Being a Manager in Dota 2 — Milan Patel
Who are you? Your back story for esports, and a cool fun fact about yourself.
I am Milan “Shion” Patel. I got into the eSports scene when DotA 1 was rising to prominence. I played at a high level then and transitioned for a short period of time to League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth. Shortly after the release of DotA 2, I decided a transition to management was where I could have the biggest impact. After working with various teams in a similar capacity, I joined up with Enemy and the rest is history. Something most might not realize about me is that I actually rarely play the game of DotA anymore. I spend so much time looking over replays and doing other things for the team that I don’t often have the time to sit back and enjoy a game.
You are the manager, what does that exactly mean?
It means I handle all the day to day activities for the team as well as any long-term plans. Here at Enemy I have freedom to do what I need to in order for the team to succeed. I schedules scrims for the team, get in contact with tournament organizers to get us invites, talk to players and other teams in order to recruit or find new players. But that’s not where it stops. I work closely with the players and help them with any needs they may have outside of the game. Any personal issues, school needs, and even social questions I help them with. So essentially you think of a need a player would need whether it relates to the game or not, I help them get it.
A manager typically will work with a coach, analyst, and the players in esports. How do you manage everyone, do you use a special software?
I will say managing a team nowadays is a lot easier than it was before. With texting and everyone having a phone on them, it is relatively simple to get ahold of someone. I prefer using Google docs and spreadsheets to keep people up to date on what’s going on as most people can access them via their phones. I also use Skype to keep in touch with most people in the community. With free software like that to make it all simplified, why use anything else?
Each team has a different internal culture, what is it like being with Enemy and then making sure players are able to thrive in the industry.
Out of all the organizations I have been with, Enemy is one of the easiest to work in. They allow for freedom to manage and provide us with everything we need to succeed. Not once has there been something reasonable that I need that has been out of reach or out of the question. They make sure that both the players and staff are happy.
How do you go about recruiting players? From beginning to end.
There a lot of different approaches. Usually the route I’ve found that works is having one player talk to another. Potential recruits for a team are more open to talking to someone that’s been in their position and understands them best. Not that I as a manager can’t approach someone, but they have no way of knowing what it’s like working with me or the organization unless it comes from a fellow player. So what ends up happening in my case is the players themselves find someone they need to fill the hole(s) in the roster. As long as they are fit to be a part of the team I’m happy with what makes them successful.
There is a lot of emotional attachment with players in esports do to how players, coaches, and managers interact daily, how do you go about telling a player they have been let go.
Typically it’s handled one of two ways for me. Either I talk to the player one on one and tell them that we have to cut them or the player’s captain talks to them about it. The first method isn’t that hard for me as I’ve been around long enough to know that at the end of the day this is a business. Holding onto players that may be toxic or bringing a team down only ends up making it worse for everyone. Every time a captain tells a player however I always worry about the toll it takes on them as the player to player bond is different from the Manager to Player one.
Being a manager in esports, there has to be similarities to traditional sports, have you seen any or are using any methods?
I like my players to be punctual. Just like in a traditional sport, being late to practice or not showing up without reason is very detrimental to the team and to the growth of the player. A player that doesn’t show up when needed or stays just for the required practice times is one that I am not afraid to cut. If they aren’t passionate about what they are doing then it’s not fair to the team, myself, or any of our fans and supporters.
What advice can you offer to new and upcoming managers looking to better their skills, learn, and get in the industry?
Network. Without being connected and networked in with other high-level players and teams, you won’t be able to bring anything of value to your team. Being a manager isn’t just doing secretarial work and organizing things for the team. Who you know and how you are seen by others in the pro scene carries a lot of weight. Make friends not enemies and be sure to bring 100% to everything you do.
Originally published at esportsentrepreneur.com on January 15, 2016.
