Manager Spotlight: Hands of Vecna
Manager Spotlight: Hands of Vecna
Short personal facts about Vecna:
Name: Tony Nilsson.
Occupation: Computer Science Teacher.
Residence: Östersund.
Age: 33.
Family: Engaged to my lovely girlfriend Towe.
Pets: No way!
Movie most recently seen (rate it too if you like): Bloodsport, yes the old Van Damme movie. I found it on DVD and it was a nice retro feeling.
Book most recently read (rate it too if you like): Some technical stuff.
Concert most recently attended: I normally try to attend Storsjöyran.
Short WeBL facts about Vecna:
Started playing in week: Around week 100?
Most valued WeBL accomplishment: I liked to get to 100 regional titles.
Favourite fighter (own): Smith the Unclean.
Favourite fighter (other manager): "How to slug" Instructor.
Favourite manager: TNT.
Most "feared" opponent in regionals: TNT, Rotmo, and PityPart.
Who is the man behind Vecna?
Well I'm a standard burn-out who just recently started to return to work. It is quite fun but it takes a lot of energy to get back on track.
What's the story behind the gym name?
I started to play online games in the late 80's and used Vecna as my nickname. The name is from a D&D villain and he has lost an eye and a hand. So… the boxers are my hands ie the name Hands of Vecna.
You seem to have two breeds of fighters, the Uncleans and the Irish. What's the reason behind that?
When I started out all my fighters had Irish names and where kp sissys - dancers. I got bored with them and after getting even more bored with smack in this region I retired, but later started up again with a new gym and new fighters. They where all named x the Unclean and where sluggers. So when I create a weaker guy he gets an Irish name.
In the old days you used to have mostly agile, endurance efficient sluggers but you have quite recently changed the typical design into speedy sluggers. Why?
Actually I have slowly shifted from slugger -> agile slugger -> agile/speedy slugger -> slow balanced -> balanced. Not because I think the earlier sucked or anything, just because I like to check how it work out. Not just with a few tries, but with like 20 of them. So if one is scouted you can take it to the bank that others made around a month or so of him is at most a few points off.
What's your favourite fighter type nowadays?
I have to go with Agile sluggers even though I have very few of them as of now.
We rarely see you fight in the higher weigh divisions, why is that?
I suck at it. The break point seems to be around Super-Welterweight. I have actually not even won a title above Super-Middleweight. Not that I even try anymore. I just can't handle the slapping or flashing game up there. It's just not my cup of tea. Examples: I have had 2 regional fighters of the month and well it was in Straw and Junior-Fly. I also have like 50 regional titles total in the Straw to Super-fly weight divisions. Go figure. :)
You are doing extremely well in regionals but as far as I know you haven't been fighting in Contenders in a long time. Why is that?
I fought a little in contenders the first year I played but I had weak kp fighters back then and they rule at low status but they should stay away from contenders as counter is really weak at higher status and to low strength get you practically killed high up in status.
Will we ever see you fight in contenders?
Actually the Uncleans where supposed to be the new breed for contenders but I just get them to contender, retire them, and pile them up it seems. But I have checked it up and have like 7-8 I would consider to fight in contenders with. Problem is that I like to have a lot of fights and have limited time. Time will tell.
Other interests besides WeBL?
I love to listen to music. Mostly Goth kind of music like Sisters of Mercy and the alike. Right now Nightwish is probably my favourite band. I also see a lot of movies.
What made you start WeBL:ing?
A couple of guys were checking it out when I paid them a visit and it looked like fun.
What's keeping you hooked?
Nothing right now actually. That is probably why I do not press and lose an awful lot of bouts.
Do you have any real life friends playing WeBL?
Most seems to have more or less quit playing.
Do you have any specific WeBL goals?
First to get motivated, then take a good look at fight plans, and then check out contenders or perhaps do a push at 200 regional titles.
How has the WeBL community changed over the years?
Well the forums did have me and Anfield yapping around a lot in them before. Now I do not know as I do not even bother to click the forum link in WeBL anymore.
Are there any specific managers you miss having around?
punish your machine
Do you wish it was like in the old days or are the positive changes outweighing the negative ones?
I do not care that much about most changes actually. I just play it. I do however truly hate fast tracking! I mean how fun is it to have 3 guys rated at 16 and you get the titlefight and win… next week you probably end up at a serious disadvantage for your trouble because the third guy is now status 18. It also seems to shoot up rankings in general.
After a fairly long break you came back with a vengeance this summer and you seem to have re-worked your approach to the game entirely. What made you change and what was the inspiration behind the new approach?
Actually I had a fight or two every now and then during my 'break' and sometime early spring my girlfriend wondered what I was doing when I sat with WeBL. I briefly explained it and she replied that 86 regional titles would look much better if they where an even 100.
You said earlier that Smith the Unclean was your favourite fighter. How is that? What made him special?
A lot of smack that was truly backed up, great streak (19-0-1) with seven of those bouts being against TNT made him special for me. Unfortunately he paid for it as he accumulated 244 ip in regionals.
What does it take to become a great manager? What are the most important traits?
A fighter design that is ok, and then the right fight plan for the current fight.
Do you see any up'n'commers with those necessary traits?
Ogrus is great now after his restart or is he to old to be mentioned?
Do you feel there is room for improvement with regards to your own skills and abilities?
I should rework my fightplans to reflect a lot of new knowledge of the game. I will do that some day… but well that day seems to be pushed forward all the time.
How much time do you spend on WeBL on an average day?
I normally fix everything on Saturdays and it takes me around 3 hours. Then I mostly just check in and see how it is going on other days.
What's your approach to scouting?
I check height, look a little for kp, and then roughly estimate the speed.
How many stock fps do you use frequently and how many lines are they?
Around 30-40 are used frequently and they are mostly around 30 lines long.
What's your favourite FP line?
if endurance_percent > (opp + 1) * 33 + 15 then 5H/10/5 (inside);
Have you set any rules / set any principles etc. for yourself regarding WeBL?
I every now and then I (the boxer) smacks that if I lose I will retire and well if I do that they get retired for good no matter what. Oh and some ticks regarding bums without future that I keep fighting until they reach contenders. I even lost an AP on a guy before he got to contenders.
Is there any WeBL "phenomenon" that irritates you?
Idiot press releases regarding numbers in general.
Some managers who have played a while can feel that they at some point reach a plateau and that improving gets difficult. Being here as long as you have you can surely recognize the feeling. What's your best advice for getting past those plateaus?
If you know the answer to that question please tell me!
What's your best advice for newbies?
Write your own fight plans and check the forums for help, but in the end only use things you completely understand, both in it self and in context. Also have a clear strategy with your plans!
Regarding fighter design... well the kp sissy is good for a newbie's win %, but ditch it and try to learn the game with something that survives even after status 10.
Are you currently working on any specific WeBL projects?
Truly balanced boxers still puzzles me.
Finally, we'll play a little game. Select one of two alternatives:
| Option 1 | Option 2 | Vecna's Picks |
| Burgers | Pizza | Pizza |
| CHN | CND | CND |
| Coffee | Tea | Coffee |
| Flasher | Sissy | |
| Unclean | Irish | Unclean |
| Slugger | Dancer | Slugger |
| Denmark | Norway | Norway |
| Mortons | Randards | Mortongs |
| Aftonbladet | Expressen | Expressen |
| 4B/8/8 | 5B/7/8 | 4B/8/8 |
| KO | TKO | TKO |
| Regionals | Contenders | Regionals |
| Fast Track | No Fast Track | No Fast Track |
| Kafka | Tolkien | Tolkien |
| STR | AGL | STR |
| Iceland | Finland | Finland |
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