Took me long enough to get around to this but I wanted to make sure to do it right. RBTT was the first tour I ever participated on this site, so to now be the first ever 4x champ is surreal. I've done a lot on this site, won many other tours (contrary to what
Wesleyy might tell you), but this may genuinely be the thing I am most proud of because of how much personal significance it has to me. I think you could make a whole ass history of the last 8 years of my life just by looking at RBTT lol. And ofc, most of that has to do with the people I've met through this tour, which brings me to all the shoutouts I need to make.
PrinceOfAllTacos you obviously get the first shoutout for leading this team with me. I can't name many people that match your enthusiasm and energy in team tours, it really brings all your team servers to life and inspired our players. I'm admittedly quite a pessimist, so when things got rough and we needed to claw our way back, your positivity shone through and gave us the boost we needed to not give up. It was very cool getting to manage with you after we've been friends all these years, and what an experience to win in our first outing as comanagers
JJ09LIE our r1 draft pick, I think it is common knowledge at this point that I am one of the biggest JJ fanboys on the site rn. I have been singing your graces ever since you started popping off, I just think the way you think about the game is so impressive and makes your games a hoot to watch. I will continue to tell anyone who will listen that you are one of the best to ever do it, I can only imagine you will continue to rise through the ranks of the elite and find yourself in the goat conversation one day.
RoFnA I was very insistent on you being our ss player from the onset because you have so much talent that I feel has only begun to be recognized. Whether it be OMs, UMs, rands or anything else, you always churn out elite performances that go well beyond what people expected. It does make me sad that eventually you're gonna be such a hot name I can no longer buy you for cheap or draft you as a late pick lol, but you absolutely deserve to be treated as the high level player you are.
Piyu The man who we built this draft around, and I think people will now be able to understand why. I always expected you to do well, but somehow you still managed to exceed my expectations with an absolutely insane 9-1 run. I know our thing is regularly calling each other ass at the game, but I will put a hiatus on the banter to say you have truly become one of the most exceptional players on smogon. Your SCL run + your RBTT run feels like it's going to be just the start of a long streak of dominance in any tour you touch.
c0mp For a player as critically acclaimed as yourself, it has always amazed me how down to earth and personable you are. After OUPL I knew I wanted to team with you again, because it's one thing to be good at the game, but it's another to be that good and also be such a fun person to hang around. A lotta people in your shoes would be wrapped in ego, I cannot speak enough about how much I respect you for your humility. I already know you're going to continue to be a powerhouse in tours on top of that, can't wait to continue to watch your career grow.
Dj Breloominati♬ The legitimate catalyst for this team, your advice to me made this team what it was. For context, after I lost OUPL finals I was quite depressed and seriously lacking motivation. DJ not only helped me feel better, but inspired me to form a team more around vibes and synergy than raw strength. I took this man's advice and ran with it, and now we're champs. I could not have gotten myself back on my feet like that without you, my most genuine thanks for all your words of wisdom and encouragement that ultimately led to this win.
O1V7O2X9O Dpp was the pool that really threw me for a loop this draft, I didn't really know what to do there but poat told me you had the sauce and I decided to trust him. And holy moly you do have that sauce. I can't believe you were undrafted last year but I seriously can't see that ever happening again, you have proven that you belong in this tour. You were also a great chat presence to have, pretty much all your qualities make up the ideal player that managers should look for when they wanna form teams that are both strong and fun.
Glop An RBTT icon, you know when you get the glop he's gonna bring the party to your house. Another one of our lively members that kept people inspired even when you were going through adversity. I greatly appreciate you taking adv when I know you would have probably preferred ss, and not only that, but always giving it your best effort as well. There are a lotta people who prolly woulda been less motivated in that spot but you came to win every week no matter what, and that is a seriously amazing quality for a player to have.
Kurt Kappa I don't often take a chance on players with no tour experience, but something about your tryout message gave me the vibe that you'd both be a good teammate and would do well here. But idt anyone could have predicted the chill guy just wanting to play some gsc rands to become the most beloved member on the team and put up a crazy good performance in your first forum tour ever. We all need to see more kurt kappa in rands tours in the future, I imagine you'll be a mainstay in RBTT and WCOR for years to come.
Kipkluif A good friend of mine for years now, between LCPL and RBTT we have now pretty much made it our thing to be rated last and then win the whole thing LOL. You have so much more talent than people recognize, like a lotta people on this team it pains me that people will start catching onto that soon and I won't always be able to get you, but it also makes me happy that you'll be getting more opportunities now. Any team environment profits from your vibes and strong play, rands has really gained a standup individual with you in the community.
Ivar57 Your willingness to play whatever was needed on any given week, whether it be rands or hc or bf, was really more pivotal to our success than I think people realize. I knew I could trust you to put your best effort forward no matter where you were slotted, and you really saved our asses turning around our bf slot's fortune at the end of the season. I'd def like to see you in more rands tours in the future, you have a high ceiling and idt you've even scraped the surface of your potential yet.
DerpySuX The lifeblood of our team, idt anyone can deny you as our most enthusiastic member. When we were in the trenches you were undoubtedly the one who believed in us the most to bounce back, and that went a long way to inspiring the rest of the troops to not give up just yet. I know you wish you put up a better record, but remember that even the best players on this site have had rough seasons. I would not be surprised at all to see you absolutely dominate this pool next year. Also looking forward to the tattoos.
rabbit13 Genuinely one of the nicest, most wholesome guys I've had the opportunity to interact with on this site. A lot of people take getting drafted in tours for granted, but you showed your genuine appreciation every week and did everything in your power to pay us back for the opportunity. What idt you realize is that your sheer presence and positivity paid us back enough, teaming with you was a real joy and I can't name many people who bring such a warm nature to any space they inhabit.
odr The man I've known longer than anyone on this team, we truly have a storied history between us. I really saw this tour as our redemption arc for RBTT3, it truly heals my heart how we were able to reconnect and restore our friendship. I know we made amends a while ago but this tour really put the cherry on top. Idt I have to even say anything about how skilled you are in this message cause everyone already knows that, you've been a titan in rands for as long as I can remember and you'll continue to be until the day you retire.
Career Ended I really wanted to get you some games in your preferred metas this tour and am very sorry it didn't end up happening. but I'm glad you said winning made it all worth it in the end. You gave your all to bf despite that meta being the bane of everyone's existence and that is truly commendable. I hope to continue to see you in rands tours so you can show people what you're truly capable when playing better metas, I know you're more than capable of going ultra positive and it's just a matter of time before that's a reality.
devin One of my best friends on this site, I know that irl hasn't been too kind to you lately and that played a huge part in you not putting up the performances you wanted to this tour. Despite that, you were constantly practicing bf whenever you were in lineup and always tried your best in your games no matter what you were going through. That mental fortitude will take you far not just in mons but in life as a whole, and once you're back on your feet I know you'll come back to RBTT and show what you can really do at 100%.
goldmason Always a dependable team player, you showed up when we needed you and were always on standby whenever was necessary. I know you're mostly known for hosting these days but you genuinely have a promising career in competitive if you choose to go that route. You success undoubtedly comes from your total dedication in whatever job you're performing, just keep on doing what you're doing and you're gonna become one of the most recognized, iconic users on this site.
frostyicelad A staple of the randbats community for years now, I wish I got you more games but I also appreciate how you were always in the wings ready to step up when needed. If I do return to managing I'd like to get you a more dedicated starter position because I know you have the skills and determination to do well. Even if we didn't get to see much of you in action this tour it feels really nice to share this win with you after all the years we've known each other.
I'd also like to take a moment to appreciate our hosts and other playoff contenders, as they have definitely earned the love.
sharpclaw A Cake Wearing A Hat Thank you both not just for hosting, but for holding the community on your back for so many years. Rands would most definitely not be where it is today without all the hard work you guys have put in. I know I can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but I hope you know I genuinely respect you both for all you've done and continue to do even when it's not the most glamorous job in the world (and on that note, thank you as well for always putting up with me as well lol).
Roginald pokeblade101 I've said it a bunch now, but my primary desire for wanting to manage again was to face off against you guys. This tour seemed way too easy for managers of your caliber the past 2 years, after RBTT5 I was struggling to find the motivation to manage again but wanting to lock horns with you guys really gave me the fire I needed, and I think it made both of our teams even better. If this really is your last time managing, I hope everyone gives you your flowers for the legacy you've created in this tour.
Amaranth Syrinix I already spoke a bit about this in authcord but I wanted to include a message here as well, whenever you guys manage you put together the most fire drafts. I know going out in finals 2 years in a row is rough, I've been there myself and there's not much I can say to make it sting less. But there is not a doubt in my mind that you guys winning an RBTT is an inevitability, and I think it's going to come sooner rather than later. We're gonna see some retirements soon so I'm gonna be counting on you to continue to be the behemoths that RBTT needs.
Clem Dark Pulse I think there is something to be said for you guys being ranked last in official and personal prs 2 years in a row, then defying everyone's expectations and making playoffs. You clearly possess an ability to spot underrated talent that other people don't, which is one of the most impressive and rare skills for a manager to have. You are another pair that I feel is bound to win this tour if you stick with it, and I really hope you do because you clearly have something special here.
And now if you'll forgive me, I'm going to get a bit sappy for a moment. A lot of players on our team, including myself, have really been going through it irl recently. I know it's just a trivial rands tour that doesn't mean much to most people, but when you really need just one win, getting a win here just hits different. And beyond that, I think our run in this tour really reflects how to approach challenges in life. When we were down 2-7 in semis and 4-6 in finals, I was ready to call it a tour. I didn't see how we could surmount such damning odds. But something in us didn't give a fuck about the odds, we decided it wasn't over until we won and rallied with everything we had left. To anyone reading this, idk what you're going through in life rn, but I do know that it's not insurmountable. If you keep going, you will win.
Much love to everyone for such an amazing tour, idk yet if I'm going to manage or even play again next year, it will highly depend where I'm at in life a year from now. Just in case this is my last rodeo, thank you all for the memories we've made along the way, and may RBTT continue to be the wonderful experience it is for years to come.
ggs 
