NPA News, Issue 1: The Draft and Manager Interviews

For the first 5 weeks each of the teams in their respective divisions will play each other, then for the final three weeks of the standard season, they will have an opportunity to get their teeth into teams from the opposite division. After the standard season is over, the  highest rated teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs, along with the two teams who have the next best records, meaning that three of the four playoff teams could be from the same division.

The Teams

Red Division

Fuchsia Ninjas – (TalkingLion)

Manager’s Motto: “NO UBERS PLEASE!!! I HATE VILOPLUMES AND SUBSTITUTE!!! AND EVEN WORSE IS A VILOPLUMES WITH A SUBSTITUTE!!!”

TalkingLion is the first of the nine new NPA managers we will be introduced to this season and one of six that are completey new to NPA altogether. Though one of the less experienced managers in the NPA, he wisely held his cards close to his chest in our recent interview. While he named a few players he admires, he also conceded that he’s not expecting to get a chance to draft any of them in the first round, meaning that me may have his sights set on other talent that he isn’t willing to reveal.

Hey, TalkingLion, thanks for talking to us and welcome to the NPA.  You’re one of six managers completely new to NPA, could you tell us a bit about yourself, your history as a Pokémon player, and what you hope to achieve at the Fuschia Ninjas?

TalkingLion: I graduated from the seniors division last year but had mediocre finishes in the Fall and Winter Regionals and was then unable to attend the remainder of the season. I hope that the Fuchsia Ninjas will be able to improve themselves and work hard together. As a new manager, I do not feel like this is a huge disadvantage and will work to the best of my ability to help The Ninjas win the NPA Championship.

I wouldn’t worry about it being a disadvantage. As far as I’m aware, the winning manager last season didn’t have a Regionals record at all. You said recently “The Fuchsia Ninjas are the worthiest of having the honor of the NPA championship.” This is a pretty bold statement for a new manager to make. What do you think will separate the Ninjas from other teams?

TalkingLion: The Ninjas will always try their best to win every week and will work hard every day to prepare ourselves as much as we can for our opponents. Our hard work and dedication will definitely give us an edge in the competition.

Looking at the sign ups so far, who do you think will be the most sought after players in the draft?

TalkingLion: Cybertron, Human, R Inanimate, kingofkongs, and Matty have all had impressive seasons this year and also have experience in multiple metagames. These players will definitely be contested for.

The first round of draft picks can make a huge difference to a team’s season. The Ninjas have a fairly late eighth pick in the first round, how do you feel about eighth pick? Do you think there are enough star players in the pool that you won’t miss out on securing top talent, or are you worried that the players you just mentioned will end up on other teams?

TalkingLion: While Eighth pick is not the best, it’s certainly good enough to work with. There’s definitely enough talent across the field and while I most likely will not get most of the players I just mentioned, I’m sure that I will still be able to draft a top-notch team.

Goldenrod Rollouts – (Smith)

Manager’s Motto: “A Mental Warrior that will save all from Chaos, can’t wait to see the Pearl Diamond”

Smith is the second of the six managers completely new to the NPA. He was just getting into VGC when season one was in full flow, but he knows the scene, he knows the game and he knows the players well enough to manage a roster and compete for the title. Smith made an impact immediately after landing the coaching role at the Rollouts. While other managers were sweet talking the press with cliché mottos and pandering posts, Smith directly announced his coaching philosophy to Nugget Bridge in a post that caught the attention of everybody who read it. We spoke exclusively to Smith who gave us his opinion on the first round of the draft, and his views on life in the NPA so far.

Hey, Smith, thanks for doing this interview and welcome to the NPA.  Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your history as a player?

Smith: I joined Smogon in 2009 as a plucky middle schooler who found Shoddy Battle by accident. I played singles at varying degrees of awful for around 3 years. Mixed in there was a slight interest in my local Arlington regional, which I attended 2010/ 2011, and in 2012 when it moved to Houston, I moved with it. I decided to shift to VGC entirely after nationals 2012, which was possibly the most fun weekend I’ve ever had, when I met Magma people IRL, and when Nugget Bridge was completely fresh. It just felt right. Now, I’m a pretty overrated VGC player who’s only done well at one tournament and who’s constantly trying to get better.

As a new manager, you’ve already made some pretty bold statements about your management philosophy and what you will expect from your players. A lot of eyes are on you at the moment. Was this what you were hoping for, to stand out from the other new managers?

Smith: That was definitely part of the goal of that post. I read some of the posts before me that were pretty much, “Hey, guys, come join our team. We’re going to win, and we have a motto that’s a pun of our name. YEAH!” and I couldn’t help but feel like those managers were biffing a great oratory opportunity.

I knew that some of the newer players wouldn’t really know where to start, and the more veteran players would want to be more picky about what team they wanted to play for, so I wanted my team to be one of the first teams everybody checked out.

I also did really want to emphasize the sportsmanship thing before the season even started, because (a) I knew that it had been a problem in previous team tournaments and (b) I wanted a team that I actually enjoyed hanging out with, to enhance team chemistry and make the experience as enjoyable for everybody as possible.

 I can definitely relate to that. In my final season as a manager in SPL I drafted players based purely on skill. We had a lot of problems with player behaviour and general bad attitudes. I won’t name any names, but it really ruined the tournament.

Smith: Yeah, that’s exactly the opposite of what I want. I’m willing to take a cut in skill for really extraordinary attitude. Especially because we have 6 slots instead of 5. One of those guys doesn’t have to be amazing; instead he can just enhance team chemistry and be helpful in general

Goldenrod is the only city with two teams, though these two teams have been placed in separate divisions. Do you expect there to be any kind of rivalry with the Gamblers?

Smith: Oh, yes I do. DrFidget and I have already butted heads plenty of times on the #teammagma channel over Pokémon issues, so I expect this friendly rivalry shall certainly continue into the NPA. It’s something I expect should benefit both teams, as we go to ridiculous lengths to figure out who the Lakers are and who the Clippers are.

I’m sure you’ve already had a good look at the sign ups. Who do you think will be the most sought after players in the draft?

Smith: I think it goes without saying that players that can not only win week in and week out, but also play multiple metagames and be helpful with their teammates are going to be the most sought after players. Fonic Frog seems like a pretty easy first overall to me, since he’s a Pokémon codger and a generally great guy that I expect will be an asset to any team. Cybertron and R Inanimate are two other guys that I think transcend the other players that have signed up in terms of general desirability from the managerial end for their remarkable consistency. There are other players I have my eye on, but since they haven’t officially signed up yet I’ll keep my mouth shut.

The first round of draft picks are the one’s that everybody is talking about. The Rollouts sit right in the middle of the first round of picks in the sixth spot. How do you feel about that? Are you worried about missing out on any of the names that you just mentioned?

Smith: I think it goes without saying that first overall pick would be nice, but I don’t mind my position terribly. Being in the middle of the pack also means that I don’t go 20+ turns without getting a chance to draft somebody, so I at least get to make pretty solid picks every round without a lot of pressure on me to pick somebody really outstanding in the early rounds. Obviously I’ll probably miss out on some of the all-stars, but with some smart trading I think I’ll be right where I want to be before week 1 officially begins.

Castelia Cones – (Huy)

Manager’s Motto: “sick of battling disgusting pokemons will im tying to use funn teams well from now on i will play to win but still  my opinion hasent change legendaryes are disgusting!!!!”

Huy was the manager of the Chicago Bluetooths, formerly the Chicago Afro Bulls, in the inaugural season of the NPA. He’s now back with a new franchise but same big time owner in Darnell Washington. Darnell and Huy will be hoping to build on the success of his first NPA season where he led the Bluetooths to the playoff finals. The Bluetooths lost out in a close series to the Sacramento Slakings, but coming so close to the title can only have left Huy even hungrier for success. We cornered him while he was out promoting Darnell’s Chocolate Sauce earlier this week, and he had a lot to say about the other managers he’ll be facing off against this season.

Everybody who tuned into the recent Quackcast heard Makiri bashing the Seafoam Islanders. As he announced Tad38 as a manager he said, “The Seafoam Islanders, got a hockey feel going there, and you know… The Islanders aren’t very good.” You play the Islanders later on in the season in week 7. What are you expecting from Tad38 this season? Do you think the Islanders will be a threat to you?

Huy: I think that with this being Tad’s first managing experience, I’m going to expect his team to go through some growing pains. In this league though, any team can steal a victory on any given day, but I still expect my team to pull it out. Castelia Cones are gonna freeze over the Seafoam Islanders.

Which other managers do you expect to be up there with you in the playoffs at the end of the season?

Huy: I expect great things from manager makiri (who I may or may not be colluding with) and expect to see his Jets in the finals alongside my Cones. I feel like PrettyLittleLiar’s team and the Fortree Brave Birds can make some waves as well, but let’s be honest, any team in this league has a shot at winning unless it’s named the Flames or the Islanders.

I’m glad you’re actually willing to trash talk, by the way, some of the new guys are too scared of offending anybody, it’s cute. From the players that have signed up so far, who do you expect to be the most contested first round picks?

Huy: You’re not in this bidness to make friends. You’re in it to win, baby. If you’re afraid of offending other people then this isn’t the place for you. But as for players? I think my brotha FonicFrog is a sweet pick. He’s a smart player, can play anything, and I know from NPA season one that he’s a team player. I think the hot pick on everyone’s mind right now is Cybertron though. He’s definitely a strong player but we’ll see how far his ‘me-first’ mentality takes him in this league.

That leads nicely into my next question. We’ve already spoken a bit before this interview, and you said you’re planning to draft an all black roster. While I’m not sure how serious you are about this, you did first pick FonicFrog last season. Can we expect him to be a priority pick for you again?

Huy: FonicFrog is a great player and I would love to have him back, but I doubt he’d drop to me all the way down at pick twelve. If he did though, I’d snag him in a heartbeat. As for an all-black roster, I’m in the bidness of winning championships here. Championships don’t care what color your skin is, just that you have the heart of a champion. That aside though, I am looking to maybe try and reform the classic Oreo line-up from the Mighty Ducks movies.

Finally, we have to talk specifically about the draft seeding. You have the last pick of the first round, which of course means you also get the first pick of the second round. How is this going to affect your strategy?

Huy: I think this is very beneficial for me. I’m not looking to get that super-star-first-overall-pick to build a franchise around. I want a team. I want a group of players that complement each other’s flavors and form a sundae. I’m glad that I’ll be getting players that will be close in strength that will work together. Good complementing flavors and a little bit of Darnell’s magic is the cherry on top of a championship winning sundae.

Sunyshore Chargers – (PrettyLittleLiar)

Manager’s Motto: “I am interested in the foloing Babes beer brawling and other manly events this is a Statement From God”

He was the center of a huge controversy at the beginning of NPA season one, but he’s back this season in a serious managerial role. Well, maybe not serious, but he is managing at least. PrettyLittleLiar, better known as EnFuego, was a player in the NPA for less than a week under the name OminousOppressor. After Escavaliers manager Ray Rizzo tried to sneak him through the draft, the NPA administration quickly caught on and expelled him from the league. Now he’s been given a second chance, this time as a manager. The Chargers have 9th pick in the draft, meaning that while they may miss out on some of the marquee signings in the first round, they will be left in a good position for the second round of picks. PrettyLittleLiar was not available for comment during the week leading up to the draft, so we tried to answer the questions for him as best we could.

Hey, PrettyLittleLiar, welcome to the NPA, this time as a manager. Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your history as a Pokémon player, and what you hope to achieve with the Sunyshore Chargers?

Hi, my name is PrettyLittleLiar. I’m not expecting to win anything or even make the playoffs in the NPA, but I am hoping that by the start of the playoffs, more than 50% of Nugget Bridge users will realize there is only one “n” in “Sunyshore,” and if I can make it past the first week of matches without getting banned I will consider the season a success.

Your last stint in NPA was a short but eventful one. We never really got Ominous Oppressor’s side of the story though. Would you mind explaining what happened in your own words?

I didn’t want to do it. It was all Ray Rizzo’s idea. He said that if I signed up and pretended to be a twelve year old boy, nobody would notice because I would blend in perfectly with the rest of Smogon’s userbase. He wanted to sneak me through the draft so he could pick me up near the end. This allowed him to focus on securing strong picks like Drcossack, giving him an unfair advantage over the other teams. Obviously someone ratted on us and we got caught, but I’m the one who took the heat. Ray got to carry on managing like nothing had happened. This season my only goal is to destroy Ray Rizzo’s team. I will do whatever it takes.

With that out of the way we can move on to the draft. The Chargers have 9th pick in the first round. Do you have a realistic first pick in mind who you would be happy with compared to say, the Cybertrons and R_Inanimates who will most likely get snatched up before your turn comes around?

While I can’t give too much away, I have a list of players in mind who I would like to grab in the early rounds. DeagleBeagle is a player who will be hotly contested, but I know for certain he would  be happiest as a Charger. Deagle was my captain when I was a player in the NPA. I learned a lot from him. Not just battling tips, he also taught me how to drink properly and how to be an asset to my local community.

Huy over at the Castelia Cones has picked you out as a manager he expects great things from this season, and the general feeling I’ve been getting from other managers is that they  feel you’re going to be a force to be reckoned with. What do you think you’ve done to earn this kind of reputation?

I think a lot of managers realize that I’m not just coming into the NPA hungry for success, but I’m also driven by a burning desire for revenge. I will not let anything get in my way. The rest of the managers don’t have this kind of ambition, they’re more worried about their job security and pleasing a board of directors. I answer to no one. I’m a man on a mission. Ray Rizzo, you’re going down.

Celestic Stars – (Tan)

Manager’s Motto: “obj: create never before seen combos and original tactics, so i could get my name recorded for all posterity in smogon as a one of the most creative researchers in the p”

The third of our managers brand new to the NPA, Tan is another young manager who can’t wait to go head to head with other teams and prove his superiority. Recently in an interview, Tan revealed to us that he’s got a list of six players that he’s targeting for the first round of the draft, and is the first manager to declare an interest in the hottest draft pick and Best Min the World “Gec”.

Hey, Tan, welcome to the NPA.  You’re one of six managers new to NPA, could you tell us a bit about yourself, your history as a Pokémon player, and what you hope to achieve at the Celestic Stars?

Tan: Sure! My name is Ryan Tan. I have been playing Pokémon since I was 5 years old, but I officially started my VGC career in 2009 as a wee little 13 year old lad. However, after being eliminated due to lottery, I decided to quit Pokémon until mid 2010 when I dragged my classmate Oliver Valenti (Smith) to Dallas Regionals, playing in most of the VGC events since. While my track record at VGC events haven’t been stellar, I did place top 8 in Athens and bubbled at 33rd in the US Nationals due to untimely Draco Meteor crits. Outside of Pokémon, I captained my High School Debate Team and will study bio engineering at Santa Clara University in the fall. It is a great honor to be picked as one of the twelve managers and to lead the Celestic Stars to the Gold.

So you’re good friends with Smith? How do you feel about facing off against his team, The Goldenrod Rollouts, in the first week of NPA?

Tan: I have been great friends with Smith for many years, and we have been through highs and lows. I’m really excited for Week 1. Smith and I have actually been trash talking each other’s team ever since we were confirmed as managers, so I find it really nice we can settle the dispute on opening day. It will be a great series.

You’ve said recently that you’re “looking for a player who shows up to practice, play, assist his fellow teammates, and takes the extra step to better the Stars family as a whole.” Do you have any player in particular in mind for your first round pick who meets these criteria?

Tan: Yes.

You’re not even going to give us a hint? 

*Silence*

Ah well, that’s understandable.  The first round of draft picks can make a huge difference to a team’s season. How do you feel about landing seventh pick in the first round of the draft? Are there any players who you think are certain to go to other teams before you get a chance to pick them?

Tan:  Haha, well I’ll tell you this. I currently have 6 players in mind that I’m willing to pick up in the 1st round. Being the 7th pick in the 1st round makes it very nerve wracking. I actually was considering Nightblade7000 in the very early stages, but he is probably away from his computer making tea or something. Anyway, I’m certain that the very consistent players will go before I get the chance, such as FonicFrog or Cybertron, both who can play pretty much any metagame well and show results.

May I also recommend my client GEC for your first round pick? He holds accolades such as being the most consistent UK player in VGC history, champion of one of the London Gamerbase Tournaments (I forget which one, but I think Foodking won number four), and NPA season one champion with wins over big names such as Cybertron and Fish151PKMN.

Tan: Gec is a great guy, I would love to make him part of the Stars!

Fallarbor Flames - (Feathers)

Manager’s Motto: “My pokemon are a mirror to my soul; an extension of my life and love.”

Feathers is well known to the Nugget Bridge community for providing excellent artwork to the site, but her abilities as a manager remain largely untested. This will be her first season managing in NPA, and some of the old guard have already expressed doubts about her abilities. Fortunately, feathers has taken these comments as a challenge and hopes to meet veterans like Huy in the playoffs so she can prove first hand how good she is.

Hey, feathers, thanks for taking some time to talk to us. As one of the new NPA managers, would you like to take this opportunity to tell the readers a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m sure most people have figured out by now that I love to draw. I do some art for the site, and I have an art thread sitting around that I never update. My goal is to one day make concept art for video games, but for now I’m a part-time student. I also plan to defeat the other managers.

Speaking of other managers, Castelia Cones manager Huy recently said to us in an interview, “Any team in this league has a shot at winning unless it’s named the Flames or the Islanders.” It seems he’s picked you out as one of the managers he expects to fail. Do you have anything to say in response to this?

Huy is clearly afraid of me. It’s obvious he’s trying to shoot me down early so I lose confidence, but I know him well and I won’t let that get me or my future team down.

You’ve stated that you’re planning to recruit players with fewer than 50 posts. Regardless of how serious you are about this, I’ve done a bit of scouting for you and picked out two world class players I think you should consider. The first is my client 7014gree whose notable achievements include making top cut in Worlds 2011 and losing to Sand Veil Garchomp in the worst match ever recorded. He has one post and would be perfect for your team, what do you think?

As of right now I don’t want to give away any of my plans. There are plenty of users with less than 50 posts that are worth drafting so I have a lot of options. I might have to stray from my original statement depending on the plans of my fellow managers, but I will be holding back for now on mentioning anyone specific.

So you won’t be willing to tell us whether you are considering DeagleBeagle? His notable achievements include making top cut in Worlds 2010, uncovering a conspiracy that threatened to destroy Smogon from the inside, and gaining a following of dedicated fans after his highly successful “Deagle Tips” column and videos. He brings years of experience and would be highly profitable in terms of merchandise. I’m seeing Fallarbor Flames sippy cups with Deagle’s face on them.

I consider the Deagle Power Rankings to be important to my thought process, just as it should be to every other manager, but once again I must refrain from making any statements about who I plan to draft. While uncovering a conspiracy theory is impressive, I remained inactive on Smogon for a number of years, so I’m not very familiar with that particular achievement. As for merchandising, I’m pretty sure I can handle that myself. I do appreciate his tips though.

You have tenth pick in the first round of drafts, which is one of the later picks, however, this means you have a much higher pick in the second round. How are you approaching the draft as a manager?

The draft gets more complicated for me with every trade Paul makes. I don’t think some of the other managers who have agreed to trade with him are considering the consequences of letting him have the power of the first two picks in round two, much less such an early pick in round one. I feel comfortable at the bottom of the list though, as it gives me a way to narrow down who I can choose from. Not having access to absolute top picks will be a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m ready to face and hopefully overcome.

Finally, which managers do you expect to make the playoffs this season, and which do you think will struggle?

I expect to meet the Mossdeep Rockets at the top with me, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the Castelia Cones there either. I’d love to prove to Huy that I have what it takes, and battling it out head on for the final victory would be a fitting end. As much as I’d love to see the Jets at the bottom, I have a feeling that the Ninjas might fall a bit short. I say the person with the coolest logo deserves to win, and that is definitely me.

Blue Division

Seafoam Islanders – (theamericandream38)

Manager’s Motto: “If you challenge me and you fail,”

Theamericandream38 tasted success last season as a player for the Sacramento Slakings. This season he steps up into a managerial role at the Seafoam Islanders. The Islanders were already poked fun at in the QuackCast by Makiri, who likened them to a not very good hockey team. Tad’s team has the fifth pick of round one, which should leave them plenty of options and a good chance of landing a star player.

We approached Tad38 earlier in the week in hopes that he would be available for an interview. Strangely, we were taken aside by his security detail and told that Tad38 would not be doing any interviews before the draft, but we were welcome to post any questions we would like to ask to the Islanders’ Head Office. We did this and received no response.

We then spotted Tad38 later on in the week, this time taking questions from another interviewer. It seems that the Islanders have decided to boycott NPA News. We can’t understand what may have brought on this hostile attitude: we have never been anything other than completely unbiased in our NPA coverage. NPA News is not a partisan news organization. We do not support any one team, player or manager. Sometimes we might say something unfavourable about a particular team, but that’s only because some teams are objectively worse than others.

Take the Islanders for example: Other managers have given their expert opinions on the Seafoam Islanders and come to the conclusion that they are one of the weakest teams in the league. It’s our job to report this to you, the people. If the Islanders want to boycott NPA News because they cannot defend themselves, then they are only going to harm their reputation even further. We hope the Islanders (who are objectively weak) will cooperate in the future, for the sake of you, the fans and readers who we do all of this for.

Let’s move on to a team who actually care about their fans.

Goldenrod Gamblers – (DrFidget)

Manager’s Motto: “This manager is a shadow, hiding in the darkness. there is not much information about this guy, except that it is a boy.”

The Goldenrod Gamblers hit the jackpot with draft pick number 1, meaning they head into the draft with free reign over the entire draft roster. Wolfey, Matty, Fonicfrog, Cybertron… Every player is available to them. The Gamblers will have to pick wisely though, as their next shot at a draft pick isn’t until their double picks at #24 and #25. The stakes are high as a bad pick in the first round could severely hinder their season. We caught up with DrFidget after a recent press conference, where he reluctantly had to reveal that he’d blown the Gambler’s entire art budget playing Voltorb Flip, not a good way to start the season…

Hey, Dr Fidget, welcome to the NPA, and congratulations on landing the number one pick in the upcoming draft. Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your history as a Pokémon player and what you hope to achieve with the Goldenrod Gamblers?

Well my history as a Pokémon player tends to be away from the DS, hosting things like livestreams and podcasts trying to make the game as entertaining as possible for those that are watching. In that sense I want to make the Gamblers the most entertaining team in the NPA. I don’t just want bland by the numbers games, I want spectacle.

The biggest talking point around your team at the moment is obviously that number one draft pick, so these next few questions to you are going to focus on that. You could go right out and announce who you plan to select right now and nobody could do a thing to stop you. Do you already know who you’re going to pick, or do you have a handful of players who you’re currently considering? Would you be willing to share any of these?

I do know who I’m picking first, and it’s a statement pick. I could probably get away with drafting this player in a later round, but I want to set the tone early.

Have you approached this specific player to let them know that you plan to sign them, or do you expect any player to be happy being a Gambler if they are your first draft pick?

I have not approached them yet, but I’m confident they will feel right at home with the Gamblers.

First pick can sometimes be more of a burden than a boon as it means you have to wait so long before your second pick comes around. Are you worried at all that your team might end up too focused around this one signing or do you think that the draft pool is deep enough that there will still be quality players left come pick #24?

The pool is deep and there should be no shortage of quality players even in the last round of the draft. Even if I end up with some unproven players, my ability as a coach should more than compensate. Not that that’ll stop me from drafting as many vets as possible.

Finally, as one of two teams based in Goldenrod City, what can we expect between the Gamblers and the Rollouts this season? Smith has told us that he’s butted heads with you a few times on IRC, and expects a friendly rivalry between your teams.

I think a friendly rivalry sums it up nicely. We won’t play each other at all during the regular season so I’m pulling for an all Goldenrod finals so that we can settle whose rod is the most golden.

Mistralton Jets – (Makiri)

Manager’s Motto: “wanna? lose”

Makiri is a man who needs no introduction, but let’s give him one anyway. Makiri’s list of team tournament achievements is intimidating to say the least. A two time World Cup of Pokémon Champion, Smogon Premier League Champion and NPA Champion, he’s a man who knows how to get the W for his team no matter what, and he’s made a lot of moves this season regarding the draft. The Jets managed to pull off what many are calling a coup by trading their 11th pick in round one for the Mossdeep Rocket’s third pick. They’ve also managed to secure first and second picks in the second round, meaning that by pick 14, the Jets will already have half of their team confirmed.

Hey, makiri, you’re back in the NPA, this time as a manager instead of a player. You have extensive experience in team tournaments in both roles, do you think this gives you an edge over the newer managers?

Experience goes a long way in everything. The wily veterans always have a trick up their sleeves, and I will fill that role amazingly. I was able to get myself into great drafting position to get the players I want. In my experience forming a team with players you want and not just the best player available is the way to win these team tournaments and only my wealth of knowledge and experience let me see that I could capitalize on some inexperienced managers.

How do you think your former teammate Tad38 will fare this season? We’ve already heard you bashing his team’s choice of name on the recent Quackcast. Do you think his managerial skills will be equally as poor?

I think he is a dark horse, and I’m glad he is getting a chance to to manage, if only to show that our win was because I put the team on MY back. With that name though, he is destined for the cellar.

You managed to make a great trade with Unreality, securing third pick in round one. After speaking to him, he seems to regret making the trade. If you were in his position and offered the same trade, would you have taken it?

With such a small team, I think placing an emphasis on the best players is how you win. Just like the big 3 of the NBA’s Miami Heat, winning with 3 great players is easier and more dominating than trying to win with 1 great player and a bunch of role players which rounds 3 and 4 will be filled with. I’m hoping my big 3 will be as dominant as the Heat.

The player pool for the NPA Draft has exceeded all expectations. The final number of sign ups  is 221. This is more than twice the size of the player pool from the first season of NPA. What do you think this means for the NPA as a tournament on Nugget Bridge, for the teams involved and for you as a manager?

As the tournament director the interest has blown me away and it is good for the game as a whole and Nugget Bridge to see interest in non-TPCi tournaments. As for what it means for the NPA, the future will probably have more teams, more managers, more divisions, more everything to help accommodate the numbers we got and hopefully get in the future. For the teams involved it may make it harder to make the tough decisions when drafting or picking up free agents, a lot of the talent is very close in terms of skill and taking someone on a cold streak and then dropping him right before a hot streak will surely affect some teams. For me I don’t think it matters much, I think I have my draft strategy locked down, the names and where to pick them, but having a huge pool to take from in case someone on my team plays below expectations will be fantastic.

Finally, from speaking with other managers, it seems you are odds on favourite to win before the draft has even begun, but who are you personally backing to make it into the other three play off spots?

I think Darnell and the Cones have a strong shot, if only because they don’t play the Jets this year. Unreality and the Mossdeep Rockets definitely have the potential since Unreality has some experience. Ray and his Holy Spirits may also sneak into the playoffs because he also has experience and God on his side.

Hearthome Holy Spirits - (Ray)

Manager’s Motto: “im a Pokemons Greatest ally A Great Friend and with no doubt The Real Ash Ketchum”

Former manager of the Cleveland Escavaliers and three time World Champion Ray Rizzo is at the helm of the second pick Hearthome Holy Spirits. Ray may look to his old guard once again as his previous core of DeagleBeagle and Human will be available once more. He won’t be able to draft OminousOppressor this year though as he has stepped up to a managing role at the Sunyshore Chargers. Drcossack’s presence in the draft has surely not gone unnoticed by any of the managers in the league, though it holds special significance for Ray who has managed Sankey throughout his Pokémon career. There are rumours that Ray may be planning to avoid his past players altogether, instead aiming to sign names such as Wolfey and Cybertron, but we’ll have to wait and see who the Holy Spirits put their faith in. Ray refused to offer any hints in our recent interview.

Welcome back to NPA, Ray. Ominous Oppressor’s mom has informed me that he’s landed a job managing at the Sunyshore Chargers, could we see the two of you colluding at any point in the season?

Ray: He cost my team the championship last year by making my 3rd round pick on him a waste! It also ruined my reputation around the league as a manager.

So there’s some bad blood between the two of you? Would you consider the Chargers your rivals then going into the new season?

Ray: Yes. They will be my team’s biggest rivals.

There’s rumours going around that you’re planning a swoop for either Wolfey, Human or either of the Zhengs. Can you confirm any of these rumours or do you have someone else in mind?

Ray: I won’t disclose my possible draft choices. I will draft the best player available.

DeagleBeagle shocked everybody recently by signing up when many thought he had lost the drive to compete. What do you think about DeagleBeagle as a player?

Ray: I think he is the best player in the history of Pokémon. He is also making a difference in his community by running for city council. Those attributes are really desirable in a player. 

Finally, who do you expect to be the strongest managers to face off against this season? Are you expecting veterans like Huy and Makiri to shine, or will the new blood be a bigger threat?

Ray: I really like the trades manager makiri has managed to pull off. I think he’s the front runner at this point.

Fortree Brave Birds – (Zach)

Manager’s Motto: “a unstopable mercinary”

The Fortree Brave Birds have been tipped for success by a couple of other managers. They have an early fourth pick in the first round, and we’d love to tell you more about what the Brave Birds have planned during the draft, but we’ve been unable to reach them for any kind of comment. Instead, we’re going to use their space in this issue to advertise our client and future number one draft pick, Gec AKA Min Datoo AKA Best Min The World.

For those of you who have been living under a Geodude for the past few years. My client, and best friend in the world, Min “Gec” Datoo, is one of the hottest superstars on the planet. Not only does he have HAIR THAT DEFIES THE LAWS OF GRAVITY, a smile that will melt your heart and an unhealthy obsession with Faith Hilling…

….But he is also one of the best VGC players on the planet. He will be competing in the NPA this season, and if any of these inexperienced managers have any common sense, then you can expect him to be number one draft pick this season. The draft will be streamed live, and if the production crew of Nugget Bridge know what they are doing, they will have my client and me at the commentator’s desk at some point in the night. I’m also managing another star player 7014Gree, but he’s really the Curtis Axel of this whole gimmick, so don’t worry about him. If the Nugget Bridge staff refuse to allow us to speak live on the stream, then we will be taking our talents straight to their biggest competitor, LonelyNess, who will most likely be ripping the Nugget Bridge stream and doing his own commentary over the top of it.

Mossdeep Rockets - (Unreality)

Manager’s Motto: “i like nice battles talks and… “

Former manager of the New York Scraftys, Unreality is back and this time he probably won’t be drafting a team full of Seniors since a lot of them have grown up and now populate the Masters division! The Rockets have traded their third pick this season to the Mistralton Jets for 11th pick. In return, the Rockets receive two draft picks in round three, while the Jets must wait until round four. Unreality could have looked to retain either of his old players Cybertron or Kingofkongs, who are likely to be highly contested draft picks. Trading the third draft pick for the 11th may be one of the biggest gambles of the draft. We’ll have to pay close attention to the first round and see if it pays off. Unreality disclosed to us that he has two ultimate plans for the draft depending on how the first round goes. What those plans are will be a closely guarded secret until draft day.

Hey Unreality, it’s good to see you managing in NPA again this season.  Are you planning to draft a team of seniors again this year, or will you be focusing on older talent?

I’m planning on drafting only the strongest trainers who have made it through our difficult applications process. As anyone who saw my blurb will have known, the Mossdeep Rockets sport a 6.25% admissions rate.

The major talking point around your team at the moment is the decision to trade your round one third pick for the Jets’ eleventh pick. Do you have your eyes on a first round pick who you think other managers will look over? What’s the reasoning behind this move?

I frankly felt a lot of pressure about having the third pick. But I also knew that Ray was gunning for the players that I was going to pick, so it didn’t matter if I was 3rd or 12th — I’d probably get the same player. When Paul approached me, I eagerly accepted his deal because I have more ideas for players to draft during the lower rounds, and Ray was going to take my pick anyway, so why not. I realized a day later that I kind of shot myself in the foot but whatever.

So you have a good idea who Ray is planning to draft? Care to share?

All I can say is that he doesn’t show up to events often. I may or may not be lying.

Everybody knows he is planning to pick drcossack, I was expecting something jucier than that… I’m sure you’re aiming for the playoffs like everybody else, but which managers do you expect to make it there with you, and which managers do you think will struggle to find form this season?

I expect the strong team led by Feathers to make it to the playoffs. I think that Smith’s team, the Goldenrod Rollouts, will have a lot of trouble reaching the playoffs. Smith posted in his blurb that he didn’t want any players to smack talk. He said he wanted his players to “take the high road.” I, for one, think that is ridiculous. Smack talk is a huge part of the NPA and it creates team bonding. I expect each and every one of the Mossdeep Rockets to talk smack beyond belief or they’ll be OFF THE TEAM.

 While I doubt he will last until the eleventh pick of round one, my client gec will be available in the NPA draft. I’m sure you’ve already got him down as your highest priority potential signing, and on behalf of myself and my client I would like to inform you that we consider you the least incompetent manager. What are your thoughts of the prospect of signing a superstar like the “Best Min the World”?

I plan to draft gec as soon as I can. I spoke with him at the World Championships and his grasp of Pokemon and its mechanics was beyond belief. It would be silly of me not to draft him. Gec is the player I’m most worried about being taken before me. Without Min, I don’t know what I’ll do. I also don’t know what I’ll do with all these t-shirts that say “Mossdeep City: Home of the Best Min The World^tm”

This kind of thinking is why the Rockets are already being touted as future champions. While we’re on the subject of my clients, what is your opinion of 7014gree?

Gree is a good personal friend of mine who made probably the best post I’ve ever seen on the internet during the 2011 World Championships. I’m not so sure about his ability to hit Draco Meteors, though. I also don’t know if his duties playing for Team MRN in League of Legends will coincide with practice sessions for the Mossdeep Rockets. Definitely keeping him in consideration.

Thanks for the interview Unreality, I look forward to reporting your week one victory against whatever terrible team you are facing.

I’m facing tad38′s Seafoam Islanders. I know that the Mossdeep Rockets will send them to their watery demise. Terrible doesn’t begin to describe them.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it. Twelve teams with one goal: to sign gec and therefore become champions of the NPA. Realistically, only one team can actually have any hope of signing gec, the Goldenrod Gamblers as they have first pick, but it will still be fun to watch the season play out. Any of the eleven other teams has a chance to make the playoffs. Second place is completely up in the air. Make sure to tune in to the draft on the Nugget Bridge Twitch account where the battle for second place begins!

Big thanks to feathers for creating the logos for the Castelia Cones, Celestic Stars, Fallarbor Flames, Fortree Brave birds, Fuchsia Ninjas, Goldenrod Rollouts, Hearthome Holy Spirits, Mistralton Jets, Mossdeep Rockets and Seafoam Islanders. Big thanks to ryuzaki for creating the logos for the Goldenrod Gamblers and the Sunyshore Chargers

The post NPA News, Issue 1: The Draft and Manager Interviews appeared first on Nugget Bridge.