[2022] Community Focus: Silver, the Gambit Queen

Making Drifter proud, one ding-ding-ding at a time. 
One thing that I personally love about the Destiny-verse is that it isn’t just one thing. There is PvP, PvE, and PvPvE for Guardians to enjoy (or in my case, die horribly in – Iron Banana, I just can’t quit you), but one particular player has carved a name out for herself for being the Queen of Gambit, and it’s pretty easy to see why. When I say she is a legend, I mean it, so let’s dive right into the shenanigans with our latest Community Focus feature: Silver, the Gambit Queen.
First up, what's up!? You've got a pretty stellar reputation in the community by living up to the Queen of Gambit title. Tell us a little bit about yourself and the start of your gaming journey?  

Hey! My name is Silver and I have actually been gaming since Destiny 1. I was not one of the lucky folks that have had the privilege of gaming their whole life, so I came into gaming primarily through Destiny and that has not changed at all over the years. One day, my best friend at the time streamed Destiny for me and I remember just loving the way it looked. I can't explain what it was, but I remember over the years asking people: “Hey, what should I get, an Xbox or a PlayStation?” After that, it was super obvious how polarizing some of the opinions are in this space. Luckily, I had some pretty cool people around me to help me figure out my place in it. It was actually my best friend who  made the choice easy to dive into the Destiny world and go Team Blue, which eventually led to when I got my first PlayStation with that game and a whole bunch of others that I didn't get to even play because it was just love at first sight with my Guardian. On my first day as a new player in the Cosmodrome, I drove my friend nuts running around everywhere instead of using a Sparrow because I just thought it was such a beautiful place and it truly felt like home. 

That is … really sweet, I love that. Having a game that means that much to you, it’s so important and helps more than I think some people realize.  
OK, look; I'll be real with you - I love Gambit as much as the next Guardian, but what about it makes you love it so much? Because someone with your numbers in this mode is rare and honestly? Really heckin' impressive.  

I love Gambit because it is just so unique. It takes the two sides of the Destiny coin, the PvP and the PvE sides, and marries them together into a really fun online experience. If I am in the mood to PvP, then I can put on a Sniper Rifle and go ham! It is the greatest feeling coming back from an invade with an Army of One Medal. If I don't really feel like I am vibing with the PvP side because we all have off-days, then I can just play Reaper and kill as many enemies as possible so that my teammates can bank the Motes.  

One thing I do want to add is that Gambit has the potential to be competitive because it really is a team-based effort. You could have one or two players really push the advantage, but in the end, it is a team-based experience. Playing in a more competitive way can be fun and good, but I primarily approach Gambit with the mindset that anyone can play it and have fun, especially if they have the right company! It isn't about winning, though winning is a great feeling. It's really about helping people find ways to love a game mode, at least to me, and I think I've done a pretty good job at making a safe place for others that feel the same.

Can you make me "git gud?" Just kidding, there's no hope for me, but I do want to ask what you think about the future for Gambit is? Is there anything you'd like to see changed or added? Or is there anything you’d like removed?  

Nah, nah. We can absolutely make a full-fledged Dredgen out of you! I love meeting new people and seeing them enjoy themselves. I would love to see Gambit move more in the direction of its origins. Gambit in its greatest form, to me, was Gambit Prime, and I have seen the changes that were implemented in Season of the Risen, and they’ve been an interesting pivot to adapt to. That being said, I would love to see another Season dedicated to Gambit because if I could go back in time and bring back one thing back into Destiny, it would be Gambit Prime with its armor and its integral roles that live on in the Gambit community even long after Prime went away.  

The new changes this Season have put Gambit in a strange place for most of the people I know who have been even more passionate about it than most. I'm talking about crafting builds, mapping the best places to push waves, best loadouts; the same kind of strategy you see in PvE exists in Gambit as well and a lot of it feels like it went out the window in its current state. Something I'd like to see taken away is the excess Heavy ammo because it's always been an issue that seems to have gotten worse with time. At the end of the day though, I love Gambit and I just want to come home from life, sit down, and have some fun. I love this mode no matter what and I hope to see it get more love in the future! 

Shifting gears from the game for a sec, tell us a little more about your journey into streaming and becoming the you that you are now in the Destiny community? Any epic highs or teachable lows you'd like to share? 

So, like I said, I’ve been in it since the beginning but it started because I used to be a big lurker in Twitch chats for the longest time. I didn't escape lurker status until I switched over to PC gaming, but once I made that swap it was easier for me to interact with the folks I wanted to support.
It started with me watching a friend of mine play competitively back when people were still going for Not Forgotten. I would just watch and mod for them while he ran with his super talented friends and because of him, I met people like illPhysics. It was awesome because it was then that I noticed that I started to open up more, eventually leading me to a place in my own life where I thought, “Hey, let’s give this streaming thing the "‘ol razzle-dazzle.” Physics is actually still one of the content creators I look up to because of the way he conducts himself and how he truly cares about building a community. I'd like to think that it inspired me to find my own approach to bringing people together. At the end of the day, I don't know about becoming a staple in the Destiny community, but I love meeting new people, interacting with people on social media, just hanging out, laughing over the silliest things, and just putting smiles on people's faces. I don't particularly have any epic- high moments except this one actually - because to be recognized by Bungie is truly the biggest honor. 

Your community is incredible, and I think that's an important aspect of creation that gets overlooked sometimes. What inspires you the most about your community, and what advice would you give to anyone in it that is looking to carve their own mark into the world of games? 

Thank you! My community name is actually called House of Wolves – based off of not only the DLC, but wolves as well, as I consider them my pack and my home. It also helps that wolves are my favorite animal and one of the biggest things I love about my community is that it is very family oriented. What inspires me the most about my little gaming microcosm is how much they truly vibe with my values on just overall being better people. I not only preach, but practice kindness, and I do everything in my power to deliver kindness and truly be the person that I would've looked up to when I was younger. I sometimes teach members of my community about the importance of being “the better person,” showing kindness even in situations that may be difficult to show it in. I love how with that, my community is able to turn around and show that kindness to others and whenever people message me or just come to me and say that being in my community has done a lot for them in life, it means the world to me. In many ways though, my community and the Destiny macrocosm have saved my life over the years and that's what inspires me to give back as much as possible. We can only be the best version of ourselves that we can be, and I hope that I am doing a good job teaching these things, especially to the younger generation. At the end of the day, my community humbles me because I wouldn't be where I am without them and my appreciation and gratitude is endless!

  Are there any challenges you've faced in gaming that you'd like to share? A hard game, challenges with being more public, finding a niche? 

For me, it's been about acceptance. Communities have a lot of different sides to them, they’re complex, living entities. For a while, it was about finding that oft-sought-after acceptance but then as I became more public and watched other members of the community, I realized there was more to it and began to see that the power of social media is a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. Don't get me wrong, I will never pretend to be someone else to please anyone else, but that doesn’t mean that the message of kindness isn’t at the epicenter of everything I do.  
I value honesty and those with a genuine heart, even though both of these attributes can be difficult to uphold. Because of that, some of the challenges I have faced in gaming have been in realizing that there are some things I am never going to be great at and that is perfectly okay. Just because I can't solo difficult content (nor do I enjoy it as much as others do) doesn't make me any less of a player. I see a lot of people feel down on themselves for that and I try, while battling my own self doubt, to help others know that there's value within them. At the end of the day, I thrive best when I just do my own thing, surround myself with good people that don't make me feel bad about being myself and accept me exactly as I am.  

I knew there was a reason I loved your energy! Switching gears a bit, online games feel like they are becoming more and more of the norm, and that doesn't look like it's changing any time soon. How do you feel about the current state of games and how do you think the industry could do better?  

Honestly? I just mostly play Destiny, so my focus is pretty much on that game, but one thing I do agree with is that accessibility is important. I play controller on PC, and I know plenty of people that might not like that but it's important for the gaming industry to continue to make games accessible to all players because whether you play one game or play them all, everyone should have a chance to experience these incredible stories being told in video games. It is a place for people to escape the hardships of life, at least that has been the case for me. Destiny is only the beginning of my journey, and it has helped a lot when it comes to battling issues with things like mental health. I'm just really thankful that gaming has been becoming more the norm, especially during the pandemic, and I really do believe that it’s because of that home away from home that gamers have been at the top of the list of people that thrived more in the face of hardship. 

Alright. So. This is probably my favorite question to ask people because honestly, the answers are so limitless: If you could create your own dream expansion and subclass, what would it be? No idea is too strange, trust me! 

I would definitely love to see SIVA tech make a return from Clovis Bray, maybe even as a subclass! That's an idea that I have been blown away by with some of the creativity that I've seen in the community, everyone takes the lore in-game and takes it to entirely different places.  
I would also just love to see another expansion where Gambit plays a big role again, or even an expansion that really dives into history like the fall of the Golden Age. We have lore, but I'd love to be able to experience that in the actual game and see more of the origins of the Vanguard (RIP Cayde!) and characters like Lord Shaxx. Other than that, I have no idea. This is definitely something I will have to think about now that you've planted that seed in my brain! 

[Evil laughter] My master plan of making others obsess about the “what could be” theories is coming along nicely I see. Next question! Favorite character, and why? Nerd out hard, my friend, this is the place to do it! Also, because I love love, who is your favorite "ship" (relationship in-game, both cannon and non-cannon), because I would die for Osiris and Saint, haha!  

My favorite character over the years has always been Lord Shaxx - I know, I know, I’m sorry Drifter! There's just something about him that I absolutely love and the fact that we don't know enough about him is part of that fascination. I just love his personality and how he is someone that would definitely be the type to give me a big hug whenever I'm not feeling great. He's got the big papa bear energy that I need sometimes! That encouragement in PvP? Come on, tell me that isn’t the most epic thing ever. I'd let him whip me into shape any day if he were real and like a personal trainer or something! As for “shipping,” I don't really have one, but I do think that Osiris and Saint are absolutely adorable. Saint's devotion to Osiris is the type of love story I'd love to have, and I’m excited to see where that goes next with the current storyline! 

Thanks so much for chatting with us and letting the community get to know yet another amazing Guardian! Anyone special you'd like to shout out? Also, where can people find you to support you on future Gambit conquests? 

Ah, thank you! I want to start by giving a special shout out to my clan, Dredgen. While we started out as a Gambit clan, it is primarily and foremost a place for my closest friends and the people that make this place feel like home. You know what I'm about, you know that you mean the world to me, you know I keep it real, and I just want to thank you for being the people I call my crew. Not to do the Oscar speech thing, but I want to give thanks to: Thank you (get ready for it) Em1, Chace, Notoes, Jimbo, Deadcatwalking, Gamer, Nyxzy, and Pr0cess.  

Another special shoutout to my homies in Talent Show – I may be the Gambit Queen amongst a bunch of non-Gambiteering folks, but you guys have always made me feel welcome and happy. There are a lot of great people there who deserve more love. Thank you Ill F4ted for giving me a place to be myself. Trust, thank you for being you and everything you do for me. I want to say thank you to House of Wolves, my community, my people, my home away from home. I wouldn't be where I am without you. Thank you for having my back and for continuing to strive to be the best you can be. You make me proud every single day and I feel like the luckiest person for just being a part of something that impacts people's lives in many different ways. 

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Have I mentioned I love Silver, because I do. You can find her on Twitter and Twitch here and here, where you can see for yourself how she has constantly proven in social spaces that she is a Light (Destiny puns, you love to see it) that honestly? We need. Life is hard. People can be cruel, but even the smallest flame can keep away the dark, and people like her? They’re a bonfire.  
How are you liking the latest Community Focus and what we’ve shown off so far since bringing these back? We are all jacked up on Mountain Dew and excitement for sharing even more wonderful community members with you all! If you have someone special that you’d love to see featured, feel free to hit us up! And in case you missed it, check out last week's Community Focus that was all about Lily Bean and her awesome cosplays right here. 
In the meantime: stay fresh, stay kind, and go out there and make ‘ol Saladin and Drifter proud!  
“I should go,”   <3 Hippy