To categorize people so far, we've seen Star Player and How write lists consisting of tiers. I'm going to go into Tier's as well, but I'm going to get a bit more in detail. The list is going to be compiled slowly, and the big thing I want to do here is get as little bias possible. I'm going to be as honest to DT members as I will be to DU and BIA members, and anyone else who desires to be mentioned here.

I know I'm going to catch some heat. I'm only going to rate someone I've seen enough of (2+ games) to honestly rate them. If you want me to change something, I'll gladly do it if there's sufficient reason. This is just my first take.

I decided Tier 1 Will be maxed at 3 people. Gotta cut it off somewhere. Might as well be the purdy number 3. I chose three because I believe there might be at least some agreement on who the top three out there are, and when you see the names, I think you might agree these three fall into a very "different" class.

I'm nixing the tiers. One thing Sid has revealed to me is that one person shouldn't be putting people into respective "tiers" and Deciever has made a good point that evaluating people is gonna be kinda "fuzzy". So you know what? Going aphabetical.

The one person I don't want to rate is myself. People who read this are gonna have to do that.

Scale: horrible, poor, average, unknown, good, strong

_|~Atrophe:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Good
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Good

Atrophe is a wierd player. I don't mean in his tactics. I mean in that I've seen very high highs and very low lows with Atrophe. The only thing I've seen him struggle with is an Illum spammer. He's one of the best team players I've seen. He immediately understands his role and does his best to fulfill it.

Atrophe is what I call a scrapper. He walks into battles that 9 out of 10 of us would look at and say "No way, he's gonna lose that", but then he comes out of it intact, and his enemy is dead. It's really wierd. Normally I can look at a battle and tell you who's gonna win it. With Atrophe, I can't normally tell. He'll make things happen.

[DT]Berzerker:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Good
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

DT is going to disagree with me, but I haven't been blown away by Berz. Berz is a great player. Berz is one of the best at getting a huge empire and at the same time fighting off an enemy. I don't know how he does it sometimes. His ability to outwit opponents is great, and he'll be a teammate to the end.

Problem is, I haven't seen enough of Berz to give a real honest evaluation of him, but if what I've seen is any indication, he's an Illum spammer. He started playing right as I left on my 7 month hiatus, and in the 4-5 games I've played with him, all I've seen from him is Illum spamming. No flak. No carriers. No HC's. No Subjagators. Just Illums, illums, more illums,4-8 Guardians, and 3-4 caps. He'll go straight after your cap, then take out your fleet. That's exploiting the games brokenness to the MAX, and doesn't make you one of the best. Very big pet peeve of mine.

The entire community is in agreement that the Illum needs some sort of tweak. I don't think anyone's happy with their current balance except for.....the people who love to abuse them and use them. The only base I have to go by with Berz is the fact that he makes a ton of Illums and plays like a Vasari (Kill enemy cap, then kill enemy fleet). All I've seen is that simple recipe.

[DT]Cykur:

• Fleet Management Skill: Strong
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Strong
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

My most epic battle has come against Cykur. I was Advent. He was Vasari. I had a fleet somewhere around 6 caps, 50 Illums, and 40 HC. He had RA (Back when it just cost antimatter) and actually managed to tech up to level 8 on BOTH trees. This guy is a beast. One of the best at late game management.

I haven't played with Cykur recently, but I doubt his ability to just kick the crap out of opponents is gone. Is always one of the most fun and polite people to play with in DT.

In battle, he's kinda like JJ. He'll take heat off you by drawing attention to himself (draws in the 2 or 3 v 1 situations).  

[_]-Duke Greg:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Good 
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Strong
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

Duke's fighting technique is unique and throws people off their game. Myself included. He's one of the rare effective players who's ALSO a non-LRF spammer. I enjoy playing with him, and of the many BIA's out there, he's the guy who has been a pain in my ass and I'm willing to bet a pain in many more. His strength is his rushing. He plays TEC primarily, but I haven't seen him manage his eco the best. I've watched replays of him. His eco ability isn't bad, I just see a few things that need adjustment. Overall though, solid player.

[DT]Howthe?:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

Howthe and I go way back too. He's one of the people I first started to play with online. I don't think he has a particular favorite race, but if you want the master of defenses, here it is. His tactics when it comes to defending are beastly. He'll make you cry when you see his cleverly placed PJI.

His management of fleet is good for the most part. He has a third baby now, so he's not on as much as he used to be, so I think he's starting to get some cobwebs up there in his noggin, but overall, solid player. Fights for the neutrals, fights for the win. When it comes to working as a team, he is one of the best.

GeneralVeer

• Fleet Management Skill: Average
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Good
• Micro in-battle Skill: Average
• Macro Strategic Skill: Good

Veer is good with managing an eco. Good to have as a teammate, but his fleet make up needs work. Doesn't make enough ships early on, and it comes back to burn him. I don't want to sound harsh, because there's nothing he's bad at, and really, he'll listen to critique and adjust to situations. Overall, I think he's learning, and is getting better. Just needs practice at early game management.

[DT]JohnJames/JohnJames:

• Fleet Management Skill: Strong
• Economy Management Skill: Strong 
• Team Cooperation Skill: Good
• Micro in-battle Skill: Strong
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

Ah the Illustrious JJ. When is he NOT on? JJ is arguably the best current player out there. He's approaching 1000 games on his regular account, and when it comes to being Vasari, he's rivaled by few. I've seen him play Advent a little, but JJ is a Vasari at heart who loves dropping a starbase at your homeworld.

His understanding of building and managing a fleet is superb. His ability to get a monster economy going is excellent. My criticism in Team Cooperation is that if he's the feeder, I've seen moments where instead of giving the money to an ally for their use at the front, he'll keep it for himself, build ships with it, and then send his ships to help his ally. I understand the logic, but there seems to be lack in trust of ally's using the money properly. He micros Assailants and scouts for neutrals constantly. If you catch him in the rare moment that his assault fails, you may actually win, but good luck achieving that. There's few who do.

_|~Krath:

• Fleet Management Skill: Strong
• Economy Management Skill: Good
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

Krath is one of the if not the best TEC players out there. His use of the Marza is simply the best I've seen anyone use it. Somehow, he ALWAYS keeps it alive and will at some point hit you with a missile barrage. He keeps it alive. He knows how to compose his fleet, is great to have in the pocket, although there are times I've played with him when I wonder where the hell the money he has went if it's not going to me.

Main critique is that there are too many times I see him down to three planets, and his committal to the Marza rush makes him pay for it. Overall though, His adaptive nature while playing is what makes me put him up here. His understanding of the game and love of the game just seems higher than most.

King of Kings/_|~Sire:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Average
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Good

King of Kings, or Sire as you'll probably see him as of late, loves his HC's. He plays TEC primarily and loves his HC's and his Kols. This fleet is highly armored and a good wrench to throw into early gameplay. His play suffers sometimes because people expect the HC rush from him, so the surprise element of the HC rush is gone, but overall, his teamplay is solid. He's started using scouts to hold himself over until he can afford the HC's (wonder where he learned that from ).

His econ suffers because of his love for the HC. I'd like to see him change up his strategy and not use HC's every game.

[DT]Quar:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

Quar was added to DT while I was gone too, so I don't know him as well as others. Interesting player. He uses the revalation as his starting cap (plays primarily advent). This start is great becasue once he hits level 6 his cap is better than the Marza or Desolator at seiging. It's also incredibably smart because he knows that the first cap is the only one likely to hit level 6, hence why he picks it. Good Team player. Solid Econ Slot player. Lately seems to be showing a penchant for the Vasari, mobile starbases, and the Kotsura Cannon (when possible to get one).

_|~RAMM:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Good
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

RAMM's an interesting person for me to evaluate. I say that because I didn't understand why people accused me of being RAMM. I had probably three people on one day ask if I was smurfing and if it was me. I figured out why though. I've finally played RAMM, and the guy loves his scouts. TEC scouts. He's pretty good, and he makes genius decisions but then he makes some idiotic decisions. He overvalues scouts, but his overall management is good. He gets a little preachy too. DU and Krath have spoken highly of him, and he seems to know what he's doing.

Raging Amish/[DT]Raging Amish:

• Fleet Management Skill: TBA
• Economy Management Skill: TBA
• Team Cooperation Skill: TBA
• Micro in-battle Skill: TBA
• Macro Strategic Skill: TBA

........

RubeeIsDaBomb:

• Fleet Management Skill: Good
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Average
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

Rubee is good, but I see too many times where he walks into a battle that was clearly favoring him before the game even started. When he goes unchallenged, he will constantly keep building up a huge huge empire. Plays vasari and will just send the Egg around and keep collecting planets like crazy. His ability to keep up getting the planets is good, but I've seen too many moments where instead of doing something to help an ally, he just keeps sending the egg around to collect planets. Haven't seen Rubee handle being rushed well yet.

Saxa:

• Fleet Management Skill: Poor
• Economy Management Skill: Good
• Team Cooperation Skill: Average
• Micro in-battle Skill: Average
• Macro Strategic Skill: Average

I had the liberty of playing with Saxa for a couple games recently. He's got a good understanding of what it means to be the feeder, so I give kudos for that. His downfall is his fleet management. He doesn't make ships, or at least anywhere near the amount he should be making. He'll sit on cash when he's in the military spot, which I find to be odd, and a big mistake. Overall, very good econ player. I'll take him as a feeder any day. As a military role though, he could use some practice.

[DT]Siddy:

• Fleet Management Skill: Strong
• Economy Management Skill: Strong
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Strong
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

The odd thing about Siddy is he isn't known for his play, and in truth, he is one of the best players out there. What you'll know him for is his incredibably vulgar mouth in the lobby and in game. In truth, most of it's hilarious, but it'd make a sailor cover his ears....errrr....eyes.

He's a great player. I don't really have a critique against him. He's a great teammate to have, it's just a matter of whether you can put up with the insults he doles out. I know everyone smurfs, but Siddy takes it to the max. The odds are you'll never know you played him.

Slackah Chicken:

• Fleet Management Skill: Average
• Economy Management Skill: Average
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Good
• Macro Strategic Skill: Average

Slackah and I had a chat about his play, so maybe it'll change as time goes on. Overall, Slackah just needed a few pointers in where to go with econ and where to go with mil in early game. I think the root of his problem was he doesn't expand enough quickly enough, but he and I had a chance to talk about that, so I think he's on the rise. He's not bad at anything, and he understands his role on the field, so he's a very strong teammate. His ability in the mil spot is what needs some working.

[DT]Tyr222/Tyr222:

• Fleet Management Skill: Strong
• Economy Management Skill: Strong 
• Team Cooperation Skill: Strong
• Micro in-battle Skill: Strong
• Macro Strategic Skill: Strong

Tyr and I go waaaaaaay back. I remember the days when Tyr was a noob and I was helping him get a grip on the game. Then he got trained by Cykur and now he's a beast. Master with econ, any race. Great to have on your team. In terms of skill, there's no where that I see that you can poke a hole, even if you tried. My one small critique in Fleet Management and micro is that he exploits Illuminators. That's just a small thing though. Overall, Tyr's up there with JJ in terms of skill.

Just a pet peeve of mine. Side beams take the work out of bothering to compose a great fleet and bothering to micro said fleet.  Most clanners are very guilt of abusing repulse with Illums, and Tyr didn't hesitate to tell me he hates it when people use scouts against his Illums.

Crusader Antonius

Scoutter

[_]-Reborn

[_]-Howler

[_]-Hack

_|~God

_|~Jbaum

_|~Uber/Top Vasari

disrespecticus

ravok

Black Sword Command/Ascension

barcode/Envee

_|~Skynet