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Community Spotlight: Guest Casters of the MDI, Shadowlands Season 2



With the Global Finals right around the corner, we present an exclusive interview with the Guest Casters of the Shadowlands Season 2 MDI: Psybearslat (Psy), Kali, and Meeix. For each of the three consecutive MDI Group tournament weekends, our guests brought their own unique flavor to the talent desk. What does it take to become an esports caster? What is it really like when you’re up there in the hot seat? Join us in sharing the insights, discoveries, and learning experiences of our Shadowlands Season 2 MDI Guest Casters.



Table of Contents






“If you want to be in this industry: just be there. Take part. Get involved, even if it's a small community event. Show up and be yourself unapologetically.”
—Meeix



Q-1: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today. Can you please tell us about your history as casters? Have you ever done any casting before this past MDI, whether for Blizzard or for any community events?

Psy: My first ever casting role was for Dream Mythic Masters, a Mythic+ tournament based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Shortly after, I then took part in the Keystone Masters (KSM) tournaments. I began hosting events for the Pieces org such as the “Piece of Mind” talk show as well as two of their recent Race to World First (RWF) events. I also worked alongside BDGG during the RWF of Sanctum of Domination. I then appeared on The Great Push (TGP) for WoW Esports and have since taken part in their MDI Group A stage as a Guest Caster.

Kali: Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts! I was asked if I would like to be a guest talent for the upcoming MDI, which is an amazing opportunity that I was really excited for. This was my first time casting in any form before, so as you can imagine, I was incredibly nervous!

Meeix: It's my pleasure! I've been casting for a little while. It all started back when Ny'alotha released. I received an offer from Aversion to join the desk for the first-ever German RWF event. I absolutely fell in love with casting. From then on, I casted the German MDI, the German Keystone Masters, the German MDI Great Push, the Mythic+ Charity Pro-Am, the RWF events for BDGG and Aversion for Castle Nathria and Sanctum of Domination, and recently a Teamfight Tactics (TFT) tournament. I’m always up to cast more since I enjoy it so much.



Q-2: What did you do to prepare for casting the MDI in terms of research and other methodologies? Did you have any particular hype songs, favorite meals, or special daily rituals leading up to the event?

Psy: I play A LOT of keys daily on WoW, so the knowledge of dungeons wasn’t something I particularly had to study. However, I did put a lot of effort into updating myself on team comps and how players had moved teams/new players that had entered the scene. I wanted to make sure that I knew as much about Winning Lane Kick as I did about Perplexed. Also, because I play Feral Druid and Survival Hunter, I’m normally living in the weeds; I had to make sure I knew how the big boy DPS specs (e.g. Holy Paladin) operated too. I did a lot of research into how each spec currently generates damage.


In terms of hype-building activities, I maintained my gym routine, and tried to sleep and eat well. I even purchased a tape of Sounds of Dratnos™ that helped me relax and get comfortable before my casts.



Kali: Coming prepared was definitely very important to ensure that I had knowledge of the dungeons and the teams. Knowing their previous matches, comps etc. was a great way to compare match ups! I watched vods from previous days to see what other teams were doing and how I could apply that knowledge towards the matches I was casting. Going into matches, I had notes about how the maps had been played, comps we had seen, and any interesting pulls that they, or other teams had done. I tried to eat every day before the event and make sure that I had my emotional support water bottle with me at all times (if you know, you know). Sitting with the other casters before events was also a great warmup for the day. It was calming to listen to their banter and fun personalities!

Meeix: My MDI preparations were similar to the preparations I made when I casted for the German MDI. I make the graphics for the German channel, so I already had a good idea of how the dungeons would feel/play out in regards to their affixes and keystone level. I also made a big spreadsheet with all of the teams and their players, and I looked at their Time Trials runs. One crucial thing I did was write down all of the important percentages in dungeons, like 87.5% for Spires. I have dyscalculia, so I have to make notes before casting or else I’ll forget. I also looked closely at the seasonal affix, in this case the Tormented mobs, and made sure I knew exactly what their buff/debuff does.

Now, the one thing I did differently for the English broadcast is that I wrote down certain synonyms for words I feel I overuse in English, since it isn’t my first language. This way, I had a list with alternatives for different verbs and adjectives to fall back on when casting.

Important things I do on the day of broadcast: I make sure to eat enough before the cast starts, I get ready (makeup, hair, clothing), and prepare a beverage that doesn't contain any milk or chocolate. Most of the time I drink coke or energy drinks. While I’m off-cast, I prefer coffee. I also warm up my voice so that I don’t ruin my vocal cords and my voice sounds nice.





Q-3: What were some of the best parts of guest casting for the Shadowlands Season 2 MDI? What was one of the most enjoyable or exciting matches to cast in your respective Group weekend and why?

Psy: Working for/with Blizzard has been a dream of mine since I started playing Warcraft III so just being involved in the MDI was magical. Specifically, I really enjoyed trying to find unique angles to hype up the teams and players. I loved the Lower Semifinals between Sheesh & Evolving; it was a surprising victory for Evolving who had played incredibly well over the weekend. It was such a close series!

Kali: Being able to talk with the other casters was a great highlight of my guest casting in the MDI. Gaining insight into all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes from the crew was very eye opening. I have so much respect for what they do, as it does not seem easy! I really enjoyed my second day of casting since I was more comfortable and relaxed while speaking. Being a caster for the MDI was the first time that I’ve ever really put myself out there, and I feel like it was such a great way to build confidence.



Meeix: Ahhh, I feel like I can’t speak freely because people will start spreading rumours that aren’t true. I'll say that I adore all of the casters, and there's one person I feel I have very very good caster synergy with! Truth be told, I just really enjoyed hanging out in the event Discord and chilling with all of the awesome people that are involved in the English broadcast. I felt that this helped me develop and improve my casting even more and I am super thankful I was given that opportunity.



Q-4: What were some of the challenges? Were there any details or logistics that you learned through the process that you didn’t anticipate?

Psy: Hahaaaaaa I had some pretty awful mic issues (on my end, not the production side), which meant I had to be pulled out of my first two series of the weekend. I was stressed beyond belief. I thought I was going to have to cancel my whole weekend and lose out on the opportunity. Luckily, the team was there for me and the production crew helped me figure out what was going on and rectify it ASAP. Also, the casters then offered to give up some of their time slots to let me get back into the action, which I was incredibly grateful for. They didn’t have to do that.

Kali: Casting is a lot harder than it looks. The pure talent of the other casters is inspiring, and I’ve always had a lot of respect for their work. After doing it myself, I am in awe at how talented they are. Their knowledge of the dungeons, players, pulls etc. was immense, and having this knowledge allows them to do their jobs so well! I didn’t anticipate how difficult it would be to explain what is happening in real time and provide insight on the dungeons as they are playing out. While it took some time to get used to, being able to flow with other casters was really great. My first few matches I casted, I was so nervous that it definitely impacted my ability to cast effectively. Regardless, I saw a lot of improvement in myself over the weekend. I was glad to have to overcome my initial struggles, including being scared to talk about something in the case that I was wrong. I also learned how to match another caster’s energy and flow more freely.

Meeix: Hmm. The English broadcast has a lot of resources that the other local broadcasts don’t have due to technical reasons. It was really nice to have different observer PoVs available and to see how many people are involved in the background, which is something we probably don’t realise as viewers. I also had to learn to let Jak do his job; in the German broadcast, there's no host, so it was hard to change that habit. Sorry again!



“...The recent MDI format developments show how much WoW Esports cares and that they love the tournament and game as much as we do.” —Meeix



Q-5: What did you think of the new MDI format compared to past MDI tournaments we’ve seen?

Psy: The old format meant that you didn’t HAVE to tune in every weekend — you could just wait until closer to the finals to see what’s what. I think the new format is superior to previous renditions, as it means each week there’s a reason to tune in. Having different teams, affixes, dungeon levels etc. makes each weekend so unique. The Last Stand addition was also really cool to allow teams to get a second chance. I love the direction WoW esports is going with these new tournament formats. Keep them coming!

Kali: I really enjoyed this format in comparison to the previous iterations of the MDI. Near the end of each tournament weekend when we started to cut down on teams, it got really interesting. There were a lot of extremely close matches that made it very exciting from a viewer's perspective. It was also nice to see so many new teams and players in the tournament thanks to the increased size. The size increase will help grow the tournament since more people will have a shot at competing instead of just the very few top teams. For example, my guildies and I from Pieces competed in this MDI due to the increased number of teams. Previously, we would have never considered competing, as we wouldn’t have been able to compete with the very top teams. The increased number of teams inspired us to enter the tournament and see how far we could make it. On the other hand, this format naturally comes with the downside that some matches are extremely one-sided early on, as not every low-seeded team would be able to compete with the likes of teams like Echo and Perplexed.

Meeix: I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! I think that all of the recent MDI format developments show how much WoW Esports cares and that they love the tournament and game as much as we do. I think there's always areas to improve upon regardless of the matter, but I’m so happy about how everything is at the moment. I mean, Legion dungeons in the Great Push?? AHHHHH YES.



“Everyone on the desk is an expert at what they do. No matter who I was working with, I knew that I could trust them.” —Psy



Q-6: What was it like for you to join the desk of experienced Blizzard casters and hosts? What did you learn from them? Are there any funny moments or special rapport with your colleagues that you feel is worth mentioning?

Psy: I’d start by mentioning that Naguura has been really supportive to me over my journey in this industry. She’s given me a lot of her time and experience, no hesitation. So thank you to her! She’s incredibly smart, hardworking, and talented. I admire her a lot. Everyone on the desk is an expert at what they do. No matter who I was working with, I knew that I could trust them. They motivate me to work harder so that maybe I can join them as a permanent member of the WoW esports team someday.

Kali: Joining the desk with such experienced casters and hosts was very intimidating as I had never done something like it before. They were so kind though, and no question felt too awkward to ask. They also gave me plenty of tips and encouragement. Being around them, I learnt so much in such a short time and I wish I could go back and do it again as it was such a great experience! Listening to Naguura both offstream and during casting is amazing; she is so knowledgeable and such a lovely human being. Jak was the perfect host — he always allowed everyone to speak and directed the conversations perfectly. Dratnos, Tettles and Xyronic were great characters, and I had a big smile on my face the whole time.

One of the memorable funny moments for me was probably Tettles being...Tettles.



Meeix: As I mentioned before, it was awesome. I think they’re all phenomenal at their job and, on top of that, they are really nice people. There was a lot of banter going around behind-the-scenes that seemed to transfer to the live broadcast, which is always lovely. I asked the other casters for feedback afterwards and Naguura actually answered me with a really in-depth message. It was super cool and I’m thankful to her and everyone else who took time to give me feedback.



Q-7: YouTube and Twitch chat can have some strong opinions about the roles of caster and host. Can you please share a gif or meme about what people think casting is like versus what it was actually like?

Kali:



Meeix:





“Casting is actually REALLY hard. Until you’re sitting at the desk, you definitely don't realise how difficult it is. ” —Kali



Q-8: What are your key takeaways from casting the MDI? Are there any particular improvements or goals you have set for yourself for future casting gigs?

Psy: When casting the MDI, TGP, or any official Blizzard event, I find that I’m a little more nervous and on edge. I think doing it more would naturally help me relax into it and just have a good time. I definitely felt a pressure to “prove myself” initially, but I’m more confident now that I just need to do what I’m good at. Goals? I’m still aiming to be standing on the BlizzCon stage one day. I want to work harder to become a permanent caster. Outside of that, I’d like to get into more hosting gigs to show my capabilities there and, in general, get into other esport titles.

Kali: A key takeaway from casting the MDI is that casting is actually REALLY hard. Until you’re sitting at the desk, you definitely don't realise how difficult it is. This was probably one of the biggest learning experiences of my life and it was very humbling. All the background work that goes into these events was also super interesting; gaining insight on it was invaluable and I will always keep that in mind when I watch any future MDI. If I ever get such a great opportunity again, I’d love to keep learning and improving, as I thoroughly enjoyed casting. I am so appreciative that I was given such a role.

Meeix: Ahh, I can’t say anything yet. But it for sure won’t be the last time you’ve seen my face on an English broadcast and I would love to cast some more TFT as well. I will keep on working on myself and try to improve as much as I can.



“I haven’t gotten anything in this industry without asking. No one is going to come and offer you the opportunity. Go find it.” —Psy



Q-9: Do you have any advice for aspiring casters or fans looking to break into esports sidelines reporting for WoW (or other games)?

Psy: Record yourself casting over some matches and send out those VODs. Before I got a spot on the KSM broadcast, I had to re-record an Atal’Dazar match 8 times until Cirra was happy with it and gave me a shot. If you ask him, he’ll say it was only 4 recordings but that’s a lie, it was 11. I haven’t gotten anything in this industry without asking. No one is going to come and offer you the opportunity. Go find it.
Also, my DMs are always open if anyone ever wants a hand in getting started/pointed in the right direction.

Kali: I have very little experience with this being my first casting gig, so I am probably not the best person to ask for advice. However, I strongly believe in giving everything a go. If you are ever given the chance, go for gold and learn! Preparation is very important, including playing the keys on live servers or Tournament Realms to give you first-hand experience. I may not have previous casting experience, but I have lots of first-hand experience, including competing in the MDI myself this Season. Myfirst-hand knowledge gave me something to fall back on when needed. Being able to anticipate big pulls, understand why they are difficult, and know when they are happening is a good way to build hype and get the audience iinvested into the match. Playing the keys yourself and watching other matches can help a lot with this, which is why I view the preparation side of casting to be important if you want to be successful in this role!

Meeix: Small storytime. When I first got into casting, I once stood at an event with a couple of people — one of them Lythiara, who you might know. There was a talk about some upcoming event, and Lythi threw his name in the pot as a caster. I made a friendly joke about how Lythi will cast anything if you let him and the other person said “Well, that's exactly what you should do as a caster.” I was a little dumbfounded, but I quickly realised that they were right. If you want to be in this industry: just be there. Take part. Get involved, even if it's a small community event. Show up and be yourself unapologetically.



Q-10: Do you have any closing thoughts you’d like to add?

Psy: Firstly, thank you to Healingstat for giving me the opportunity to cast not only the MDI, but TGP as well. I owe him a lot. Thank you to Cirra for making me record those “13” Atal’Dazars. Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I love working with y’all at Raider.IO, thank you for interviewing me.

Kali: I would love to thank Healingstat for reaching out to me, and encouraging me to be a guest talent for the MDI, as well as Hula for recommending and encouraging me in the first place. The entire MDI production team was absolutely wonderful to work with. The tech team even gave me advice when I tried the analyst position. To the other casters and host: Naguura, Dratnos, Tettles , Xyronic, and Jak all deserve so much recognition for the amazing work they do. I want to thank them for being so supportive, helpful, and kind during my casting experience.

Even if I wasn’t the best caster in comparison to some of the greats we have, I had a lot of fun and I am super thankful for the opportunity to try something new.

Meeix: The list of people I am thankful for is crazy long. Everyone who has helped me grow, improve, offered me jobs, and believed in me has had an impact on where I am today — whether it’s my grandma who watches my English casts even though she barely speaks English (or WoW, for that matter), or my community. They are always understanding and lovely when I have to cancel streams due to an impossible schedule of 2 jobs, uni, and streaming. I love my otters. The people who have my back know I am incredibly thankful for them being a part of my life and I am blessed to have them. Last but not least: please make Death Knight strong again. I miss my favorite red class.





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About the Author


VitaminP (VP) is the Lead Editor & Assistant Producer of Raider.IO and has worked for the organization since the formation of the News Section in November 2018. Although VP is currently focused on pursuing her Masters of Business Administration, she specializes in tanking classes and has loved doing competitive Mythic+ on and off since early Legion.