The Veterans of the Clash is well underway! This weekend, we will see a matchup between Nicov and Slam . I spoke to Nicov about his thoughts of the event, his opponents, and aoc in general:
Lavie_Head: Hello Nico! How about some background info about yourself? Tell us something about your real life?
Nicov: Hi, my name is Nicolás and im 21 years old, actually studying the veterinary science career at university.
Lavie_Head: Tell us about your name, Nicov. What does it mean? Is there any history behind your nickname?
Nicov: My first answer speaks for itself, i just cut it and added a "v" without a real reason, but i like it haha
Lavie_Head: I see Let’s now move on to aoc-related questions. When did you start playing AoC?
Nicov: I started playing on zone around 2002-2003, and i played up untill 2006. But back then i only played DM and CS. I miss those days, despite i consider voobly a way better client than zone in any aspect. I came back into the game in December 2011 and finally started playing RM.
Lavie_Head: Have you improved gradually or more by larger leaps? Are there certain stages you took your game through such as mastering booming or the the economy aspect of the game first and then moving on to different types of attacks?
Nicov: Mostly it was gradually, but also there were periods of many months when i felt i was playing always at the same level and couldn't improve, but then at times i felt i was improving very quickly.
As for the second part of the answer, i have always been more a defensive player with emphasis on economy and i only raided my enemy to hurt his eco in order to take an advantage over him and then finish the game in imperial age.
Actually i adapt the aggressive/defensive style purely depending on the map i have and the way i feel like playing during the match. I guess i don't have a strongly marked style of play.
Lavie_Head: What is your opinion about the relation between talent and practice in AoC. Have you heard about the 10,000-hour rule?
Nicov: Well i think this game is 50% about dedication (playing and watching recs), 40% about mental strength and 10% about talent. I'm afraid mind game was my weakest point at the beginning, and i think it is the hardest aspect to improve for most of the players. And i haven't heard about the 10,000-hour rule.
Lavie_Head: The rule says: nearly anyone can be an expert at anything with at least 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. How do you think this 10,000-hour rule apply to eSports and aoc in particular?
Nicov: I agree, no matter how much nature talent you have, it won't help you without hard practice. The real problem of aoc is as simple as that: it requires a lot of time and dedication to get better.
Lavie_Head: Ok, and what is your secret to success? How do u feel, is your own skill more about natural talent or focused practice and training?
Nicov: I just play a lot and watch recs... imo there are no real secrets to this game. Anyway having a friend with better skills to practice helps a lot. For example when i signed up for the Master of Arena tourney i had 0 experience playing that map due to the fact that i have always hated arena to be honest. But then fedex helped me a lot in a few weeks and i even managed to get a second place.
I don't like talking about my "skill", but i think it is all about dedication, a big will to improve and motivation.
Lavie_Head: Ok, let´s now move on to the recent tournaments. You lost vs Spaden in CoT qualification but giving comments on those games he said: “My biggest achievement is that I managed to survive 1h in the ara hunswar, I belive ^^”. Do you take it as a compliment or did you expect to win faster on your hm and the outcome is rather a disappointment to you?
Nicov: I expected to play better in all the 3 games and win the arabia game faster. It was dissapointing because i felt i played way below my level. I don't want to give any other comments about that because i'm afraid that could sound as an excuse ^^
Lavie_Head: Talking about VoC, you picked islands as a home map vs (hong kong) Ding and you came out on top in rooster, another water-based map. Do you feel strongest on water against this player? Most people know you as an arabia player.
Nicov: I stopped being 100% ara player long ago... i don't know why people still thinks i am 11. I picked islands because i feel confident on that map, despite what happened in my game against Ding.
Lavie_Head: In the next round you are playing vs Slam. How many maps can you see yourself taking against him? And what maps would you feel strongest on vs Slam?
Nicov: No clue. Even though i think Slam plays better than me (and he also has more experience, which counts a lot) i can't predict the resultS of the matchup. Especially since we both have the same problem with the correct mindset and feeling stressed or playing way below actual level in tourneys. Anyway, i have heard that Slam got rid of his problem. I still can't do that.
And i don't want to give away any information about the maps as we still have to play ^^
Lavie_Head: In the predictions poll many put Slam in third place behind Chris and BacT. What are your thoughts?
Nicov: Again no clue. I actually think both slam and chris have a big probability of ending first.
Lavie_Head: And out of the all VoC players which one do you feel least comfortable playing against because of his style or strengths?
Nicov: I'm afraid i can't talk about this as well because the tournament is not over yet.
Lavie_Head: My last question. You have been around for several years in aoc, can u tell us about any special moments/people that u will always remember? And have you ever met any of your aoc-friends in real life?
Nicov: Hm... Some special moments for me were when i first reached 2k under a year after i started playing RM and also my first win against Chris in arabia huns war. Maybe there are more, but i can't remember right now. Up untill now the only player that i have met is Fedex.
Lavie_Head: Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Nicov: Nothing else, just a big thanks to Voobly, Aoczone, and the whole community+sponsors for keeping this game alive and more active than ever. Also thanks to you for this interview ^^
Lavie_Head: Thanks for your time, Nico, and best of luck in your future plans and I am looking forward to watching you play vs Slam tomorrow!