ALTernate AOH Match 10 - Rise of the Skeeter

My nerves went from a quiet nagging to a loud roar at the last Arena of Honor match came closer to the start time. It is largely thought of as one of the worst time slots. I think a majority of players choose that spot. Going Solo was an ok idea for my main, but did I make the right decision for my alt. She is easily one of the weaker members of the Shenanigans Squad. Small, still trying to find her path in the game. Abandoned by my main, by her game husband and all she knew. I wasn’t sure I had considered this when I made the decision, but alas it was too late. Like always, I would do the best I can do, and hope the Old Gods showed favor on my lil Skeeter.

When I landed on the map, I saw I was House Greyjoy

Was this some kind of cruel sign from the Old Gods? Putting me in a house that was punked time and time again including by the Boltons…

My team brought some comfort. There was a player from NFI, my mains old alliance before the merge. There was a player from COU, my mains game husband’s alliance. I couldn’t make heads or tales of the mixed signals the Gods were sending.

This team communicated better than most throw together teams I played on. It was ordered that we go ahead and make all inf camps and try for the watch towers and catapults. I glanced around at the competition and saw another balanced map. There were some players that were bigger than me, but I didn’t see any oversized giants.I tried to breathe and remain calm. “You can only do what you can do. Find some enjoyment in the Chaos.” Luckily with the strongholds first, we still had a bit before the map opened up and chaos ensued.

As the Altars opened, I decided to test my baby out. Adopting a similar strategy as I do on my main by grabbing the other factions’ altars and gathering battle reports.

It was at this point I was seeing how far my lil skeeter had come. I was concerned she would be essentially a potato, and here she was scoring solid wins in PVP, versus her peers, as a bow player.

The Dragonspits opened and my confidence grew. I wanted to see how high my skeeter could fly in this and would keep having here hold my beer moments until I hit the limits.

Seeing how good my Skeeter was doing, made me confident enough to try for the City of Glory when it opened. I called a rally, and only Santos2 from COU joined. Is this going to be my “Doh” moment???

As the rally hit we secured the castle. I expected to see reinforcements coming, but no lines came. I hadn’t even processed the excitement on my baby taking the castle when we were knocked out.

The score was pretty close, so I rushed my troops home, healed the wounded and called another rally hoping that more would reinforce this time. More did come this time, to my relief, and we managed to knock the Usurper out and regain control of the City of Glory. Now I had to hold it.

The NPCs and player attacks were relentless. Each hit leaving me to wonder will this be the one to send me home? The time until we bubbled the city felt like it was going in slow motion. Finally, there was a moment to breathe. We bubbled the city. I let my team know I would disband to refresh troops and to make sure they send the reinforcements before the bubble disappeared and we were vulnerable again.

We were in first place and if we could keep the city, or make sure no one else took it, our spot would be secure. Easier said than done in a match that NPC attacks occur with regularity, as players add solo attacks and rallies. We couldn’t let them take the City. I was proud of my baby so far, but I tried to not get too ahead of myself. There was a lot of time left, and you can only use the bubble trick to refresh troops in the city once.

Each hit caused me to wince

I couldn’t believe I was still holding on.

When there were only 3 minutes left in the match, I allowed myself to feel the full excitement. At that moment our victory was secured. There was not enough time for anyone to bubble the city, even if they managed to knock Skeeter out. As the final seconds ticked away, I screamed. OMG my baby did it. She was not the biggest account on the map, but she certainly proved how far she had come from a little nothing spy account, to leading her faction to victory in arena of honor.

When I looked at the eliminations, I screamed again…. How had I missed how much she had grown. Skeeter really was a menace this match lol.

This match was a reminder to not get so hung up on the perceived strength of other players. Pick your passion as far as troop types and build it out the best you can. Some paths, like Bows, are slower than others. Yet if you keep working slowly but surely, before you know it, you will see the pay offs. My lil skeeter still has a long way to go, but looking at how far she has come, makes me a proud mama…