The Outlanders Mutiny

Even though patch 7.23 is considered one of the best and complex updates in the last years a lot of people, who refused to study it, began trashing it with no mercy and no shame. This post is a response to all of those who doubt Icefrog and believe he is leading DOTA 2 astray and to a path of ruin.

The video that inspired this post: Mutiny at Opis

In a brilliant ten-year campaign, Icefrog and his player base conquered much of the MOBA and Steam universe from League of Legends to CS:GO.

In late fall 2019 they returned to Seattle, where Icefrog ordered his veteran players to beta test his new patch 7.23.

But angry at perceived insults to their rank, as well as Icefrog's adoption of unorthodox features ... they mutinied.

According to the ancient player Crios, Icefrog banned 13 thousand smurf accounts before confronting the whole player base.

Icefrog's exact words are not known, but game analysts believe Crios records the essence of a real moment of DOTA 2 history, passed down by spectators.

What I'm about to say isn't meant to stop you uninstall the game. As far as I care, you can play whatever you wish. But I want you to know how you have behaved towards me, and how I have treated you.

I'll begin as is right, with my predecessor, Guinsoo.

When he found you, you were mere casuals, playing without vision or objectives and sharing last hits with your lane neighbour.

Under him you began playing the objectives with good strats and combos. And he turned you from mindless creeps into dominators over those very ancient camps who used to own your sorry ass.

He balanced most of the game, creating the first competitive version of DotA; making midas so there was gold and prosperity, and made Roshan, a new objective on the map.

Shaku - The Rider - he used to terrify you! Well he removed him forever!

The strength and agility heroes, always looking for a chance to dominate each other were so humbled, myself playing my small part in the update ( patch 6.00), that they no longer take stats as granted, but rely on sange and yasha, bracer and wraith band for their success.

My predecessors went into the Warcraft III Frozen Throne and put all the DotA modes and maps in order. And declared TFT Ancients Defense map as the supreme template for the future of Dota , an honor not just for themselves but for all the MOBA community.

This is what my predecessors Guinsoo, Meian, Ragn0r and Eul did for you, great enough on its own - but small compared to what you've gained from me!

I reformed Dota even though back then MOBA wasn't a thing and gave you essential items like stout shield, quelling blade, bottle and flying courier; the rest of the items came soon after and all became yours.

All the 39 heroes, which I added from the Allstars era, are yours to play now.

Arcane boots, smoke of deceit, ethereal blade, soul ring, all belong to you!

The glory of the Internationals, the treasures from compendiums, the aegis of champions and the talent tree. You are now pro players. You are immortals and divines. What have I held back for myself, apart from a modest valve salary and an iron branch diadem?

Nothing. No player can point to my riches - only the items I hold in trust for you all.

And what would I do with them anyway? I play what you play. I get no more farm than you.

Many times I spent the night on watch protecting the servers so that you could play soundly.

Who among you believes he's worked harder for me than I have for him? Who among you believes they can make a better meta and patch?

Come on! If you've got plans talk and show them to me. I'll show you mine. There isn't one idea, a good one atleast, that hasn't crossed my mind.

My mind is covered with scars from every weapons you can think of: shadow blades, desolators, mjollnir hammers, monkey king bars...

All for the sake of your fun, your gameplay and your rank.

And yet here I still am, leading you, as developer of heroes and spells, items, neutrals and pathfinds.

We've celebrated our weddings together. Many of your children will play Dota on their own.

I gave you free store items and cosmetics, kept the game free to play without asking for subscriptions, even though we work day and night and most of you spend hundreds of hours each year playing.

Many of you wear golden and platinum badges - symbols of mastery over a particular hero, given to you by me.

Any one of us who achieved certain skill, who conquered the meta were burried in prizes and fame. Many now stand immortalised by bronze-silver aegises in Seattle. Their gameplay is honored and entertains the masses.

Under my command, not one player has been praised farming the jungle.

And now I want to reset the rank for some of you who've been boosted, abused mmr or bought smurf accounts to give you a second chance to be welcomed back home as heroes.

But since you all wish to abandon Dota, then all of you GO!

Go on reddit and complain that your dev, Icefrog, creator of Diretide, Greeviling, Three Spirits and Wraith Night, who also made Dark Rift, New Blood and the Duelling Fates as far as the Outlanders patch.

Who's marched over the mountains of the Nishai Peaks, crossed the Ruelands and Silvia river, even the Northern sea, first to cross it since Maelrawn himself.

I would have crossed the Black Waters golf too if you hadn't cowered in fear.

Who sailed into the Samareen sea to conquer the Xhacatocatl empire, who crossed the desert of Hazhadal, where no one had ever led an army.

Who took Stonehaul while my fleet sailed the Narrow Channel.

When you get to reddit, you tell them that when you saw the last patch you abandoned him and the game, leaving him under the mercy of Valve and its associates.

Perhaps this report of yours will seem glorious in the eyes of other gamers and worthy in the eyes of Gaben.

Begone!

After the speech the Dota players begged Icefrog for forgiveness, leading to an emotional reconciliation between the dev and his player base.

Icefrog began to plan further patches.

But in Stockholme, less than a year later, he succumbed to boredom and quit, aged just 36.

Just kiddin'. I hope and feel that Icefrog has not even reached halfway through his journey as lead game developer for DOTA 2.

Thank you Icefrog for your dedication. This game made mine and others childhood and teenage years a lot more wholesome and happier.