As noted a few times, this week is the break week for Silph Arena Factions, so there is no Bout this week, and things will recommence next week. It's also the perfect time for me to make a recap of what has transpired this Cycle so far, as my debut (along with my Faction, SWEEP JR) in the competition, and reflect on what has happened. I've also got a few revelations on tap regarding how my Faction fared and what it means for the future - but that's for slightly later. The main recap and reflection is at hand.
It is evident by my last Bout recap that my Faction hasn't been doing well, with 1 win and 3 losses, all of them by a margin of one (not so) sweet point. In all the losses, at least one of my teammates got undone (swept 0-3) by the opponent, and in the last two Bouts, they happened to be in the very last match, which only needed just one win. It's extremely painful to say the least, and the two who are involved may have been kicking themselves, figuratively if not literally. The same may be said to be true of me as the Captain.
So far, one of my teammates has done a stellar job, having played in all four Bouts and racked up 10 wins (thus, only dropping 2) in the four matches. That would be Kucingimutt as an Arcana Field Specialist, who is truly an MVP in that regard. On the opposite end of the spectrum, RaymondHrtwn has almost completely bombed as the Justicar Field for Ultra League Specialist, with only 2 wins in the four matches of all currently played Bouts. Therefore, the former needs to be kept (in good shape furthermore), while the latter can stand to be changed. It is the least that I as the Captain can do.
Unfortunately, some challenges also have in one case, or had in another, befallen my Faction. DwiXsa had played in the first Bout, lost 0-3, was substituted for the next, and was promptly never seen again; the reason is that the Trainer is currently undergoing medical treatment and is unable to play at all, most likely for an extended time. As such, my Faction is now essentially "limping" on nine Trainers, since I cannot replace them in the middle of a Cycle, let alone after a "career-ending" situation like the above that just happened to occur early on. A replacement will have to be discussed, and my manager may already have a good idea.
For the challenge that had befallen, that is actually relevant to the previous bout. Back then, Orioo16 only took a 2-1 win, and that was because... the Trainer had failed to report the results of some matches in previous Bouts (even, on a prior Faction) and had been given a one-loss penalty if the Trainer played, which in fact happened. The implication, of course, is if this wasn't the case, then my team could have won instead - yet the Trainer was absolutely needed, per the above and by the necessity of substitutions at that time. It's an example of how some basic things (reporting results) can lead to major disasters if ignored.
With all the things that had happened in my Factions career thus far, I'm rather glad that I didn't choose to start a Faction from scratch as I originally wanted to; not only would I have trouble to get it going, if it did, it would be overwhelming for me as both Captain and manager. Thanks to my manager, who has been around the block, there is a lot less burden on me (but still a lot due to my being the Captain). Plus, I'm also aligned under a good Faction name, even if my Faction hasn't lived up to that name - perhaps eventually.
There's still much more to come in the remaining five Bouts of this, our first Cycle, for the Faction and me. But before that can happen, it is plain to see that much has already happened in the course of the first four weeks (and Bouts) of this Cycle. And that's already something above and beyond what I expected a long time ago if and when I would join Factions, not just observe it. Now that I've joined, and part of the decision-making lies with me, my Faction and I are in it for all that can be experienced, including as above.
One year ago: How Many Pokémon for Each Role?
Two years ago: Pikachu and Bulbasaur Donuts
Three years ago: I Believe, in Love
Four years ago: (Wet and Wild) Local EX Raid, 4/12/2019
Five years ago: Wallpaper: Pokémon 20th Anniversary
Six years ago: Pokémon Couriers?
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