www.pinktacobar.com

VENTRILO:
IP: 66.55.143.227
Port: 8263

pubbers are welcomed on ventrilo!



The Pink Taco Bar! What is a Pink Taco? The clan is actually called Soldiers 3lite, but what is a Pink Taco? When answering, please consider my virgin froggy ears.



On behalf of ET.TV, thank you guys for coming! How are you guys doing today?
Jarhed: Thanks TreeFrog, I appreciate the invite. Doing great today!
Mavaldas: Doing great TreeFrog, thanks for taking the time to interview us.


What inspired you guys to form a clan like PTB and how did you guys get started?
Mavaldas: Well, I can’t speak to the forming of Soldiers 3lite as I am not an original founding member. However it is a miss conception that our name is Pink Taco Bar, although that is the name of our pub server. Our actual clan name is Soldiers 3lite and the tag is s3^. But I can speak to what inspired me to join this clan, and that’s the great group of guys we have for members, the team focus we have as a clan and the pure fact that it’s just a fun friendly clan to be in.

Jarhed: Actually, as Mav said, the Pink Taco Bar is the name of our server. Our clan has been around for a long time. Founded in 2001, by Virus, Revos, and a few others, dR, Dark Rangers, began in the Quake 3 powered FPS game Star Trek: Voyager: Elite Force. Born of a splinter-section of the community that played in a modified low gravity environment, dR was instrumental in the founding of the Low Grav League that offered a home to others who preferred to play in the same modified environment. Like many others who played Elite Force, dR's members had high hopes for the sequel Star Trek: Elite Force II produced in 2003. However, the games multiplayer failed to live up to the expectations of much of the original games players. Not long after, dR moved on to RTCW Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. Though the game had been planned as an expansion pack to Return to Castle Wolfenstein, the multiplayer segment was released free due to issues with the single player. By 2007, dR had moved on once again, this time to ET s sequel, ETQW Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. Although its membership has continued to change, the independent and sometimes rebellious spirit of dR lives on. Although many of its original members are no longer active, dR will always be their home. We went though some major changes last year and with them decided to rename the clan, s3^, Soldiers Elite.


How have you folks at PTB managed to maintain your longevity as a top pub server?
Mavaldas: I think it’s because of the fact we welcome everyone to our server, whether be they a noob or a well seasoned pro player. Also and I know in the past there has been much conflict about this, but we have some of the fairest admins around in my opinion. I know many will disagree because of the way things were administered back in the day, but things have changed and are continuing to everyday.

Jarhed: I think part of the reason is that we’ve always seemed to attract both experienced and new players as well. The mix is one where the game play environment is conducive to, in general, very good game play. Most of the experienced players were usually very helpful toward the newer players and made the atmosphere both fun and friendly. I have to say it was that reason that kept me coming back to play on PTB when I first started playing ETQW, people were fun to be with and very helpful as well. Some of the best games that I’ve ever played were ones that would come down to the wire where you really didn’t know till the last few seconds who would actually win.


There have always been misconceptions about the PTB pub server in regards to rules and regulations. Any myths you guys want to clarify?
Mavaldas: With gusto! As of late we have been trying to sort of re-vamp the clan so to say. We really do have some of the fairest admins around as I said in my response to your prior question, weather people believe it or not we try not to interfere with the publics game play unless it is absolutely necessary to do. Also, this has been a HUGE hot topic issue with us and the people that play on the PTB, “Spawn Camping” the reason we have the No Non-Cap Spawn camping rule is simple: our server isn’t always filled with pro players but the average to newer player. We want the games to be fun for everyone. While even I will spawn kill on a server that allows it, I refrain from it on the PTB because it’s a rule of our server and clan and we ask that people respect it as we respect the rules on their servers also.

Jarhed: I would have to say it’s that we’re very hard in enforcing our rules and also in controlling the game play on the server. We’ve been through a lot of change in the past year and have evolved in those areas. We actually have a very simple rule set. We do look out for everyone that comes to play on the server to try in make the games fun for all. I think we’ve found that the more you try to control the game, usually the worst it becomes. Sometimes we do have to move people to even the teams or occasionally shuffle, but that really doesn’t happen too often anymore. As far as our rules are concerned, more often than not if people aren’t aware of them or are breaking them, they get warned before any other actions are taken. I’ve seen many players, whom don’t agree with some of our rules, follow them when they come and play on the PTB. I respect the fact that they have the courtesy to do that. If you’re looking for perfect balance, game play, or the administration of the rules you’re not going to find that here or anywhere for that matter. We do try to be fair, and like all things, that’s just a point of view.


Recently, PTB has started to form a competition squad. What was the inspiration for that?
Jarhed: Pub play in recent months has really fallen off and many of our clan members aren’t playing like they used to or the rest of the community either. Without rehashing all the things that we all know about what is wrong with or needs to be changed about the game, it just seems that interest is at a really low point now. Competitive play would seem to be more in line with the original game play. For example, people working together as a team to accomplish the objectives. It’s something that seems to have been lacking for a long time. We’re also hoping it will pump some interest in continuing to play ET.QW for people in our clan. Many are into some of the other games around such as L4D. Also, some of the new maps that are available for ETQW are terrific! I have to really commend those that worked hard to develop them and get them released.

Mavaldas: I re-birthed the interest in comp for s3^ as I wanted to spark more interest in our clan as well as improve our members skills also to silence some out there that think we are only pub players and can’t handle the comp teams on the scene today. This is a misconception; we have some of the best players in the game in our clan including St00pid. I also wanted to do this as once Wolfenstein is released. We will want to jump right into comp with that as well!


As a new competition clan, what competition format would you guys prefer to play? The most popular is 6v6 vehicles.
Jarhed: I have to plead total ignorance here, having very little actual promod or comp experience. Although anything with vehicles sounds like fun to me. I’m totally open to what ever the comp experience will be.

Mavaldas: 6v6 vehicles is what I would prefer; we have a great group set up for comp. I’m still working on getting scrims set up to get our team some practice before entering a league, we will be willing however to scrim in a 6v6 or even 4v4 format just for practice. I myself prefer the 6v6 though.


Has it been hard assessing & assigning specific roles for each player in your new competition squad?
Mavaldas: I say “yes” only because of some scheduling issues, but we are resolving that matter quickly so we can get a better assessment of our skills. We will be on our comp servers starting this coming week one night a week and both Saturday and Sundays around 7pm to get a better grasp on our comp teams skills and dedication to this new venture. I will say the group we have would be able to at least right now put up a great fight against most comp teams out there.

Jarhed: We’re still in the formation stages of our comp team. It’s an area that I assigned to Mav because right from the time that he entered the clan he was the most instrumental in getting us moving in that direction. If it wasn’t for his diligence and hard work in pushing us along, I don’t think we’d be in the practice stages that we’re in now. We do have some of the best players in this game and I think people will be surprise by what we will accomplish competitively.


Is there a clan in particular you guys would like to battle?
Mavaldas: I have several that have expressed interest, my main focus for a first scrim for us would be SF, and I’ve played with many of them and would like to have a scrim against them soon. But /9/, WCK, AOD, and Jerk have all expressed interest in scrimming with us.


What is the outlook for the PTB in the future?
Mavaldas: I think it’s GREAT! This group of guys has been around sense 2001! And I don’t think we will be leaving the scene anytime soon, with the new Wolfenstein coming out soon (we hope) we see our clan growing even more as the future comes closer.

Jarhed: The future of s3^ and the PTB couldn’t be brighter. We’ll be playing ETQW as long as there’s an interest in it. Future games like Wolfenstein and Global Agenda are only a few that we’re looking into at the present time. L4D is still one the really popular among the clan and probably will be for some time. I would say that as long as there’s MMO’s we’ll be playing them. The futures so bright, I’m going to need shades. LOL.


What’s currently on rotation for your in-game music?
Mavaldas: Ah a casual question. I was hoping for one soon! I like it heavy personally, in the background of my game I’m usually listening to Metallica, Rancid, Pantera, Bad Religion, among many others.

Jarhed: Well, I guess I’m one of the weird ones, that don’t listen to music during the game. Between the chatter in game and on Vent I think I’d be a bit distracted. I need to concentrate so I don’t get owned all the time. I’m a musician and play the bass so I listen to a lot of blues and rock, some hip hop as well. Stuff like, Joe Satriani, B.B. King, Robt Randolph, Delbert McClinton, Metalicca.




Let’s do a little word exchange. I will say one word and you answer with whatever comes to mind:

Pink Taco
Jarhed: Home
Malvadas: The first server I ever played on and the best one I’ve played on

Vanilla
Jarhed: As it applies to servers I guess it would mean bland. I don’t think that’s always the case.
Malvadas: Underrated servers that don’t get respect from the pro community

Promod
Malvadas: The future of our comp group and a great place to build your skills
Jarhed: I think it may be the area where this game will continue for some time. I’m looking forward to it.

18 slot servers
Malvadas: PTB we recently switched back to an 18 slot, in my opinion the game play is more personal and much more intense and I love it
Jarhed: The PTB had been an 18 slot server till the last patch which is when we went to 24 slots. We’ve gone back to 18 because the games were always more interesting with a few less players. Individual players have a greater effect on the outcome of the game.

Women
Malvadas: underrated as gamers, and one of my favorite pastimes
Jarhed: As it pertains to gaming I think that they’re usually under rated, which is unfortunate. There are a lot more woman player out there that most people think. As far as anything else is concerned, I’ve been married a long time so I’ll only say two words. Halle Berry

Hyperblaster
Malvadas: Though I’ve used it, I’m not a huge fan of it, but I will also say that with the right skill the GPMG is just as nasty a weapon.
Jarhed: My favorite weapon and usually the only way I can survive more than 10 seconds.

The French
Jarhed: Still a bastion of Art and Culture, oh you mean as far as gaming. I don’t think I ever played on a French server.
Malvadas: Thank you for the fries. There is nothing wrong with the French gamers

Spawnkilling
Malvadas: I don’t support non cap spawnkilling on our server as I’m an admin and it’s against our server rules, however I don’t think it’s unfair if it’s allowed.
Jarhed: Just a tactic usually used when there isn’t enough action at the main objective.

SpecialForces clan
Malvadas: Love the guys of SF played with many of them, even almost approached them about joining before I chose to approach s3^ but I’m glad I made the choice; I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else but here. Also I’d love to scrim them soon!
Jarhed: Good players and some friendly people as well


Any final words for the world?
Mavaldas: Yes. Despite the past misconceptions about Soldiers 3lite and the PTB we are a clan that is open to anyone and anything, we have been working hard to make old wrongs right and make the right decisions for our future growth, and we look forward to continuing to provide every player a fun fair and pleasant gaming experience on our server, and I would encourage anyone that has any suggestions, concerns, or problems to please join our forums at pinktacobar.com and let us know in a mature friendly way and we would gladly hear you out and help in any way that we can. We’re not the jerks that a lot of people think we are or thought we were, we are fair, respectful, and fun guys to play with. We look forward to the future and what it brings and look forward to fragging along with all of you.

Jarhed: WoW! I guess I have to be prophetic here. Life if short and you never know what’s around the next corner. If you love this game, play to win but don’t forget to have some fun doing it. If you’ve never been to the Pink Taco Bar or haven’t been there lately, give it a try. Also, get on Ventrilo with us, that’s where the fun is. The people in s3^ are some of the finest people that I’ve have the pleasure and good fortune to be associated with.





TreeFrog sends The Pink Taco Bar <3 from Korea.

Hey TreeFrog

I just wanted to thank you again for the great interview about the Pink Taco Bar and s3^ Soldiers 3lite. I'll keep you updated as our Comp Team comes together more. Again, Thanks.

JarHed