Starcraft 2 news » HomeStory Cup Memories with the StarCraft Team

If you’re an old fan of StarCraft II, you’re already rubbing your hands together in anticipation. No matter where you are in the world, you’ve likely blocked out the time and you’re planning on picking up some drinks and snacks, because HomeStory Cup XVIII is right around the corner.

More than just a StarCraft tournament, HSC is a party—a celebration of the players and the community, where everyone can let their hair down, be themselves, and share their common love of StarCraft II.

If you’re a new StarCraft II fan? Well, you’re in for a treat. This tournament is unlike anything you’ve seen. Even at Blizzard, we are massive fans of HSC. So, in anticipation of HSC XVIII, I asked the Classic Games team: what’s your favorite memory of the HomeStory Cup? Here are a few of their answers.

The thing that I love most about HomeStory Cup is the opportunity for top bants between the very relaxed casters and players. I love that warm, playful humor. I find that iNcontroL is especially good at this; I have a favorite moment from HomeStory Cup XV where iNcontroL asks HeRoMaRinE to evaluate the upcoming set of maps—and he does so with the crux of whether or not a map allows Reaper rushes (because uThermal will be playing on them and uThermal loves Reapers). He concludes that all maps allow Reaper rushes so they are all good maps.

When everyone jumped in that fountain together with their clothes on after HSC X, then the champ jumped in with the trophy? That was so great, seeing everyone celebrate like that. It really showed how HSC is just about friends spending time together and about the stories we’ve all experienced together.

In this unassuming group-stage match on Dasan Station from HomeStory Cup XIV, Scarlett opens with a Drone rush, throwing the game into a state where the combined supply of both players totaled 15. But the game continues on from there. There’s constant action throughout, and you don’t know who’s going to win until the game’s final moments. This brawl, which I would consider the best game of 2016, is emblematic of both the quirkiness of Dasan Station and the anything-goes spirit of HomeStory Cup.

For more moments like these—whether in game or out—tune in to HomeStory Cup XVIII beginning on November 22 at 1 p.m. CET (4 a.m. PST). For more information about the tournament, check out the HomeStory Cup homepage, head to Liquipedia to stay up to date with groups and brackets, follow TakeTV and TakeTV2 on Twitch to catch all the action live, and of course, follow us @esportstarcraft on Twitter.