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Nolissar

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Nolissar Newbie

Nolissar

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To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting:

What We Have Achieved

Six months ago, the Open Source Alliance declared its existence to the Cyberverse, under the watchful eye and protective wings of our great friends and supporters, The Phoenix Federation. Today we mark the passage of that time with the following informative and hopefully entertaining announcement, which conveniently, as with most other OSA announcement, falls on a day when some war another is beginning or ending, or some rather interesting treaty being signed, thereby eating into our precious free press ;)

OSA’s first weeks were not without incident, only 10 days after our foundation one King Myateo, a veteran of 5 wars, attacked one of OSA’s newest members, Thorax citing the most comical of CBs: “inhumane treatment of citizens”. Despite having to sell infra to help their alliance mate, a team of OSA recruits saw to it that King Mayteo was successfully destroyed and removed as a threat to both the OSA and Planet Bob at large. Since then we have continued to defend our nations against rogue attacks (9 including king Myateo), recover alliance assets when required (i.e., beat down aid thieves) and secure our AA from unwelcome ghosts with great vigilance.

OSA began with 11 members, possessing a modest 215,330 NS defended by a meager 406 aircraft, 115,652 poorly equipped soldiers, 767 dilapidated tanks let over from some tech raids, and no nuclear weapons or naval vessels. Today 37 members, 28 applicants and a pair of friendly ghosts call OSA home, giving the alliance a combined 1,025,472 NS (sans ghosts!) backed by a growing arsenal of nearly 200 nukes and a soon to be rapidly expanded trio of WRCs.

Late April and early May marked our most intensive period of growth, with our alliance wide alliance aid slot utilization twice crossing the 85% level, culminating on 10 May, when for all but one of the previous 6 days OSA was listed on the “Top 7 Day Biggest Alliance Gains”

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The greatest asset a new alliance can posses beyond the experience of its founders and dedication of its new recruits, is a good friend. We in OSA have been most fortunate to make a number of these, whose guidance, assistance, and camaraderie have enriched our culture and opened new doors and opportunities for us. Besides our friends in TPF and SNAFU’s whose early support made OSA’s existence possible we would like to thank in particular, Umbrella, Mr. Fixit Online, Olympus and The House of Lords, for their friendship and help throughout our existence.

To date, OSA has signed only two treaties beyond our initial protection agreement with TPF: what some have called “the greatest PIAT ever” with SNAFU, and NOIR.

More recently, in response to the aftermath of the Karma war, OSA iz pleased to participate in the ”Solemn Resolution” and are looking forward to giving those alliances adversely effect by TPF's present situation whatever assistance and encouragement we can.

About Our Culture

The OSA practices democracy, every member has a voice that must be heard, a vote that must be counted, an opinion that must be considered and a dignity which must be respected. The government acts on their behalf, but according to their wishes and needs. The government of the OSA serves its membership, not the other way around: the desires of the OSA membership are their government's marching orders. When the members say what they want it is incumbent upon the government to try as best they can to make it happen. That is OSA's government's commitment to our members, to ourselves and to the Alliance.

The spirit of collaboration, fun, loyalty, friendship, respect, duty and openness from which OSA sprang continues to be our motivation. I am proud to serve and call myself a member of an alliance where no member is more important than any other, where no member is more entitled than another; where all members regardless of their station or seniority have been willing to do any and all tasks requested or required of them.

Despite our growth in membership numbers, which we hope will continue, we have not sacrificed the sense of camaraderie and cooperation upon which we were founded. Our new members have integrated themselves seamlessly into the Alliance structure, built new friendships with our older members, and become active contributors in every sense of the word.

Nothing gladness me more than to see, as I so often have, members offering to help with tasks which those of similar stature in many other alliances would considered outside their office or below their dignity. It is because of that spirit and the conduct of our members that I can look forward to the day when I will gladly hand the reigns of this alliance, this community of friends, to a successor who has risen through the ranks and whom I know will be able to us places I could only have dreamed of. This dream I know I share with all the founders of the OSA.

The founders sought to create a community where new players could find a place where they would fit in, be able to contribute and learn from day-one, and where old members would share their experiences and make new friends. I am pleased to say that that dream has come true: OSA is that community we imagined all those months ago, and no matter what the future holds, treaties, new members, war and peace, I know that we will never lose that.

Diplomatically, OSA has remained rather quiet on the political stage, preferring to follow the tenants of The Openness Doctrine which sates that the OSA will never allow its sovereignty to be compromised, will never sign a treaty which would force it to go to war save for the defense of an ally, and shall only sign treaties that do not chain (i.e. OSA's treaties are between the OSA and the other alliance only, not the OSA and the other alliance’s allies.) The Doctrine's continual development and revision has lead to the OSA's adoption of the following position with regards to potential treaty partners:

"For OSA, a treaty is a representation of a relationship, not the reason for it. Treaties are not signed to shape relationships, but rather to explain to others the nature of the parties' commitments. We prefer to let relationships develop organically rather than trying to mold them to suit some grand design. Therefore, OSA shall be slow to sign treaties and require regular government to government contact, as well as general membership familiarity and support on both sides, before even discussing the possibility. This would of course mean that an OSA treaty would only be possible with a "quality alliance"; that is to say, an alliance that posses an active and engaged membership, a history of standing with its friends when the going gets tough, that shies away from hypocrisy and opportunism, that is open, forthright and honest in its actions, interactions and communications, that has come together as a community on Planet Bob for the same reasons OSA did, (friends, fun, sharing, learning and growth), that has a distinctive feel and style, that is prepared to stand-up for and assist alliances even if they do not have a formal treaty have a treaty, and lastly that are a true friend of the OSA!.

Though treaties are not signed lightly, and are to be honored in full and to the letter, we shall nonetheless less be aware that over time relationships, communities and goals must evolve and that a regular and thoughtful review of our treaties is a natural part of our External Affairs.”

Remembering Those Who Have Left Us

PE Shang formerly of TPF, MHA and IRON, was a founder of OSA. His vision helped to shape our voluminous (one of CN's longest!) charter, his counsel guided our actions, his compassion brought us members, and his sense of humor to livened our discussions and brightened our days. It was truly one of the saddest times in our history, when due to a series of unfortunate events, he was forced to retire from Planet Bob. I and many others in OSA could go on for pages about what Shang meant to us, what he taught us, and indeed many of us have done so on more than one occasion. Shang was an inspiration and a friend, a tireless worker, and if such a thing could be said to exist, a practical dreamer. It is, to this day, not uncommon to see a member of OSA ask, "what would Shang do?" when confronted by a tricky situation, or find oneself expressing the wish "I wish I could ask Shang about..." when encountering a situation for the first time. Simply put, without PE Shang, there would have been no OSA, and we are proud to carry on in the spirit which he helped to foster 6 months ago. We wish you the best Shang, and await your eventual return with an undying anticipation.

In my nearly 13 months on Planet Bob, I have had a chance to work with or observe with some of the most accomplished trades specialist, from MHA, Mushroom Kingdom and Athens, to the Grämlins, NOIR and the folks PEACE to name but a few, and I can safely and honestly say, that Thade stood with the very best of them. I recall one day handing a request over to Thade to help a member establish a new trade circle, this member had decent resources, but in a difficult pairing, and I felt the challenge of placing this individual would be a substantial task requiring perhaps 3-4 days at least. The next day when I asked Thade how he was coming a long with his trade portfolio, he informed me that he was just closing his second circle for that day, and had started work on the third; to my astonishment, one of the completed circles was the one I had asked him to work on, not even a full 24 hours previous! I was and remain astounded at his singular talent for rapidly creating stable trade circles.

Thade was however, more than just a trade making machine, he was passionate about helping new players learn the game, sending regular helpful hints to new nations via PM and IRC and proving an understanding and thoughtful ear for members in need. A great asset to OSA, Thad will be greatly missed by us all, and all of Planet Bob is the poorer for his absence.

Good fortune for both parties brought John Mathews to OSA, where he soon established himself as a great helper with the forums (notably the arcade and dealing with permissions) and IRC where he saved my bacon a few times. Despite being new to the alliance, given his extensive CN experience, JM sought and received an exemption from the Commonsense Council which enabled him to run for the office of Minister of Information Services, which after the most tightly contested election in OSA history, he succeeded in winning by a narrow margin. Despite his short stay, JM made a number of important contributions, and freely shared his knowledge and experience with all who asked. An old friend, Skippy, however, was starting a new alliance and offered JM, with his vast network of contacts and famous IRC presence, the opportunity to be a part of this alliance from day one and to be responsible for “foreign affairs” a job which JM had long coveted. After a few days of mulling it over, JM resigned from the alliance and set off, leaving his ministerial position vacant.

CS1177, one of OSA’s very first recruits and JM’s trusted deputy was chosen as replacement by the unanimous acclamation of the Commonsense Council in the “Another Snow Cone Please” Act. Cs’s quick thinking, keen research and sharp analytical skills have already proven themselves to be a great asset to OSA’s government in a delicate security matter which arose only a few days after taking office.

And Now, For The Fun Bit!

No true alliance announcement would be complete without some drama or the threat of war, and naturally this one is no different.

In a move that will surely warm the cold hearts of his many haters and enemies, it is my duty to announce to you all that this day, for his various and heinous crimes against the OSA, our government, [ooc]our forums, our ears, our irc channel[/ooc], and our members' delicate sensibilities, that we do hereby sentence UberSpion of the Nation DailyValtrex to receive a 21 nuke salute, also known in certain circles as ZI, there to remain until he has learned the errors of his ways. May Walford who resteth in NONE and our Lord and Savior Rebel Virginia have mercy upon his tormented soul, for our Linux TroopersTM shall have none.

It is also with great pride that I announce in the same breath, that the government and membership of OSA, in light of his many great contributions to the our Alliance and the Cyberverse as a whole, have decided, in our magnanimity, to commute UberSpion’s sentence to three “Hail AirMe”s upon the completion of which he shall receive a full pardon.

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tl;dr OSA is 6 months old today! Shout-outs to PE Shang, Thade, John Mathews, TPF, SNAFU, Umbrella, HOL, MFO, Olympus, Ronin, and of course OSA! There was supposed to be a party in #osa, but somebody **cough** Uber **cough** forgot to bring the booze and so might be ZI'ed if we feel like it, though probably not :P

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Nolissar Newbie

Nolissar

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It is also with great pride that I announce in the same breath, that the government and membership of OSA, in light of his many great contributions to the our Alliance and the Cyberverse as a whole, have decided, in our magnanimity, to commute UberSpion’s sentence to three “Hail AirMe”s upon the completion of which he shall receive a full pardon.

Hail AirMe

Hail AirMe

Hail AirMe

please don't hurt meh pixels!

o/ OSA, i look forward to working with the horrendous government that rules the sources of openness

So it was said, so it was done! There shall be peace in our times.

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