Spartan

I initially had the idea of opening up Excel, and typing out usernames as they popped into my head, one cell per row, until I hit 500 rows in the sheet. To me, this was basically to kind of see whose names popped up in my mind the most when I thought about "who do I appreciate" in the VHL. Full disclosure, I got about 150 rows in and then started struggling to put more names down, so I just copied the list until I hit 500 rows. Then @Beketov told me to piss off and do a real PT, so my 500+ words is below! @Bayley - Obligatory first person mentioned, since you were the first GM I had. You drafted me in the 3rd round of the S71 M Draft, and were the largest influence on me from the start, for obvious reasons. I appreciate your efforts and then Proto's (I miss him) to help me stay engaged and active in the league, and for developing my interest in the league. @Beketov - I did some flattery here I suppose, and our relationship is rather newer than some of the other larger names on here. But we have communicated one of the most out of the folks listed on here, both through the excessive number of seasons (to me) together in the Moscow LR. The time spent in DM's is also significant, so I think that some appreciation for the time you put into the league but then also manage to lend Moscow and myself is warranted. Even when the community blames you, know that I do too . @Acydburn - Probably one of my closer friends in the community, we chat about daily and you've been a great advocate in my corner for quite a while. The raging is fantastic, being my gaming buddy is amazing, and your passion for the league even when it's sometimes not appreciated by others is undeterred. I don't think enough people appreciate you, so I hope you accept my appreciation. @McWolf and @BladeMaiden - You two sort of go hand in hand, mainly because my time with both of you has overlapped so much. Both of you were two of the first faces I saw in sim leagues, and were mentors and friends from day 1. Even when we had differences of opinion, we didn't let that impact friendship, and thanks to both of you, I'm still around today. @Victor - You drafted me and then told me to replace you, literally in everything. Thanks, it keeps me busy during my free time @Renomitsu and @Mr_Hatter - Honestly I think you're both the two nicest people I've ever met. We've voice chatted together for way too long, usually letting me rant about some stuff that no longer bothers me anymore. I don't want to say it was therapeutic since that feels one-sided, but your presence simply is - and for that, and all the other amazing gaming moments and shared LR interactions, I appreciate you guys. @Doomsday (I feel like you're not up there despite me adding you in the list), @N0HBDY, @Arce @Shindigs, @samx - You guys are basically honorary members of the Moscow Menace just because of how much time you guys spend in the LR despite not being on the team, or even alumni (in most of your cases). I'm always appreciative of having good people around me, to have a good time with, and to form the KGB along with the other members of the team and fellow BoG members. @Steve - Despite being a bit lower on the list in terms of time we've known each other and spent together, you've been a joy to me and a welcome respite from some of the struggles I've had in the league. One of the surprisingly pleasant faces I first saw in the LA LR after I was traded there, and someone I chat with weekly about life, the league, and our players. It's nice to have that kind of consistent check-in from someone who cares about you, beyond just what services you can offer them. I appreciate that more than you know. @Gustav - I just think you're also a cool dude. It's a damn shame we've never been on a team together, or that neither of us GM'd the other. You're one of the consistently rational/productive members of the BoG and I genuinely think you've had a solid, underappreciated part in keeping this league running well the past bit. I don't think people know how much thought you've put into what you communicate to the BoG. But outside the league, you're a constant reminder to me (more recently) that life outside the VHL exists and that I should sometimes go and smell the roses. It's nice to have someone nudging you with perspective, especially someone my age. @VHL GM - Yeah I added all of you just because you guys give me motivation to stick around every season as a GM and bring out the best (or worst) side of me - my competitiveness. I wouldn't be continually striving to be a better GM without you guys pushing me with your own shrewd and calculated moves (when you're not missing the Draft). I appreciate you guys being fodder for Moscow . @STZ - Best AGM ever! @fonziGG @Dil (Dil gets a -1) - Y'all know why, I'd add Quik too but he never showed up. It's nice to have this commonality when there aren't many others. Everyone on Moscow - From S77 through now, you're all amazing. Ridiculously good people, you guys make it worth sticking around as a GM. Everyone on Helsinki and DC and LA - Or just teams I've played for, it's always been a good time no matter how we perform. I enjoy the people in the LR's and think the best experiences happen in there. --- Anyways, I mentioned a bunch of people but I would like to go ragequit over League or Apex or something for a bit. There are more folks who I thought of and went into the Word Cloud above, and others that I am thinking of as I write this, but am simply a bit too tired to finish writing. I apologize to those of you, maybe if we recycle this prompt again, I'll mention you guys then. Until then, I'll take the free reputation that seems to come with these MS'. 1,054 words

Quiet day

I am pro-profanity, in case it needed clarification

Huh

Wow.

Weenie

Wow, I really didn't expect this. Thank you so much for the appreciation, it really means a lot

This is fun

1. It's pretty crazy, we're playing for everything these next few games. This season is going to be a bit disappointment if we don't make the playoffs, and we're going to be playing London twice who we're tied with in the standings. We're in control of our future and we have to win. 2. I just do some reflex drills with stress balls, to practice hand-eye coordination and warm up the reflexes. 3. We just told him to do his best and we'll do our best in front of him. It's a team sport and everyone has their roles to play. 4. I think they could make at least the Conference finals, I've seen most of the EU teams beat both Seattle and Toronto. 5. I feel like it could be Seattle just because they have the easiest path to the finals, but Moscow, Riga and Helsinki would be strong contenders as well. 6. I've got a trip to visit family planned for about three weeks in August, so that'll be my big summer plan away from work.

Wheels on the VHL Propaganda machine never stop churning! @hedgehog337 I expect an appreciation article for all that blame you've doled out.

I'll sign up

I traveled for business stuff a bit the past couple days, for about 3.5-4.5 hours each way. Naturally I found myself with a lot of time to listen to music during that time, so I got to listen to a bunch of songs and albums, and added a few to my playlists. The one that really stood out and ended up on repeat for a bit though was Slaughterhouse by Motionless in White. They've dropped a few solid songs recently since I think they have an album coming out soon:tm: but it's a solid song. Check it out if you like metalcore. For actual VHL stuff, it seems like Moscow continued to do fine during my brief absence. They picked up points in every game while Riga seems to have caught up in games played, but still sits 8 points behind first place in the EU. We're in the final stretch now, and this week will have the point where Moscow can clinch home ice through the EU, and potentially home ice through the playoffs depending on how well they finish out the season along with how Seattle does in the NA. Will be an interesting week to follow to see how all the seeding plays out. Helsinki is right on the heels of Prague for the final wild card spot, having caught up in games played and just short by 2 points. I am very hopeful that Helsinki can complete the season comeback and creep into the playoffs, as we've really surged since after the dismal first third of the season. If we took out the initial week of the season, Helsinki would definitely be a playoff team now. Lastly, just thought it was interesting that very, very few Moscow players lead individual stats. It's a testament to the depth on this team, that everyone from top to bottom is putting up a contribution to the team to the extent that no one or two players have to go above and beyond to carry the team. While I'm sure Duncan Idaho would love to be front and center when it comes to award votes, as a GM, I am just happy to see a deep team on the ice and not have to worry too much about a top scorer going cold. When everyone pitches in, it's a good indication for success, and it's been the recipe followed this season.

Welcome to the VHL!

Get good.

Sorry, we already have the original.

Good job @jRuutu, you brought a bro back!

How can we expect this goalie to make saves when his eyes don't work, smh.

Quote this post and say "Prague sucks" and we'll send you 3 mil under the table

Join Moscow

Hey that's the name I suggested!!!

Idaho #1

1. I think we've found our game offensively, and Boobs has really held the fort in net. We're just playing well together and it shows on the ice. 2. I think so, we're going to show up to every game with the intention of winning and making it to the playoffs. 3. I don't really worry about that stuff, if we know that we have to be fifth or better in a conference of eight, we need to make sure we get there. Our fate is in our own hands, not the league being "fair." 4. I'm just focusing on the playoff push here, that's the biggest motivator and hype generator as well. This season means nothing without the playoffs. Plus it's a contract year so my performance is under the microscope. 5. Fuck that, Pens lost so I'm done watching. I don't care about it anymore. 6. A sandwich I absolutely adore is called the Dean Martin, with breaded chicken cutlets, fresh arugula and mozzarella with salt and pepper and an amazing pesto mayo sauce.

As someone with some strong opinions on this topic, I'll chime in. Here are reasons why I think the payout amounts are issues: 1. They're not proportionately reflective of time spent on the task. As other have pointed out, the other uncapped opportunities take up much more time, whether that's drafting for VHFL, writing a HOF article, or even researching trivia questions to submit for the question bank. Fantasy Zone has taken the amount some users used to get in a full season from the game, and now pays it out weekly. 2. Success rate is astronomically high. Uncapped TPE isn't supposed to be something you expect to receive every week, but it seems to be the case now. I can whip out the numbers if anyone wants to contest it, but Lose said about a week ago that 3 out of like 80+ didn't get TPE in a week. 3. In my opinion, I don't think bonus Fantasy Zone TPE is really necessary in the hybrid attribute system we have now. We added a 9th season on and regression got lighter, those two factors alone give users a full extra season of earning and then also lightens the TPE hit on regression. Combine that with the expectation of weekly uncapped TPE, and I think this has turned into an unrealistic expectation of what uncapped TPE is -> going from "wow I got TPE" to "wow, I didn't get ENOUGH TPE." This feels like we still want to be speedrushing our builds to hit peak during our ELC's and then bank/spend excess TPE on luxury attribute increases.

For the first time since S76, the last season Moscow was run by Victor, the Menace are in pole position for the Victory Cup - awarded to the team with the most regular season points. During my time on the Menace as a player, the team won two Victory Cups, which was a slight consolation prize to not winning the Continental Cup at the time. It'd be the first Victory Cup win for Moscow under my tenure if this performance continues, but credit has to go to a bunch of underrated folks who deserve some shoutouts: 1. Jan Hlozek - @Bojovnik 17G | 44A | 61P | +33 | 76 Hits | 89 SB | 4 GWG Hollywood Hlozek as he used to be called during his run-up to the S77 VHL Draft has really turned on the jets this season, already on track for a career season at a 1.3 PPG pace. Hlozek came to Moscow in a FA rights trade from LA before FA opened, as Moscow wanted to take a flier on a veteran defender who had just come off three seasons in a row of 72 points or higher. With the changes to the meta and attributes, I didn't expect Hlozek to explode as he has this season, but he's 2nd on Moscow in points and 5th in the entire league in defenseman scoring. 2. Sergey Preobrazhensky - @Bulduray_1 24G | 36A | 60P | +40 | 15 Hits | 15 SB | 8 GWG Sergey has taken a massive step forward as a sophomore, completely avoiding the expected sophomore slump that many players experience. Instead in more than 25 fewer games, Sergey has already exceeded his point total from his rookie season, and has career highs in both goals and assists. Moving from wing to center hasn't impeded him at all, and he's really embraced his role as a second line center. I've always liked to run two solid centers, and Sergey has really stepped up as a leader on the second unit alongside Henri le Massif and Kyosti Karjalainen, a fellow sophomore. An anchor on the second line, it clearly won't be long until he makes the jump to first line center, or even better - anchor for the entire team! 3. Leroy Johnson - @Vkobe-v 7 starts | 7 wins | 0 losses | 0.925 SV% | 1.91 GAA Many times when teams play their backup goalies, they figure they'll drop a couple games simply because most backup goalies are bots. Leroy is the reason why teams should really carry a human backup goalie, as he already has 7 wins this season and has a career record of 22-4-0 thus far with a 0.920 SV% and a 2.65 GAA. It is difficult to maintain an active user backup goalie, as you'd expect them to become too expensive to carry, or that they'd need to become a starter. Kobe has been the most selfless player on Moscow since I became the GM, as he's declined opportunities to start for other teams and cut off his earning at 400 TPE to ensure that he'd fall under the $2 million backup goalie cap hit removal rule. Thank you for everything Kobe, and we're very fortunate to have you .