When matchmaking gets it right
Art by community artist Oskar Vega
In Love and League, four adorable couples shared stories about their relationships, both on the Rift and IRL.
Today, we have an interview with another couple, Craig and Michelle, who got married after meeting through League! GG, lovebirds!
Read on to discover how they met and what role League plays in their relationship!
Word on the street is you met through League--tell us about that first encounter!
CRAIG
We both had a mutual friend in League that introduced us, Jake (decayy). Michelle (Reinga) was primarily a support and me (seakamp) a jungler. Our group would talk in Skype during the game for better team coordination. I enjoyed my time with her in game, the banter was fun and her personality was great. We would end up staying on Skype/League later than the rest of the group and we would just get to talking about everything and anything.
We both had a mutual friend in League that introduced us, Jake (decayy). Michelle (Reinga) was primarily a support and me (seakamp) a jungler. Our group would talk in Skype during the game for better team coordination. I enjoyed my time with her in game, the banter was fun and her personality was great. We would end up staying on Skype/League later than the rest of the group and we would just get to talking about everything and anything.
MICHELLE
We did meet through League! We had a mutual friend that started inviting us both to games, and it evolved from there. We started duoing together and pretty soon we were playing together every chance we got! It was a great way to get to know him.
We did meet through League! We had a mutual friend that started inviting us both to games, and it evolved from there. We started duoing together and pretty soon we were playing together every chance we got! It was a great way to get to know him.
What are your favorite champions and roles to play?
CRAIG
I'm primarily a jungler. I really enjoy Vi, Hec, and Noc. I think being able to isolate a target and either remove them from the fight by pressuring them or killing them outright is a powerful tool. I see junglers as the role that can most easily position themselves for map control/pressure application. I almost feel like a point guard or quarterback in the way that I'm able to direct team focus around the map.
I'm primarily a jungler. I really enjoy Vi, Hec, and Noc. I think being able to isolate a target and either remove them from the fight by pressuring them or killing them outright is a powerful tool. I see junglers as the role that can most easily position themselves for map control/pressure application. I almost feel like a point guard or quarterback in the way that I'm able to direct team focus around the map.
MICHELLE
My favorite role by far is support. I love to play Sona -- her auras are fantastic. Being able to save teammates and initiate teamfights is just so satisfying! When I play something other than support, I play Cho'Gath -- he's just such a fun champ.
My favorite role by far is support. I love to play Sona -- her auras are fantastic. Being able to save teammates and initiate teamfights is just so satisfying! When I play something other than support, I play Cho'Gath -- he's just such a fun champ.
How long after meeting online did you meet IRL?
CRAIG
Our nightly routine was that we would play a few games then just talk afterwards. It was probably 4 months of voice chat before we turned the cameras on so we got to know each other really well. All in all I'd say it was about 7 months before we met in person.
Our nightly routine was that we would play a few games then just talk afterwards. It was probably 4 months of voice chat before we turned the cameras on so we got to know each other really well. All in all I'd say it was about 7 months before we met in person.
MICHELLE
I think it was right about 7 months. He offered to come up and meet me, and of course I agreed. I haven't regretted meeting him yet.
I think it was right about 7 months. He offered to come up and meet me, and of course I agreed. I haven't regretted meeting him yet.
Were you nervous the first time you saw each other in person?
CRAIG
There were some nerves hidden in the background there but we knew exactly what to expect from each other since we had been Skyping so often. I'd say that I was anxious more than anything. We had gotten very comfortable with each other playing a lot of League together and Skyping over many months.
There were some nerves hidden in the background there but we knew exactly what to expect from each other since we had been Skyping so often. I'd say that I was anxious more than anything. We had gotten very comfortable with each other playing a lot of League together and Skyping over many months.
MICHELLE
For sure! I was super nervous, but we had talked for enough time that I felt I knew him pretty well. I can't describe what it was like to finally be able to see him in person. I remember that we actually played some League that weekend!
For sure! I was super nervous, but we had talked for enough time that I felt I knew him pretty well. I can't describe what it was like to finally be able to see him in person. I remember that we actually played some League that weekend!
How do you think meeting through League has affected your relationship?
CRAIG
I think we both enjoy the fact that we met each other through a common interest. It definitely isn't a very conventional way to meet someone and there's just no way the two of us would have connected without League. I was in a Chicago suburb and Michelle was in farm country MN. Roughly 6 hours apart geographically, there just isn't any other medium that would have connected us in the way League did. Beyond allowing our relationship to come together League has taught us many lessons... good teamwork, communication and understanding. You've gotta work well together and have common goals or the relationship won't last. Communicating your needs/wants is the basis of any good team/relationship so we had a solid start there through league and have only strengthened that bond. Also, understanding that things don't always go as planned/perfectly is part of life and you have to accept/forgive/move on regardless -- In short don't panic and enjoy the ride!
I think we both enjoy the fact that we met each other through a common interest. It definitely isn't a very conventional way to meet someone and there's just no way the two of us would have connected without League. I was in a Chicago suburb and Michelle was in farm country MN. Roughly 6 hours apart geographically, there just isn't any other medium that would have connected us in the way League did. Beyond allowing our relationship to come together League has taught us many lessons... good teamwork, communication and understanding. You've gotta work well together and have common goals or the relationship won't last. Communicating your needs/wants is the basis of any good team/relationship so we had a solid start there through league and have only strengthened that bond. Also, understanding that things don't always go as planned/perfectly is part of life and you have to accept/forgive/move on regardless -- In short don't panic and enjoy the ride!
MICHELLE
League is based on the concept of teamwork. In order to achieve anything, there has to be a certain amount of understanding between all the players involved. The longer I played with Craig, the more I got to understand how he worked, and how to be a team. That was a huge plus to our relationship, and it continues to help us even now.
League is based on the concept of teamwork. In order to achieve anything, there has to be a certain amount of understanding between all the players involved. The longer I played with Craig, the more I got to understand how he worked, and how to be a team. That was a huge plus to our relationship, and it continues to help us even now.
How do you think things would have gone differently if you’d met a another way?
CRAIG
Who knows if we would have allowed each other to open up the way we have if we would have met another way. Quite possibly/most likely things would have been different. We don't have a ton of overlapping hobbies outside of League. Of course we have introduced our other hobbies to each other but we've had to share these with each other over time. Would we have given each other enough time if it weren't for League? I guess only fate knows.
Who knows if we would have allowed each other to open up the way we have if we would have met another way. Quite possibly/most likely things would have been different. We don't have a ton of overlapping hobbies outside of League. Of course we have introduced our other hobbies to each other but we've had to share these with each other over time. Would we have given each other enough time if it weren't for League? I guess only fate knows.
MICHELLE
Honestly, we wouldn't have met if it wasn't for League. We lived in different states and, besides our love of League, we have different hobbies.
Honestly, we wouldn't have met if it wasn't for League. We lived in different states and, besides our love of League, we have different hobbies.
Be honest -- who’s better?
CRAIG
There's no doubt that I'm a better jungler and Michelle is a better support. Beyond that I don't want to be put in the dog house so no further comment :)
There's no doubt that I'm a better jungler and Michelle is a better support. Beyond that I don't want to be put in the dog house so no further comment :)
MICHELLE
Tough question! For jungle, definitely Craig. For support, I'm better. Not sure I want to answer who's better overall!
Tough question! For jungle, definitely Craig. For support, I'm better. Not sure I want to answer who's better overall!
Does how you work together in-game reflect how you work together out-of-game?
CRAIG
Yes. We work together well in and out of game. Being jungler/support we are able to set up control of bot lane quite well due to our communication and knowing how each other will react to ganks. Sure it's disappointing to lose but you aren't going to win every game. As long as you are having fun with the time you are doing it right.
Yes. We work together well in and out of game. Being jungler/support we are able to set up control of bot lane quite well due to our communication and knowing how each other will react to ganks. Sure it's disappointing to lose but you aren't going to win every game. As long as you are having fun with the time you are doing it right.
MICHELLE
Yes! I believe that we have built up a good synergy thanks, in part, to League. I've gotten pretty good at reading his mind, if I do say so myself.
Yes! I believe that we have built up a good synergy thanks, in part, to League. I've gotten pretty good at reading his mind, if I do say so myself.
What advice do you have for other couples who play League together?
CRAIG
Enjoy the time. The game is a ton of fun. Support/communicate all that you can to help each other out, you'll need this in and out of game to be successful. If you have a bad game, let it go, it's a game and take away from the game what you can to spin it into a positive experience. You aren't perfect and you can learn from your mistakes each time you play, everything is about growth... as a player and as an individual. Play to have fun and play to grow as a player/teammate/couple.
Enjoy the time. The game is a ton of fun. Support/communicate all that you can to help each other out, you'll need this in and out of game to be successful. If you have a bad game, let it go, it's a game and take away from the game what you can to spin it into a positive experience. You aren't perfect and you can learn from your mistakes each time you play, everything is about growth... as a player and as an individual. Play to have fun and play to grow as a player/teammate/couple.
MICHELLE
Don't get frustrated with each other. The biggest thing Craig and I have struggled with is leaving League in the game. It's so easy to want to blame each other for mistakes- but you just have to realize that not everything is going to go perfectly (in life or League!). The other thing I would suggest is to make sure you have other common interests other than League. While League is great, you can't base an entire relationship off of it.
Don't get frustrated with each other. The biggest thing Craig and I have struggled with is leaving League in the game. It's so easy to want to blame each other for mistakes- but you just have to realize that not everything is going to go perfectly (in life or League!). The other thing I would suggest is to make sure you have other common interests other than League. While League is great, you can't base an entire relationship off of it.
and
getting married. It turns out its 
.
