Generally speaking, this OMPL has been greatly different for me than it has been in the previous two years. This time around we had bigger competition with 8 teams, two Anything Goes formats, and teams running solo managers making the whole scenario interesting to say the least. I wasn't sure what to expect this year as drafts from each team had a total amount of skill level much closer to each other than ever before and our team miraculously received most of the players either DBW or I initially wanted. Despite receiving a good team, I only have one thing to say about how our drafting turned out. The upbidding competition was too fierce. I chickened out of too many upbids this time ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Keep in mind, this is coming from
ME! Getting average upbids caused me to get a bit more players than I expected, which is always fine and I don't believe any
crucial mistakes were made for our team in the draft.
This next part is where I post an apology and you question why.
Unlike last year, during this OMPL I hardly felt spirited at all. Weeks passed by fast and I couldn't even think about finding a cheerful way to motivate my players. When I signed up for OMPL, I signed up with the intention of not getting too involved this time. My intention was just being there to be a manager. To order lineups and help out my team whenever they requested. Nothing more. This is exactly what I felt I did throughout all of OMPL. Unlike the previous two, I haven't really done anything extra this time, so I feel I wasn't incredibly involved in moving the Five-Star Jolteons. I feel DBW, bdov, Arushi, and Zesty were the spiritual successors of the Five-Star Jolteons. They have truly done great trying to motivate our team to pull forward and take control. I didn't really even notice what I was doing until late in OMPL. I apologize for not going all out this year like I have done back then, I feel the events from last year were most of what caused this. Every time I look back to last year's OMPL it feels awful. Just yesterday I read most of my final OMPL post from last year and I felt dreadful reading it because it was hard to bear. This OMPL however was certainly different and I'll get on with this on a paragraph below.
On to how I felt about this OMPL and the major differences from last year.
Believe it or not, one of the biggest differences between this OMPL and last OMPL is that I don't regret managing this time. This OMPL has made a lot of differences, but I noticed most of it was for the better. This discussion thread was still pretty bad during some points, but moderators have actually taken action to make sure it never got to the extreme and the worst of the worst were removed. It never went down to an all time low, even though what
iLlama posted went a bit too far. There was still a bit of drama going around, but this time, easier solutions were made and controversy ended its reign. Unlike last year, my entire OMPL team were incredibly supportive of each other when they were active throughout the entire tournament and I was there to witness it all. I thank the community for how OMPL was ran this time and hope for even better next year. Thank all of you.
Now on to the actual shoutouts!!!
A message to the Jolteons:
Another day, another OMPL lost. I thank all of you for at least trying to put in some effort in hopes that our OMPL team would win this time but I also apologize for being part of the first time I ever managed that didn't make it to the finals. You all have done great for our team anyway and I hope next year, you'd get drafted by someone and do even greater. I'm going to have to sincerely be honest. I'm glad we didn't make it to the finals this time. I really didn't want to suffer another loss to any variant of hax, like I have for the past 2 OMPLs in a row. I wanted to make it to where if we stand down in defeat, we stand down being hax-free, and while we were haxed in earlier weeks, it none of it decided our placement more significantly than if we were haxed in the finals. When it comes to me, finals are when I treat OMPL the most seriously, and for the longest time after losing the finals I've wished my team would've lost before then. Regardless, my personal aim as a manager is to help you achieve
your goals assuming it was to win. How you battled was ultimately your own choice. Whatever team you chose and the decision on whether you wanted a bo1 or a bo3 regardless of my reaction were all made based on what you think was for the best for our team. This year I wanted our team to greatly exemplify the reason why each of us is a Jolteon and we did just that. Even though this wasn't the roster with the greatest of players, this is a roster worth remembering. You all are great.
Five-Star Jolteons individual shoutouts
This will be in the order DBW and I drafted each player.
Arushi: Did you know you have the second best record for our team? Aha, just as I expected you did great playing Anything Goes. Thank you for being a solid member of our team and once again grats for getting global voice during your time playing. I hope you continue to become a positive representation of AG. :D
Paycard: As with Arushii, I also thank you for carrying our team through Anything Goes matches. That battle with ham was brutal. How did you live with it I question this while knowing your time being a big AG player has given you several large burdens to carry and unfortunately, the positive side of AG's community is still trying to fix this. I never thought the impact of one match could be so disgustingly terrorizing. Well anyway, I hope you continue to thrive, no matter what others have to say. I currently see you as one of the best if not the best overall ladder player on PS right now.
Magma: Thanks for supplying our other 1v1 players a multitude of teams to use. Even though we lost almost every 1v1 match this OMPL I can see you still tried your best to help. 1v1 is a pretty wild meta, I would've probably lost every week if I played.
Official Fissure: Thanks for supporting my team yet another time, but I feel sorry for your overall track record across all 3 OMPLs and for this being the third time in a row you've been on a losing team made from me. You still pretty much carry the legacy of Legendary Pikachus and Five-Star Jolteons. Despite your record I hope you get drafted once again next year if you still want to play.
Zesty43: Thank you for not only taking the time to learn Mix and Mega despite your inexperience when we first drafted you but for carrying our team, helping with teambuilding, testing, and even setting goals for us. You along with
bdov and
Arushi carried in a lot of our team spirit together! When we made our draft plan DBW set you down as a Mix and Mega player and was confident that you'd perform well. I do apologize however that we didn't place you in your home meta for most of the weeks.
motherlove: You did great trying to manage yourself between AAA and BH. Unfortunately you were our best hope in AAA despite being a stronger BH player, but at least you had the time to feel comfortable playing it :). Thanks for greatly supporting Disciple_1 with his teambuilding and for making things easier for DBW and I by arranging with Disciple when and if you wanted to play a specific metagame on a certain week.
InfernapeTropius11: rip. You're the first player I drafted who never got to play at all. Yeah, I figured it wasn't worth it for ya, and it's alright. Instead of being second to first place this year we are second to last. Thank you for at least visiting with us during some days to help Zesty out with Mix and Mega.
bdov: Ayy thank you for showing high spirits for our team and trying to take on AAA this OMPL knowing it's not your meta. I believe I honestly expected you to bring that Surge Surfer Clamperl team for at least one week and had it been for a better match up, you could've likely taken the win. As with Zesty, I also apologize you didn't really get to play your main metagame much.
Disciple_1: I'm sorry you never got to prove your worth in this OMPL. I know you're disappointed in yourself right now due to losing four matches in a row and I hope when you get drafted again, you'd be able to pull in some wins! Also, thank you for being a significant part of what makes me want to try out BH again. Last note because I just want to get this out of the way, I honestly hoped you played after it was decided on whether or not Mega Rays lost OMPL regardless but alas, we unfortunately could not. It would've been awesome to end our reign with a team of 6 Kyogre!!!
Baleblaze: Sorry you only got to play one week of 1v1 this year. I wish you could've played more. Hope you get this opportunity next year if The Immortal decides to keep 1v1 in OMPL.
The Excadrill: Literally the goat. Not gonna lie man I underestimated you the entire time but you managed to pull it off and prove me wrong, having the best record for our team this year with a mighty 3-0. Thank you for keeping your cool when you wanted to call out on the Hydreigons and thank you for coming to me for team advice.
martha: Thank you for taking a brave step and standing up when you needed to. Being given Bushtush's history I know you were worried about him bringing us into that mess he made after your AAA match and had I have known prior to week 3 I would've likely not paired you up with him.
Kyogre: Ultimately still the GOAT Pokemon. It appears you have returned once again to greatly impact OMPL with your icy freezes. Do me a favor and
chill a bit with those freezes ok? :^)
DBW: I don't care what you say about this but I couldn't have been the main manager for the Five-Star Jolteons this year. Even though I made the final decision of our weekly lineups and posted it on our convo with E4 Flint, you were the one who not only ultimately influenced our draft and my final decision, but had a lot more spirit, showed great discord activity, and worked around proper ways to lineup our team each week. You took more time to pep up our team, to encourage them. To know about their weekly plans and likely more about their battling schedule than I did. As I pmed you a few days ago, I have no regrets having you as my co-manager and honestly, consider yourself the main manager this year. Even though it's alphabetical, your name is first on the list of Five-Star Jolteons anyway :^). Thanks so much for helping me out this year like you have last year.
To everyone: I hope I did great as a co-manager this time.
Outsiders....
I guess nobody is really an outsider then... huh. After all, it is the reason why the Five-Star Jolteons channel is now clearly accessible to everyone!
vivalospride: VIVALOGOAT... The closest Jolteon who didn't get drafted. Thanks for providing help for our team on the way through and giving me info about a certain user just so I could be aware of when they struck action. Our team was welcome to have you in our discord. If only I had an extra 3k I would've bought you and you would've been able to play!
ScarfWynaut: Just like myself you're now in the finals for the second time in a row. As a former Jolteons manager I will say, good luck to you and your team! Show every Jolteon what your team is made of!
Uselesscrab: A great team from a great manager. I hope you win! Thanks for making me part Bewear.
Chloe: I want your team to make it to finals considering it'd be awesome seeing a team that got 6-0ed one week actually winning, however I still want Bewears to win :(. Also, the second half of Paycard's shoutout applies to you too.
Osra: Nice to see you succeed as a good fit for an OMPL team this year. Good job! *salute* -Your former manager
HunterStorm: s/o for being a former Jolteon GOAT.
EzyRider: s/o for being a part of the Mega Ray AG squad of GOATS. HunterStorm must've taught you well!
Laxpras: The w0rd of OMPL. An absolute goat! Though you lost your streak in MnM after getting 15-0 in OMPL, You are still ultimately the OMPL Champion.
DurzaOffTopic: This may be a bit off topic but keep doing good for Ruins of Alph! Well anyway, back on topic, I'd feel bad for you if the Honchkrows actually win this knowing you were almost its main manager.
Jrdn: Invite us to your discord already :[.
Snaquaza: First of all, welcome back to being a part of OMs even if it may or may not be just for OMPL. Second of all, When we did our final mock draft, you were honestly the drafter I feared the most.
The Immortal: Bad excuse to lose OMPL :'(. OMPL has been much closer this year than ever before! Thank you for taking care of the OMPL Discussions Thread and for taking action when it was necessary.
Kris: Hi Kris.
drampa's grandpa: 1) Refer to the shoutout below. 2) You gave me a reason to actually consider managing again... You don't know it, but you did. Thank you. I believe you may find out the reason sometime in the future along with something else more personal.
OM room: No fair your team stole our spot. I thought we were the better Electric-types :^(
E4 Flint: I couldn't have asked for a better host. You made me realize I was far from prepared for taking action as a host by showing greatly detailed responses with every controversial situation out there and were always there to fix something when we needed it. Thank you for being a fantastic host.
Everyone else: Thanks for participating! I hope you had a great time.
This is my 999th post on Smogon and it has a total of 2682 words.