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#371 - Into the Nexus: “Whip it Out”

• Garrett • Kyle • NotParadox or Guest

Tracking Link:

https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/

Sponsors:

Our Patrons support Into the Nexus at Patreon.com/ITN. If you enjoy the show consider supporting it with 25 cents, a dollar, or however you would like! We thank all our Patrons for their support!

Into the Nexus is your SOURCE for Heroes of the Storm news! Garrett and Kyle continue through our long meta with a host of new discoveries thanks to CCL. Heroes Devs have returned to the reddit to bring us a reminder of tasty breadcrumbs, which might be only 2 weeks away. Tensions are high and moral is low across the Heroes of the Storm community as they attempt to gauge their expectations. All this and more on this hearty edition of ITN.

Intro:  Welcome to Into the Nexus! The Heroes of the Storm podcast!

We did some Duos


Note: Looking for someone with CSS experience to add some features to HOTSlogs

Patreon Mention: Patreon.com/ITN

Thanks to our Patreon producers Declan H, CheezyBob, Chris K, Mike C, & Shawn B.

BONANZA NEXT WEEK!

Patron Thanks Doc for keeping track


News

Blue Comment

Blizz_DWarner:
Despite what randomredditposter#8962 might say, we’re still here and still working on Heroes, reworks, balance patches, skins, etc. We’ve always been tight lipped about our releases and that hasn’t changed. That being said, my fellow blues and I (and a celebrity cameo by Spazzo) have left quite a few tasty breadcrumbs as to what’s coming next. As soon as we’re ready to share this content with you all, we will!

I would also like to remind people that the odds of randomredditposter#8962 having a super-secret insider scoop on our internal processes is basically nil. It’s unfortunate that these types of people spend their time trying to mislead and demoralize their fellow Heroes enthusiasts, but that’s just the reality of internet culture.

Blizz_DWarner on Christmas Jokes

Blizz_DWarner:
We are all randomredditposter#8962 on this blessed day.

Merry Christmas!

Links


Community Attempts to Remain Calm

Text

Links


Bobby Koticks Pay Halved

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will remain at the publisher for at least the next two years—but that role is about to come with some serious pay-cuts.

According to Kotick's latest employment extension agreement with the SEC (spotted by Wowhead), the Activision boss has agreed to reduce his base salary by 50 percent, with his generous bonuses similarly halved. The agreement claims that these changes were made to bring Kotick's pay in line with company targets, stating that the new structure better "reflects shareholder feedback, incorporates market best practices, and continues to directly connect pay to performance".

Indeed, Kotick's pay has become particularly contentious in recent years. Last month, an investment group slammed a pay package that would've seen the CEO receive almost $200 million in bonuses. A year earlier, that same group suggested a typical Activision employee would only make one third of a percent of what Kotick earned.

These earnings came across as particularly inequitable following Activision Blizzard's mass firings. After reporting a record year, the publisher laid off roughly 8 percent of its workforce, making around 500 employees redundant. More recently, Activision laid off around 50 esports personnel as it moves away from live events.

With these changes, Kotick's salary has gone from $1,750,000 to $875,000. But even with this cut, the CEO is still eligible for hefty bonuses up to 200 percent of his base salary (another $1.75 million on top). Kotick might've taken a pay cut, but he's very, very well off.

Links


Strategy

Lessons from the CCL and NGS

CCL Season 2 Picks So Far:

Most Played - Assassins


Most Played - Bruiser

Most Played - Tank

Most Played - Healer

Double soak Tychus can work if you have a weak opponent (Early game Varian)

Auriel Main Tank

Links


Emails

Pikeboo

Hi there, I managed to claw my way back to Gold with one tricking Sonya. Now i get a harder time in 1v1 matchups when facing Imperius, Lunara or (to a lesser degree) Artanis since I cannot trade very well into them. I am looking for a solo laner to deviate to in that situations, do you have any suggestions?


Arjade the terrible Tassadar main

When will the useful information from you two cease to surprise me?

I just heard Garrett on the instance talking about social engineering groups for 5 man dungeon runs and he mentioned both of you have this as a strategy you use. Immediately I wanted to know more!

As someone who is often worried about messing up and avoids teamspeak aspects of games for the most part I would love to hear more about how to make this happen in HOTS. That way I can go from being the weirdo who never responds in chat to a useful member of society.

Your socially awkward aussie auto attacker,

Hi there,

Heres another dumb noob question from Arjade the Aussie. How do I know if a hero i am playing should be rotating or staying in my lane?

About to go suck some more as a filthy bronze casual. Thanks for helping me suck less. Arjade0


Outro

Patreon Shout Out

ITN is supported by our badass Patrons. You can become a ITN Patron by going to Patreon.com/itn.

Thanks to our Patreon producers Declan H, CheezyBob, Chris K, & Shawn B. ITN shirt at shirts.amove.tv. Coffee mugs and glasses are over at etched.amove.tv.

Catch the live show Thursday at 5pm Eastern / 2pm Pacific on Twitch.tv/Amovetv. Mobile live stream provided by Alpha Geek Radio.

Follow the show on Twitter @ITNcast and ITNpodcast.reddit.com.

Thanks to Gorath for our intro music and briangriffithmusic.com (@briangriffith) for our outro..

Personal Stuff

Garrett

Kyle