Landon “Deadi” Carroll
Dead-ee? Daddy? How do you pronounce that in-game name?
Pro-tip: It's “dead-eye,” named after the member of the Dead 6, a special operations team in the early Command and Conquer game. Because stealing “Deadeye” outright would be lame, so let's replace “eye” with “i.” Clever.
Hardly ever a console gamer, Landon “Deadi” Carroll (30) quickly joined the PC Master Race the moment he placed his hands on a keyboard and mouse. After a trip to Sam's with his mother at a young age, Landon stumbled upon Command and Conquer: Renegade and purchased the game for $10. The screen loaded up, single player campaign beaten in a few hours, no problem. But another option on the main menu caught his attention: Multiplayer.
“I wasn't sure what that meant at the time,” Landon said. “At first, I assumed it was a type of split-screen option to play with someone else at home, like a console game. I am an only child, so I didn't have someone to play with, but I couldn't help but check it out. Then BAM. Servers. Real-time contact with thousands of people across the globe. I was hooked.”
Landon with baby Jackson
At the time, no other device had the ability to link people together online, so Landon dedicated himself to the PCMR. He joined an online clan to compete with, enjoying the ability to hone his skills in a competitive environment. After several experiences with clans, Landon found himself the co-owner AUG Elite, a large global gaming community. where he participated for three years. After facing some differences in opinion about recruitment and growth with the other co-owners, Landon split off from the other owners with a few AUG members and began United As [ONE] Gaming, a strong, tight-knit gaming group with members from across the United States. The group is seven years old, yet still going strong.
“Jeffery ‘DrWahlz' Wahls, Lauren ‘Goddess‘ Herron and I agreed to share the responsibility of co-ownership of ONE,” Landon said. “Michael ‘Torchedz' Ginocchio and Sheldon ‘r0ckf0x' Ketchum were also day one members. Together, we formed ONE on the foundation of a democracy, where everyone's voice is crucial. The members shaped the community to their liking, and we have forged a strong bond ever since.”
Through ONE, Landon discovered league of Legends in season four. His first main was Master Yi jungle, which is laughable now to those who know Landon as the “MF is lyfe” one-trick ADC main that only plays Miss Fortune.
“I suppose I'm an ADC main because I'm a whiny, selfish narcissist who needs a dedicated babysitter to constantly complain about and blame everything on,” Landon joked (sort of). “My second role would probably be support since I know the bottom lane antics, but I always queue mid lane second because I don't want to play support.”
With ONEsies in tow, Landon competed in his first League tournament, Saturday Reboot. ONE supplied two teams, both of which got dumpstered, but the experience was amazing. A few months later, ONE fielded three teams at Tokyo in Tulsa (year). Since then, Landon put competing on the back burner and has been involved as staff at tournaments in the Tulsa area.
“Although we lost time and time again, year after year, the LAN events really solidified the friendships that we'd made online,” Landon said. “Everything becomes real. That voice on the other end of the headset becomes a real person with family and a job and flaws and talents that you can share together. From there, the relationships can really take off and soar to heights unknown.”
With the help of Cody Willmon, Landon created the Oklahoma League of Legends Facebook group that we know and love today. Landon and the admin team fostered a healthy and productive community of almost 2,000 members, and with the introduction of the OKLCS tournament scene, the community shows no sign of slowing down.
“I believe the vision we have implemented for oklol is both unique and healthy,” Landon said. “We are not a focus group or a facebook forum – we are a community. League of Legends brought us together, but it's merely the foundation for a much greater community, an intertwined network of relationships. We talk about League a lot, but we also talk about current events, local news, art, music, community events, and meme each other. Where many would create a regional group about League of Legends, we strive to create a gathering place for Oklahoma gamers that happen to also play League of Legends. We want to be a place for OKLOL players to call home.”
Jackson, Landon, Amanda and Kaitlyn
Landon lives in Broken Arrow and is married to his wife, Amanda, who is incredibly patient with him and the ONEsie shenanigans. They have two kids, Jackson (5) and Kaitlyn (3). He is a pipeline engineer, co-owner of United as [ONE] Gaming, PC staff at OKgamers.com, and the head admin of the OKLoL group. When the weather is nice, he likes to go fishing and camping. When not on the Rift, he will play just about any game that the ONE community is playing – it's a good time, regardless of the game.
Q&A with Landon
Favorite champions? Are there any other champions besides Miss Fortune?
LCS role model: Surprisingly, I don't follow the LCS in the slightest. I usually attend a Worlds watch party, but that's about it. I guess my favorite player would have to be Cop because of that epic Officer Caitlyn cosplay.
Strengths: Bouncing Qs with Miss Fortune is my favorite thing on earth
Weaknesses: Mid-game farming
Favorite quote: “Do or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda
Special Thanks from Landon Carroll:
Special thanks to my amazing wife Amanda for allowing me the time and effort to continuously support the local gaming community.
To alex tu and jack counts for coordinating OKLCS at an outstanding level of excellence.
To my friends and family at United As [ONE] Gaming who have been more than happy to share our vision with the OKLoL community.
To my admin team who have come alongside me from the very beginning, who have believed in my vision, and who work fervently daily to make this group successful and pleasant: Jack Counts, matthew parker, Thinh Dinh, Clay Langley, Ariel West, Chad Crockett (honorary), Cody Willmon (honorary).
To the venues and organizers who have hosted us over the years: PJ Gamers, DZ Comics and Gaming, Sunny's Gaming Lounge, RTZ Esports Arena, Tokyo in Tulsa, SWOSU.
To Saif and the staff of OKGamers.com for supporting and nurturing us.
And lastly, to the members of League of Legends Oklahoma. Every like, every reply, every post, every whiny salt-filled rant, every horrible screenshot of a mediocre normal game – these seemingly meaningless, mundane actions are what drives us forward and make us unique. It is truly a pleasure and an honor to serve you all.
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