Quercus

Not being a lawyer, I can't claim to understand legalese as well as TOP, but I can read and once translated the Writ for normal folks like myself. I haven't seen the death cookie thread on our forums ever, but that discussion happened before I retired there so it must be open only to Knight Admins. But the OBR does have a link to my original translation in our Chamber of Diplomacy and as far as I know, it is standard practice to give the link to all potential writ signatories. Anyway for reference- its a harsh NAP, but I thought everybody knew that since back in Dec 2006. Check it out- I'm banned on the old forums!!! Writ Translation in Dec 2006 Edit- And here is the actual link that is provided to Writ signatories: http://z15.invisionfree.com/Cyber_Nations/...t&p=6097600

@General Ulji- I am glad this is finally out there. Every time you tangentially addressed this topic, I felt a twinge of guilt for being a party to defending a treaty partner with a pocket book instead of with our nations. In my year and a half with the Order, this was one of two things that I felt ashamed of. The other was the cancellation of the Concordium Sed Noblis with the Greenland Republic. We shut that treaty down because we saw which way the wind was blowing and wanted to avoid future trouble. As I spend more time watching the rat race that is planet Bob or Digiterra, I realize that anybody who loves their nation infrastructure is unsuitable as a treaty partner. This is a contest where self interest causes people to forget that all things are inconsequential when placed next to real friendships. I'll say this in print here and now so anybody can hold me to this promise in the years ahead- oaths of fealty be damned, I will never again allow my nation to be sidelined when my conscience tells me that my place is in the fight. [OOC]@Miko- Regarding real friendship, I am sending you a PM, let's talk on the phone; a little bit about this and a whole lot about a hundred other topics that have nothing to cybernations.[/OOC]

I agree with Yenisey. But EGM you have to realize that ladder mobility was awesome back then because tech was worth 4x what it is now and the nations were pretty small. Ladder mobility for Urgul is pretty much impossible, even if tech was worth 100 NS per point. What ranks would do is allow active alliances to organize their growth for local superiority on the ladder. An alliance with solid units and a decent level of esprit de corps could put 50 at the same strength and probably hold that part of the ladder in even a curb stomp. So ranks would be bad for the hegemon and their associates, but good for the little trouble makers in the community.

Edit- greatmagnus is wise.