. My goal will be top 4. If my guys will do it, I will be proud of them. No idea who will be top 8. It depends on practice only. Especially with new civs if they will be there.
Which 4 players would you like to see forming a team? (can include inactive players)
Vinchester: Me, Pyc_Storm, Pyc_Derpt, Arreat/Kerch/repard/Dench.
Dark: If you mean from Russians, I think the best team would be Vinch, Keif (in his good shape), repard, and Dench or Arreat (I don’t know for sure how good he was playing but he was great).
What do you think about Nili’s Apartment Cup 3? I think Russians need a visa, right?
Vinchester: I am trying to get a visa anyway. I was planning a trip close to those dates in Europe. So it won’t be a problem. I really want to get there as player.
Now time went on. A few words about your match against Villese?
I think I played more games, but the day we played, I felt myself super unprepared and I did many mistakes which I never did during the last months. Well, I was extremely nervous.
Dark [Answer before the match]: I can’t play DE atm. Hope Vinch will fly to Germany (instead of me 11).
What kind of tournament would you like to participate in in 2020, after the Nations Cup? Which maps, 1v1 or teams, what kind of brackets (e. g. with group stage or single or double elimination).
Vinchester: MAKE TOURNEYS WITH OPEN QUALS FOR AT LEAST HALF OF THE SPOTS. MAKE A BETTER SYSTEM WITH CIV AND MAP PICKS AND BANS. AND YOU DON’T NEED TO THINK. JUST COPY FROM OTHER GAMES LIKE DOTA, CS ETC. Sorry. I will participate in most of them, if I will not leave AoE.
Dark: Idk yet. I need to have a higher rating for most of the tourneys. Maybe I will participate in MoA6 if it will happen.
Or Aspiring Experts 2, if it happens in 2020. I think it would be good, but maybe exclude players who reached top 8 or so in the last version.
When you visit AoEZone and Voobly, is there something you really like or would like to have improved?
Dark: I visit AoEZone very rarely, so can’t say anything.
Vinchester: I miss top players records.
What is the funniest moment in your life you experienced because of AoE?
Dark: I know a lot of funny moments in the AoE community but for me the funniest is this video, made by Dench: https://youtu.be/UkSkKdjvO-Q.
Vinchester: I don’t know what to answer, 11. I really like everything happening in my life. And last years AoE friends are fully connected with other things I do. I got Dench come to Moscow from another city, same like TheCart. Warrior is always around and visiting. St. Petersburg is where dfs lives. Dark became part of our community.
Choose:
Chris or DauT?
Vinchester: Chris
Dark: DauT
Tim or TheViper?
Vinchester: TheViper
Dark: TheViper
Edie or Terror?
Vinchester: Who are they?
Dark: Terror
Metal or DraCoNT?
Vinchester: Metal
Dark: Metal
T90 or ZeroEmpires?
Vinchester: T90
Dark: T90
Hunter or farmer?
Vinchester: Hunter
Dark: Farmer
Wolf or jaguar?
Vinchester: Wolf
Dark: Jaguar
1v1 or 4v4?
Vinchester: 3v3
Dark: 4v4
Feudal Age or Imperial Age?
Vinchester: Imperial
Dark: Imperial age
Nomad or Islands?
Vinchester: Islands 1000000%
Dark: Nomad
What would you do to make the world a better place?
Vinchester: Share positivity.
Dark: People should be more helpful to each other, respect each other and be positive.
If you were not in a relationship, and could date anyone, who would it be?
Dark: Not yet.
Vinchester: My GF ^^.
Write a poem/rap of 8 lines (or more) about something AoE-related, either in English or your native language.
Vinchester: Oh sorry, I am not creative, 11.
Dark: It will be stupid mistake
To let us Arena to take.
Coz one of us is infected,
He’ll go up after food is collected,
Will put towers on your face
To take all of your space.
Good luck other flank to your castle drop
Against the guy, booming with hundred pop.
But there is the one who is titanic
He always has Memb panic,
Dying to wolves around,
But he won’t do loom in this round...
For so long your head will bounce
After playing against the arena clowns.
(About our team 11)
Add one more comment or question for me or someone else.
Vinchester: Thank you very much for this interview. I am not reading forums a lot, but I read some of your interviews, when you start asking me about that. It is crazy! And sorry for delaying it for a huge time. I think self organization is my biggest issue. Have a nice time everyone who will read this.
Love you <3 ~Vinch.
Dark: Big thank you for letting me take part in this interview, and see you in the Nations Cup 2020!!
Thank you a lot for the interview and good luck with your tournaments in 2020. Dark, now we will keep an eye on you to see where you are in 6 and 12 months. If the expert scene switches to DE, I think getting 2k4 in 2020 will be rough. Vinchester, I hope we can still see you in many tournaments in 2020, although you did not manage to qualify for NAC 3.
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lceland 
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