The Infinite Dunes

[quote name='KingEd' timestamp='1283527648' post='2440424'] Sure at the graces of the non-neutrals or the powers that be. I just don't understand why take the risk of being at the mercy of others. In essence, we allow their existence; and every once in a while people get bored and there's no one to pick a fight with except those who are defenseless (GPA knows what I'm talking about). Sure, Continuum & NPO were the "Hegemony" and evil rulers of the planet, and after Karma it's unlikely to happen again unless one of the neutrals slip [I think one of them did and almost got rolled a few months back, but I can't recall the incident]. [/quote]And conversely, neutral alliances don't understand why alliances who enjoy frequent bouts of war insist on remaining inside the MDP web. It seems to me that people complain when they get dragged into wars that have absolutely nothing to do with them and then also complain when they can't find anyone to war with because their too worried about causing the MDP web to erupt. Then people notice the neutral alliances sitting on the side lines, outside the MDP web, but aren't perpetually at war with outside aggressors and wonder how this is possible. I don't take the view that neutral alliances are not attacked because they are neutral. Rather they are not attacked because they are generally smaller and untreatied. Neutral alliances aren't attacked because people think it would be taking candy from a baby. A baby with nukes. If an alliance decided to attack a neutral alliance they either look like: a) bullies because they're picking on someone smaller or who doesn't have anyone to call for help; b) weak and feeble if they have to request help from their allies because they're not doing so well in the war. Either way, the alliance is likely to lose respect in the community, maybe have treaties canceled with it and subsequently become a target itself. [quote name='D34th' timestamp='1283530230' post='2440462'] Of course neutrality should be allowed, this is like say that Swiss or Sweden can't exist since they are neutral. I have no problem with neutrality what annoys me is the pacifism of the majority of neutral alliances, armed neutrality is awesome but the only alliance where it happens is FAN. [/quote]I take objection that you think FAN is the armed neutral alliance. I had a quick look on the stats page and the Grey Council has larger military per head in all areas except nukes. I'm mildly upset about that, I feel I should disappear back to our forums and berate our members. An average eight nukes per head is unacceptable. [quote name='eyriq' timestamp='1283765931' post='2443578'] Broken Heads! Come on over neutrals, the grass [i]really[/i] is greener on the other side. [/quote]Only because it's growing in uranium saturated meadows. ;p

The Grey Council, whilst not involved in the main conflict, is glad that it could be part of the group that helped set this record. I think we added a total of 0.1 to the GRL...

How does your lack of nuclear weapons harm your country or cause your people suffering? I do not think you have made that point clear. Many nations, especially those that you might come into conflict with also do not possess nuclear weapons, hence, you are not disadvantage. Also, nuclear weapons can cause significant damage, so it is proportionate that the acquisition of such weapons is also significantly expensive. I think he means to say that you can't sell tech in the same way you can sell infra and land. If you wanted to you could sell all your infra and land in one day, but selling your tech via aid would take a lot longer.

I sympathise with your desire to acquire nuclear status, but from my stand point these restrictions on other nations acquiring nuclear weapons are extremely useful -- I am whole-heartedly glad that they are elitist in nature. If there were no restrictions in place than any nation (new or old) could easily purchase a few nukes and fire them off without thought for consequences. Rogue nations could appear from obscurity at a moment's notice to fire off nukes 'just for the hell of it' and then collapse a few weeks later. No, sir, I am very glad that there are restrictions on the acquiring of nuclear weapons -- it saves my nation and its people much grief and heart-ache.

PZI is very significant in Systemfailure's case, but not so in his second incarnation. Having shown the temerity to go nuclear rogue against us, we wanted to make sure that System would not be able to do so again for the foreseeable future. We offered a diplomatic solution then, but I don't think any of us thought for a second that System or any alliance would take this offer up. Thus, it meant we wanted ystem to delete his nation, as he wouldn't be able to delete his Manhattan Project.System rerolls and scams aid off of us. For which we'd probably demand the aid back or attack and attempt to damage the nation in proportion to the aid scammed. However, he also claims to be System, as such he has System's punishment imposed again. I'm not so bothered about PZI this time. In fact, perhaps I'd be happier to leave him be, so we can keep an eye on him. Perhaps periodically attacking him if he's in range until he pays back the scammed aid. I doubt SF could really cause too much damage to the Grey Council again. He could be a nuisance, but not much else. Being a neutral alliance I can't think of anything that if leaked would cause us problems. 6 million is nothing. It's the just the principle -- we can't be seen to be a light touch. Any attacks might be more beneficial than problematic, since he doesn't have nukes any more, as he'd be giving our nations some nice war practice.

It still does say it. Originally the grey team used to get a team bonus. But admin decided this was a bug and 'fixed' it . But I think he fixed it as a post-trade submission check rather than before. The result being that if two grey teams trade then they will be told that they could get a trade bonus, but in reality they don't. Meh, the main new applicants we get are those new(ish) to game. Several of our newer members have had to endure a low NS nuclear rogues, but have stayed despite such tribulations.And though our ANS is about that of TOOL's lowest member's NS we have the similar proportion of technology constituting our NS; and similar proportion nukes to nations; and a similar proportion of nations with the WRCs, other military wonders and military improvements. It would be my expectation that an alliance with a higher ANS would have higher proportions of these. I think that shows that we're a small, but capable alliance, that is not just surviving, but growing on the fringes of planet bob. We're an embodiment of neutrality, backing up our words with actions (or lack thereof... ), and as Mark put it, demonstrating the difference between neutrality and pacifism when we're attacked.

It seems like SystemFailure has dragged another nation into this mess with him. I like how this second nuclear coward declares on the non-nuclear member who is in his range as opposed to our nuclear-armed member in his range.

I don't think the Grey Council have had to deal with such a schizophrenic nation. I think the only thing which SystemFailure has consistently been is pathetic -- all round and in every department.

Thank you to both you.

I do believe the actual team name is "none" -- which trips a lot of tech raiders and recruiters up. However, you completely evaded my point. I am on the grey/no team as was the prospective partner. The game normal shows up trades like this with the text "Disabled (No happiness bonus)" next to the team bonus row. But this was not the case -- http://picasaweb.google.com/jackheh/Untitl...104022641030018

I was looking around for trades to complete by trade circle, when I accidentally clicked on trade instead of message. Both me and the potential trade partner are on grey and when the trade screen came up it said that the in-team trading bonus was enabled -- normally is says disabled. So I was wondering if something in the game has changed.

I can offer pigs and marble if your pigs buy doesn't pull through. But I'm currently in a trade circle and would like to find a replacement for them if I leave. Another condition is that my alliance requires I remain on the grey team (no team bonus). Please let me know how it goes, thanks. http://www.cybernations.net/nation_drill_d...ation_ID=116036

We're now looking for gold and uranium or so I'm led to believe. If you're interested please let us know. Thanks.

Let me know when you're not involved in any wars. I don't want to risk my alliance's neutrality.

This issue presents an interesting dilemma for my alliance. Though after much thought we believe we must remain neutral in this particular instance. Technically it's 'none'. However, the Grey Council, oddly enough, believes grey is spelled with an 'e'. Though perversely enough, my spell checker thinks it is spelled 'gray'... edit: oops, got my own team name wrong.

Hunterlee deleted his nation, and so we're now looking for iron and rubber again.

okay. I got a guy to be iron and rubber (hunterlee). That just leaves uranium and fish/wheat to find.

I've been told by another forum poster that it's required that your forum name match either your nation name or ruler name. By forum name is an acronym of my nation name. Is that okay, or is it against the rules?

Alright, I'm in. That leaves just iron, rubber, uranium and the wildcard fish or wheat to find.

I'm attempting to set up the same trade circle, but without any team affiliation. I currently have myself, a fellow alliance member and possibly a long standing trade partner interested. I provide pigs and marble; my alliance mate cattle and water; and my trade partner iron and uranium. PM me if you're interested. http://www.cybernations.net/nation_drill_d...ation_ID=116036

I can offer the pigs and marble, but I have to stay on the grey team. Let me know if that's okay.

I could offer the pigs and marble, but you'd have to accept me remaining on the grey team (a requirement of my alliance).

I can offer pigs and marble. So... if you're still interested.

3 million offered, Thanks.

Do you wish to use middle men to get the money to you immediately or are you happy to have the money arrive over a period of time. If the former, who do you expect to provide the middle men? Also, what would the the tech to cash conversion ratio be? Anyway, 21 million. Provided that I don't need to find any middle men. http://www.cybernations.net/nation_drill_d...ation_ID=116036