The story of Raafaa: The new kid on the LCS block

Dexerto sat down with LCS caster Marc ‘Raafaa’ Arrambide, the latest addition to the LCS broadcast staff for 2023. He spoke about his ambition to create new and creative segments on the present, the lengthy path that led him to the LCS, his first break up on the published, and the struggles of coming in after Phreak and Sprint left the published.

The LCS broadcast has gone by its fair proportion of transitions this yr. They moved away from having a traditional host like Dash and put rather more of a give attention to goofy broadcast segments and massive personalities, one thing far indifferent from the LCS’ earlier objectives of coming throughout like a extra conventional {and professional} sports activities broadcast.

And, although the LCS misplaced some all-time greats on the published staff, it additionally gained a brand new face: Marc ‘Raafaa’ Arrambide. Whereas he’s new to the LCS, he’s acquired years of expertise casting in League of Legends and helped outline the Wild Rift broadcast in its quick stint as a Western esport.

Dexerto sat down with Raafaa to speak about his first break up as an LCS caster, his artistic course of for developing with distinctive segments, his path to turning into a caster, and his ambitions for the way forward for the published and his function in it.

Humble beginnings and a serving to hand

For many that find yourself being concerned with huge broadcasts like that of the LCS, the method of “making it” is usually one stuffed with frustration, uncertainty, and hardship. On prime of requiring a large time funding to hone your craft and make a reputation for your self wherever you may.

Raafaa’s journey is one which began from his ardour for League of Legends and esports broadcasting that progressively developed to the purpose the place he dropped every thing to focus solely on casting.

“After I began pursuing broadcasting, I used to be working a part-time job, and I used to be additionally in class. I didn’t know if I needed to proceed doing faculty or go into the workforce early. after I used to be full-time in class for a number of years, transferred, misplaced credit, and acquired behind, I used to be like, ‘Man, this faculty factor is taking longer than I need it to.’”

“I didn’t even know if it was value it, and I felt dangerous for placing my dad and mom on this place the place they’re paying out-of-pocket tuition, and I’m not even having fun with it and doing all too effectively. So I lessened the workload however needed to really feel like I used to be being productive, so I acquired a part-time job. Each have been… Meh. I had to determine what I needed to do with my life.”

“Shoutcasting, I spotted that I loved it, and it was a strategy to begin being an outlet of all these years of me placing worth in and being so passionate in regards to the League of Legends house. However I didn’t know the way I used to be gonna get from level A to level B, the place I’m only a no one and one other fan to casting LCS.”

“The one factor I had ever seen was Captain Flowers getting a viral clip on Reddit, after which, 9 months later, he’s on LCS. That was the one path that I knew with out having to go to highschool or get a contact at Riot. It felt like by some means I wanted to seek out methods to apply on-line and get a viral clip. Fortunately, that’s not how I ended up having to go about it. I discovered my very own method into the house.”

Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video games

Raafaa alongside NACL caster and longtime buddy Kangas

Raafaa in the end determined to take away a few of the luck components by sheer effort. Fairly than making an attempt to work on his broadcast abilities whereas going to highschool and dealing part-time, he devoted himself to the pursuit of his ardour. One thing he was in a position to do, all due to his father having religion that he might pull it off.

“I requested my dad, ‘I wish to give up faculty, I wish to give up my job, and I wish to put a full yr into making this work. Is that pleased with you? Trigger if it’s not, I’ll transfer out and simply do it by myself.’ And he agreed. He was like, ‘I don’t perceive what that is, however you appear completely satisfied doing it. Certain, I’ll provide you with a yr.’ So I pursued it for a full yr, not making any cash in any respect. I used to be simply volunteering.”

“When nothing got here of it, I believed, ‘Okay, that is over. Guess I’ll return to highschool.’ However my dad was surprisingly like, ‘No, I can inform you’re a lot happier doing this than anything you have been doing whenever you moved again right here to Utah. I don’t know the way lengthy that’ll take you, however please inform me how I will help.’”

“I didn’t actually know what I might inform him to assist me do. He was making an attempt to method it like an leisure business, like with music. Did I simply have to get a contact? However I didn’t know. I used to be simply going by newbie Discords and newbie leagues, and I simply continued making an attempt to get higher.”

Whereas Raafaa might effectively have been in a position to make it to the LCS on his personal, he attributed a big portion of his success to having the total assist of his father. Having the time and assets to commit himself absolutely to casting paid off in spades.

However what does bettering as a broadcaster appear like? It’s not like you may “win” a broadcast. There’s no goal strategy to gauge such a subjective medium. That stated, Raafaa’s put a ton of time into excited about the idea of broadcast concept and the methods by which he can uncover concrete methods to enhance his presence as on-screen expertise.

Raafaa’s refining his personal fashion as an alternative of copying others

Being able the place you’re anticipated to exchange different broadcast expertise isn’t an enviable one. It doesn’t matter what, Phreak and Sprint being off the 2023 broadcast was going to depart a gap that isn’t attainable to fill. Raafaa knew this getting into and anticipated backlash from LCS followers.

“More often than not, particularly this yr, I haven’t actually gone scouring the web for ideas and opinions on me. Particularly since I’m the brand new man. I already anticipated that many individuals are gonna be hesitant about wanting me on the published within the first place, particularly within the wake of them seeing Phreak depart the published, them seeing Sprint not getting an opportunity to return to the published.”

“I do know that, even when it’s not my fault immediately, and even when I’m not making an attempt to exchange Phreak and what he dropped at the published or me not making an attempt to exchange Sprint, day one feedback are, ‘We misplaced Sprint for this man.’ I do know there’s nothing productive I can glean from that man. I can solely take neighborhood response and suggestions so severely. If somebody takes the time to put out vital ideas, I’m like, ‘Okay.’ Whereas if I see somebody who’s like, ‘F*** this man,’ I can’t get a lot from that.”

Raafaa had the near-impossible process of making an attempt to guess what an already-skeptical viewers would need earlier than even the viewers itself knew what they needed. So, his resolution was to only take issues he already knew he was good at and attempt to transition them into the published.

He described making an attempt to determine what makes one thing a “Raafaa section” relatively than simply one other breakdown of what a participant did in-game.

“I’m simply making an attempt to do it in a method that’s totally different from wanting on the telestrator and saying, ‘That is what they did.’ If there’s a method you may permit individuals to creatively or by a distinct inventive means to specific their appreciation or fandom for a participant, to me, that’s cool. As a result of that will get to resonate with an viewers that won’t essentially look after the analytical insights.”

“There’s clearly an viewers that desires the analytical stuff, however I feel there’s additionally an viewers that will get an opportunity to, if the bit lands effectively, go, ‘Wow, that is cool!’ We’re bringing in music and making this match a extra informal viewers.”

In a panorama the place manufacturing worth is skyrocketing in and round esports, Raafaa acquired up on stage with a guitar in-hand and sang a song he wrote to debate in regards to the LCS break up up to now, one which additionally addressed the change in course for the published that viewers have been nonetheless getting used to.

It’s in the end an acknowledgment that, whereas the staff remains to be studying what it means to exist with out a few of the all-time broadcast greats, they’re making an attempt one thing new as an alternative of enjoying it protected.

“I attempted writing an unique music that summarized the primary 4 weeks. It was extra endearing and heartfelt, and I feel the small viewers that it landed with appreciated that and thought it labored very well. However I feel the viewers that doesn’t look after that and desires one thing extra excessive vitality and extra, simply type of like zany and wacky, which has mirrored in a variety of the content material that has accomplished very well this yr, these two music issues haven’t lined up with that.”

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“The final piece I did for Yeon and Eyla was this, like, 80s power ballad. Nonetheless type of decrease vitality, nevertheless it was much more… It was higher when it comes to execution than the opposite two. Each time I’m doing one thing with music, I’m doing one thing totally different, and I’m making an attempt to discover totally different genres and totally different angles to all nonetheless do, which I hope is similar factor: Utilizing music to construct up and elaborate additional on gamers’ tales and narratives. If I’m not doing that, what’s the purpose of doing music for the LCS if it’s not in regards to the gamers and the groups?”

Really the gamers’ caster

All through the break up, Raafaa made some extent of speaking with and attending to know gamers within the LCS. Although he already knew a few of the up-and-comers from Academy by his time casting just under the LCS, constructing rapport with gamers and attending to know them as individuals was one thing he actually strived to do.

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“I simply personally attain out to gamers. I’m going, ‘Hey, is it cool if I simply ask you some vibe verify questions earlier than your match this weekend?’ I’ll ask, like, ‘What are you presently engaged on as a person? What are some issues your staff must work on? What are your objectives as a staff this break up?’ And typically I’m simply gonna get the identical solutions, like, ‘Oh, I’m making an attempt to win LCS. I’m making an attempt to be prime 3 in my function.’ However, even when I get the identical reply that doesn’t actually broaden on my perception, that’s superb. I’m establishing rapport with this individual, and I’m making an attempt to point out to this person who I do care about their trajectory.”

“That method, when one thing attention-grabbing does occur of their match, I can flip to them and go, ‘Hey, this blind Thresh hook was tremendous sick. This Insec was gnarly.’ I wish to develop relationships with gamers in order that they will really feel assured that I’m doing to inform their tales proper, or that I’ll be capable of share their tales in a method they need expressed to the viewers.”

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Raafaa had plenty of segments with gamers this yr in an LCS-wide effort to bridge the hole between gamers and broadcast expertise. Fairly than simply having gamers confined to promotional movies and post-game interviews. Gamers have been commonly featured in seasonal content material and invited to solid matches and produce a few of their perception to the present.

For instance, Raafaa has an extremely natural chemistry with TSM’s Chime, a participant who’s had his personal troublesome path as much as the LCS. With all-time greats like Bjergsen retiring from the LCS, increase viewers curiosity in new gamers is a vital a part of maintaining previous and new viewers’ ardour for the league alive.

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This chemistry then translated to a tri-cast that includes each Chime and Raafaa alongside Raz, a seasoned LCS analyst, and caster. Some gamers are a extra pure match for broadcast than others, however Chime’s chemistry with Raafaa got here by of their easy transitions between analytical/recreation state commentary and play-by-play motion.

Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video games

Raz, Chime, and Raafaa posing throughout their LCS tri-cast

These broadcast appearances usually characteristic gamers on lower-tier groups as effectively. The fact of competitors is that, to be able to have a winner, somebody has to lose. It may be straightforward to give attention to top-of-the-table groups and mould a story round gamers which might be on the up-and-up, however leaving decrease tier groups and the individuals on them within the mud isn’t one thing Raafaa has any curiosity in doing.

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“I feel that, a variety of the time, groups positioned decrease within the standings get overshadowed. Particularly prior to now few years, they don’t get love from the published. They only keep away from them just like the plague. It’s like, ‘Oh, effectively, Immortals type of suck. If we don’t have something good to say, let’s not discuss them.’ Like, effectively… I imply, simply because they aren’t performing effectively doesn’t imply we will’t discuss in regards to the gamers as individuals and get to know the gamers as individuals.”

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“The useful factor for me is that some gamers on, like, Dignitas, Immortals, Staff Liquid – I’ve recognized Yeon since 2020 when he first began newbie, and he was the primary class of 100 Thieves Subsequent. I can discuss his participant development, his journeys, his struggles, his finest moments, his worst moments. I may also discuss Haeri briefly as a result of I solid for him in Academy, Immortals. I really like Kenvi. After I get the prospect to return and undergo their historical past and attempt to perceive them higher as individuals, I get the prospect to place myself of their footwear.”

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“I do know there are different casters which may select to podcast it up and discuss one thing else in the event that they really feel like there’s nothing else to speak about. My ordinary go-to if I’ve already accounted for recreation state is I’ll attempt to discuss a participant’s journey. Not saying different casters don’t do that, however I’ll even take the time to speak about one thing that’s… perhaps a enjoyable truth in regards to the participant, issues normally that they’ve accomplished.”

“I wish to assist gamers construct fandoms for themselves in order that, whenever you get invested in somebody who’s struggling and, in some methods, may be extra relatable as a result of they’re not the very best and so they’re not at all times doing tremendous effectively, it turns into a lot sweeter after they lastly do get an opportunity to make that huge push or have an enormous recreation. It feels extra rewarding.”

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The case Raafaa made right here was confirmed in Spring 2023 when Golden Guardians went from a 0-4 staff in Week 2 to the runner-up for the LCS title and one in all North America’s MSI representatives. Longtime followers of gamers like Licorice and Stixxay acquired the payoff of them being close to the highest for the primary time in years, and with the ability to convey their storylines effectively is one thing that helps web these gamers new followers as they head to worldwide competitors.

Raafaa can relate to those rivals in additional methods than one, seeing as earlier than he got here onto the LCS broadcast, he had already outlined the casting meta in one other recreation: Wild Rift. Although the cellular recreation was short-lived when it got here to Western esports, Raafaa actually made his mark as somebody who solid at Icons, the worldwide Grand Remaining for Wild Rift.

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Casting is a contest all its personal

Although cellular video games traditionally don’t do effectively as aggressive esports compared to Japanese nations like South Korea, China, and India, Wild Rift was given an opportunity at turning into the primary breakout cellular esport within the West. Whereas we all know now that the sport didn’t pull sufficient viewership or consideration from Western audiences to maintain the aggressive scene alive, Raafaa discovered lots from casting and enjoying Wild Rift that has helped him evolve and mould his casting fashion in League of Legends.

“League of Legends, earlier than minions spawn at 1:05, you might have a minute to go to your lane and do stage 1 stuff. Wild Rift begins instantly, as quickly as you stroll out the gate. Minions spawn at like 5 seconds all of them arrive to lane at like 20 seconds. That’s when all of your jungle camps spawn as effectively. Passive gold technology is tripled. Total recreation tempo is like 2-3 instances as quick. A traditional 25-30 minute recreation of League of Legends takes like 12-Quarter-hour in Wild Rift. It’s virtually half the time. If somebody stomps, you may win the sport in like 8 minutes.”

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“We all know video games are quick, we’re gonna attempt to catch every thing. However I feel it’s a shedding battle if we’re all recreation state and that’s all we’ve got the time for. There’s no method we’re going to catch each single recreation state that’s occurring and likewise get to speak about issues we expect are essential that are, you recognize, narrative for the gamers, stakes for the gamers, with the ability to deliver different participant model constructing moments in-game whereas additionally making an attempt to respect the conventional dichotomy between League of Legends casters with devoted roles in play-by-play and coloration casters. For me, in Wild Rift, I don’t assume that ought to exist.”

Raafaa spoke fondly of TJ, somebody he titled a “cellular recreation casting legend”, and the person who taught him lots in regards to the variations between casting Wild Rift and League of Legends. Their capacity to return into Wild Rift and outline the casting meta was one thing that taught Raafaa lots about discovering house to, as he put it, give the solid “room to breathe” and blend his ardour for telling participant tales together with his play-by-play casting fashion.

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For these unfamiliar, constructing upon the storylines is one thing the colour caster historically focuses on. That doesn’t imply play-by-play casters by no means dip into participant storylines, nevertheless it tends to be a lot simpler to wrap storylines properly into evaluation than it’s to combine it into play-by-play commentary. Raafaa’s educated himself to make the most of what each roles can supply to the published and attempt to carve out his personal casting fashion.

“How is your supply distinctive and recent versus one other play-by-play caster? How do I outline myself as Raafaa and have a Raafaa solid versus the best way Caster #23 is gonna solid? You’ve positively heard Caster #23, the place it’s one other play-by-play that calls it. They’ve the radio-level voice and so they at all times finish like this. They ramp up like this and at all times finish like this. That’s your, like, ESPN/radio components. I catch myself doing it once in a while, however I wish to solid video games like I’d discuss to individuals. I wish to be actual, I wish to be real. If I’m enthusiastic about one thing, I wish to present it. I want to exclaim it.“

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Finally, being a caster isn’t a contest towards different artistic minds on the staff: It’s a contest towards your self, an inner wrestle to determine what does and doesn’t work with none clear indication as to what’s the “proper” strategy to do issues.

“Individuals have heard Joe Miller, Dman, Phreak, Riv, Quickshot, all of the OGs from through the years. Why ought to they wish to hear new man are available in and solid another way than another person? However the individuals who find yourself being the very best get individuals to love them for his or her fashion. That’s why Flowers, Medic, Atlas, Drakos, a variety of the play-by-plays for the brand new technology are regarded so extremely.”

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“For me, I simply know that’s going to be one of many greatest struggles: Having to just accept that individuals are going to take a very long time to heat as much as me. I’ve to not let that suggestions have an effect on my development and actually simply hearken to what my broadcast staff is telling me to work on, what my producers are telling me to work on, and do what I’ve at all times been doing since day 1: Be my worst critic.”

“I’ve to be the individual that sits down and opinions my very own work and discuss by and mirror critically. ‘Was this one of the simplest ways to ship this? Was this one of the simplest ways to arrange x, y, and z? Was this one of the simplest ways to toss over to this? How can I higher phrase this subsequent time? How can I higher make use of this small window to ship a story level that’s essential to this state of the sport?’”

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“I’ve to belief my very own judgement relatively than hearken to what the neighborhood says. At the very least for now, as a result of… with no disrespect meant, they aren’t my job. They don’t do my job. You may have a subjective style that has some advantage and worth however, on the finish of the day, they don’t know me holistically. They don’t know the thought course of that I put into this stuff. Subsequently, I can solely get a lot if I have been to base my enchancment on what they stated. I’ve to belief myself, and I’ve to belief my friends.”

The trail to enchancment is in the end non-linear, particularly on the stage Raafaa’s at. That stated, he’s acquired a fairly stable thought of what makes his casting distinctive and the bottom he must construct upon to be able to change into a caster that may stand alongside different all-time greats and make it to worldwide competitors.

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“Clearly I’d prefer to be higher with my phrase selection and be inventive with that, however typically the very best issues I can say are the only issues. If I’m enthusiastic about Eyla getting a nasty, multi-man Thresh flay, you recognize, I’d love if I might in-the-moment flip a phrase like Medic or CaptainFlowers and simply spit off one thing that’s tremendous cool and memorable.”

“However I feel, for me, the issues which might be most memorable after I’m casting is the tone I ship. I do know my vocal vary could be very excessive, and the tone I ship and the emotion I wish to deliver to a solid might be probably the most totally different factor about me in comparison with a variety of play-by-play casters.”

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“There are occasions when individuals are not prepared for it, and so they assume, ‘Oh, he’s simply screaming.’ however I’ve – after I get emotional, I stand up there. I get very invested in how occasions end up for a play, and I take into consideration this participant performing one thing and what it means to them. Like, holy s***, they went by all these struggles and made the game-winning play that will get them to Raleigh, will get them to New Jersey, will get them to Worlds.”

“I spotted that, after I was stepping into casting and excited about what I needed individuals to recollect me for, it’s simply with the ability to ship the emotional tone that immortalizes a participant’s best second perpetually.”

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Life exterior the LCS and discovering out what’s subsequent

Raafaa’s acquired much more happening than simply his personal casting. He lives with a number of different casters which might be working inside the League of Legends house in what they’ve dubbed “Casa de Caster”, and, exterior of evaluating notes and giving one another recommendation of their free time, Raafaa additionally will get to stay with like-minded mates whereas working his dream job.

Plus, he’s good at extra than simply casting: Raafaa’s killing it within the kitchen. If you happen to go to Raafaa’s home, you recognize you’re gonna be consuming good. He might have accomplished a Grubhub advert, however that doesn’t imply he has to order in to get some restaurant-quality food.

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Making it to the LCS has additionally modified the best way that Raafaa appears at life. With it having been his dream for thus lengthy, the trail ahead is unsure. He has a variety of choices, however that doesn’t make it straightforward to choose anyone course to place his skills towards.

“To be trustworthy, up till I acquired to the LCS, the massive dream was to get employed for the LCS and be capable of solid LCS. For me, this was – earlier than LCS, I had been in a position to get by and open a variety of smaller doorways that led into barely greater doorways or extra choices for doorways. Every door that I stored unlocking, nearly like in one thing like Tremendous Mario 64, I acquired entry to a wider world and a wider community of prospects. However LCS was at all times the largest door.”

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“As soon as LCS was unlocked, that, for me, was the widest web I get to solid now into the world. The chances are limitless. Trigger now, my fundamental aim within the League of Legends casting house is that I wish to be invited to a global event. Whether or not that’s MSI, whether or not that’s Worlds.”

“After which, relying on how far they let me solid that – even when it’s just for play-ins, a minimum of that was the following step. Then the following step is to solid the group stage. Then quarters. Then semis. Then casting the world closing for League of Legends, or the MSI closing. Finish aim is a World Remaining solid, after which, you recognize, the different subsequent time could be like I’d like to solid a World Remaining when it’s in NA.”

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“Afterwards, I’ll consider and see how I wish to proceed contributing to the League of Legends house. Do I wish to be a play-by-play caster nonetheless? Do I wish to take my music skills and – I do know, due to LCS, I’ve already been entertaining the opportunity of different instructions.”

“Although the LCS is a event and a product a few online game, we’re in LA, that is an leisure product, we’re working with sponsors and different like-minded artistic people. That is the house I at all times needed to be in, even earlier than I knew what League of Legends was. I grew up doing a variety of music, and grew up at all times type of fantasizing in regards to the leisure business.”

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Although he’s nonetheless obsessed with League of Legends and desires to do lots within the house, he’s not ruling out different choices for himself in the event that they find yourself being higher for the pursuit of his ardour for being an entertainer.

If Raafaa was scaling at first of the Spring Break up, he’s nearer to late recreation now. It’s much less about grinding and discovering new abilities and extra about determining what to do together with his huge information of the medium to push any manufacturing he works on to be the very best it may be.

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“After I did something with Grubhub, I met artistic people over there which might be excited to work with me once more. They wish to pitch additional stuff. After I began doing music stuff within the LCS, now individuals are asking me, ‘Hey, do you assume you may write a jingle for this section? Do you assume you may write a music bit for x, y, and z sketch or an upcoming content material bit on this video we’re doing?’”

“I wish to broaden on my skills and provides myself as a lot studying expertise as attainable in being a artistic particular person. That’s what I wish to do with my life it doesn’t matter what I’m doing and so long as I stay.”

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