Funny living in the shadows. I've been all over earth I figure causing hell for gerdy making this post take time. We've been friends. We've been worst of enemies. One thing I can say for sure about it, he's the best mind to ever play this game. Congrats gerdy. I mean it. You deserve this more than anyone. You didn't just get first netting. You worked hard for it for several sets.
Thanks, there are some awesome netters past and present that taught me a lot and inspired me along the way.
Like for example:
Elliot: Playing with you is truly inspirational. Back when I was a nub you held all the cool records and they meant something because they didn't come about by some random game change or stroke of luck. You just came back and I hope you stick around, even though it will result in a bigger challenge to get that rank 1 spot once you have fully acclimatized to the new game. Sad to see you get suicided this set. :(
Ivan: It was easier to win with you on a 2nd tier strat. Because Swedish netters have no betters. :)
Cyref: Your attitude and talkative nature was probably what made me stick around when I came back from my 11 year hiatus. Sometimes it was the thing I looked forward to the most in EE, to talk to you ingame in tournament game A, about strategy, about tricks, about personal things and about our taste in music! Players like you make the game experience better, which is a rare thing indeed!
Zorp: You da man! I love having you as a sounding board for my ideas and I think we both have helped each others tremendously. Gotta say that without darkprince our relationship would probably never have been as good as it is, credit was due. :)
Ebert: Truly awesome netter that stole my NW record in express. Too bad he ran such an insane techer that I can't even say he is unworthy. His techer was scary, the techer I used for the record that he beat was quite good but also quite lucky with the prices.
Ingle: Another guy that won all the real servers. :) 5 server won; the real ones, only missing AI and FFA. Helped me with my tournament play recently which made the server even more fun for me. :)
Commandos: My main bro, I so want you to succeed at netting man I feel I care more about it than you do sometimes. :-)
Good country this set. It was a great finishing NW even tho the destock didn't exactly work as planned. Biglyest mono tho :)
Zelow: OMG man keep being awesome and active and inquisitive. Ohh and you should change your working hours so that we can talk/work together more. You complete me <3. :)
plus Like another 5 Present lafers and another 5 or so past lafers that need no mention. I stand on the shoulders of giants in regards to the game knowledge aquired. I could not have done it without you.
I have you taught you well, Gerdler. They always say the goal of every teacher is for the student to surpass you. My job here is done, 1 last set and I’ll wander off to retirement.
Wow, appreciate the kind words man.... but to be honest I think you really embellish my past ;P ya the land record was my crowning achievement but other than a single 1B win I didn't really accomplish all that much, generally I played low level tourney and ran a quick start commie to cause as much mayhem as possible...... I couldn't TTR effectively if my life depended on it haha
Seriously, what you've done in the last year since you've returned is nothing short of amazing. Your ability to understand and adapt to different servers, bot changes and overall gameplay styles is second to none. No joke I seriously stalk you on earthgraphs to try to get a better understanding of how you do what you do. And I say that only from a netting standpoint! (Because I'm a one dimensional tree-hugger haha) and then of course your warring ability is elite as well.... I can only speak for myself, but in my mind you are the undisputed JUGGERNAUT of ee. Enjoy this accomplishment, you've more than earned it. ✌️
I think you'd have to break it into era's... and it's even harder with the evolving game changes and people quitting.
7th Heaven & Ronnie were the best I ever saw in early Earth:2025.
Some of the other great netters I remember: A slew of LaF members & a few Elitez, Rauch, Budvar, Deak, Chaos (MD) & Eduard.
I'd defer to other people for EE, but the best I've played with are hao2 and seth.