THE EVENT
Hosted in the United Kingdom, the Insomnia-series LAN events are tri-annually held gaming festivals, hosting a variety of gaming events including BYOC (bring your own computer) LAN eSports competitions. For the last four years, competitive Team Fortress 2 has found it's home at the summer season iSeries, bringing teams from around the world to compete at the highest level, thus creating our scene's only true international event.
In 2012, the scene sent two North American teams in Leviathan Gaming and Classic Mixup to i46. In 2013, the TF2 community united together again to send High Rollers Gaming from North America and Team Immunity from Australia to i49. Finally, just last year the scene sent Froyotech and Classic Mixup from North America, along with Team Immunity once more to i52, which resulted in the highest level of competition that our scene has ever seen.
The iSeries LANs continue to showcase the most exciting teams and matches that competitive TF2 has to offer. The players of Team Ascent want to continue that trend at i55, this year's summer Insomnia LAN event, by representing North America against Europe's best.
THE TEAM
Ascent first played as a team in Season 15, making LAN and finishing a respectable 3rd as “lost in translation.” However, they underwent significant changes during the offseason, and their Season 16 roster represents the beginning of the modern Ascent: in S16, Ascent (then known as Exertus) had the same powerful combo of TheFragile, Rando, and Bdonski, but their flank was perhaps slightly weaker, because Shrugger had not yet replaced Alfa.
After a disappointing 4th place Season 16 LAN finish, TheFragile chose to step down, although he stayed on in the capacity of coach and backup. Cozen was brought in to replace him, but Season 17 was nevertheless a breakout season for Ascent, as they finished (now under the name of eLevate) with a perfect 16-0 record, upsetting world champions Froyotech twice! Sadly, they were unable to bring the same success to GXL LAN, where they finished 3rd, and ESEA Season 17 LAN, where they finished 2nd. Nevertheless, their ESEA LAN 2nd place finish showed huge promise for the now experienced Ascent roster.
But Season 18 brought more roster changes for Ascent, who struggled to compete with other top teams through out the season. Kbk was brought in on medic while Shrugger rounded out a powerful scout combo, but Rando, Ascent’s star pocket, was gone. Despite a disappointing regular season, Ascent practiced hard before the Season 18 LAN and finished in 2nd, which came as a big surprise to many, since Street Hoops and Mad Men had looked like stronger teams during the regular season.
Now, Ascent has returned, and they’re stronger than ever before. Shrugger has joined Decimate on scout, and he brings the only international LAN experience to Ascent (Shrugger being at i49 for HRG). Their cumulative experience, with a full season alongside each other already under their belts, should give Ascent the edge they need on the flank. Ma3la backs Shrugger and Decimate on roamer. He plays a dynamic style of roamer, not afraid to go for big solo plays but simultaneously able to take an uber in, if needed.
But Ascent’s flank isn’t even their scariest feature: their combo has the potential to be the best in the world, and we don’t say that lightly. Bdonski is widely considered the best demoman in North America right now, while TheFragile brings a wealth of experience to the Ascent table: he played at the very first ESEA TF2 LAN! But not to be forgotten is Rando, Ascent’s pocket. He plays a heal-heavy pocket, and, with Serv0 in for Lansky on Froyotech, has the potential to be the best pocket at i55.
Ascent clearly has all the right players to make it to the stage in Coventry, England this August. They just need your help to get them there. What are you waiting for?!
THE PITCH
While the players would go to this event out of pocket if they could, as always finances are a huge roadblock to making these events happen. Once again, the players will be relying on the generosity of our scene to help support their efforts. Team Ascent is looking to raise $6,000 USD (minus paypal + indiegogo fees) to help subsidize their costs to reaching Coventry, England.
Note that this alone will not be able to completely cover the team's expenses, which may be up to $10,000 USD depending on flight costs for the players. As such, the players will still be paying up to $4,000 USD out of pocket to attend this event, as well as devoting 100% of their potential winnings from Season 19 of ESEA Invite to help cover expenses.
As with any international iSeries event, the players are making extraordinary financial sacrifices in order to support the game they know and love. The donations they receive from this fundraiser serve only to help make the idea of another intercontinental LAN event a reality rather than just a dream, as opposed to completely covering the team's costs.
THE PERKS
As a show of appreciation for your generosity, we are offering a series of "perks" to donators. You can find these perks on the sidebar, as well as the donation amount required to attain them. Some additional details can be found below:
Outro Credits - $7
A special outro video will be created to mark the conclusion of TFTV's coverage of the i55 LAN event following the end of knock out stages of the competition, crediting the individuals who made the event and it's coverage possible. Be included in on this along with our other donators as a special thank you for getting our players to Europe!
ETA: August 29th/30th
Demo Reviews (30 AVAILABLE) - $40
Help improve your game and let one of the streaming members of Ascent's team look over one of your competitive demos live on stream! Pick from one of your favourite players: Ma3la, TheFragile, Rando or Shrugger.
ETA: Whenever is convenient for you!
Team Posters (15 AVAILABLE) - $50
TFTV's very talented SFM artist Uberchain has created high-resolution images of Team Ascent donning their new jerseys in game that will be featured on high quality poster prints at 36" x 24" size.
See the design here!
ETA: July (NOTE: ONLY SHIPPING TO EU AND NA)
Team Jerseys (15 AVAILABLE) - $65
With a new name comes a new look! Team Ascent has rebranded themselves and are donning some of the best looking jerseys TF2 has seen yet! Support the team by wearing the same jersey the players will be wearing during i55 as they look to take the grand final stage. See the design here!
ETA: July (NOTE: ONLY SHIPPING TO EU AND NA)
Cast Your Game! (5 AVAILABLE) - $75
Ascent's team captain and strategist TheFragile will cast your game alongside TFTV's premier caster gecks! EU games are limited to STV demos, while some NA games can be covered live depending on schedules.
Signed Team Posters (5 AVAILABLE) - $80
The same posters as described earlier, except five will be personally taken to Europe by TFTV's lead producer Dashner to be signed by Team Ascent at i55! The team can also address it to you specifically if you wish!
ETA: September (NOTE: ONLY SHIPPING TO EU AND NA)
Bundle 2: The Memorabilia Pack (5 AVAILABLE) - $95
Get both the Ascent SFM Team Poster AND the Ascent Team Jersey in one bundle at a reduced rate! Also includes the Outro Credits perk!
ETA: July (NOTE: ONLY SHIPPING TO EU AND NA)
Signed Team Jerseys (5 AVAILABLE) - $100
The same jerseys as described earlier, except five will be personally taken to Europe by TFTV's lead producer Dashner to be signed by Team Ascent at i55! The team can also address it to you specifically if you wish!
ETA: September (NOTE: ONLY SHIPPING TO EU AND NA)
Bundle 3: The Collector's Edition (5 AVAILABLE) - $250
Show your complete devotion to Team Ascent with this perk and receive both a signed Ascent jersey and a signed Ascent team poster, along with every other perk listed!
ETA: July/August (NOTE: ONLY SHIPPING TO EU AND NA)
SPREAD THE WORD!
If you can't help out financially, there are other ways to support the cause! Tell your friends about the fundraiser and the event! Plug i55.tf on your stream or #i55tf2 on twitter! Thank you again for your support. Without you, the donators, events like these would not be possible.
Also feel free to check out our amazing sponsors, Essentials.TF and TF2Pickup, who are supporting this fundraiser as well as the Insomnia55 LAN event!
