Casting remotely hit League of Legends expertise Clayton “CaptainFlowers” Raines onerous.
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Riot Video games held the League Championship Collection remotely, with gamers and casters calling in from dwelling. The dearth of a stay viewers and close by co-caster meant CaptainFlowers needed to rely solely on himself for vitality and pleasure, and as time went on, that obtained increasingly more tough.
On the finish of 2021, CaptainFlowers made the tough choice to forgo casting the 2021 League of Legends World Championship remotely to get well from the tough yr and put together for the 2022 season.
It’s a choice he nonetheless stands by in the present day as a result of this spring, in a LAN setting for the LCS, CaptainFlowers has felt nothing in need of unbelievable.
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Upcomer: Congratulations, CaptainFlowers, we’re again within the studio. It’s so thrilling to see you, and I need to say it’s so thrilling to listen to you solid in 2022. I really feel like you have got turned over a brand new period of CaptainFlowers screaming about League of Legends. How are you feeling proper now again within the studio within the new yr?
CaptainFlowers: It’s simply an adrenaline shot to be again within the studio and be surrounded by individuals. Clearly, we don’t have followers again within the stadium. Hopefully, that may change earlier than later. Clearly, all people’s sick of the ‘Rona world. Everyone longs for the earlier than occasions. However simply having the ability to be again doing this type of stuff, not doing make money working from home exhibits.
After being caught in my home for a yr it feels SO GOOD to be doing this Grand Last again within the #LCS studio. I swear that is therapeutic my soul proper now!
— Clayton Raines (@CaptainFlowers) April 11, 2021
Getting again into the studio was nice final yr, however much more so it simply appears like we’re getting again extra into our regular [life]. So the truth that I’m standing right here speaking to you, as an alternative of doing this over a name, is big. Simply that alone, seeing the small steps ahead is a large reinvigoration of vitality.
Upcomer: I believe that your vitality has been unbelievable, even earlier than this week, even earlier than final week, like throughout Lock In and all the pieces. And so I wish to ask — clearly, COVID was very tough for everybody. What has modified for you by way of your every day life by way of the atmosphere right here and issues like that? And the way are you really feeling throughout these casts and within the preparation and that kind of factor?
CaptainFlowers: I’m at present extra excited in regards to the LCS than I’ve been in a very long time. And I don’t need that to be taken as like, “Oh, I haven’t been excited in regards to the LCS in ceaselessly.” However simply the present state of issues with the groups all taking part in otherwise. As individuals have in all probability seen, I really feel like we’ve performed extra simply standalone, out-of-context, wacky skits on this first month of LCS than we did previously yr, and the suggestions round these has been unbelievable.
Clearly, an enormous a part of that’s the truth that, once more, issues are returning to regular. We have now extra assets, extra individuals to work with. However simply all the pieces round right here, the whole feeling of this place and this product is a lot extra invigorated than I felt prefer it’s been ever because the ‘Rona first halted all the pieces and destroyed all people’s momentum and their focus. So it simply appears like all people’s kind of zeroed in, all people’s overrated.
We all know that this yr is North America’s Worlds yr. If you’re the host area for Worlds, all people will get pumped up. You wish to be making the perfect present you’ll be able to the entire yr lengthy. You need that Worlds to be spectacular; you need that Worlds to be epic. For me, I’ve by no means performed a North American Worlds. The final North American Worlds was in 2016, I joined in 2017. That’s how uncommon these items are.
In North America, we’ve got an unironically unfortunate timezone for the remainder of the world, so we don’t get the Worlds slot fairly often, however it’s arising this yr. I really feel like that’s obtained lots of people excited. The present state of LCS with issues simply being wild how they’re has all people excited. It appears like a badass time to be an LCS fan, which suggests it’s an much more badass time to be an LCS caster.
Upcomer: Talking of Worlds, you took a while off this yr and you probably did an interview with Nick Geracie for Inven International which I wish to commend. I actually respect when persons are so open about their life in hopes of normalizing that,”Hey, typically issues are robust, however you retain going.”
CaptainFlowers: Precisely. Proper. It’s a kind of issues the place I for a very long time — particularly after I was youthful, a youngster and early 20s, I’m 31 now for context — however yeah, 10 years in the past, I used to be very a lot a “Don’t speak to anyone about something” and “suppress your feelings” [type of person]. If you happen to really feel something destructive, the correct option to cope with it’s to bury it deeper down. That’s simply how I approached all the pieces.
However particularly inside the previous couple of years with all the pieces grinding to a halt and simply all the pieces being so shit for therefore lengthy. I obtained to the purpose the place I used to be like, I really simply really feel this cataclysm of despair on a regular basis, and I can’t go on doing the “bury it down, faux it until you make it” kind of factor. So I’m identical to, you realize, screw it. We’re simply going to be point-blank sincere with individuals.
“Hey, CaptainFlowers, how are you doing?” “Fairly unhealthy man, fairly unhealthy. Not gonna deceive you.”
Had an amazing dialog with @CaptainFlowers in regards to the bodily and psychological obstacles he needed to overcome through the COVID-19 pandemic and the significance of face-to-face interplay in casting.
✍️My newest for @InvenGlobal #LCS https://t.co/Kb1dfwy9xl
— Nick Geracie (@NickGeracie) June 23, 2021
And it truthfully helped me open up, it feels higher to have the ability to no less than be sincere with individuals and say, “Hey, I’m not doing nice.” And that’s what led me into taking the time without work for worlds. That was not a choice that I made flippantly. I used to be desirous about that day and night time. Get up desirous about it, go to mattress desirous about it for months, just about since earlier than summer season cut up began.
On the finish of MSI, it happens in your thoughts, “Hey, Worlds is the following huge factor.” And I used to be like, “I simply really feel like hell strolling. That is bother for me.” And so I made that call.
And one of many components that went into that call is simply how lengthy it takes me to get well from after I mess up my [sleep] schedule like that after I’m in these trenches. And I wish to be the perfect model of myself for 2022. As a result of 2022 is North America’s Worlds yr. That’s a very powerful factor on my calendar. That’s a very powerful factor on my radar.
If I’ve to sacrifice this distant present Worlds to set myself as much as be higher and be the perfect in 2022, then so be it, that’s what I’ll do. And searching again. I knew inside every week of Worlds beginning that I made the suitable name, I 100% stand by my choice. I do know it was the suitable name.
I’m sorry to all people on the market that was dissatisfied that I wasn’t on the Worlds present. I promise it’s not the decision that I needed to make, however it’s the decision that I wanted to make to have the ability to correctly care for myself.
And I felt like if I’d have performed that Worlds, you wouldn’t be standing right here saying, “Your 2022 performances have been superior,” that you simply began this interview with.
Upcomer: Effectively I’m actually glad you probably did. And also you mentioned you seen it every week in, and clearly you continue to casted Worlds a day late. What was it like within the second?
CaptainFlowers: So I’m going to reply this query as a content material creator versus an LCS caster, as a result of for all intents and functions, throughout final Worlds, that’s what I used to be, proper? I’m a full freelancer now. I’m not on Riot’s wage. I work with Riot on the times that you simply see me on the LCS, however apart from that, I do my very own factor.
So throughout all of final Worlds, I used to be simply CaptainFlowers, not an LCS caster. And through that point, I used to be having a superb time with it, however man, as a content material creator, I hate that 24-hour rule in regards to the Worlds rebroadcast. I hate that rule a lot.
I perceive that it’s Riot’s product, and it’s their IP, they usually’re free to do with it what they need. There’s in all probability a bunch of like industrial and company causes for it. However as an individual and a content material creator, Lord, I hate that rule. It was one thing that made it much more tough than I believed it could be as a result of it just about meant I needed to be darkish on social media fully. I couldn’t have a look at something, and since I used to be all the time no less than 24 hours delayed, I simply couldn’t be a part of the conversations round something.
I deleted the shortcuts on each my telephone and laptop to each Reddit and Twitter, I simply wouldn’t contact these websites in any respect as a result of I must manually kind them in and I may cease myself. It wouldn’t simply be a kind of AFK mind “click on on the factor you usually click on on” issues. So I did that.
After which, in fact, the massive downside with it was the truth that I obtained actually sick within the quarterfinals. Proper because the quarterfinal was about to begin I obtained sick, and I didn’t stream any of the quarterfinals. These had been the one issues that I didn’t stream. But additionally, my sleep schedule was so unhealthy [when I was sick] as a result of I’d simply sleep for 2 hours and jolt awake feeling unhealthy.
The worst a part of being sick is understanding you must sleep however your physique fully refuses to cooperate. Simply let me move out dude please that is hell.
— Clayton Raines (@CaptainFlowers) December 3, 2021
One of many occasions I jolted awake simply occurred to be when one of many quarterfinals was about to begin, so I simply watched it. I used to be like, “OK, I’m not going to have the ability to cowl these video games, I’m not doing it late. So let’s simply watch them and see what occurs.”
And the distinction between watching the video games the day of and watching them 24 hours later is difficult to explain as a result of it doesn’t sound like something that will be necessary or be noticeable. However as somebody who actually feeds off of vitality and the individuals round me and kind of just like the spectacle of all the pieces — although the entire thing was distant, although I used to be nonetheless in my room — the distinction I felt watching a sport stay [was massive].
Seeing chat scrolling with a bunch of different individuals who additionally didn’t know the result, understanding the truth that I may go on social media and say, “I don’t know who’s gonna win this Sport 5, holy cow,” simply that distinction was huge.
Like the 24-hour rule, it makes it so tough to try this sort of unbiased content material creation round these worldwide occasions. And even supposing I obtained numerous actually optimistic feedback from individuals in the neighborhood speaking about, “Hey, man, I actually liked Worlds Reloaded. I used to be glad to have the ability to watch it in my very own time zone,” it was so tough to do. Except Riot modifications the 24-hour rule sooner or later, even when I don’t do a global occasion [on broadcast], I’ll in all probability not do it once more [as a streamer], as a result of the 24-hour rule simply sucks the life out of it so onerous.
Nevertheless it was one thing I used to be glad I used to be in a position to do. It was pleasing for lots of various individuals on the market. I did really feel unhealthy that I couldn’t do the quarterfinals, however we did all the remainder of it.
The one factor that additionally trolled me on the very finish was the Worlds Finals occurred within the North American timezone within the early morning of the night time that Arcane premiered. So I needed to, I really break my very own rule. Only for the ultimate, I live-viewed it. I wasn’t co-streaming, I needed to live-view the place you have got the black display screen within the clock on the display screen or no matter.
My NA boys have been eradicated from #Worlds2021 so I am sending my vitality to #LPL and @lplenglish‘s EDG to make it by and provides us that juicy LPL vs LCK bo5 Finals. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/C4135XvsG3
— Clayton Raines (@CaptainFlowers) October 29, 2021
And I live-viewed that as a result of I used to be like, “Wait a second, if I’m going to this Arcane premiere, there is no such thing as a method that I will keep away from the spoiler for the World closing and do my regular solid of it tomorrow.”
So after I watched I watched that one stay, I used to be glad that we obtained to have an thrilling Worlds closing. Solely the second Worlds closing ever to go to a full 5 video games, by the best way. There’s just one earlier than that. It was a enjoyable closing, and I’m actually hoping we get to have one thing of that caliber right here in North America.
Upcomer: Coming again to 2022, I believe all of the casters, however you particularly, have been extra entertaining, extra energetic, extra thrilling. I believe the present has been nice. I believe clearly the groups are extra thrilling. We’ve obtained all these totally different metas and types clashing. What are you engaged on? What are you centered on now that we’re roughly returning to regular?
CaptainFlowers: My aim for this yr is the Worlds closing. I’ve been explicitly loud about that by myself private streams and speaking with pals. I’ve advised that to the individuals at Riot. I’ve mentioned, “Hey, my eyes are on the Worlds closing this yr. I firmly imagine that I’m the perfect individual for the job. I provides you with the perfect present, and if at any level through the yr you don’t agree with that sentiment, please inform me “what you assume is astray” as a result of I would like this closing.”
That’s what my eyes are set on. Final yr I obtained to finish my Infinity Gauntlet as a result of I’ve performed spring finals, I’ve performed summer season finals, I’ve performed Worlds finals and final yr I did MSI finals. That was the final one which was lacking.
So I’ve performed each largest occasion in League of Legends. However I’ve by no means performed a Worlds closing right here on the house turf. Right here, the place your voice is the one that folks hear within the enviornment, right here the place you’re the individual tasked with really bringing the spectacle to life.
That’s my final achievement that I wish to unlock to say, “Sure, I’ve actually accomplished all there’s right here in League of Legends. I’ve conquered.” And that’s what I would like. I actually have my sights set on that North American Worlds closing this yr.
That’s what I would like greater than something, and that’s what I intention to get.
Upcomer: Do you have got any methods? Or do you not wish to give them to David “Phreak” Turley? Are there issues that you simply’re at present engaged on or attempting to get extra inventive?
CaptainFlowers: Effectively, one factor that I’m liking that we’re doing this yr is correct now – as we’re talking, it’s the third sport of the day, and we’ve obtained a tri-cast taking place throughout common season with Phreak, Sam “Kobe” Hartman-Kenzler and Isaac “Azael” Cummings Bentley. The factor is about tri-casts is tri-casts are difficult as a result of as lots of people who’re longtime followers of aggressive League of Legends will know, they’re often reserved only for best-of-fives in playoffs and worldwide competitors.
So which means the largest apex video games have triple commentators, whereas many of the apply, and many of the laps that you simply’re getting in all year long, are simply double. And the mechanics are very, very totally different for tri-cast. Numerous hand indicators, you’ll be able to’t do it with out hand indicators. I really refuse to do distant tri-casts. I gained’t do them as a result of it’s inconceivable to not speak over one another with out all that additional communication.
And so the truth that we’re getting these additional tri-casts, I’m ensuring that every time I look within the schedule and see that I’ve a tri-cast, I’m like, “OK, let’s be sure comms are clear, we’re going to be doing this,” or “Hey, if I do that hand sign, that simply means I would like in actual fast. If I do that hand sign, which means it’s over to you.”
We should always by no means have a brand new individual speaking with out speaking. Like simply ensuring we’re all on the identical web page. It’s issues all people is aware of, however it’s issues the place when you’re not likely specializing in it, it may possibly kind of be straightforward to simply begin doing it like regular, however that doesn’t work.
So particularly, I’m specializing in tri-cast excellence, ensuring that I’m being sincere to my very own self and my very own model and persevering with to be what makes me me.
Particularly if you have a look at suggestions on the web, it’s one of many issues that it’s important to like parse by fastidiously. And I really am so lucky that I’ve a very easy instance to make of that proper now as a result of we simply obtained off of the sport that was TSM vs. Immortals.
Immortals are profitable for half-hour, and TSM has a loopy comeback on the finish. And naturally, numerous the feedback within the stay dialogue thread on Reddit are simply shitting on the sport and saying, “Ah, they weren’t in a position to shut it,” or “Ah, that wasn’t clear,” or no matter.
However for me, I all the time consider the emotional over the logical after I’m casting. That’s simply how I solid. I’m not saying it’s objectively right, however for me, it’s the suitable option to do it. As a result of it’s sincere to how I really feel like after I’m casting, I’m casting for the one that is most invested.
I’m casting for the TSM followers within the trench that really feel like their org is able to simply fully backside out and simply appears like shit, they usually don’t know what to do. And so they’re shedding; the shedding streak’s larger than it’s ever been at the beginning of a cut up.
And even when it wasn’t a clear sport, even when you had been shedding for 90% of it, coming again and having that “Hell sure” second when your six-item Jinx simply will get to win the ultimate teamfight and win the sport. And it’s this seeming Hail Mary move from your individual 10-yard line to win the sport. That’s unbelievable. That’s the emotion that I wish to go for.
And I do know there’s going to be some individuals who say, “Oh, effectively, that’s an excessive amount of. He turned it as much as a 9 for an everyday season sport between the bottom-tier groups.” And you realize what, that’s wonderful. That’s the method that they understand it. And for these individuals, that’s sincere to them, however I’ll fortunately disagree until the top of my days.
So simply having the boldness in myself, having the religion in myself that the best way that I do issues to proceed being the perfect model of me, that’s what I’m kind of specializing in independently, after which particularly the tricasting like I mentioned.
Upcomer: Any final thing you wish to shout out, something you wish to say to followers earlier than we head out?
CaptainFlowers: An enormous, big, big thanks to every considered one of y’all that watches the LCS on a weekly foundation. I’m not mendacity after I say that the final perspective and the texture of all the pieces round right here simply feels so invigorated and passionate. And all people feels so rattling excited, man.
And I do know that coming from me, like “Oh, CaptainFlowers, you’re simply enthusiastic about all the pieces.” Nevertheless it simply feels so thrilling proper now, and I can’t wait to see what else we get for the remainder of the yr. I’m hoping we’re gonna proceed to create increasingly more cool experiences for you all that identical to make you proud to be a fan of the LCS.
And I don’t care if some individuals assume I’m too loud. I’m nonetheless gonna maintain making it louder. Let’s go.