We have seen a lot of ganking and action and exciting teamfights, mostly due to the absence of the extreme late-game heroes. Some people would like to know what heroes were not picked, but were still available for picking (as .52e doesn't allow you to see possible heroes in the tavern if you watch a replay).

So whether the game is action or late oriented depends mostly on the hero draft?

"Definitely. Right now in an "even lineup" you always make sure to have balanced lategame (or better lategame) than the enemies (unless you run a pushstrat) and with that happening you completly remove the pressure from either team. The only pressure you can feel is if the enemies seem to overfarm you."

We have seen some heroes that are barely ever used in competitive play. I would say that -rd brings more variety to hero picks and therefore also to strategies. How do you see the game is really different from -apxl mode in general and strategy-wise?

"Picking in APXL and picking in RD is the exact same thinking. MILK out the best heroes outta pools and make sure you don't accidentally give away a too strong combo to the enemies."

How about the items and the item builds, do you think those can vary more in -rd than in -apxl? For example, I've seen MKB made on Syllabear and I don't recall a game where MKB has last been used in competitive play?

"I'm not sure you can use this game as a complete picture of what RD can create. However I do believe that with less premade lineups you might see more various items, since now you need to be able to counter certain things. The MKB on Syllabear was smart for disabling both Pudge and Bane, while in APXL game Pudge and Bane are just disabled per automatic from all toptier picks."

Do you think that players' performances can vary greatly in -rd depending on what hero they play? Kuroky for example didn't have his best game with Pudge out there, as he is also probably more used to playing other heroes. 

"Most definitely, I think this is one of the biggest win-win situations for both spectators and players. Finally we can play our "favourite" heroes like Lina and Pudge again, who can never or seldom be picked in a competitive APXL lineup. And as spectators, we can finally get to watch how awful/good some of our idols are on different heroes."

We are used to seeing Tidehunter ultimating and then dying pretty much soon after that, but this game it was a bit different. He managed to dish out a fair amount of damage and also farmed Radiance, which has never happened in -APXL as of .52e. Do you think that heavy non-dps tanks can play a bigger role since late-game heroes such as TB or DK don't seem to be a common occurence in -rd?

"Definitely, not only will the heroes change, but the heroes' roles will change. and that will also require teams to take very important decisions during gameplay. Normally Lich's or Tide's job is only to cast his ultimate off, but now it might changes, yes."

Do you think there is still something that needs to be changed to make -rd mode viable for competitive play?

"No, it could be used right now as competitive with some thinkover regarding rules. However, remmember that what I most of all wanna point out is that there are other options to the current APXL mode. And that I do believe that we need to make a major change of the mode due to the time it consumes and the variety that it lacks. Even if there is a variety it's not comparable to, for example, RD."

This question might be a little off-topic but since Meepo was used in this game, there it is. I've seen somebody write that, the line between being a complete crap and owning with Meepo is a very thin one and therefore somethings needs to be done, like rebalancing the hero. Do you agree or disagree with that and why?

"There are a lot of heroes that are really good in some lineups and really bad in others. I think Meepo seems to be an okay hero. In APXL we are protected from these situations anyways since we can counterpick. However, instead I'd like to see all the old heroes with the old strength and strengthgain being a bit buffed, e.g. Rhasta, Lina and Maiden who are still so weak heroes."

After this game, will you keep agitating for -RD mode or changes to -APXL and keep making "test games"?

"I wasn't the one suggesting to play this mode, nor was my team. Actually, eSuba was asking us for it. I don't wanna prove to the scene that RD is a good choice instead of APXL. My biggest interest is to make people see that we are giving APXL too much time, it's not acceptable for either players or viewers. If we can change that, and win 30 minutes per game, and maybe Icefrog can rebalance some heroes that are too weak, then we can play any mode that the competitive scene wishes to play. I'll be able to outpick them regardless of the mode. So for me it's just about making DotA more "e-sports friendly"."