Q&A Thread for IYIyTh

[IYIyTh]

Hello, my name is IYIyTh.

I have been playing Age of Empires II off/on for over 23 years.
I have been seen on clips on many different streams for quirky shenanigan's, but am probably more well-known for outsized influence and responsiveness from pro and non-pro player alike commensurate (and otherwise,) with my skill on aoezone.
I generally view myself as a recalcitrant chaotic neutral, hoping to instigate change, stoke discussion, challenge prevailing entropy towards boring meta, and promote entertainment within the scene.

I am currently ~1700 on DE, have hit >1800 before, and still don't know a proper m@a archer, archer, or frankly even scouts build order. I am probably a 1750 Arena player, and a 1650 straight up Arabia player, and a 1725 lame into douche Arabia player.

I first played the game at a friends house from Elementary school and the music hooked me.

Found a no-cd crack that worked for GameSpy, found random lobbies and those were my first multiplayer experiences.

I then navigated to MSZone and played primarily custom scenario games -- typically 2-3 hour Castle Blood Fair games (in particular where you could build docks/demos and games were constantly deadlocked.) Back when I had infinite free time, I enjoyed playing custom scenario games like Soldier Store, U Da Prey, Jailbreak, and Western EU diplo. RPG's provided an occasional flair for the unknown.

I floated in a Europe/WM clan called iLLuSiOnS before joining silent nights (sN), and specialized in bloods.

I joined a 1v1 TTF ladder (yes, it existed,) at some point and made a pretty significant dent in the ladder owing to my bloods/micro background.

I don't think I played RM seriously until around 10 years ago. I enjoyed closed maps, since my macro was (and still is,) ****. Eventually I played on GameRanger and then I think Voobly. Some friends from another game then came over to DE at release and we played team games, which led me to "try," a little harder at 1v1. I enjoy making other players uncomfortable and the game messy, because I am not one to memorize a build order. Besides, if I don't know what I'm doing, how can my opponent?

So long as the questions are fair/above board I will answer them at my leisure.

 

[Chainsaw]

Hey man. I find this post very interesting in that it seems unabashedly self-serving. While I don't know you enough to claim any knowledge on your character, I'd like to know, if you would be so candid, why you would write such a post?

 

[IYIyTh]

Hey man. I find this post very interesting in that it seems unabashedly self-serving. While I don't know you enough to claim any knowledge on your character, I'd like to know, if you would be so candid, why you would write such a post?

In turn I have to question many things. Do you have the same thoughts for any Q&A? What is it that grates at you about Q&A's, or gives rise to motivate you to ask or question their purpose (outside of the obvious for being a Q&A,) for example?

These boards have become rather sparse. Not sure it hurts to attempt to breathe some life into it.

 

[eberlazting]

Hey man.

I have not followed too much the current state of aoe2 scene since last RBW, most tournaments are boring to watch, would you be capable to host a LAN tournament in the US? What are your plans for the game?

 

[IYIyTh]

Hey man.

I have not followed too much the current state of aoe2 scene since last RBW, most tournaments are boring to watch, would you be capable to host a LAN tournament in the US? What are your plans for the game?

I think right now there is a lull in sponsorships that stems primarily from the post-Covid recalibration. Less viewers means less companies willing to spend on major production as an attractive means to advertise. I also think there is a lack of leadership in the AOE2 community when it comes to actively seeking sponsors for tournaments. Most major tournaments are primarily streamer-self or MS funded, and unfortunately there hasn't been a demonstrated utilization of AOE2 DE as an entertainment/advertisement outside of the RBW series to package the scene as a product to obtain the kind of third-party sponsors in years of yore.

The lack of several major AOE2 streamers on prime-streaming networks (acting as downward pressure on the notoriety of the game,) likely further diminishes the attractiveness of AOE2.

As for hosting a tournament, a NA tournament is particularly difficult as the U.S. is simply so massive. Everyone would need to fly in, etc. I'm not a huge fan of LAN tournaments as it seems like a waste of resources and prize pool that many tournaments have demonstrated simply are unnecessary to have a great tournament. In fact, I believe some of the "LAN," tournaments are still hosted over DE's servers.

In a world where there are travel/visa restrictions for players, massive geographic barriers and flight costs, intense production costs -- it doesn't really make any sense to hold LAN's when we are all playing the game online. I would much rather those dollars and cents go to the players (driving competition and incentive to pick up the game for younger generations,) or into online production. I get no stiffy seeing aoe2 casters struggle with technical issues that wouldn't exist if they were at home with their own setup.

My plans are to allow the RM clowns to die out so CS Bloods can reign supreme as they have in the past yet again.

 

[Rayne]

Interesting about Gamespy, now I see why you have the name Myth. There were some players that dled 1.0 crack I believe and that was the default name unless someone changed it.

Were you around on GS from 2004-2006 (early/mid 2006)? There’s a good chance we actually played with/vs each other if you joined those ip Yucatan games during those years. I recall one Myth who was a ‘regular’ that didn’t really change his name. Saw him often and now wondering if that was you.

 

[Chainsaw]

In turn I have to question many things. Do you have the same thoughts for any Q&A? What is it that grates at you about Q&A's, or gives rise to motivate you to ask or question their purpose (outside of the obvious for being a Q&A,) for example?

These boards have become rather sparse. Not sure it hurts to attempt to breathe some life into it.

Hi again.

-Do you have the same thougts for any Q&A?
My experience is that Q&As either follow a show or event, or are the event itself (when a personality wants to share information about themselves, or answer questions from viewers/fans). It is often for viewers/fans to connect with the personality they are there to see. Or in the case of debates, for people to ask questions concerning the debate. As this was not the case with your post, I wondered about it.

-What is it that grates at you about Q&A's, or gives rise to motive you to ask or question their purpose, for example?
I don't really have a particularly specific view on Q&As, to be frank, other than that they serve their purpose. I questioned your motive, not Q&As in general.

-These boards have become rather sparse. Not sure it hurts to attempt to breathe some life into it.
I agree on both points; this answers my question.

To be fair, you never know who is typing behind the keyboard, so I appreciate that you could not know if my question was malicious or genuine.

 

[IYIyTh]

To be fair, you never know who is typing behind the keyboard, so I appreciate that you could not know if my question was malicious or genuine.

I know you might think you are attempting to be coy, but it's painfully obvious which one of the two your posts in this thread fall under. Hope you get the commensurate dopamine surge you were seeking from the likes.

 

[IYIyTh]

Interesting about Gamespy, now I see why you have the name Myth. There were some players that dled 1.0 crack I believe and that was the default name unless someone changed it.

Were you around on GS from 2004-2006 (early/mid 2006)? There’s a good chance we actually played with/vs each other if you joined those ip Yucatan games during those years. I recall one Myth who was a ‘regular’ that didn’t really change his name. Saw him often and now wondering if that was you.

So I don't think I had gone full IYIyTh yet. I had actually primarily used Gamespy to play poker back when the Texas Holdem' phenomenon happened in the U.S. It was kind of after that I discovered there were occasional AOE2 lobbies. I was much more into Diablo II/LOD than AOE2 for a while as well.

I think I was on 1.0 for a while and didn't understand how to update until I got to the zone.

I have been challenged several times over the name, and I think on Zone another Myth challenged me to a "nickname," BO5, loser had to change their nickname. Peak middle school things. There is a kr_myth who frequently plays CS and RPG's and streams occasionally, who is a nice fellow. I think there also is another myth with a relatively high ELO (2k ish.) I'll settle for being the 2nd or 3rd best overall myth, and the #1 IYIyTh.

 

[sheeesh]

Hi again.

-Do you have the same thougts for any Q&A?
My experience is that Q&As either follow a show or event, or are the event itself (when a personality wants to share information about themselves, or answer questions from viewers/fans). It is often for viewers/fans to connect with the personality they are there to see. Or in the case of debates, for people to ask questions concerning the debate. As this was not the case with your post, I wondered about it.

-What is it that grates at you about Q&A's, or gives rise to motive you to ask or question their purpose, for example?
I don't really have a particularly specific view on Q&As, to be frank, other than that they serve their purpose. I questioned your motive, not Q&As in general.

-These boards have become rather sparse. Not sure it hurts to attempt to breathe some life into it.
I agree on both points; this answers my question.

To be fair, you never know who is typing behind the keyboard, so I appreciate that you could not know if my question was malicious or genuine.

a Q&A in a Q&A
AoEzone at it's finest

 

[Rayne]

So I don't think I had gone full IYIyTh yet. I had actually primarily used Gamespy to play poker back when the Texas Holdem' phenomenon happened in the U.S. It was kind of after that I discovered there were occasional AOE2 lobbies. I was much more into Diablo II/LOD than AOE2 for a while as well.

I think I was on 1.0 for a while and didn't understand how to update until I got to the zone.

I have been challenged several times over the name, and I think on Zone another Myth challenged me to a "nickname," BO5, loser had to change their nickname. Peak middle school things. There is a kr_myth who frequently plays CS and RPG's and streams occasionally, who is a nice fellow. I think there also is another myth with a relatively high ELO (2k ish.) I'll settle for being the 2nd or 3rd best overall myth, and the #1 IYIyTh.

Ah, I see. Must’ve been someone else then.

I didn’t even know you could play poker on Gamespy. Only ever used it for aoe and Stronghold Crusader. Kind of wonder what would’ve happened if I never came across it, if I would’ve gotten into zone instead or maybe I might’ve never played aoe online. It was only through a friend I got to know on an old sub-forum where almost anything in life went. Haven’t come across such diversity since, though I’m no real online wanderer.

Why were you into D2 over aoe? I was actually into D2 a lot with my bro back in 2000/01. That was before I enjoyed competitiveness and difficult games though. There’s nothing in any Diablo game where you could push yourself to/beyond limits which is something I enjoy a lot, even outside of games. Diablo at some point is just building a character without purpose imo. No real challenge after awhile, even with Hardcore modes.

P.S., not that it really concerns me, but I thought Chainsaw was actually being legit. His word choice just happened to come off funny for those that have seen some of your old posts.

 

[_Donatello_]

Ah, I see. Must’ve been someone else then.

There were a old school player called heavens_myth, he were expert in all games from AoE1 - RoR (I think clan were created here, clan nick were Myth and they had nickname first I think I remember now) - AoK - AoC and early AoM, typically they were really good (top 50ish 1v1, stronger as clan) in early lifespam of the games then went inactive intill next game when they did well again.

Were a strong clan with several good players, maybe you seen some of them in oldschool rec and just remember you seen the nick.

I did not find anything on google right now, but remember they came release AoE3 and reading then they also were among first clans worldwide to step inside MC in WoW

 

[IYIyTh]

Ah, I see. Must’ve been someone else then.

I didn’t even know you could play poker on Gamespy. Only ever used it for aoe and Stronghold Crusader. Kind of wonder what would’ve happened if I never came across it, if I would’ve gotten into zone instead or maybe I might’ve never played aoe online. It was only through a friend I got to know on an old sub-forum where almost anything in life went. Haven’t come across such diversity since, though I’m no real online wanderer.

Why were you into D2 over aoe? I was actually into D2 a lot with my bro back in 2000/01. That was before I enjoyed competitiveness and difficult games though. There’s nothing in any Diablo game where you could push yourself to/beyond limits which is something I enjoy a lot, even outside of games. Diablo at some point is just building a character without purpose imo. No real challenge after awhile, even with Hardcore modes.

P.S., not that it really concerns me, but I thought Chainsaw was actually being legit. His word choice just happened to come off funny for those that have seen some of your old posts.

Oh yea. Poker was a big deal. Once you got to a certain amount of fake money you reached a "Dubious," level where it was like money wasn't a thing. Very entertaining.

D2 was another brilliant game from that era. The way loot dropped, the communities like d2jsp where you could trade d2 currency for other games was really cool. Once you opened up to that world you could trade services with your late game characters for other game currency which enhanced those experiences. The darker themes and great music were also nice touches.

In D2 there was duelling. There was always better gear, even small increments making big differences. First it was the cool late game sets with auras, then the super rare unique items, then the even rarer crafted/rare items with gg stats. Different dueling strategies, etc. Ie: low level hardcore dueling at lvl 9, etc. or lvl 25 kept it fresh.

Later on I got into botting which helped explore an interest in rudimentary programming.

 

[Rayne]

There were a old school player called heavens_myth, he were expert in all games from AoE1 - RoR (I think clan were created here, clan nick were Myth and they had nickname first I think I remember now) - AoK - AoC and early AoM, typically they were really good (top 50ish 1v1, stronger as clan) in early lifespam of the games then went inactive intill next game when they did well again.

Were a strong clan with several good players, maybe you seen some of them in oldschool rec and just remember you seen the nick.

I did not find anything on google right now, but remember they came release AoE3 and reading then they also were among first clans worldwide to step inside MC in WoW

If he was that good, it can’t be that Myth as Gamespy was more of a beginner’s lobby. Aside from Ra who I think started on Gamespy (no clue what his rating was then), the only strongest player I know of back then was Heiko who was 2k at the time, then later 2100-2200 on voobly.

I suppose I may understand where the whole Myth name comes from when someone dled the default version of aoc with the no cd crack now. Might be about that clan you’re mentioning. It’s far beyond me however. As much as I know about aoe and history, earliest clan I know of is DevilZ and few members. It’s almost like you’re digging into ancient Egyptian history or earlier.

Also on the subject of DevilZ, and just the name heaven (on the subject of heaven_myth) and aoc, reminds me of what Koven’s name stood for. Most probably forgot, but it’s actually two words spliced into one, Korea (Ko) and heaven (ven).

Oh yea. Poker was a big deal. Once you got to a certain amount of fake money you reached a "Dubious," level where it was like money wasn't a thing. Very entertaining.

D2 was another brilliant game from that era. The way loot dropped, the communities like d2jsp where you could trade d2 currency for other games was really cool. Once you opened up to that world you could trade services with your late game characters for other game currency which enhanced those experiences. The darker themes and great music were also nice touches.

In D2 there was duelling. There was always better gear, even small increments making big differences. First it was the cool late game sets with auras, then the super rare unique items, then the even rarer crafted/rare items with gg stats. Different dueling strategies, etc. Ie: low level hardcore dueling at lvl 9, etc. or lvl 25 kept it fresh.

Later on I got into botting which helped explore an interest in rudimentary programming.

Never heard of d2jsp actually. You could trade Diablo gold for other games? Is that what you mean? Or gold for other music/darker themes?

Dueling was somewhere between fun and stupid tbh 11. Hardcore low level duels were silly but I get it. The most amusing duel (not hc) was probably between a WW barb trying to take on an FO sorc which didn’t end well. Or the guy tried to take on a guided arrow zon and got killed off-screen a few times.

Not sure what botting is. Dunno if that’s the same thing an old friend did. Which is, he made something that automatically would farm Mephisto by itself and he’d check what he got in the morning.

 

[IYIyTh]

D2JSP has a currency on the forum. You can "donate," to the website for a certain amount of the currency, or like most non-degenerates you can trade in-game items to obtain the forum currency, called forum gold.

The great thing about forum gold is I can walk over from my new game where base game currency gold is worth a lot, and sell some to help play another game I have interest in right now.

Loot economy is a big driver for me/interesting for me, because then it drives trading interactions/negotiations. If I am really interested in a game and don't want to grind for hours to afford even basic tier loot, I can just do some runs on Diablo 2 during the new ladder, sell some gg items for forum gold, and use it to assist my start in another game.

I've also used FG to pay for photoshop services and video editing, so quite versatile.

 

[MaSmOrRa]

I remember you became a father a few years (?) ago!
How is he/she?

When will you teach them AoE 2?

When do you think you'll give them a phone?

I also seem to remember you were enrolled in a phd program, is that finished?

 

[GosBanyat]

what's your opinion on the ever growing entropy of the universe?

 

[Rayne]

After seeing GosBanyat’s question, actually got a few myself.

Do you believe in synchronicity if you know what that is? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Then my last question is, do you believe in manifestation or as it is simpler called, law of attraction? Like above, if yes, can I ask why? If no, why not?

 

[IYIyTh]

I remember you became a father a few years (?) ago!
How is he/she?

When will you teach them AoE 2?

When do you think you'll give them a phone?

I also seem to remember you were enrolled in a phd program, is that finished?

They are fifteen months!!

They are pretty advanced when it comes to coordination for their age, they were running by age one and have a LOT of teeth (I think like 10 last count including molars.)

Her favorite word is dada but we're branching out now. Duck, Dog, woof woof, and goose are new words she is slowly starting to gravitate towards. She's a ton of fun and I'm loving getting to relive childhood through her.

AOE2 is a blessing and a curse. It has gotten me through the awkward ages of adolescence, but in adulthood I have recognized it for the time sink it tends to be. She seems to really like being outdoors and playing more coordinated games, so I might not ever.

Phone will be a discussion with the mother and I. A lot to think about pertaining to the access it grants. At the same time, you want your children to grow up with technology so that they are able to learn and adapt as it changes over time. Also, great tracking software :D. My guess is 5th grade.

So I hold two Masters degrees. An MBA and a second Masters that typically only military personnel in my country are eligible for. Thus, I consider myself a MAMBA. My wife on the other hand finishes her defense next month and will be awarded her PhD in Evolutionary Ecology and Organismal Biology, or as I like to say -- Animals and numbers.

 

[IYIyTh]

what's your opinion on the ever growing entropy of the universe?

I would be lying if this existential question doesn't trouble me from time to time. I have constantly thought of the fact that at some point in the distant future -- if my partciles, long since gone and buried under sediment -- will likely be swallowed by our sun. Given that we are made of elements that could have only occurred to our knowledge during a supernova, it seems fitting I will return to where I once came.

More scary is the immense, massive, time scale until entropy in the universe is achieved. Until Black Holes evaporate, and even atoms begin to break down. What that means for myself and all that ever came? I'm not quite sure -- but hopefully whatever interesting science project or mistake created all of this we'll at least have had some fun.

In a certain book I like:
"Space," it says, "is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space. Listen..." and so on.

 

[IYIyTh]

After seeing GosBanyat’s question, actually got a few myself.

Do you believe in synchronicity if you know what that is? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Then my last question is, do you believe in manifestation or as it is simpler called, law of attraction? Like above, if yes, can I ask why? If no, why not?

It's hard to answer the first question since an affirmative would appear to be believing in the unbelievable, which doesn't make much sense now does it?

I disagree with the law of attraction. We are makers of our own fate only to an extent. I believe over life I consider myself to have experienced lucky/unlucky events. Some of which I may haps could have influenced, others I could not.

Que sera sera. Matters not how I feel, only that I am.

 

[Rayne]

True, synchronicity could be that way somewhat. It’s not something I gave serious thought to until recent months, only after I’ve had some random different experiences that led somewhere. Was curious what you thought on it.

I don’t think law of attraction means you could attract/manifest everything you desire. I think that’s more the fake one than real one. It’s something I wonder about from hearing stories where it has happened to others. I personally never believed in it, only until a female scientist thinks it is possible. Intelligent people believing in things that could be considered hogwash tends to take on a different meaning for me. Opens my mind a bit.

What’s interesting though is you mentioning how much of our fate we control. I kind of wonder about that after a friend and I were having a conversation about the soul, physics, and free will some months ago. Mostly the last one, because a lot if not most neuroscientists don’t believe free will exists. It’s a curious thing to me, and there’s a lot of things that could be said about it.

What kind of degree do you have that’s only for military personnel? Curious if you don’t mind, as my dad was in the military for some years and had a rank as I understand. Somehow I have had a fascination for a lot of things military related.

 

[IYIyTh]

It is a Master of Military Arts and Science from Air Command and Staff College (USAF), the Major-rank professional military education equivalent.

There is another, which is the next step from Air War College. This is the Lt. Col level PME. Frankly, I've reached a point in my career that I don't need to play the box-checking game, but it's always nice to have.
I will say if I ever need to utilize the skills I've learned, such as leading/organizing the order of battle -- something has gone horribly, horribly, terribly wrong, we have already lost -- and I'm sorry.

Free will is an artificial construct. Many mental illnesses have genetic components and susceptibility that are triggered by environmental or other factors-- that absent the genetic link would not necessarily trigger disease. Sure people have choices, but we are also merely a few hundred thousand years from ritual cannibalism of the dead. We are genetically programmed to seek wants and needs alike, and this sometimes causes problems in the societies we have created.

I highly doubt I was genetically destined to be a well paid paper pusher, but -- I did look at my hands at a very young age and decided I only wanted to use them to play video games rather than work.

 

[Rayne]

It is a Master of Military Arts and Science from Air Command and Staff College (USAF), the Major-rank professional military education equivalent.

There is another, which is the next step from Air War College. This is the Lt. Col level PME. Frankly, I've reached a point in my career that I don't need to play the box-checking game, but it's always nice to have.
I will say if I ever need to utilize the skills I've learned, such as leading/organizing the order of battle -- something has gone horribly, horribly, terribly wrong, we have already lost -- and I'm sorry.

Free will is an artificial construct. Many mental illnesses have genetic components and susceptibility that are triggered by environmental or other factors-- that absent the genetic link would not necessarily trigger disease. Sure people have choices, but we are also merely a few hundred thousand years from ritual cannibalism of the dead. We are genetically programmed to seek wants and needs alike, and this sometimes causes problems in the societies we have created.

I highly doubt I was genetically destined to be a well paid paper pusher, but -- I did look at my hands at a very young age and decided I only wanted to use them to play video games rather than work.

I think it is really cool you have a degree in that. I enjoy hearing about unique things. Now, I also kind of understand why you write so much and talk the way you do. Wondered about it for awhile.

Artificial construct as in you agree with the scientists that say it doesn’t truly exist? Don’t know if you mean you have free will in your example by deciding too. A bit confused there.

 

[Akkal]

Did you frequent the AoeZone AoK 2.0 version lobbies as well? That’s where I lived from 2002-04. Heck, I even slept in and got late to my summer job that started an afternoon at 5 PM once, since I had been up all night gaming Aoe2, from a burnt CD and a cracked patch 11

I was a member of several clans, but the one I started out with was «Swedish Clan», if that rings a bell. Flemish Clan, Khmer Hero and another one I can’t quite recall the name of were our regular adversaries. Good times.

At some point I checked out the AoC lobbies as well, but TC’s costing stone was too much of a change to get used to after booming on at least 7 TC’s every game no matter the map, so I never really got into AoC until I got back to Voobly in 2018 or 19.