The GGFan Experience
Date: 8/23/2005
Background information: Due to the rise of Netbattle and RSE, competitive RBY was left to dry. Realizing that the scene on GameFAQs had run its course, I left in July of 2005 in search of new competition. Furthermore, I knew I had to do something to keep RBY alive, and so I created my own organization, which would later be known as THE Alternative. Before then, though, it was a generic, nameless message board that I used to insult the mentally retarded founders of Smogon. In the midst of my verbal war with them, I came up with an idea for an innovative tournament that was inspired by Jolt135, a resident troll of both GameFAQs and Azureheights who managed to produce profound thoughts every now and then. Before he initiated his gimmick of the brain-damaged commentator of Pokemon Stadium games, he tried to get a unique tournament off the ground which he dubbed "The Past Meets Present Format," which was essentially an amalgamation of RBY and GSC. One could only use Pokemon and moves available in RBY but had to play the games in GSC mode. This meant, for example, that Snorlax would have its obscene Special Defense stat, but Hyper Beam would recharge whether it killed the foe or not and Amnesia would only raise Special Defense. Because there were so many grey areas, I decided to shuffle between various rules throughout the tournament: in one round tradebacks would be banned, then they would be allowed in the next, then GSC moves would be allowed in the round after that, etc. I thought it was a unique concept that should have been executed again.
I advertised the event on various Netbattle servers and forums, attracting a large number at the time (32). I made the tour double elimination, and it lasted for a month. I made it into round four undefeated, where I faced off against Cloggerdude, who was a well-known veteran who had been around for a few years. Cloggerdude was in his twilight and didn't last much longer after this tour, but still had some fight left in him.
My team: Starmie/Zapdos/Snorlax/Gengar/Alakazam/Tauros
Cloggerdude's team: Jynx/Alakazam/Golem/Exeggutor/Snorlax/Starmie
Rules: RBY Pokemon, RBY moves only, no tradebacks, no held items, game must be played in GSC mode.
Battle Log:
Battle Mode: Gold/Silver/Crystal
Rule: Sleep Clause
Rule: Self-KO Clause
Rule: Apply PP Ups
GGFan vs Cloogr GSC Thingy. Begin!
GGFan sent out Starmie (Lv.100 Starmie)!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Jynx (Lv.100 Jynx)!
GGFan: sorry man
Cloogr GSC Thingy: It's alright
Begin Turn #1
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Jynx!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Alakazam (Lv.100 Alakazam)!
---------------------------------
Starmie used Substitute!
Starmie made a Substitute!
---------------------------------
End of turn #1
GGFan's Starmie: 243 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 100% HP
Begin Turn #2
Alakazam used Substitute!
Alakazam made a Substitute!
---------------------------------
Starmie used Surf!
The Substitute took damage for Alakazam!
Alakazam's Substitute faded!
---------------------------------
End of turn #2
GGFan's Starmie: 243 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 75% HP
Begin Turn #3
Alakazam used Substitute!
Alakazam made a Substitute!
---------------------------------
Starmie used Surf!
The Substitute took damage for Alakazam!
Alakazam's Substitute faded!
---------------------------------
Since this game is being played under GSC mechanics, Substitute is a viable move as it blocks all status effects.
End of turn #3
GGFan's Starmie: 243 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 50% HP
Begin Turn #4
Alakazam used Recover!
Alakazam regained health!
---------------------------------
Starmie used Surf!
(38% damage)
---------------------------------
End of turn #4
GGFan's Starmie: 243 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 62% HP
Begin Turn #5
Alakazam used Seismic Toss!
The Substitute took damage for Starmie!
Starmie's Substitute faded!
---------------------------------
Starmie used Ice Beam!
(27% damage)
---------------------------------
End of turn #5
GGFan's Starmie: 243 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 35% HP
Begin Turn #6
Alakazam used Recover!
Alakazam regained health!
---------------------------------
Starmie used Ice Beam!
(26% damage)
---------------------------------
End of turn #6
GGFan's Starmie: 243 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 59% HP
Begin Turn #7
Alakazam used Psychic!
(145 damage)
A critical hit!
It's not very effective...
---------------------------------
Starmie used Ice Beam!
(25% damage)
---------------------------------
Definitely should have used Surf here, as a Critical Hit would have killed it and the chance for a freeze was only half as likely.
End of turn #7
GGFan's Starmie: 98 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 34% HP
Begin Turn #8
GGFan withdrew Starmie!
GGFan sent out Snorlax (Lv.100 Snorlax)!
---------------------------------
Alakazam used Recover!
Alakazam regained health!
---------------------------------
End of turn #8
GGFan's Snorlax: 523 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 84% HP
Begin Turn #9
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Alakazam!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Golem (Lv.100 Golem)!
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Body Slam!
(13% damage)
It's not very effective...
---------------------------------
End of turn #9
GGFan's Snorlax: 523 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Golem: 87% HP
Begin Turn #10
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Golem!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Exeggutor (Lv.100 Exeggutor)!
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Surf!
(10% damage)
It's not very effective...
---------------------------------
Nice chain switching by Cloggerdude here. It was too early to scout for Golem, but if I had Earthquake it wouldn't have been a terrible idea to go for it.
End of turn #10
GGFan's Snorlax: 523 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Exeggutor: 90% HP
Begin Turn #11
GGFan withdrew Snorlax!
GGFan sent out Starmie (Lv.100 Starmie)!
---------------------------------
Exeggutor used Sleep Powder!
Starmie fell asleep!
---------------------------------
End of turn #11
GGFan's Starmie: 98 HP (Slp)
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Exeggutor: 90% HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy: pwned
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
GGFan: nah ;/
GGFan: lol
Cloogr GSC Thingy: ahh, nothing I could do about it really I guess
A nice play of my own, though not as monumental as Cloggerdude's. Starmie successfully fulfilled its second mission of taking sleep. Its other was to pop subs with Surf.
Begin Turn #12
GGFan withdrew Starmie!
GGFan sent out Snorlax (Lv.100 Snorlax)!
---------------------------------
Exeggutor used Leech Seed!
Snorlax was seeded!
---------------------------------
End of turn #12
GGFan's Snorlax: 523 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Exeggutor: 90% HP
Begin Turn #13
Exeggutor used Psychic!
(224 damage)
A critical hit!
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Body Slam!
(32% damage)
Exeggutor is paralyzed! It may be unable to move!
Snorlax's health is sapped by Leech Seed!
---------------------------------
End of turn #13
GGFan's Snorlax: 234 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Exeggutor: 75% HP (Par)
Cloogr GSC Thingy: eesh
Like with Substitute, Leech Seed is more viable in GSC due to the mechanical changes. It absorbs more health than it does in RBY. The crit was unfortunate, as I could have either forced the Exeggutor out or hit it one more time.
Begin Turn #14
Snorlax used Body Slam!
(32% damage)
Snorlax's health is sapped by Leech Seed!
---------------------------------
Exeggutor used Psychic!
(124 damage)
---------------------------------
End of turn #14
GGFan's Snorlax: 45 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Exeggutor: 59% HP (Par)
Begin Turn #15
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Exeggutor!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Golem (Lv.100 Golem)!
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Selfdestruct!
(61% damage)
It's not very effective...
Snorlax fainted!
GGFan: holy shit
GGFan: that did a boatload of damage
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I know
GGFan sent out Alakazam (Lv.100 Alakazam)!
---------------------------------
This surprised me at the time, but Selfdestruct and Explosion are much stronger in GSC, which explains the increased damage. This was actually a good thing, too, as I had Zapdos in the back and now I was in position to actually 2HKO it with Drill peck (if it crit).
Score: 6-5 Cloggerdude
End of turn #15
GGFan's Alakazam: 313 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Golem: 26% HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Makes me wish I had Rhydon
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
Begin Turn #16
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Golem!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Exeggutor (Lv.100 Exeggutor)!
---------------------------------
Alakazam used Psychic!
(23% damage)
It's not very effective...
---------------------------------
End of turn #16
GGFan's Alakazam: 313 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Exeggutor: 36% HP (Par)
Begin Turn #17
Alakazam used Substitute!
Alakazam made a Substitute!
---------------------------------
Exeggutor used Explosion!
The Substitute took damage for Alakazam!
Alakazam's Substitute faded!
Exeggutor fainted!
Cloogr GSC Thingy: wow
GGFan: :)
GGFan: lol
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I just goofed
Rayzin has started watching.
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
GGFan: you countered explosion and i did the same
GGFan: lol
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Except you did it better
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
Rayzin: hi
Cloogr GSC Thingy: uhh, hello
GGFan: lol yeah i was really surprised how much snorlaxs sd hurt golem
GGFan: hello?
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
GGFan: >_>
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I'm thinking
GGFan: lol
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Snorlax (Lv.100 Snorlax)!
---------------------------------
This time it was my turn to dodge Explosion; however, mine was definitely more beneficial (and stylish), as Cloggerdude pointed out. In retrospect I wish he would have let Golem go instead, but oh well. We're only 17 turns in, but this has already been an intense game with both of us constantly one-upping each other.
Score: 5-5 tie
GGFan: oh ok
End of turn #17
GGFan's Alakazam: 235 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 100% HP
Rayzin has left.
Begin Turn #18
Alakazam used Substitute!
Alakazam made a Substitute!
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Body Slam!
The Substitute took damage for Alakazam!
Alakazam's Substitute faded!
---------------------------------
End of turn #18
GGFan's Alakazam: 157 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 100% HP
Begin Turn #19
GGFan withdrew Alakazam!
GGFan sent out Gengar (Lv.100 Gengar)!
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Body Slam!
It doesn't affect Gengar...
---------------------------------
Not sure why I set up Substitue here, but it was a waste of health for sure. Perhaps I was expecting another chain switch, so I kept Alakazam out and used Substitute to be safe.
End of turn #19
GGFan's Gengar: 323 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 100% HP
Begin Turn #20
Gengar used Confuse Ray!
Snorlax became confused!
---------------------------------
Snorlax is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
---------------------------------
End of turn #20
GGFan's Gengar: 323 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 91% HP
Begin Turn #21
GGFan withdrew Gengar!
GGFan sent out Zapdos (Lv.100 Zapdos)!
---------------------------------
Snorlax is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
---------------------------------
End of turn #21
GGFan's Zapdos: 383 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 82% HP
Damn, I can't believe I was still running Con00b Ray in 2005. I should have gotten punished for it, but got lucky for sure.
Begin Turn #22
Zapdos used Thunderbolt!
(23% damage)
---------------------------------
Snorlax is confused!
Snorlax used Body Slam!
(120 damage)
---------------------------------
End of turn #22
GGFan's Zapdos: 263 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 59% HP
Begin Turn #23
GGFan withdrew Zapdos!
GGFan sent out Gengar (Lv.100 Gengar)!
---------------------------------
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Snorlax!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Golem (Lv.100 Golem)!
---------------------------------
I remember this sequence. I got the better of him in both turns, expecting him to stay in with Snorlax (as he already revealed Golem) and then subsequently switch out. At the time these two turns were nervewracking for me, though.
End of turn #23
GGFan's Gengar: 323 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Golem: 26% HP
Begin Turn #24
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Golem!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Alakazam (Lv.100 Alakazam)!
---------------------------------
Gengar used Psychic!
(14% damage)
It's not very effective...
---------------------------------
End of turn #24
GGFan's Gengar: 323 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 70% HP
Begin Turn #25
GGFan withdrew Gengar!
GGFan sent out Alakazam (Lv.100 Alakazam)!
---------------------------------
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Alakazam!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Snorlax (Lv.100 Snorlax)!
---------------------------------
End of turn #25
GGFan's Alakazam: 157 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 59% HP
Begin Turn #26
Alakazam used Psychic!
(24% damage)
Snorlax's Special Defense fell!
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Earthquake!
(142 damage)
---------------------------------
Right after winning the previous round of mindgames, Cloggerdude retaliated with a nice double switch. I got the lucky Special Defense drop, which forced him to make Snorlax retreat.
End of turn #26
GGFan's Alakazam: 15 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 35% HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Crappit
Begin Turn #27
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Snorlax!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Alakazam (Lv.100 Alakazam)!
---------------------------------
Alakazam used Thunder Wave!
Alakazam is paralyzed! It may be unable to move!
---------------------------------
Wow, unbelievable. I make a play, then he makes one right after, then I make one right after that. It's insane how competitive this game has been--far more more than I recalled.
End of turn #27
GGFan's Alakazam: 15 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Alakazam: 70% HP (Par)
GGFan: yes
Begin Turn #28
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Alakazam!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Snorlax (Lv.100 Snorlax)!
---------------------------------
Alakazam used Recover!
Alakazam regained health!
---------------------------------
End of turn #28
GGFan's Alakazam: 171 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 35% HP
Begin Turn #29
Alakazam used Psychic!
(22% damage)
---------------------------------
Snorlax used Double-Edge!
(171 damage)
A critical hit!
Snorlax is hit with recoil!
Alakazam fainted!
This almost made me speechless. OK, so I attack, expecting Body Slam, but he reveals Double Edge, which is basically a poor man's Hyper Beam in this game. I don't think it was a bad play to go for Psychic, as he could have fished for paralysis. However, he figured that's how I felt, so he went for Double Edge and scored a touchdown. Now we've got an incredible game on our hands.
Score: 5-4 Cloggerdude
GGFan sent out Zapdos (Lv.100 Zapdos)!
---------------------------------
End of turn #29
GGFan's Zapdos: 263 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Snorlax: 5% HP
Begin Turn #30
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Snorlax!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Golem (Lv.100 Golem)!
---------------------------------
Zapdos used Thunderbolt!
It doesn't affect Golem...
---------------------------------
Yeah, Drill Peck was a no-brainer here.
End of turn #30
GGFan's Zapdos: 263 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Golem: 26% HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Yay
GGFan: fuck
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I was hoping you'd forget about him
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
Begin Turn #31
Zapdos used Drill Peck!
(10% damage)
It's not very effective...
---------------------------------
Golem used Earthquake!
It doesn't affect Zapdos...
---------------------------------
Yes, I remember this exchange vividly. If only the Drill Peck were a crit, Golem wouldn't have been able to take another one. Still, a nice play by me to keep up the intensity of this see-saw matchup.
End of turn #31
GGFan's Zapdos: 263 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Golem: 16% HP
GGFan: damn
GGFan: that did shit
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
GGFan: hello?
GGFan: lol
Begin Turn #32
GGFan withdrew Zapdos!
GGFan sent out Gengar (Lv.100 Gengar)!
---------------------------------
Golem used Earthquake!
(323 damage)
It's super effective!
Gengar fainted!
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Yay
GGFan sent out Tauros (Lv.100 Tauros)!
---------------------------------
Yeah, I remember this play too. It took a while for me to decide whether or not I wanted to switch. Ultimately I figured he would either use Explosion or Rock Slide, so I went with Gengar. To his credit he saw it coming and made a fantastic play.
Score: 5-3 Cloggerdude
End of turn #32
GGFan's Tauros: 353 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Golem: 16% HP
GGFan: fuck
GGFan: that killed me
Cloogr GSC Thingy: That took me a while
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
Begin Turn #33
Cloogr GSC Thingy withdrew Golem!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Snorlax (Lv.100 Snorlax)!
---------------------------------
Tauros used Earthquake!
(5% damage)
Snorlax fainted!
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Starmie (Lv.100 Starmie)!
---------------------------------
He could have tried being aggressive and went to Starmie instead of Snorlax, but at this point a conservative approach was definitely more logical.
Score: 4-3 Cloggerdude
End of turn #33
GGFan's Tauros: 353 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Starmie: 100% HP
Begin Turn #34
Starmie used Surf!
(140 damage)
---------------------------------
Tauros used Body Slam!
(70% damage)
A critical hit!
---------------------------------
End of turn #34
GGFan's Tauros: 213 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Starmie: 30% HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy: geez
Begin Turn #35
Starmie used Recover!
Starmie regained health!
---------------------------------
Tauros used Body Slam!
(32% damage)
---------------------------------
End of turn #35
GGFan's Tauros: 213 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Starmie: 48% HP
GGFan: fuck i needed paralysis
Begin Turn #36
Starmie used Surf!
(147 damage)
---------------------------------
Tauros used Body Slam!
(33% damage)
---------------------------------
End of turn #36
GGFan's Tauros: 66 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Starmie: 15% HP
Begin Turn #37
Starmie used Surf!
(66 damage)
Tauros fainted!
I could have switched to my sleeping Starmie and let it go instead of trying my luck with Zapdos, which actually may have been the better play. Unfortunately, my luck ran dry and I got nothing.
Score: 4-2 Cloggerdude
GGFan sent out Zapdos (Lv.100 Zapdos)!
---------------------------------
End of turn #37
GGFan's Zapdos: 263 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Starmie: 15% HP
Begin Turn #38
Starmie used Ice Beam!
(151 damage)
It's super effective!
---------------------------------
Zapdos used Drill Peck!
(15% damage)
Starmie fainted!
The realization of defeat begins to settle in. This wild ride is finally about to end.
Score: 3-2 Cloggerdude
Cloogr GSC Thingy: hah
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Man
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Should have recovered
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I thought about it for a second
Cloogr GSC Thingy sent out Jynx (Lv.100 Jynx)!
---------------------------------
End of turn #38
GGFan's Zapdos: 112 HP
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Jynx: 100% HP
GGFan: damn gg
Begin Turn #39
Zapdos used Thunderbolt!
(40% damage)
---------------------------------
Jynx used Ice Beam!
(112 damage)
A critical hit!
It's super effective!
Zapdos fainted!
Cloogr GSC Thingy: gg man
GGFan sent out Starmie (Lv.100 Starmie)!
---------------------------------
End of turn #39
GGFan's Starmie: 98 HP (Slp)
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Jynx: 60% HP
Begin Turn #40
Starmie is fast asleep.
---------------------------------
Jynx used Ice Beam!
(69 damage)
It's not very effective...
---------------------------------
End of turn #40
GGFan's Starmie: 29 HP (Slp)
Cloogr GSC Thingy's Jynx: 60% HP
Begin Turn #41
Starmie is fast asleep.
---------------------------------
Jynx used Ice Beam!
(29 damage)
It's not very effective...
Starmie fainted!
MAYBE if Starmie woke up on the first turn. I would have needed either Lovely Kiss to miss twice or a Lovely Kiss miss and a Surf crit. In the end, however, this amazing game was now over with Cloggerdude as the victor.
Score: 3-0 Cloggerdude
End Battle! Cloogr GSC Thingy wins!
Score: 0 to 3
Cloogr GSC Thingy: yee haw
GGFan: that was a good match
Cloogr GSC Thingy: That was a freaking awesome match man
GGFan: did i go good lol?
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I would have been happy with that one even if I lost
GGFan: im just a troll remember :p
Cloogr GSC Thingy: hah
GGFan: go post it on azures then lol
GGFan: ill be posting the report even though i lost
Cloogr GSC Thingy: You're not the best I've ever battled, but you rank way up there
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Ahead of some of the people that have put you down before
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I'll give you that
GGFan: thanks
Cloogr GSC Thingy: and when I say not the best
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I mean....ya know
Cloogr GSC Thingy: heh
GGFan: lolz
GGFan: i shouldnt have switched to gengar that killed me
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Yeah
GGFan: that cost me the match
GGFan: by far
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I actually figured you'd switch to Starmie
GGFan: ah
Cloogr GSC Thingy: That's why it took me so long to move
Cloogr GSC Thingy: I knew if I was wrong and you just drill pecked again that I would be done for
GGFan: yeah i figured youd eq the first time
GGFan: the second time i got pretty nervous
Cloogr GSC Thingy: lol
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Same here
GGFan: i just hoped youd get frustrated and say "fuck it" and use explosion :p
Cloogr GSC Thingy: heh heh
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Ah well
Cloogr GSC Thingy: That was fun
GGFan: it was a cool match
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Indeed it was
GGFan: so i guess thats alright with me
GGFan: im heading out see ya
Cloogr GSC Thingy: heh heh
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Alright
GGFan: lol
Cloogr GSC Thingy: Cya later
GGFan: bai bai
NetBattle v0.9.5
Log saved 8/23/2005 at 12:01:56 AM
Aftermath: Both Cloggerdude and I would make the semi finals of the tour alongside Masterhand3000 (M3k) and JMC. I won my match against M3K, whereas Cloggerdude unfortunately lost his, resulting in his elimination and depriving me of a rematch I desperately wanted. I would go on to beat JMC, who was so pissed off that he managed to lose once again (I also beat him in the GameFAQs Summer UU Tourney) to "that troll who smogon hates" that he immediately challenged me to a rematch, only to lose not once but twice more. Off he went while I celebrated my victory, which was my most prolific accomplishment at the time. It's funny: I remember Hipmonlee once told me in 2003, "If you were to win a 32-man tournament, people would have no choice but to say you were one of the best." Little did either of us know much the tournament scene would grow over the next 15 years.
I wanted this tournament to mark the debut of THE Alternative. Instead, I didn't officially launch it until November, which was when I made it the first organization dedicated to RBY. I wrote analyses for every fully evolved Pokemon, hosted monthly tournaments, had a Netbattle server, and so on. After going undefeated in RBY in the infamous "2005 Smogon Tour" I would go on to dominate throughout the rest of the decade. In retrospect, this game along with my encounter against metalscyther (I'll talk about that one later) shows me that the success I achieved in the coming years was inevitable. In this game, which was such a back-and-forth roller coaster of top-level plays and mindgames, I was able to more than hold my own against a more polished and experienced player in a truly technical, thinking-man's game. I still see myself as an up-and-comer in 2005, but games like these instilled me with the knowledge and experience that enabled me to truly break that glass ceiling in 2006, where I believe I had an 80% w