Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
E12 // Dphie(250) for YOU and ME!
135 Plays9 months ago
Join us for this episode of Tap Tap Cast where we chat with Dphie250! Dphie was one of the first Pokemon Go women casters and has been crushing the scene both on screen and in the battlefield. You can catch her casting the North American International Championships this weekend! The crew talk about improvements for Pokemon Go, Girls that PvP, and how Martijn never remembers going to dinner with any of us.
Follow the crew!
Amanda // www.twitter.com/Lundberger
Martijn // www.twitter.com/InadequancePOGO
Special Guest // www.twitter.com/Dphie250
Recommended
Transcript
Return and Recognition
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello and welcome into our next episode of Tap Tap Cast. Sorry that we were on a little bit of a hiatus there. We got a little bit busy going on, but congratulations in the meantime to Rise to Occasion and Colin Six for <unk>re doing some pretty good things over in the Play Pokemon regionals. Yeah, those were the past two weeks, but now we're here again. It's good to be here again, Amanda. And for those who don't know me as well, I am inadequate. You may also know me as Martijn. Usually I say the reverse, but oh well. Amanda, first question for you. Did you hit Legend last season? I did. I did hit Legend last minute push with it. I think I got it with like three days left to spare. Wow. this is the very So were you making exciting intentionally or are you just extremely washed up?
00:00:48
Speaker
Oh, well, I think I'm pretty washed to the honest. I'm definitely like, I feel like people have gotten a lot better and I've kind of remained stagnant. So it's like, I don't think I was like, I'm not a bad PVP or by any means, but I definitely haven't like grown in the way that a lot of other people have. So. Maybe it helps to compete sometime. Yeah, maybe, maybe I'll try competing sometime, ah maybe maybe next season. We'll see how that goes.
Amanda's Pokemon Journey
00:01:11
Speaker
But, uh, but yeah, I had some stuff going on this season as well. So I didn't play as many games. I was hoping I would also hit like the top top ranking and unite because last season I was just like 50 points off from like 1600. So I was like, Oh, easy. I'll hit it. But yeah, just, there was like a couple of weeks where I really didn't do much and in the games. And so I was like, okay. next Next season for both, I'm gonna- Do you play on Switch or mobile? Just mobile, I don't even own a Switch. You don't, of course not, you don't play other poker games. I'm not, yeah. Do you play with Avi? like Like, when I was in Bologna, he was also playing it the whole time. Oh yeah, I play with him sometimes, and also Lincoln. Lincoln actually ah was like someone who really helped us get a little bit better as well, because he plays every season, and so he was like, just kind of like giving us some tips at the beginning of how not to suck is bad.
00:01:57
Speaker
but Could you give me these tips in GBL? I think the correct person to ask that would be Colin Six. He's our special event champion from last weekend. It's the third tournament that he's won so far. He's the only European. Well, there's also Emmy Wheedle. I count, with all the respect, the Senior World Champs a little bit as a whole tournament though. There's an Are and Tilt Dragonaire in there. It's not exactly comparable to a 200 or 100 person tournament. I agree. I still think Emmy Wheedle, of course, is one of the best we have in Europe, if not the world.
00:02:31
Speaker
um And like he's the best at like stealing teams. So, you know, maybe he knows a good team for you. I'll pop him a DM. Exactly.
New Moveset and NAIC Plans
00:02:40
Speaker
And perhaps with a new moveset update, what do you think of the new moveset? I tried out some Typhlosion with Thunder Punch. Okay, tell me about it. It's been okay. It's been okay, actually. Like, I could not get used to the fact that every time I throw two incinerators, I already have an attack. I could not get used to it. Every time I was like, wait, ah wait, wait, don't incinerate again. There's things like two seconds before it's finished, and then I already... Yeah, then the other one throws an attack, and it totally... My timing just becomes whack because, you know, incinerator is difficult with that, so... Yeah, other big updates was, uh, the sk scald nerf back down to 30%, which I mean, I've still been playing against a lot of whiz cash and they're still getting a lot of debuffs. So 30 still feels a little more than, yeah, yeah, I think so. Uh, I've been playing copycat teams, uh, so far until I'll hit rate 20. Basically I started out with, um, I can't even remember what team like an Azumarole, Registeal, Sable. And I think that's like my standard if I'm playing that.
00:03:36
Speaker
You still stuck it six seasons ago. Yes, exactly. I'm a retro girl. But then once I lose, then I'll use the team that the person used that. ah I actually made a post about this on Twitter. I said, if you see me running a Bastion, Victor Bell and Wigglytuff, it is only because it has beat me in a. I feel like this is your excuse to use such a team. I mean, we do have the tap tap cast, right? I guess I guess. And I'm a big bastard on Wigglytuff. That's true, that is true. I mean, you did win a regional with a wiggly top on the team. A special event, actually. A special Pokemon for special tournaments. Speaking of special tournaments, though, coming up NAIC for you. Yeah, and you're casting! And I'm casting! Yeah, it's gonna be great. It's gonna be good to see you again. It's been forever.
00:04:23
Speaker
Yeah, how long have you been in the US and and how lot much longer are you staying even? um So I got in at like the beginning of April. So even before EUIC, I was in the US for a little bit and then I'm coming back on June 14th. So be prepared, Europe. You know, I asked this, but I already know, of course, because we're going to have dinner after Madrid together, of course, the Go Fest. That'll be fun as well. Yeah, but but speaking of NAIC, I believe, do you know who you're paired with? ah yep I'm paired with Speedy's chief, the chief, this guy. the The guy you almost like as much as me, right? I can't make claims like that. He's no podcast partner. Amanda, I will already warn you, if you were if you were to interview me um and the NAIC, I will ask this question again. I will already say that.
00:05:12
Speaker
You're gonna be like steal the mic for me, but controversial controversial questionmanda My favorite my favorite you're you'rere you're inspiring you right now. Yeah, I'm gonna have to make sure that someone else takes the interview with you No, well, I mean I like all the casters. So yeah, no it's gonna be fun. Yeah, we have the Alpha Phoebe also is gonna be ah casting the International Championship for the first time along with his pair partner ah You may have heard of her. She's pretty darn cool. Defy 250 Yeah, DeFi, she's been casting quite a while now. That's exciting, right? You cast with her at LA last week. I did, I did. It was really fun. Also, you know, you talked about Colin Six making history. Ryze also made history too. I believe he's the first regional champion who has won a regional every single season. So the only one that was able to do it for Pokemon Go. Yeah, exactly. Now there was actually a very fun trend that I just want to
00:06:09
Speaker
say again okay nighttime pleasure casted charlotte next tournament he played liftball he won it i casted dormund next tournament i played weswitecht i won it okay rice vacation casted indianapolis played los angeles won it i was so convinced that tomahawk uk would win bologna And he came pretty darn close though, second place. Oh, he came second with a shadow bastard on too, right? That's the third time he came in second. And then I just cracked up when I asked Eric, nighttime cluster, when we're casting together, we need to give him a nickname. Did you hear what he said? No, what? E.U. Caleb.
00:06:48
Speaker
I have heard that before. I didn't know that it came from ah from NTC. That's pretty funny. Although he has now won more than Caleb or are they tied? I think they're both. I think they're both second. I actually want to look that up real quick. I was like I like giving out nicknames to competitors, right? Especially like I've the final boss for Colin. I have the queen of PvP for Paula. Yeah, Caleb came in second three times as well. So um then we called Caleb Tomahawk and a how
00:07:20
Speaker
It's all very comparable. Fun fact though, Caleb did it all with Bastion. There's only one tournament he didn't use Bastion. There was also one of his worst performances, so it's probably no surprise we always see him with that. yeah Yeah, I mean, it is his signature pick. I guess if ah if it's not broke, don't fix it. If it's not broke, just tap it. Exactly, exactly. Amanda, we just talked about
DeFi E's Pokemon Path
00:07:42
Speaker
DeFi. I think it's time to introduce our guest. Yeah, we're going to have to go right into it because I'm very excited to have her on Tap Tap Cast. Let's give it up for DeFi. Woo!
00:07:51
Speaker
a
00:07:55
Speaker
So welcome in DeFi-E. Thank you for being here. Thank you. Good to see you again. I'm excited to be here. Yes. How are you doing? Amanda, like I just saw you and I'm going to see you again in a few short days. It's been like a minute from our time though. When was the last time we saw each other? Mmm, I've been to Toronto. What was the NA word for? Toronto. Did I see you at Toronto? Yeah, I saw you at Toronto. We went to a little restaurant. There was a group of us. Oh, yeah, yeah, you're right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that was Toronto. He's so cool and popular, DeFi. You're lucky he even remembers us at all, let alone if he has dinner in our presence. That's true. You're the one to throw shades. No, no, no, no, no. Abandoning us.
00:08:41
Speaker
did Did you hear what I said on the broadcast? I did. People passed it along to me. I was like, oh, funny, funny man.
00:08:50
Speaker
Yeah, but I mean, when ah when I get a cast with people like D5A2, can you really blame me for for coming abroad for a little bit?
00:08:58
Speaker
fair i would i would love to have the chance someday as well but let's talk about uh dfae okay kato's a little bit about where where did you come from how did you uh and when did you start bookwongo Sure, I am a day one Pokemon go player before that I played Pokemon red blue and yellow on my Game Boy color through I probably played through generation three before I took a little break from Pokemon and Then I've since gone back and played at least one game from every generation of the main series And I've played all of them all of the recent ones on the switch. I think I have every single game Which is super fun
00:09:37
Speaker
um So day one Pokemon Go, I've been day one Pokemon Go PvP as well in the Boulder Cup ah with the Silph Arena. I've been playing a lot of PvP since then. I started streaming and since then casting around the pandemic when we were all stuck inside our houses. And one of the first things I did was I picked up this webcam right here from Best Buy and started streaming on Twitch. And that's how I got to know a lot of really awesome people in the community. Yeah. So so you're you were already very familiar with Pokemon before you played Pokemon Go, unlike other people. I don't know who he's referring to.
00:10:21
Speaker
No, but it is funny because I remember at the beginning when I was working with Abhi and Sergio on like the myPVP academia stuff, ah we were just like, yeah, trying to find different streams to watch and everything. And Abhi was like, hey, have you heard of DeFi? She's really good. He's like, we should watch her, you you know, and get some ah some pointers on how to do this sort of thing. And from there, you I mean, you were one of the first quote, casters, I would say in like the grassroots scene. Like, how did you get involved with that? um It was actually Jiggly Dad's shout casting school. I remember 2.0 Butters was one of the coaches. I did that a little bit and then Sosa Flow.
00:11:01
Speaker
with all of his grassroots things, ah invited me on. He said he was specifically looking, he wanted to get women involved. So I started working with Sosa, and then that led to other opportunities like Sulfarina broadcast, the one with PVP Steve, ah that forever lives in my memory, because it was just very, it was a very goofy time. There was like an hour of downtime, and we were just pointing the camera at my dog and pointing, like just memes for an hour, because we didn't have battles. I mean, you say it's a good time, but it's it's honestly a skill to keep everyone entertained while there's a downtime, right? Like production really relies on you for like filling up that time. So I think that already may have been good practice for, you know, more official tournaments. Let's start immediately with a controversial question. What was your favorite grassroots shout cast?
00:11:57
Speaker
My favorite grassroots shout cast. Ooh, that's tough. Because I've done a lot of really good ones with Sosa. I've done a lot. You cannot do a neutron, so you have to pick one. I know, I have to pick one. I'm trying to think of all the ones I've done. Because I like the self-arena, because there's so many. A lot of self-arena streams. I've done ADL. Probably doing... the ones with Speedy as Chief, ah the Go Battle League ones with Speedy as Chief, that was those were really cool to do. ah Those were really fun. i' come what what but What made those so so good? Yeah, because he's not that great. I was just about to say that, right?
00:12:38
Speaker
Whatever with Will. I like the format. I liked the idea of taking everybody from the top of the leaderboards and having them compete against each other one on one. in the I thought the format was really interesting. So I think that might have been my favorite for that reason. um Another controversial question to kind of piggyback on that, or maybe just get some Suggestions, do you think grassroots tournaments still have a place with Pokemon Go now that actual show six pick three and like tournaments with big prizes and kind of have the actual Pokemon name and brand behind it are there or
00:13:14
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, like, is there something that can be done to revitalize? Or in the same sense, maybe everything's going on and I just don't know about it. And you're like, get with the program, Amanda, do this instead.
Grassroots Tournaments Revival
00:13:24
Speaker
No, I definitely think we there was a lot lost with grassroots PvP that I wish we could get back, because I miss doing all the fun little tournaments. And I know ah the Devon metas, there are people who do some of those small tournaments, and I think they are building up to something. I just don't think they're quite there yet with the pull. to be able to do it. and And I think some people they invest so much time in the official circuit, that they're not putting as much time into things like grassroots fun formats. But I like the grassroots fun format, sometimes it gets boring, like by the end by the end of a meta, like by the end of a season, like it gets old, sometimes it can get a little stale, like during the Trevenant
00:14:05
Speaker
lantern knock towel meta. Like there's only so much you wanna play that. Also known as Palasha's favorite meta, so.
00:14:13
Speaker
wow black I not, that was not fun to cast. There's only, there's only so many times you can be like, oh, and there's a knock towel on the Trevenant. I actually liked the meta too. Did you? Oh no, my turn. But I didn't play those Pokemon. Yeah, that's not true. I played I was just gonna say um i believe not I believe you qualified for four worlds that you're in the nocturnal atlantic meta with the Dunsparce. That is true. You did use a Dunsparce That's a little bit better. I thought wall range for evident was a pretty okay meta. I like that I thought that had some good flexibility.
00:14:50
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. I do want to add on that, by the way. There actually is some more grassroots coming up again. um Battle Frontier starting next month again, halfway. It's like a little bit ah trying to pick up where Sylve left off with Factions. Factions was one of the most popular formats. And Battle Frontier is trying to rebuild that like slowly. Obviously, Sylve left such. It's so difficult to live up to, right? So they left quite the thing behind, and Battle Frontier slowly picking up. But also, La Tom. I don't know, um my my Spanish and Portuguese is no bueno, so I don't know a lot. But um I was invited to a La Tom competition, also factions, and also a Brazilian one. So also in La Tom, there's also a Mexican one. No one has invited me there. Yet. Yet, hopefully, hopefully.
00:15:42
Speaker
But they are there's actually more than you might think I do agree though play Pokemon really has like been steering up like the motivation of some players because you know There's prize money to get there. There's medals. There's trophies and I think what people really have missed is also that's in-person action, right? yeah um I saw this post from Speedy about how Many years ago in LA, there was like this mega regional, regional or like just a mega tournament. Yeah, it was a self-tournament, but there was like so many people, like over 200 people or so. It was like over 300, I thought. Yeah, I think so. Well, what could be the the cause of the decreases it's like? Because I don't think there was like like prize money as we had in play Pokemon, right? There wasn't. like Not that kind of prize money, no. It was just a dedication to s silver. What could be really the cause that...
00:16:37
Speaker
I remember leading that thread. um One thing before I forget as well, I am on it a factions, like I started with factions. I was in one of the first groups to do factions. So I've been doing that since the beginning with the queen bees, all with girls that PVP like an all women faction. And then we carried on. We didn't join Battle Frontier right away. We just joined last season. And then we'll be registering again this upcoming season. So I really
Community and Camaraderie
00:17:00
Speaker
do like factions. I think the camaraderie is probably the best part of it, being able to work together and learn together. um Our team is all about like trying to learn and improve and grow. so And we've had a lot of people in it from the very beginning, like Hurricane Kaz has been in it a long time with me. ah Final boss AJ was the coach for a while before she moved on to a different one. We've had a lot of really good battlers with us and then they learn and improve and then they you know they fly off to other
00:17:26
Speaker
factions sometimes but ah for me it's you know ride or die like I'll be with the queen bees for as long as we can. I like that. ah But can continuing forward, you mentioned about the tournaments. One of them, I think, might one reason might be with the play Pokemon circuit, ah the official tournament circuit. There's a lot of different events you can attend where that giant tournament in LA was kind of like a one and done. Like those weren't happening very often or maybe like there's one in like six months. So I think maybe the rarity of it might have contributed to it a little bit.
00:18:03
Speaker
Um, I can't remember what was it around the time of an actual like in-game event as well? Like, was there a reason that people were already in Los Angeles? Because I remember a lot of people like flew over, so like, and did the tournament, but I also don't know if they flew over for another reason. And then they just happened to gather because I remember also like in Chicago after Go Fest, you know, there was huge tournaments going on as well. But that's just because so many people were there, you know, they're already playing the game. And then there was still tournaments held at different areas in the park, which was really cool and a way to meet different people in the community as well. Like one of the people in Los Angeles, RC Cola, I met ah when but when I beat him back then in ah in the in the Rainbow Cup. I think I think he would stop me now. He's ah he's on the swabloos.
00:18:53
Speaker
They're such a good group. Yeah, they're fun. That was really fun seeing them in LA. Yeah, for example, as well, I played in a Montreal tournament during the Montreal Safari Zone. So and that was really fun. And that had a massive turnout, ah because people were already there for that event. I wonder if play Pokemon should do something like that, too. is so If there's like an actual like go fest, if they could arrange like sponsored cups or challenges to get a little bit of CP but have like random ones throughout the day that sure you can only register for like one per day or something like that but I'm sure that there would be tons of people signing up given the past like yeah if s silk was any indication.
00:19:31
Speaker
yeah I bet local but the local communities i be could totally get but local communities could totally get on that to do, ah like holding locals during those times, the cups and challenges. it would I think that would be more on whatever local community is nearby. That's true. So for example, New York. Like that would be on like a New York community. Yeah. But do you also remember like, um, like Alphandall of Findial? How do you say his name? He was like, in and Thomas, so technical, they were like sponsored people at the go Fest for the PVP zone. You know, so it's like, they were like teaching people how to play. I think something like that, they could easily sponsor something in the, I think it Pokemon Niantic wanted to just throwing out ideas.
00:20:14
Speaker
I like it. brain This is a brainstorming session. like How can we get more people involved? Because I want to grow not just like the grassroots scene. I miss it. And I think it's important in any competitive game to have that. grassroots format to keep the community and keep people engaged, but also we want to keep building up our game. We're definitely growing. If you take a look at 2022, 2023 to this year, all of our tournaments like they have been bigger and better and more people and are the skill level of everybody has been increasing, which has been really fun to see as well. But we just want to keep, we just want to keep the, we want to keep the vibe strong. We want to keep on going.
00:20:50
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I want to add to that. um The Go Fest Osaka was actually planned around the World Championships, of course, to like us in in Europe and North America, are not exactly familiar with like Japanese community, but it actually like really evolved well into from like Japanese community setting up some of these socials, inviting ah visitors as well, right? Yeah, that dinner. I was at that dinner. you Yeah, you guys were you there as well? Yeah. Yeah. See, he can never remember when we're at a dinner. No, please continue, please. Yeah. Yeah. but No, no, no. We're just not cool enough. We get it. We get it. Come on. these just This is sometimes I feel like this is a more tiny bit. But I'm just saying, like, if you have something like that, I should say, if I like in New York, you know, you have like
00:21:44
Speaker
um world champions there or maybe international championship even. And then you have a Go Fest like the weekend before. I think it could evolve really well, right? That like local communities can really set those kinds of things up. I think it could really help out indeed. Yeah. That'd be cool. I know. I want to get on some of my local card shops. It's intimidating when there's nothing, like if you look at a map of Wisconsin for Pokemon events on like the Pokemon website, there's virtually nothing, especially up north where I am. People think of Wisconsin and they ask me, oh, are you from Milwaukee or Madison? and i
00:22:20
Speaker
No, those are like the very southern edge like close to Chicago ah in Wisconsin. Like I'm like way up north. So there's there's nothing up here. So I want i really that's one goal of mine is to try to there's you knock on some doors. There's no events. There's no locals. Do you have a little place there? We have a handful. ah Shadow Mimikyu is in my area, who is a very, very talented battler. And there are some locals ah for to me who have gone to a couple events, like they went to Milwaukee when it was last year and really had a good time. So I think we could get enough, because all you need is like six, right? You can run one with six. You can run it with four. I think we could get six consistently in my area. And if we could be that one, maybe get a couple other cities to join in. I think we could do it. i just got
00:23:11
Speaker
have the gusto to go up to the these card game shops and try to convince them that, you know, go players like cardboard too. i have I have all this cardboard. Then I will buy cardboard from you if you have your shop do these tournaments. Yeah, no, you think you're right. I collect Chandler cards nowadays. People kept gifting them to me. I was like, well, why not make a collection out of this by now? I got two more from Aloya, actually. That's cool. Awesome. Yeah, that's pretty cool. I have a collection of the Benire line ones that I find. There's a really cool, the partner ones, the buddies with Jigglypuff and Mega Lopunny, and those are really fun cards. So I have those in Japanese and in English. Mega Lopunny is, I believe, one of your favorite Pokémon, correct?
00:23:58
Speaker
It is. So I remember this way. We were talking about it at one time. And and but marar would you say that Chandler is your favorite or it's just associated with you nowadays? m It's definitely a Pokemon that is associated with me and not has always ever been my favorite. I i don't know. Did I have an actual favorite if I were to pick? um You know, I think I said in the lift was well, I think guarantee the origin. Like that makes sense that track easy it's not just because I went with it. The reason why I brought to Utah is the excitement that's there when I can use my favorite legendary Pokemon.
00:24:47
Speaker
um Yeah, I think that that's that's why I brought it this way. yeah And yeah, I can use your favorite Pokemon. That's what I like, right? I want to show, what one of my my one one thing that I like to do with all the crazy Pokemon that I bring, people are like,
Strategic Pokemon Choices
00:25:03
Speaker
wow, this guy's crazy. just He just likes you, Spice. No, I want to show that you can just, you you should not think like, oh, this Pokemon's bad. I should not use it. No, your thought process should be, oh, I like this Pokemon. How do I make it work, right?
00:25:18
Speaker
I like creativity. um So that's also my idea behind it. Back to DeFi. DeFi, how did you get into official casting? You've been one of the first play Pokemon cast, I believe. You already started in 2022, the season. Yes, Indianapolis 2022. And it was cool to be back there ah competing this season. So go back going back two years later. Well, I i guess I was in the right place at the right time. I was asked by TPCI. I was messaged on Discord, and that's how that got started. I had to i messaged, I think, Nick, and was like, is this real? Is this a legitimate thing? He was like, yes. Yes, you should. We just need the last four digits of your social security number, your mother's maiden name, and your first pet, and we're ready to go.
00:26:08
Speaker
I know, right? So it's crazy to get the NDA that has Pikachu on it. and Like that is, that was wild. um I believe it was, I was not on the original team um with the boys, but Caleb, I think was the one. He had a wedding or something and he couldn't make Indianapolis and they needed someone. And I think it was either the team of boys or someone kind of threw my name out there. And then I was reached out to ah by one of the producers. So that was very exciting. So I've been and and been with the team ever since. That was my cast with Wholesome, our first one. And we were both, I think, very nervous. i think i He keeps saying like he is frustrated with his first cast, like go going back and looking at it. like he's He's like, oh my gosh. like Mine, I feel like, was way worse. like I was so scared. that Everyone has that, right? You improve over time, especially... Well, um mean maybe you do, but most of us don't really have, like, a background, right? um We have one VG caster. He's like an actor actor's background. And then you can actually apply that. But, like, yeah, I don't have that. For myself, I have supply chain background. I can't use that for casting. I just know the game.
00:27:25
Speaker
Yeah, so I look back and I like to think that I'm like most improved. Like, that's how I like to think my arc of like improvement is like a very steep. But I definitely like I was just so nervous. And I think the first thing Jim and I had to do was stall for time because of tech issues. And that was terrifying, just trying to think of things to talk about and say. I had never met these people before. like I got off the plane that the day before and i'm like I'm meeting Will for the first time, I'm meeting Butters for the first time, Jim for the first time. like We've talked online a little bit, but first time seeing him in person. Yeah. yeah
00:28:05
Speaker
Yeah, you were like, let's kick ass. I was I think back to that. And I was very scared. But I think I i improved a lot, like over this last season and this season. Oh, definitely. I would agree. Otherwise, you probably may not have been supposed to think. Yeah, yeah so yeah so sort of thing that I'm still around. And not only are you still around, I mean, this episode is very timely because you are been selected for a very prestigious thing. You are casting the North American International Championships this year in NOLA. Yes, in NOLA. I am so excited. I'm getting ready, like getting my bags kind of packed and ready to go, ah because I leave in what would it be, like 36 hours, something like that? I have a 6.30 AM flight on Wednesday. Very good. You need that.
00:28:58
Speaker
yeah yeah Your history of delays. Good Lord, you really don't. I don't think it's that my travel luck is bad. It's just I live in such a remote area. I can't get anywhere direct. So I always have to go to Minneapolis, St. Paul. I always have to go to O'Hare, like one of those two to make a connection. So I think just the the likelihood of something going wrong just is exponential the second you involve a connecting flight. So what time do you get in? On noon, I'll be in around noon. okay Everything going well. yeah but i am So we'll see we'll see you at 9pm? Hopefully before then. I even looked today. I'm like, okay, what if I end up having to drive to New Orleans? What kind of 14 hour drive would that be? yeah could i make Could I do it if I needed to? That's through the entire continent of Europe. Yeah, basically. basic
00:29:55
Speaker
I'm just going the short way down. How are you feeling for your first ICA? Did you like prepare anything extra that you normally would do?
NAIC Preparations and Predictions
00:30:03
Speaker
I asked around. I'm just kind of thinking of different little quips I can say like relating to New Orleans. I'll look up some like New Orleans City facts, ah things that to be thrown in. ah One thing that people have complimented me on are transitions, being able to like transition in and out of things. ah So knowing a few things in advance. would be very, helpful I think would be helpful. So smart just a couple little things. I like that. Yeah, that that that that just adds something personal to it, right? One of our co-casters found out recently that Bolognese is from Bologna. So, you know, big findings. Oh my goodness. I can just imagine him. Did you on the cast? Did you know? Oh my son. I think I said it too. I think I said it on the podcast that you found out.
00:30:51
Speaker
detective detective night and so yeah you're you're casting with off of people is the person that you said that you texted right away or discord and say is this real yeah we're the autocasters again no yes he was speedy and some really cute girl I swag swaggle if you work with swag woman before I have never worked with Swagron before, so that'll be fun. I think he'll do a good job as host, and I'm really excited for that connection to the LATAM community because they are so awesome and so passionate. I wish we could get the NA crowds to be like as excited as when you see the crowd at LAIC and just how pat like how excited everybody is. We need some of that in NA.
00:31:37
Speaker
There's actually gonna be quite some Latom players as well, right? We have Lindos Rajev, we have Lindos Trainor Steiner, ah Javier, he won the Mexico's special event, the one that was hosted by Niantic and TPCI together. It's gonna be like a good group. out And um this is a secret, this is a secret that at at this moment, current moment of time, when the podcast reveals it's probably no longer a secret, that Zardy is also coming to the NAIC. So Latom, is present. It's going to be very fun. And I like that indeed what you say the connection that Swaggle has to a lot some community and indeed. Have you spoken to him already? I have not. So this will be our first time meeting. So that'll be really fun. I've never got a chance. I don't think I've ever gotten a chance to meet him. But like on Discord or something. Not yet. I think um we just are inviting him to like a group chat. OK. Yeah. But he hasn't talked a whole lot in it.
00:32:34
Speaker
All right. Yeah. Yeah. That makes sense. Maybe it's also, he might also be a little bit nervous, right? so Obviously his first IC as well. Very excited. If he has like a similar role to Zoe. Yeah, I think that's what it will be. He was originally, he was supposed to do it at LAIC, but he ended up being a caster for the the Spanish stream. for Yeah, I saw you were on the role stream. Yeah, he was like like, you can't avoid me this time. Yes, Amanda is also on the LAIC role stream. And you're also going to be there. So we're all going to literally meet up in New Orleans.
00:33:09
Speaker
Another controversial question. if i So now you know that there's ah some really good players coming from Latin America. You know that there's going to be some pretty good players from the US trying to get the title there. And there are some average players from Europe also going to make an appearance. Like Tipton though? but Oh, Tristiano. No, no, no, no. He's going to listen to this probably as well. so Exactly. He's going to probably punch me Thursday. But who do you... What area do you think is going to take the title?
00:33:44
Speaker
Oh, I think it's going to be a US player. Yeah. Uh, for, yeah, that's, I know that's my hot take. The audacity. The audacity. I do think we'll, we'll see some good representation in top eight. I do think there'll be at least one EU player, one player from LATAM in the top eight for sure. Cause we have such fantastic players, but I really, it's hard, I think right now to bet against Dune. Like that's, it's hard, but he's very good. He can be beat. Like me, Weedle did it at EUIC. So he can, he can be defeated, but he is very, very good. And then we're also going to have players like rise to occasion there. We're going to have players who are really out for something to prove, like how Stark is looking for his qualification. ah Just yeah, a lot. And obviously it's Axan will be there, like our current reigning world champ. So the it's some stiff competition, I think. I agree. I just hear you started.
00:34:35
Speaker
ah they They're actually my teammates, so I shouldn't be roasting them. um Yeah, I don't know. it's To me, it feels like, when when I spoke with Zard, it's like, Latong, EU. Hands in hand here. Yeah, looking to take out NA, but I don't know. I think we've got a lot of talent here in the US. I think it has something special to it, right? Like, especially when nighttime cluster one Liverpool that has something special to it, if someone from another continent wins a tournament, whether that but be a regional, I think an IC is bigger, right? That would be like, yeah.
00:35:10
Speaker
Dümbach took one trophy for us. It was it was strenuous of watching it because it's like, oh, he's playing so well and he's such a good player. He's such a good guy, but he cannot win this. No, like he cannot win this. I'd said before as a joke, like I hope the Americans do really well because they get all the championship points away from my competitors. And then when he was like top, top four or something, I said, you can stop now. And then he just kept going. yeahpping I'm like, wait, I have to shut this. Yeah. And you're kind of in a, not a pickle necessarily, but you have, you have to perform fairly decent at NAIC. Right. My time to be able to get that travel award.
00:35:54
Speaker
um i ah My focus is not on it. Before... So here's the thing, right? I booked New Orleans before I won Utrecht, so I never had the intention of like you know winning it and then I had to have Trailor. That was never on my mind in the first place. It was only after winning Utrecht. And then as it progressed on, I knew before and of course, I was going to cast Stokleman to Bologna, so I knew that at's stock after I wouldn't really get a chance for championship points besides beating up the technical and stats standard locals. Um, but I always thought like I need a top four or something, which seems actually quite manageable. I've been quite informed. The amount of leads that I call lately is beyond ridiculous. You're wasting them all on practice. You'll see that I exactly that. I'm jinxing this to the max and I'm just gonna go to, um, but now I need a top two. Oh, I don't feel like that is very
00:36:50
Speaker
There's a very high chance. i I know I'm very good, but there's other players, right? There's about 300 players. What are the odds that I... You know, if I was really that good, I'd win everything. And I played a practice tournament today, lost two matchups. I'm upset. um yeah but I would have been out of the tournament already. So, you know, everything is possible. But the top two is a lot to ask for. And the bittersweet thing about it, if I were to make it, is that I would knock out my friend Scaffa out of top eight. and I would not be happy with that. um And if I got top four, I would get stipend and I would knock out Pablo Dinos, who already, yeah you know, I can't exactly, I don't want to do it out of the stipend.
00:37:37
Speaker
I think it's something to say that our community is so tight knit and we're all so close to each other that that's even a conversation to have. like i would i hold against Do I really want to do well ah because that would knock somebody else down? I think that i think that's very interesting ah because I don't know if that's a consideration that other games have. I'm not gonna, let me, let me make this clear. that I'm not gonna throw just so someone else. so it's There's no conversation. In fact, um I know fewer people in the US than in Europe, so I will be playing against less friends, I hope, so I can have less remorse after knocking someone down. It's gonna be fantastic. Yeah, if I win. But I just feel like there's less pressure for me right now. I'm not counting on travel awards,
00:38:27
Speaker
So for myself, that's that's that's great. I know that other players though, such as Zardy are still really fighting for each other. So they're still like for many others, a lot at stake, right? I'm going to have to talk to sell a lot of people who need to qualify. Yeah. look Also qualify, get their final qualifying points. Yeah. Like momma climbs as well. Right. Yeah. but Because from NA it's like from most parts of NA it's cheapest to fly to a Y. So the most accessible, I would argue. It's not, I don't think it I would call it accessible for anybody. No, it's like someone on West Coast or maybe even Midwest, you know, like even eight hours flight sounds ridiculous. lot Right. but yeah like line know Mine is about eight and a half. Exactly. But as opposed to like 20 hours,
00:39:12
Speaker
um kind of, kind of, I would, I would say, I think I was more attractive for most US players. I think most EU players when they saw a wire at first was like, wow, that's a dream location. Maybe not for us though. No, I'm very excited. Yeah, what do you call it? Expensive grease? Yes. Thank you. No, no, she's just repeating you. She's not calling it that. I'm saying, I think that's what I've heard you call it. I've never been to Greece, so I can't really say to compare. We'll come on over. We'll see Greece next year. We'll see Greece next year. Let's do it. Hey, I would totally be for that as well. Greece is a great place, but yeah.
00:39:49
Speaker
Yeah, I think I was too, like, don't get me wrong, like, obviously, it's very remote stuff for place to get there. But I think the one goal world has to be is to be very memorable. And that's it's a just like Yokohama was last year, I was a unique place, like a place you might not come ever again, especially as a European. So gives me extra motiveive motivation. After today, still to go. ah defa have you been to all the worlds, all two of them? Have you been to all the worlds so far? um I did not go to the first worlds in London, but I did go to Yokohama. Cool. And that was really fun because I took two weeks with my husband. We traveled all around. We went to Osaka for the Go Fest.
00:40:34
Speaker
got to see all different kinds of places. um I'm hoping, so he and I, we're gonna get spectator passes, hopefully, and then we're gonna spectate and watch Worlds. But my goal is to maybe spend a little bit less time in the convention center this time watching, because we're gonna be in Hawaii. Good point. You should go. The drawers could also like watch Pokemon. ah He humors me. He humors me. So he has an account. I think he's level 41. Okay. Okay. That's like Leo. It's like Leo, Crowcaster. So I will have, um in back in the Silph days with in-person Silph tournaments, I would make him go and participate because we needed numbers. So so he like he understands it and he thinks it's really cool what I do. um And he'll play every once in a while. Nice. You know what? I think it's also cool what you're doing.
00:41:24
Speaker
to I think it's cool what you're doing too. You guys are very cool. Before I ask a question, I want this controversial question soon. But before that, like first one more thing about NAC. What are you like your expectations, right? We have a meta update. It's going to be like the one tournament with a meta update before rules. What are your expectations? um Quagsire, I think Shadow Quagsire is probably gonna win. um That just looks so good right now. If it's not gonna win, NAIC, it'll win Worlds. It looks so solid right now. So that's that's one prediction, I think. I think it's it looks really, really good. um So that would be the one thing I'm really looking forward to. I hope some people bring something silly like, let's see a Thunder Punch Typhlosion in there somewhere.
00:42:15
Speaker
But i think I think with the meta shakeup, I think Quagsire comes out to be a big winner. I don't even know if that's silly. I kind of think a Thunder Punch Typhlosion could pop off. But I also thought that about Shadow for Alligator, and then like it was just not used at all for like the first half of the the last meta that we were in. Are any of these on your team, Martine, or are you not going to give us any of a sneak preview before it starts? I think the Pokemon that I will bring do not include Typhlosion and Freligatr currently. I am very much considering Typhlosion though. okay It has some, but sometimes when I'm thinking about like a team and I just like evaluate how is this actually looking against like a spicy Corebreaker. I know in NA, pass it on around as well. So I need to keep that in mind too, into some of my teams.
00:43:06
Speaker
And then Typhlosion actually really screwed over like five out of six of my Pokémon. I'm like, hold up. What if someone brings this, you know? um I think it has insane coverage. And especially because in the current meta, so many Pokémon get to their charge stacks in like 10 turns, like five fast stacks. Typhlosion is now one of them. And considering it wins like charge stack purity over about everything, you win for Ralligator on even energy, even shields, even Gligar. It doesn't really like it as much. You can force way more two shield scenarios just because you're so quick. Vayralt, I didn't think it, but you win the two shields, just go straight Thunder Punch. okay And another interesting thing, um Incinerate on Typhlosion is so good that even when resisted, still does more than Shadow Claw neutral. Like Typhlosion, it has play.
00:43:59
Speaker
I just think it's difficult to build around it. That's what I have found today in my practice tournament. And it gets walled by Quagsire, which is going to win Worlds, so. You don't want to see how much, a blog actually, you might want to see how much it gets. I was going to say, a blast burn from Typholosion will stain anything. um The other Pokemon I'm excited for after it won't be an NAIC, but for Worlds, I want to see Gudra get a little bit of love at Worlds. Thunder Punch Gudra, I think, is really interesting. I was talking about it with Homeslice Henry yesterday. That was last night. um But I was talking with Olmslice Henry about it, and he's really excited as well. Cuz I was curious, like are there any matchups where you'd prefer power whip? But not really. like you Power up and Thunder Punch give you a lot of the same coverage. And Thunder Punch, you just get to so much faster. And I just really love that it gives Goudre, it puts it in a unique position where it is a dragon that has coverage for Skarmory. It makes it even Goudre.
00:44:55
Speaker
It makes it even gooter. You are correct. That's what I like. You're cutting out. You got to go. It just gives it way more neutral play in in this meta, right? I love that about Gudra. I wish, I really wish it was available for NAIC. But then again. I think people will bring it to worlds. Yeah, likely, likely. And maybe we have more Poco might have. You know, since it's still like two months for that as well. Yeah, no, I do like those predictions.
Competitive Meta Insights
00:45:22
Speaker
QuackSire was also very ah prominent in the practice tournament of today. I believe I had 36 teams and 15 of them had shadow QuackSire.
00:45:31
Speaker
so It's been around. It's just so good. It's Aqua Tail and Stone Edge is such good coverage for it as well. I think with Scald going back to that 30%, kind of where it should be, maybe even less. Yeah, exactly. I think that'll make room for Quagsire, I think. Yeah. All right, controversial question time. Who's your favorite customer?
00:45:59
Speaker
um and to Work with and to watch let's double it up oh to our oh we got her oh um the best cap i've Ever worked with and the caster I like to watch most yeah, um you can't say an eloquence Well, we've never worked together. yes But honestly, and I know it's like, you may believe me or not, but my favorite cast this year was with you, Amanda, in Los Angeles. that was That was so nice. I think we had instant chemistry, and even though we had never casted together before. And I think i really do think that was ah my personal strongest cast of the season. And I think it helps that it makes that happen if you have a really good partner.
00:46:44
Speaker
Yeah, I was like, not worried before him, but surprised how well that we gelled, you know, because I was like, I think halfway through, we're looking at each other like, like, this is going super, super well. Yeah, so this is because sometimes it can be a challenge doing your first cast with someone, but just finding that synergy of like, okay, like, how much does this person like to talk about this, even though you listen to someone, it's different when you're actually like in a booth with them and you're like trying to figure out, okay, like, do Does this person like to talk more about this or you know are they more analytical? Do they want to take the hype moments? Do they want to call out the leads? It's a whole one lot of different ah formulations going through your mind. There's not enough controversy in here. don't I don't like this. hu But it's good to hear that that worked well for you both. and Maybe you can get a few rounds as well as any I see.
00:47:31
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, we can that would do rotating. I know that they seem to usually prefer an NA to do set pairs, which I'm not, I don't have anything against it because I do think it helps build up like synergy with the, but yeah, but you guys got to rotate. So yeah, maybe I would never cast it with feed before. So he's fun. He's very analytical. He's definitely an analytical mind and he's big on the puns. He's big on the stillies. So there, there have definitely been times where we're off camera and I will just like, he'll say something that is just so. Borderline stupid. I'll just like, I'll just like turn and stare at him. yeah we We play landscape together and I recognize this sometimes I'm like, please. We're, we're, ah we're doing something here.
00:48:20
Speaker
no and move It's very funny. And a couple of times he's called, like he'll verbally say on the cast, like, Stephanie, stop staring at me. And I'm like, you're making it worse. Why are you doing this? He's such a sweetheart. He's very fun to work with. Very and incredibly intelligent, extremely intelligent. um And i think I think it's great to work, because he his thing is like the numbers and the analysis and the statistics. And that's definitely one of my weaker areas, so I think it's great to pair two casters that have different strengths. So I think that's why Phoebe and I work pretty well together, because our strengths are different. go And who's your favorite to watch?
00:49:05
Speaker
Even saying that, now I have to think. I wasn't prepared for all of these controversial questions. Yeah, normally it was me at the beginning being like mean and controversial, but Martina's really like taken the wheel of this over the past couple of months. Once you start roasting me, I'm going to try to take you down. That's true, it's true. yeah
00:49:22
Speaker
Who do I like to listen to most? I mean- Make sure, yeah. So i'm I'm thinking more of NA because those, ah to be honest, those are the casts I watched the most consistently because they're in my time zone. I try to go back, like I watched um day two of Bologna, but it was after the fact. And I ended up like fast forwarding through certain parts. Cause like, cause there's more time now. It's late now and we gotta go. ah just beat me to in But N.A.s, a lot of times for N.A. casts, because I'll be awake and doing stuff, I'll like sit and do my GBL sets while I watch or something. So those are the ones I tend to watch more frequently. So I tend to have a little bit more experience with our N.A. group. um I think Speedy is definitely the most talented of all of us. I think he's the most versatile of all of us. He can fit in any role and do any role well.
00:50:14
Speaker
It's really funny to listen to Butters. I get a lot of enjoyment listening to Butters. He's like a two meter puppy, right? I know. What's that? Six? Golden Retriever. Six foot Golden Retriever. I enjoy back in production, Butters has his own like setting. Like the sound guy has a Butters button. Because when he pops off, he gets so loud. And I think that's really fun. I think like his energy is so contagious. And when he's excited about something, um it just, it fills the room. Like when he's excited about something, it's hard not to smile and be excited too. And I think that's a really good quality to have. So I would say, I would say between those two will, because I think we all have a lot that we can learn from him because he's so good at so many different things. And then butter is just from the raw excitement, the golden retriever energy.
00:51:05
Speaker
have you Have you paired with them before? I think you paired with Speedy before, right? no Yes. I've never casted with Butters. That would be quite... I feel like they'd have to put, like, stack a couple chairs next to Butters. Listen, listen. At EYC, we were paired for, like, one of the last rounds, and at some point he was like, okay, if this gets exciting, I'm actually gonna stand up. You know i'm I'm not super tall and I was sitting in my chair because my voice was broken after Palasz's game, right? So I was like leading a little back in my chair and then he stands up. i I don't even I need to look like this so he so Like how do you even see the screen he has to look like like this to the screen
00:51:50
Speaker
When I was a- Him and Ryze are both incredibly tall. I really found it funny when I interviewed Ryze on the floor in Los Angeles, because everybody, like, my arm is doing this. I'm sure that I didn't go back and watch chat, but I'm sure everybody was just noting how silly, because it was either going to be you or me. Yeah, exactly. the height and it It didn't matter. Six in one, half a dozen in the other. It was going to look silly no matter what. but I thought that was funny. When I was SME-ing at Worlds last year, because yeah, Butters, when he does matches and they get high piece, he stands. And it was just funny because I was like doing graphics and I wasn't looking. And all of a sudden I just looked up and Caleb was standing too because he just wanted to like match them. But then all you could see was just their tummies. You know, so I was like, what's going on on screen? Because it's like no one warned me that they were standing all of
Energy Management in Casting
00:52:37
Speaker
a sudden. So I was just I just started laughing. And then I took a photo of it to send to them later.
00:52:41
Speaker
But yeah, that's also a tip, I guess, question mark. ah People are looking to get into the casting side of things. It's like sometimes just to even switch up your energy, it's nice to be able to stand or do something that's slightly different that just kind of gets you out of the the regular zone that you're in. Because talking about like first cast to where we are now, like listen if I think if I listened back, it was just like very monotone in comparison to like what we do nowadays, I think it was just more like Yeah. Just talking versus actually casting something and getting people drawn in. I feel like to me, it's like every single broadcast is an opportunity to improve. Yes. A hundred percent. And then I still look back and like I'm not satisfied. I'm about myself. I don't know if you guys are the same like that. You know, you're always looking at like, I always look at the things I do wrong. Never at the things I do right.
00:53:38
Speaker
Yep, that's something Jim and I have talked about well as well. We're we're definitely our own harshest critics Yeah, where I think people so ah I'm sure a lot of people look at my first cast in Indianapolis like oh you did fine and Like you did like that was fine and I like can't look at it and not think of like everything that went wrong So and I'm Jim feels the same way I know like he looks back and thinks of everything that didn't go well When a lot of people really enjoyed his first cast in India Yeah, I think the big thing is just like, yeah, we're obviously are always going to be our own worst critic of stuff. And we probably pay attention to ourselves more than other people pay attention to us as well. So something that may seem like a big flub is going to be easily forgotten by someone else, you know, a little bit down the road. ah At the beginning, I was like really trying to watch all the cast to analyze and get better. And I don't do it as I still like to watch it because um I clipped stuff for my blog, but it's not as
00:54:34
Speaker
I'm not as hard on myself as I was before you know being like oh like you really screwed this up or you know it's like I didn't want to get down on yourself for like doing something that should be fun and making it enjoyable for other people as well yeah yeah it's also like other specifics maybe that you look uh yeah exactly that you're you're like more more looking for rather than you know sometimes I stumble a little bit of my words like yeah It happens, whatever. It happens twice a broadcast, we move on, yeah right? that That's not as big of a deal anymore, but, you know. Yeah, but you're navigating two languages. I was just going to say that. Which is already, like, super impressive. That is indeed. When I look at the EU team, you know, where like when we're also at TGC, I'm like, is there anyone not British here? It's just me and Leo. you Usually it's just me and Leo who are, like, not non-native. I'm not British. Okay, well.
00:55:29
Speaker
Native English. Yeah, it's true and so this time also Abhi, of course. And sometimes, though. Yeah. um Shall we lead into our final concluding question? Yeah, but well, before that, you briefly touched on it when you were talking about your like the battle frontier team, that because you're playing with the queen bees, which is all like ladies team, which is awesome, by the way. um And I guess for people who are listening, or maybe that are women but don't really know how to get connected with other women battlers? like What would be something that you would suggest?
Women in Pokemon Competitions
00:56:05
Speaker
ah How can they get hooked up with something similar? And I'm definitely pointing this towards Girls That PvP. Yes. So I can definitely give you a link to put in the show notes for the Girls That PvP Twitter account. That's a really good way ah to get in contact. I love the Girls That PvP server. Girls That PvP is more of like
00:56:24
Speaker
It's a movement, it's like a spirit, it's an idea, but it also has, we have a home discord server. And it's definitely like, if I didn't have like a local community, like it in person, like I would consider, I mostly consider girls that PVP my home community, ah just cause that's the server that I spend the most time in. it Everyone is so supportive because it can be really hard. and Like for example, um there are things for women going to these tournaments that men don't really have to think about. Um, even just like when I was going to LA and I had my horrible travel experience, being by myself in the remote Uber lot at two in the morning, like that's scary. Like that's tough to do. That's something that necessarily men don't have to consider for like their safety. That's not something that's always like forefront of mind.
00:57:15
Speaker
Um, I really love, and there's a lot of women's communities. I love that the TCG community, uh, the women's community there, they always have like a team mom, like someone who will go around, like who is there for support. Uh, in the girls at PVP server, we're always looking like, Oh, okay. Who's in the bracket? Who are we rooting for? ah just It's just all really supportive and encouraging. And we have a channel in there specifically for if like you're having a bad day and you just want to talk about it and you just get flooded with support. And it's just really, really nice. I think we just have a really good way of lifting each other up.
00:57:49
Speaker
and helping each other with battling, like no question is stupid. Like if whether you're entry level or you're working on, you know, perfecting your world's team, like we have support for each other. And that's something that I really love about it as well. That's one thing that I really liked as well about it is just like, no matter what your battle skill level is, because I mean, the the server definitely has varying levels of this, it's like, but everyone's committed to kind of like, helping each other grow. And you know, helping trainers who are a little bit newer at it get better. And then we see people like that just completely pop off now at regionals. so I'm thinking of like little Sparty, you know, who was like just an incredible battler now and getting more well-known within the the circuit as well. So yeah, highly recommend for people, ah ladies, sorry, gentlemen. ah But I think that this is truly a safe space for for women and and encourage them to check it out if they're interested in getting hooked up.
00:58:46
Speaker
Yep, and that's all women, LGBTQ, trans women are women. So that is all all inclusive there. So ah what for women. I'm ready. I'm ready. Leading in, I think we can go for it to our final question. this I'm prepared for this one. Okay. I just want to say like, like it's always like, ah i find out I'm always like a little bit happy when Paula makes it the talk as well too. You know, I think encouraging women to get involved in battling is important indeed. um are staple question. This is what we usually ask all of our guests at the end of the broadcast. We have aim a mad champion and we have a crap roller. We're gonna start with the crap roller. The crap roller is someone who is not super well known within the community or as a name in general, but who could be really good popping off, maybe winning worlds. And the mad champion is someone you know, who we already know and is likely to win worlds. Who would be your crap roller and who would be your mad champion?
00:59:46
Speaker
All right. Well, I'm stealing your question and only slightly repurposing it. So I want to use the Criballer question to highlight all of the fantastic women of go that have qualified of this season. So, Andres, of course, of Spain, Rocket Claire, we have Enhofe, who is qualified, Birds of Prey has qualified, and then in LATAM, Jumeunas. And I don't really know this one, but Daniel Lupin qualified out of LATAM, and I would love to get to know her. I think she's coming to NAIC. I'm hoping to this list we're going to get to add Mama Climes and Mushroom Queen and Mama Fitzy.
01:00:22
Speaker
as well to the go list and that so those are our women who have qualified but of course we have a but champion and my champion is definitely Paula she has had the most I think impressive season out of all the women in the go community um definitely has the most like accolades out of everybody this season and when she does well like I am just popping off like it was very very good I think Paula on a good day um easily takes the this like the bologna tournament i think her on a good day wins that you know 10 times out of 10 i think she just get i think she can get in ah her own head a little bit but on a good day i i i think she's better than collin that happens to anyone but that happens that's a controversial thing she was like she was one wrong swap away from the grand finals yes
01:01:13
Speaker
Literally, she's it was one. That's crazy. That's the that one moment of the wrong swap. Then she makes grand finals and I personally think she wins. So But sometimes it's hard to come back when you make a mistake like that, especially when you're on stream. It is so hard to come back from that. So I think Paula out of all of us has the best shot at winning worlds. I think she could definitely do it. I would just want to piggyback on that. I think Paula is also one of the most gracious losers because you can tell she recognizes it in her own like face.
01:01:44
Speaker
Like when the batch, when she knows that there's no coming back from it. She's very expressive. And she'll like sometimes she'll even put like, she'll applaud the other player in the middle of it or something too. It's just like, you know, that she's doing all that she could, but at the same point she's, you know, she's not letting it get her down too far. And another fun fact about Paula is she qualified for worlds but without any points from locals originally. I mean, I do think that she has played in a couple of local since then to gain. some points to be at the top of the leaderboard pretty much, but to, I mean, to to basically make it to the top of the EU leaderboard just by regional performance alone is so damn impressive. It is incredibly impressive. I also want to take a moment as well to acknowledge that there are probably some really awesome women that I don't know from the APAC region, maybe even some from the Latem region. I think it's just Xium Yunez and Daniel Lupin. I was looking on the leaderboards if I'm missing someone
01:02:38
Speaker
then maybe it's just someone I don't know as well yet, and I'm excited to get to know. But I wish there was more coverage for our APAC trainers, because I'm sure there's a lot of great women out there. I watched a little bit of the Japan tournament, the Japan qualifiers, and there was one woman who like absolutely was out there kicking butt, um in the or like I think in that first Swiss round. So I i would love to see more um coverage for them in like English-speaking streams, so North American trainers, European trainers, can get to know some of their stories as well. It's a little bit difficult, right? Because they have like one tournament year ah per per season,
Worlds Contenders Analysis
01:03:14
Speaker
to qualify. It's like a whole yeah day long. I've no doubt that indeed they're out there. um There was something I want to add onto the Balasha story, but I forgot. Yeah, she's good. that's the the She's fantastic. ah I absolutely love her battle. She is Europe's hope to win the world championships. I'll say that. If I had to vote for someone,
01:03:35
Speaker
as cocky as I am, I think we'll be bowler. She's fantastic. So definitely MIMA champion hands down, but I also wanted to use your Kerballer question to really acknowledge that we have so many awesome women in this community who are doing great things and having a lot of success out there. yeah No, I like that. Thank you so much for yeah highlighting some extra people as well. And thank you for taking time to be able to be on this podcast. It's a pleasure. It was so much fun casting with you in l LA. I'm looking forward to seeing you within a couple of days in New Orleans as well. And Martine, I guess also, I'm excited to see you. It's been a while. Yeah. I'm surprised Martine didn't ask me any controversial questions about shadow Pokemon.
01:04:15
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Oh, we should end actually on that. That's going to use six shadow Pokemon to win all of it. That is that is the ending note. Well, we will talk about this real quick because you have kind of a tradition that is all for most Pokemon go players. And this is that you refuse to use shadow Pokemon in your lineup. Explain to us why. I can't believe I forgot this. Because it's so late. What time is it for you right now? Is it like three in the morning? That would be why. um roll gotta to get Gotta get you trained to be in the US in a couple days. But no, I just, it really bothers me that it breaks the narrative of the game. That the narrative of the game, what the game is telling you is that these Pokemon are suffering. These Pokemon are hurting.
01:05:02
Speaker
and you're supposed to purify them and rescue them.
Shadow Pokemon Debate
01:05:05
Speaker
And it bothers me, a couple different things bother me. um It bothers me that they gave Shadow Pokemon this amazing bonus and didn't do the same for purified Pokemon to make them um equally good or better in PvP. Like that's frustrating. And it also is just frustrating to me like, but then why is the game telling you that they're suffering and they're hurt and we need to rescue them? then don't, if you're gonna make it so Shadow Pokemon are better for PvP, then don't do that. what if you have's just my It's my little- What if you have ranked one Shadow Sableye? I have a lot of ranked one Shadows that I think that I hang out with and I show people, like, look at this thing that I'm never gonna use. Or sometimes I'll show people and then I'll purify it in front of them. Like, i'll I've purified Shadow Mutus in front of people. I think I did that with you in Toronto, Martine. I think I purified, I just like purified a Shadow Mutus. So sometimes I keep them around just for funsies.
01:05:57
Speaker
to show people. Did you just confess to? I have some shadow. Oh, you're keeping her Pokemon hostage in your Pokemon. Release them. Release them. I do keep them around. There's one that I keep that I'm really excited for. I want for my platinum purify badge. I have a 98% shadow Mewtwo and I'm excited. I want that to be my platinum purification badge. You're just waiting for the right victim. To be fair. No, that one I'm going to record and put on social media. i Actually, and i would never I would do that one too, actually, I think. and on the On the official broadcast, maybe. Oh, there we go. great but That would be That would be a fantastic meme. All right, on that note, we'll let Sleepy Mark time go to sleep. Actually, pretty weird. OK, well, then we'll just go on for another hour.
01:06:54
Speaker
oh no but it's good i think i do think it's funny when martine like talks about shadow pokemon on social media and i'm just like no thank you and sometimes it's better like for alligator yeah i think the regular for alligators better because you can take a move from gligar a lot easier you say this you say this but if gligar doesn't throw any moves after that it farms down though still but I have found it out the hard way. But a lot of times they'll still throw moves after, so yeah it ends up working out. i like I prefer that style of gameplay anyway. like I prefer the bulkier Pokemon. I prefer being able to take a hit if I need to. So you not using Shadow Pokemon also just fits with my general PvP play style. Makes sense, yeah. I play styles of RPS, so I don't know. You just need luck. Just tap, tap on your screen. It's not luck if you do that. Hence the name of the show.
01:07:44
Speaker
And speaking of that, on that note, episodes of Tap, Tap Casts come out on Thursdays. Thank you so much, D4A, for being the guest this week, and we will catch you guys in the next one.
01:07:58
Speaker
to