League content creators come in many forms, and today we had a chance to speak with one well-known creator in particular. We are joined today by RossBoomSocks, a member of League's comedy content scene who is well known for his "Why I Hate" series of videos. Recently he has become known for his Bronze spectates, as well as his Boost Busters series, and we had a chance to reach out to him and ask about his experiences in both League and content creation as a whole.

You have made a large variety of content, from your series "Why I Hate", to your now popular Bronze spectates videos. Jumping from one series to another as often as you do, what would you say has been one of your favorites to work on?

Ross: I'd say that each series I have done kind of offers something different to the table. For instance, the Why I Hate's would stretch my writing muscles a little bit more because they are essentially videos essays. The Bronze spectates are more slapstick comedy, as the humor tends to write itself, and my Weird League series is a pursuit of the phrase "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I don't have a favorite, as I enjoy working on all of my videos.

In quite a few of your videos, you have displayed a decent knowledge of the game, with experience from some of the earliest points in League. How long have you been playing as a whole?

Ross: I have been playing MOBA games in general for about 10 years, and I have been playing league for 7 years now.

You are well known, both in League and in your videos, for being a decent Pantheon player. Was Pantheon the first champion you picked up in league as a main, or is there another champion you enjoy?

Ross: The first champion I ever really mained was Nunu, back in season 1 when I only played twisted treeline. I used to have a very aggressive play-style that didn't work for most champions, so I eventually picked up pantheon and it just kind of worked. Since then I have stepped away from Pantheon, and I have learned to play a bit more reserved and a lot less balls to the walls. At the time though Pantheon worked for me, and he really taught me a lot about my limits.

You pulled in quite a few views with your series "Fill to Diamond", detailing your climb through the ranked ladder choosing only to fill each game. Did your experience through the series teach you anything about League, be it the game or the community as a whole?

Ross: A big thing that I think I learned during the climb to diamond was that a big thing preventing people from climbing in league is their egos, especially around the platinum to diamond level. the feeling of every player in a game wanting to be the "main character" doesn't work well in a team environment, and many people can't accept when to just let themselves be carried and work with others and end up getting punished from it.

Ross's "Why I Hate Yasuo" Video, pictured here, was one of the more popular in the series.

When not recording your videos, do you still play League for fun? Or do you find yourself falling back on other games to get away from your work?

Ross: Honestly I still love League. I play in my spare time quite often when I am not recording. As far as other games go, I have been playing a bit of PUBG but it gets tiring after a while, and League is my main game so I tend to default back to it.

When playing League, either alone or with your friends, do you have a role you prefer to play?

Ross: I've been transitioning into AD carry a lot in the last few months, especially during the preseason.

Many people believe content creators shape the game and its players with their ideas and videos. Do you personally feel you have affected the game in any way?

Ross: I think I probably haven't, but I have definitely given it my best shot. There is issues with the game that I am not afraid to speak up about, even if it isn't a popular opinion. I try to raise awareness for certain issues in League, whether it be game design or community issues, and I feel it wouldn't be responsible to let some of the things I talk about go unchecked. A big thing that I advocated for a while back was custom skins in League, because they were trying to make it so modders and custom skins creators couldn't contribute to the game.

As a well-known content creator, has your recognition ever affected your gameplay in any way?

Ross: I think you would be hard-pressed to find any content creator who hasn't had both positive and negative experience in the game. Whether it is someone who is a fan who sees you and banters in chat, or the people who recognize your name and camp you in a game or go out of their way to make your game hard while asking "Is this going on youtube". After 4 years of making videos, and the countless time's people have done that kind of stuff, I feel like I've gotten pretty hard to tilt. If anything I feel like I have learned to just brush it off and move on to the next game.

Do you think League will be your entire career on youtube, or do you want to branch out more in the future to other projects?

Ross: I think it would be dishonest to say League will be the end all be all for my content, but for the foreseeable future it is what I am going to do because I enjoy it. If the interest in League ever drops, I can offer more but for now, it is what I enjoy doing.

What do you personally feel sets you apart from other content creators and helps to make you unique to your audience?

Ross: I always get told that I am a very average player, and that's why some people don't enjoy watching me. I take advantage of the same things everyone else does, I make the same mistakes as most players, I'm not some enhanced version of another player I am a majorly exaggerated personality. I'm somebody you could be friends with or someone you watch doing some silly build that gives people the idea they can pull it off for themselves. I think the draw for me is that I am just an average player, and I'm not trying to pretend to be anything else other than myself.

Do you have anything you would like to say to aspiring players or creators who look up to you?

Ross: Inspiring creators? I would say get in while the getting is good. There is a huge demand for content right now of all varieties, and you could be the next big thing in League but you won't be if you don't get out there and try. As for players, self-reflection is always a great place to start if you are trying to improve. Trust me, it helps.

Thank you again for joining us Ross. If you want to check out more of Ross' content you can find him on youtube, or on twitch, at RossBoomSocks.