Totom's Staff Interview

Hey everybody!
Way back in 2016, before the release of war 2.0, I was actually quite close with Totom. At the time, I was holding staff interviews and posting them to the forums here, and I decided to do one for Totom. This interview technically never finished, but it was quite the experience communicating with Totom.

Bellow is the EXACT transcript from the conversation we had, spelling errors and all. It includes every question asked, small commentary in between, and dates when they are important.

If you want to skip all of the commentaries and read the actual interview, all of the Questions are highlighted in red, and all of the Answers are highlighted in green. The first question was asked on Dec 6th and is marked with blue. Names are bolded and dates are italicized and underlined. If you see brackets "[ ]" that's a little bit of commentary I added in just today.

I hope you enjoy because I sure did!
~Blamo
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November 29th, 2016:

BLAMO:
Hey Totom,

I used to do this thing called "staff interviews".

This won't really be a continuation of that, but I was wondering if I could interview you on your experience of coding war 2.0.

I think a lot of the members (including me) would find this interesting since your probably the best coder we have, and the coder that will finally finish 2.0.

After I give you the questions if there is any additional information that you think I missed or forgot to ask you, just tell me and I'll add it on.

Depending on what you want I'll probably make two of these interviews.

One interview just on your experience so far not giving away anything about 2.0:

---this will come out before 2.0 is released and will not cover much on the actual game so nothing is leaked

One interview after 2.0 is released:

---this will go out after 2.0 is released, so you can give out as much information as you want.
We can do both or do one. Your choice.

I know I just blasted a lot of information at you, so it's your choice whether you even want too the interview or not.

I hope you consider

~Blamo

If we do it before you can hide some sneaky eastereggs in the interview if you'd like.


TOTOM:
Hey, I appreciate a lot your offer! I'm really interested. I think it'd be more relevant to have an interview after 2.0 is released. Would the interview be on voice or text? Or we speak and then you transcribe it?


BLAMO:
Great, that makes it easier in both of us.
The interview will probably be in text unless you say otherwise.

We can do the interview either way. I can either send you the questions and you answer them. Or we can do it in person (I'm assuming you would type it out anyway because you don't use your mic)


TOTOM:
I sometimes use my headphones as mic
I'm good with both but am more comfortable having the questions and taking the time to type the answers


BLAMO:
Alright! since 2.0 isn't out yet, I'll slowly roll out the questions so I can ask you some after 2.0 comes out.

December 6th, 2016: Start of Interveiw

BLAMO:
Alright let's get this started! We're going to start with some introduction questions. Kind of just telling us who you are and what got you to here.

Question #1:
How did you find Brawl?


TOTOM:
To be honest I'm not really sure, but I think I was looking for a guns server (call of duty style) and eventually found War in November 2013.


BLAMO:
Alright that answer made me think of a lot more follow up questions. Here is th first one.
One word answers are accepted but not preferred.

Question #2:
Were you looking for a "call of duty" style server with the intentions to code for them?


TOTOM:
No, at that time I was just a lil kid who barely knew how to code and was just looking to play and have fun.


BLAMO:
Question #3:
How and when did you become a coder for Brawl?


TOTOM:
At the end of September 2015, I remembered about the Brawl network (hadn't played for over a year) and as I had no other projects going on I felt like giving this a try (why not). I PM'ed Nom, passed a coding test and a week later, on October 6th, I got accepted


BLAMO:
Question #4:
When did you start coding War 2.0 and did you code anything for Brawl before 2.0? (if no I'll take this second part out)


TOTOM:
I've worked on HG from October 2015 to around March 2016. I started working on war 2.0 a bit later.


BLAMO:
Question #5:
Why did you choose to start coding and how did you learn?


TOTOM:
I was interested so I just started learning with a French online tutorial a few years ago.


BLAMO:
Question #6:
What were your biggest challenges and obstacles when learning to code?


TOTOM:
I don't remember any [wow what a perfect man]


BLAMO:
Question #7:
Come back question, what were your biggest challenges and obstacles when coding War 2.0?


TOTOM:
Getting the tab list to work properly was and is still a pain. It involves scoreboard teams to hide nametags (which cause other fun conflicts with the objectives) and requires packet manipulation to make sure the player doesn't end up invisible or without a skin. I recall spending hours of diving into Minecraft's code to understand what's even going on


January 6th, 2017 [happy new year]:

BLAMO:
Dang it's been a while, alright.

Question #8:
What was the easiest to code in War 20?


TOTOM:
[….]

January 9th, 2017:

BLAMO:
Totem Poll?


TOTOM:
Huh?
For the question: I don't remember :O


BLAMO:
xD amazing answer!


TOTOM:

:v

January 14th, 2017:

TOTOM:
GG for holding the longest interview ever (2 weeks)


BLAMO:
:v sorry, I have finals right now and haven't had much time to get on.

I promise this will be done and out by the time or right when 2.0 comes out.


TOTOM:
Dw, take your time


January 27th, 2017:

BLAMO:
ALRIGHT. I'm done with finals! Let's get started again!

Question #9:
Was there a specific reason you chose to code for 2.0?


TOTOM:
When I joined in October 2015 coding War 2.0 is exactly what I wanted, but putty had something else in mind

I wanted to do it because it seemed like a very interesting project and because I wanted it as a player as much as everyone else back in the days. When I was done with HG putty offered me to work on War 2.0 and that's how it started.


BLAMO:
Question #10:
What are you most excited for in the future?

Also, if there are any questions that you think I'm missing or anything you want to say just let me know and post it.
I have a couple more questions in mind, but more is always better! (In this case)


TOTOM:
Right now I'm excited for War 2.0's release

I don't have any suggestions for now, but I'll let you know if I do


February 21st, 2017:

BLAMO:
Question #11:
What do you plan to do when 2.0 is released?


TOTOM:
Resigning.

Don't post that please [whoops]


BLAMO:
Welp, already knew that...

S***
I can either get rid of that question immediately. Ideal

Or post this as the last question around the same time (maybe a little before) you resign and give your resignation a "dramatic” effect. [old Blamo wtf are you thinking?]


TOTOM:
Lol Blamo this isn't a Kardashians drama show


BLAMO:
It can be

I'll just leave it out then. I assume the other staff know too?


TOTOM:
Some of them, not sure who at this point though


BLAMO:
Alright, I'm going to come up with a couple of more questions because I really want this to be special to you and to War 2.0.

I'll ask them closer to when 2.0 is released so you're able to look back at everything you've done.


[…...........]



OCTOBER FREAKING FIRST 2018

BLAMO:
#longestinterveiwever
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And as I used to say:
"Well there you have it! Now we know a little more about our good friend [Totom]! I hope you greatly enjoyed. Blamo signing off"

~Blamo