Featured Rater #9 - rob.

[IronBullet]

Banner by Honus​

Welcome to the Featured Rater project! This is a series of interviews where we ask official Team Raters, new and old, several questions about the RMT forum and their experiences within it. We hope that this offers both entertainment and an insight into their thought processes, which aspiring raters can look to incorporate into their own rates. This project is hosted by Snowy. and myself. Our ninth interviewee is rob., an experienced rater who has shown a lot of dedication to RMT on both the forums and PS!

rob.
​

Tell us a little bit about your life outside Smogon.

I live an analogous life. I live in NYC and I'm business administration major at Baruch. In my spare time, I play pokemon and create hip-hop/rap beats through maschine and various DAWs; if the business career doesn't work out I'll start producing music for the messiah, the 6 g-o-d, Drake. I learned Braille around the same time I learned to read. And I remember when I was a little boy, I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in Braille, and I used to rub the dirty parts.

What is your main tier? Do you rate teams from any other tiers?

I only rate OU teams. I think UU is interesting though so once I get a grasp on the meta I'll probably start rating UU teams as well.

When did you start rating and why?

I started rating during the end of XY, at the time I felt that my understanding of popular concepts/schemes as well as complex gameplans would afford me the luxury of helping others improve their team building. For awhile I had no internet and used my phone to lurk the RMT section of the forum where I rated a bunch of teams out of boredom. I annoyed pokeaim a bit and asked him for some tips and soon after I got my first badge.

Are there any raters who you looked up to when you started rating?

BKC is one. I was lurking in the Past Gen Teams portion of the forums and noticed that a huge portion of the teams that were posted were rated by BKC. I read a lot of his rates, edited the op's team accordingly, and tested the changes. I was really amazed about how much better the team performed because of his advice. Unbirthday was another rater I looked up to, her explanations of changes were flawless and the length of a lot of her rates showed how much time she put into the rates.

What do you most enjoy about rating?

In my opinion, the most important part of rating is helping the op understand why their other options were sub-optimal. If raters were to just throw out changes without explanations, the op would just receive an improved team and no knowledge of why their ideas weren't working. With thorough explanations the op's posted team is improved and hopefully they will build better teams in the future.

Do you follow a process with your rates?

Not really, just find what's wrong -> find what would help -> explain how it would help -> repeat.

As a current respected team rater, do you have any words of advice for aspiring raters out there?

The most important thing to do is to learn the metagame first. It's pretty easy to spot users that spout things that they don't know or don't fully understand. Plus you'll be better equipped to help, you will give much better advice, and you will be able to thoroughly explain changes/concepts.

What are your thoughts on the RMT forum? If you could change one thing about it, what would it be?

Having more accomplished players post their teams would bring more attention to the section and undoubtedly would improve the quality of posts in RMT.

As a mod in the Competitive Tutoring room, do you like the idea of the CT + RMT teambuilding workshops? Do you have any other ideas for potential activities or events that could be run in collaboration?

I enjoyed the last workshop. I suppose we could choose a few users from CT and RMT to show a common tactic and have them build a team around a core of our choosing that could execute said tactic well. Then have the RMT and CT auth rate said teams and finally have a little tour where the contestants are required to execute the tactic.

Do you have a RMT or a team you could share with us?

Show

Scizor (F) @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 44 Atk / 16 Def / 124 SpD / 76 Spe
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Roost

Garchomp (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 240 HP / 168 Def / 100 Spe
Impish Nature
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Dragon Tail
- Stealth Rock

Azumarill @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Knock Off
- Aqua Jet
- Belly Drum

Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 184 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Defog
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Healing Wish

Raikou @ Assault Vest
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 SpA / 32 SpD / 228 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Extrasensory

Manaphy @ Salac Berry
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 72 HP / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
Timid Nature
- Tail Glow
- Scald
- Psychic
- Ice Beam

The team is decent against any archetype and revolves around a manaphy, azumarill, or m-scizor sweep, with support from avest raikou and healing wish latias. garchomp is the glue that sets hazards and takes care of whatever scizor, latias, or raikou can't handle.

Lastly, can you give us an example of a rate that exemplifies your particular style?

I would rather post a rate by TDK, it's a great example of a perfect rate. TDK does a great job of explaining every suggestion in great detail and it's evident by its length and quality that he took his time when writing it.

------------

Thanks for a great interview rob! Feel free to leave any questions you have for him below. See you all next time

 

[Mur]

That's pretty cool that you make beats :] Have you ever made a beat for anyone somewhat notable be it an underground rapper in you area or someone with a bit of fame?

I also agree that teams used successfully in tours could drastically improve the quality of the forum! How would you get tour players to make rmts more often?

 

[blank]

why did you go from having an obsession with travis scott to absolutely hating him? i'd prefer if you answer this question in the form of a rant c;

global voice when?

 

[AD impish john]

Do you eat Oreos with milk or without milk?

Do you have any suggestions for how I can become a better rater?

 

[TPP]

How did you come up with your name and why is there a period at the end?

Was it cause you ROBbed a store for that magazine?

 

[rob.]

How did you come up with your name and why is there a period at the end?
Was it cause you ROBbed a store for that magazine?

lol its my name in real life, I didnt want the period but 'rob' was already taken

How does it feel knowing that you gave me my first like ever?

:) i took your smogon virginity

Do you eat Oreos with milk or without milk?

Do you have any suggestions for how I can become a better rater?

without milk. I already think you're a great rater thats really dedicated to improving the section

why did you go from having an obsession with travis scott to absolutely hating him? i'd prefer if you answer this question in the form of a rant c;

global voice when?

Scott steals swag/content. "Take "Basement Freestyle," where he follows up a Kanye/Cudi-biting opening salvo with a second verse that openly apes Big Sean. (That "Later on got a ring, ring, ring ring" part is exactly how Sean would say that line). Or, take "Backyard," another swagger-jack gumbo. The first verse's flow is straight out of Drake's Take Care era (think "Look What You've Done"), the first part of the hook sounds just like the Weeknd, and the second part of the chorus—the "Backyard we chillin' / Backyard we drinkin' smokin' / Homie brought out the liquor" part—is in that textbook Kendrick Lamar patter. Go back to the second half of the second verse of "Zombies," and he shifts from imitating Kanye to imitating Chief Keef, at one point mimicking Keef's own voice; Scott's two biggest songs, "Upper Echelon" and "Quintana," likewise pay a suspicious amount of homage to Keef, Future, or both at once."

That's pretty cool that you make beats :] Have you ever made a beat for anyone somewhat notable be it an underground rapper in you area or someone with a bit of fame?

I also agree that teams used successfully in tours could drastically improve the quality of the forum! How would you get tour players to make rmts more often?

No I haven't. Everything I've made I've kept exclusively for myself even though I should sell some, it's just so hard to give away things you've worked so hard on. I don't have any tour player friends so I don't know how to get them to post lol.

 

[TPP]

Is this you irl?

What's your usual/favorite playstyle and if you could make a mon from UU,RU,NU, or PU more viable (maybe give it a mega), what mon would that be?

Are you a Knicks fan too?

 

[BreloomMyHomie]

How long did it take for you to get used to maschine(the controls, how to record, routing to Logic Pro X)? I'm not that kind of guy that's good with computers, but I'm contemplating on getting my own maschine.

 

[rob.]

Is this you irl?

What's your usual/favorite playstyle and if you could make a mon from UU,RU,NU, or PU more viable (maybe give it a mega), what mon would that be?

Are you a Knicks fan too?

lol !

YES I LOVE THE KNICKS!!

I'd probably give Feraligtr a mega and a dragon type!

How long did it take for you to get used to maschine(the controls, how to record, routing to Logic Pro X)? I'm not that kind of guy that's good with computers, but I'm contemplating on getting my own maschine.

It took a few months to learn the basics of music production, I'm still learning new things today. I'd say the best thing to do is just work with the maschine until you feel as though you've got a good grasp of how to use it well and then start with Logic. Learning to use too many things at once will stunt your growth a bit. Search alot on the internet, watch videos on youtube and talk to your friends about it maybe they know someone that could help. I spoke to my friend about production and found out that he's into it as well so the transition wasn't too difficult.

 

[AM]

What kind of beats do you prefer to make? You got motivated to get back into it again but always looked to see perspectives of fellow beat makers. Are you that dude that grabs some low key smoothness then chops it up and brings out his inner Dilla or am I once again subliminally influencing you like I do with mons with some smooth pads, 808s, and keys that bring me all the legal sisters of the world?

I always liked your rating process. Short, sweet, and simple nothing too out there take it or leave it approach. Do you believe that every potential rater should follow their own formula or have the short and sweet mentality I find a lot of good rates have?

What are some "underground" artists you've been listening to that I should check out?

If you're trying to sell beats get a fan base going on soundcloud. It's slow but it's a good community where you can make some legit connections. I've sold a couple off in the past and people are always hungry for beats. I'm around as always so here for tips as well for mixing and w/e.

Our convos always seem enigmatic when we do talk granted they're short and normally just us flaunting our personalities while we're reading opponents 5 turns ahead claiming our amazingness lol. How much do you apply a concept of this practicality of battling into rates to increase the effectiveness of a team? I mean it's probably one of those "well no duh" questions but sometimes I see these rates that try to improve a bunch of weaknesses on paper that don't take into account practicality. Do you believe newer raters would improve their rates by sort of understanding this concept? As in applying the meta knowledge to battling.

If you answered that last question idc cause I'm special n_n

CT so strong.

 

[rob.]

What kind of beats do you prefer to make? You got motivated to get back into it again but always looked to see perspectives of fellow beat makers. Are you that dude that grabs some low key smoothness then chops it up and brings out his inner Dilla or am I once again subliminally influencing you like I do with mons with some smooth pads, 808s, and keys that bring me all the legal sisters of the world?

I always liked your rating process. Short, sweet, and simple nothing too out there take it or leave it approach. Do you believe that every potential rater should follow their own formula or have the short and sweet mentality I find a lot of good rates have?

What are some "underground" artists you've been listening to that I should check out?

If you're trying to sell beats get a fan base going on soundcloud. It's slow but it's a good community where you can make some legit connections. I've sold a couple off in the past and people are always hungry for beats. I'm around as always so here for tips as well for mixing and w/e.

Our convos always seem enigmatic when we do talk granted they're short and normally just us flaunting our personalities while we're reading opponents 5 turns ahead claiming our amazingness lol. How much do you apply a concept of this practicality of battling into rates to increase the effectiveness of a team? I mean it's probably one of those "well no duh" questions but sometimes I see these rates that try to improve a bunch of weaknesses on paper that don't take into account practicality. Do you believe newer raters would improve their rates by sort of understanding this concept? As in applying the meta knowledge to battling.

If you answered that last question idc cause I'm special n_n

CT so strong.

I only really make hiphop/rap beats at the moment although I do have a bunch of unfinished beats that have a R&B vibe. I just can't get into them I think I'm just infatuated with harpischords, snare rolls, behind soul samples, with hard hitting 808s. lol dilla?? I literally can't even.

Raters should definitely follow their own formula as long as it's concise and to the point. I think I picked that up from reading BKC's rates. There's only so much you can do or suggest without ruining the team or creating another, which is never good. The best rates to me are filled with minor changes + a few battle scenarios.

Perrion, Bishop Nehru, Murs, Tree, Danny Watts, Mick Jenkins, Key Nyata, Moruf, there are a tons of em'. I swear I was the first to listen to Kendrick Lamar man I burned some CDs and gave it to all my friends and they're like wtf I'm not listening to this bullshit. Now they're driving down the highway screaming "WE GON BE AWWWWRIGHT."

I was scared of soundcloud cause I didn't want anyone stealing my shit and I was concerned about not being able to develop and expand a fan base there.

I always consider actual battle scenarios when rating since, like you said, improving a bunch of type-weaknesses doesn't translate into wins. If newer raters actually used the team on the ladder or against friends instead of trying to use some hubris level knowledge of everything then it'll be easy to implement concepts instead of new pokemon into their rates.

 

[Celticpride]

YES I LOVE THE KNICKS!!

Thoughts on: Porzingis ?

 

[rob.]

Thoughts on: Porzingis ?

He's dedicated, I think he put on about 10 pounds of muscle and counting + he's very skilled. I honestly see him being a bigger Dirk with more development.