Sunday, June 21st, 2009
Issue: 131   Editor: MikaMania


The Deadly Alliance Returns! BrickTamland
After an extremely long time away from Bootleggers, a few days ago, The Deadly Alliance returned to the Stats under LukkyB, an old Boss. Rise of the Footsoldiers was shot in order to make way for them and perhaps the strenth and power the crew once had in Bootleggers will return. The Buzz contacted Agathon, Sarki, and LukkyB himself in order to get a true picture of what they felt about The Deadly Alliance (TDA) returning now and what the future holds for them.

Firstly, we taked to Agathon, a long-standing member of TDA, to see what he had to say. We first asked exactly what he felt now that TDA has made it's way back on Stats, and he told us, "I'm not sure how to express myself, I knew they would be back and I don't mind." He was clearly happy to be back in his old home. Next, we moved on to whether he thought TDA was eventually going to return this reset. He replied, "I was aware they would return, but I doubt even LukkyB planned it so soon." As you'll hear later on, Agathon was right to doubt that Lukky planned it this soon. Finally, we asked him whether he was surprised that LukkyB came back to lead TDA once more. He informed us, "Old names had to pop-up, and even though I had other candidates in mind, I will stick with Lukky the whole way."

Next we talked to Sarik, also known as GPEnergy, an old Boss of TDA. First off, the Buzz asked where exactly he stood in the TDA hierarchy, whether he was a still a Boss or not. He told us, "I was/am boss of TDA, but as we just got back we're still organising things so for everyone the position within the crew is not yet clear." Still clearly in the early stages of trying to rebuild things to how they used to be, things seem to be up in the air, even for those letting in old members. Next we moved on to his feelings when he realised TDA was to return to the Stats after such a long time. He informed us, "Surprised, Lukky got back to play fully active again and had the idea to bring TDA back back but not so suddenly." He went on to say, "Abonzo had a shooting planned and with an hour warning, Lukky found out he would get a crew if the shooting would be successful." We moved onto the period of TDA's absence. He said that he never stopped playing, "as I'm too damn addicted. I was underground the whole time and actually made it to State Don, that was one of the few things I hadn't accomplished yet." Which exactly was his account that got to State Don? I'm sure only a few select people know and it will continue to be this way.

We asked whether TDA remained a crew in terms of off-site forums and crew business while they were off-Stats and when the members went off to join separate crews and do their own things. Sarik told us, "I have to say that TDA wasn't really a crew last year, I don't blame anyone as we all had different things we wanted to do. Our off-site forum was active but mostly to keep in touch with each other." This is perhaps quite surprising to a lot of the community who thought that TDA was always a crew on and off the Stats. We asked him whether he thought TDA was going to return this reset to claim back the dominance they once had in Bootleggers, to which he replied, "We had discussed coming back a few times, but at the time, the council felt it was best to retire the name TDA in order to uphold the 'reputation' of TDA." He went on to say, "The council at the time did not have any of the old Bosses in it anymore and so we felt it was best to retire the crew at the time. This out of respect for TDA and the people that had been with the crew since the beginning." He mentioned that he was also surpised that LukkyB was the one to return to lead the crew, "a lot of the older TDA members retired from BL cause they played BL for a very long time. At some point we all lose interest and become inactive, the same goes for Lukky. I'm very glad he's back though, always been a good friend and leader of TDA." As a last word about their return, he told us, "What else to say other then: 'Test your Might, Flawless Victory'."

Finally, we spoke with the old Boss himself, LukkyBvIX. He had been visiting a few crews since he had logged back in regularly and this no longer to be as TDA returned, thanks to a kind gesture from JimmyMaranzano also known as Abonzo, Boss of The Vanguard and also a co-founder of TDA. We caught up with him as he was trying to sort out affairs. We started off by asking whether he himself had intentions of bringing back TDA when he started playing again and he told us, "Yes I did." We mentioned the attack on Rise of the Footsoldiers that had made way for their swift arrival. He informed us, "The attack on the crew was a complete surprise to me. Abonzo spoke with Scorpion (Wario) on MSN and had this planned days ago." He went on to say, "I was told of the plan to bring TDA as the crew was being shot. My plan to bring it back was instantly pressed into FAST-FORWARD, but it’s the same result nonetheless."

We then moved onto questioning how committed he is to bring TDA back to the power it once was in Bootleggers. He informed us of a few things, "TDA means many different things to many different people. To me, it was the crew I first joined in 2004 and have been fiercely loyal to ever since. I’ve died countless times in the name of the crew as I know many of you have." Next, he told us, "I’ve contributed thousands of points and hours to killing its enemies and making sure it always had a place on the stats page. I’ve earned the respect of the former TDA bosses before me (Scorpion and Missfit), helped train great members of the high council (Budgie, DrDie, and Adwood to name a few), and lead a crew that was victorious in strength as well as morality." He ended in saying, "To me Bootleggers IS TDA. Without our mighty crew, this game holds nothing for me... The idea that it will be back drives me to continue logging in – and drives me to bring it back to the stats just as strong as it was in the height of its glory."

The Buzz then moved onto his long absence in Bootleggers, and he said, "During my absence I heard that we lost many great TDA members. I heard that TDA became a ‘new’ sort of crew... I can understand this because the game in general has changed." As we concluded our interview, he told us of their future. "What I asked TDA today was will they support me in the decision to bring back TDA as it was. Not in it’s current iteration – but how it was when Myself, Missfit, and Budgie were leading. If TDA was to come back, I wanted to see it done right – and with the right people. The last thing we need is a half-hearted attempt and bringing it back to the stats to have the same results as you guys did last time... Taken off the stats. Some repair work needs to be done to TDA’s name and I am doing just that."

A lot of work needs to be done, in the words of the Boss. It will, no doubt, take some time. Will the community give TDA that time to re-adjust and strengthen its ranks to become what the crew once was? Will Rise of the Footsoldiers rank up and decide to take back a spot from them as revenge? Will TDA re-emerge with the dominance they once held over Bootleggers earlier this reset and beforehand? So many questions need to be answered as a historical crew returns to Bootleggers under one of its former Bosses. The next few months will bring the answers to these questions. We may see fireworks, but it will be an exciting few months, that's for sure.