Hey y’all So, Trials of Osiris… oh Trials. In a game as -blam!- and fluctuating as Destiny, it’s no surprise that what was once the zenith of aspirational content has fallen so low as to become a sweat-stained basement where the broken-spirited and stubbornly fixated throw themselves at each other for little more than the stimulation of it all. And this week in particular seems especially brutal. Now, I never said it is wholly without its own, albeit morbidly self-deprecatory, fun, but then again I do count myself among the stubbornly fixated Guardians who still, STILL, chase the Lighthouse’s shadow every now and again… At its best, Trials offers moments of tension, excitement, emotion, and catharsis that is lacking dearly in other parts of the game. Nothing is better than making a 1-4 comeback, or starting a feud with one of your opponents, or just goofing off and seeing how far you can take it. Most of the time, however, the experience is diminished by systemic shortcomings of matchmaking (i.e. Lobby Balancing, poor connections, awful mismatches in skill), sandbox, and map/game mode design. Alone these problems could be forgiven as minor inconveniences, but taken together, it feels as though you are fighting the game for the chance at a fair match more than you are your actual opponents. What is a Guardian to do? Speaking as someone who is far, FAR from being “good” at this game yet can bang out solo queue Flawless cards without *too much* issue, it all comes down to mindset. …yes, as corny as it may sound. Some cards/sessions are just not meant to be. I’ve had countless moments where games 1 - 3 are absolute nightmares; just this weekend, during my first few attempts, I never got past 5 wins on my Mercy Passage. Taking matchmaking, connection, and your own performance into account, sometimes the variables just add up to your disadvantage. Simple as that. All you can do is be present, stay motivated, and stay mindful of your own abilities. Your own gameplay is the only area over which you have complete control. Keep dying in the peek? Play back with your team and wait for your enemies to come to you. Having trouble winning your ones? Try different angles and approaches. Something not clicking? Switch up your build/loadout, even if it’s off-meta. Whatever lets you play your best/gives you the most confidence is going to get you farther than you may expect. Remember: at the end of the day, it’s about fun. The enjoyment comes first, the passion comes after, and the skill/application is what we find at the end of it. I know this may seem disingenuous, like “Oh well this foo already got their Adept Summoner, it’s easy for them to talk!” But I do believe some of y’all can absolutely perform just as well if not better than me. Best of luck this weekend Guardians! <3 kaaphro