Reagan1

[quote name='Rooman33' date='25 June 2010 - 11:15 AM' timestamp='1277478923' post='2350027'] Really nice looking publication! OOC: Did you do this in InDesign? [/quote] Thanks for the compliment, and no, this is done in Microsoft Word 2007.

[quote name='Blind Murder v2' date='25 June 2010 - 12:08 AM' timestamp='1277438862' post='2349645'] [b]Protectorate:[/b] Mehsulf and very very close friends in BCOM, FnKa and AzN (and TimLee ) [/quote] Best of luck to you, BMv2, although I'm not sure where you gathered this thought. After resigning as Assoc Director of BCOM due to RL (going to school, etc.) you went off the deep end, changing your AA in-game, never actually resigning from BCOM, and you asked for no protection or assistance from us. This is all very uncharacteristic of you, so I'm not sure I get it. Nevertheless, I see you've been hit by GOONS and there will be no repercussions from BCOM based on you putting yourself out there on your own and leaving your former BCOMrades to only guess what your motives or intentions are.

[quote name='PotFace' date='23 June 2010 - 09:42 AM' timestamp='1277300517' post='2347641'] Well, I suppose the purpose of BCOM is much the same as other alliances - to compete in the cyberverse. Our main objective (vision, ideal) is to "win", or otherwise become a great alliance. We're looking to "out-do" as many as we can, on as many fronts as we can. We pay more attention to the issues at hand than we do the vision itself. For us, it's a series of small victories that we are sure will eventually add-up to establishing ourselves as an epic alliance. [/quote] It also helps that we have a great group of guys who have bonded well and enjoy hanging out with each other and working together. It gets so busy at times, we have to slow ourselves down. We've put a lot of effort into what we're doing behind the scenes to ensure we've created the best possible environment for our new recruits once we're ready to go full steam ahead. As Pot stated, it's not so much about quantity as quality, but at the same time we believe we can produce a quantity of quality members by having the right programs in place and the right people heading up those programs. [i]Now if Pot will just fix the boards![/i]

[quote name='Daikos' date='20 June 2010 - 09:43 PM' timestamp='1277084602' post='2344407'] So much for "moving on". [/quote] That article isn't there to rehash it. Everything that's news that takes place in BCOM since the previous edition is posted in the Chronicle, because that's what the Chronicle is...BCOM news.

[center][img]http://www.blackstonecommission.com/forums/images/seals/DoP.png[/img] [size="4"][color="#FF0000"][b]Department of Propaganda[/b][/color][/size] Welcome to the second edition of the Blackstone Chronicle. The ongoing plague commonly known as "Real Life" has taken it's toll on BCOM this month, so I apologize for this shorter edition. However, it's been nothing short of eventful here at BCOM and today we're still around to celebrate our 2 month anniversary! Hope you enjoy. [IMG]http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l271/falconsfan_1/BCHRONVOL2PG1-1.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l271/falconsfan_1/BCHRONVOLPG2.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l271/falconsfan_1/bchron2pg3final.png[/IMG] That'll wrap it up for this month. For an archive of Blackstone Chronicle editions, just follow the links below. [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=86207&st=0&p=2305383&hl=+blackstone%20+chronicle&fromsearch=1&#entry2305383"]BChron Vol 1 May 2010[/url][/center]

Since the NOIR debate is still continuing, I might as well throw another 2 cents in. I'm actually glad this thread brought the issues with NOIR to light, which are quite simple to resolve, in all honesty. Regarding the time frame and not being committed enough to stick it out, it boils down to a lack of communication, which I addressed in our application. From the outside looking in, as a new applicant, no expectations are set informing applicants of the time frame they should expect. People aren't accustomed to waiting several weeks, or months, to get approved. Post the expectations in the NOIR forums for applicants and problem solved. Secondly, I asked that you sell yourselves to us as well as expecting us to sell ourselves to you. This was met with a bit of arrogance by NOIR signatories. You have this persona of "Hey, we're the best thing going", which didn't really sit well with me. If you are, you should be willing to back it up. Having a large bloc doesn't necessarily mean it's effective. As it relates to the real world, any qualified employer is prepared to discuss it's benefits to a potential employee. This is because they want to continue their growth and attract worthy candidates into their fold. It's perfectly understandable, by the same token, that you should be hesitant to accept new alliances that have yet to prove themselves, only to see them disband a few weeks down the road. So, along with setting expectations, you should also set criteria for applicants. If this is a primary concern of NOIR, then don't allow an alliance to apply unless they've met the criteria, which could be a set time of existence, minimum score or avg NS, minimum member count, etc. In doing these two things, you've already eliminated those not willing to stick it out and those you feel are too small or insignificant to apply, before the application process even begins. Bearing all that in mind, if NOIR is promoting themselves as being dedicated to the black team and the economic growth and prosperity of black team alliances, then why the hell wouldn't you take a chance on any black team alliance that applies and attempt to help enable them to become a more solidified alliance? Instead, you present yourselves as intent on only accepting those who really don't need your help in the first place...kind of like a bank who will only loan money to someone after they've proven they don't need it. I hope you can take this as constructive criticism because it's aimed at improving your processes and avoiding the pitfalls both sides encountered in this process. If not, then at least we can all agree to disagree and move on.

OP updated to reflect closed poll.

This thread should have ended days ago. Let it go, Thrawn. The past is behind us all and the future is ahead. Let's look towards it.

[quote name='jerdge' date='16 June 2010 - 11:43 AM' timestamp='1276703017' post='2339510'] I don't think that CN2 would affect CN1 much, as everybody invested a lot here and (obviously) not there (yet), and thus we'd all give precedence to CN1 if we had to choose which one to focus on. The worst that could happen is that CN2 dies after the first few months, but ITT it's more probable that it evolves into something completely new, maybe with mostly different leaders and communities. [/quote] To be honest, I think it'd go the other way. Over time, CN2 would gain momentum and CN1 would die out. An added benefit of promoting CN2 would be to incorporate new features not found in the original, and to allow open membership. It should be treated as a separate game because that's what it would be. Previously banned players can play, which could make things interesting as well. It's not hard to duplicate code and load the game on a new server, either.

[quote name='Vladimir' date='15 June 2010 - 11:07 PM' timestamp='1276657644' post='2339003'] We used to have this debate on a weekly basis, with people imagining that a score reset would somehow magically return us to the naive days of January 2006. Fact is that things have advanced a lot since then -- technically, politically, strategically, socially -- and these advances will remain. Consequently you would see large alliances and blocs forming immediately, complete with complex organisational and diplomatic structures, and moving to dominate the new terrain. The only real effect would be to split the player base, thus reducing it in size and intensity, and weakening the gameplay as a result. To put a more empirical spin on it, we have seen a number of suspiciously similar universes spring up over the years, and we have seen hundreds flock in excitement to explore them. We have also found that this excitement quickly dissipates as the new utopia implodes and everyone returns. The grass on the other side has long been dead. [/quote] Never thought about it that way. That's a sober and somber assessment.

[quote name='ty345' date='15 June 2010 - 10:58 PM' timestamp='1276657107' post='2338992'] It would have to have completely different equations and game mechanics, or everyone would just resolve into what they do here. [/quote] Can't say I agree with that. The current formula is a success or it wouldn't still be around. However, there are so many variables that we create as players and things that have been done that can't be undone, that it would be nice to start in a new world from the ground up, imo.

This poll is to see how many people would play CN2, if Admin were to create it. This does not mean resetting the current CN or shutting it down. I realize we have CN:TE, but it's not the same. I've often heard talk of people wishing they had the opportunity to play the game over, from the beginning with everyone on even ground, and seeing how a new world would develop. I'm in that group. Sure, many alliances would carry over and start out with a large player base, albeit they would all have small nations. We would also see brand new alliances and opportunities for everyone. The possibilities of what could happen are endless. I think it would be a refreshing challenge to have the opportunity to play in a new world. Depending on how you answer the poll questions, discuss your logic. [color="#FF0000"]EDIT: POLL IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION[/color]

[quote name='Erich Ludendorff' date='09 June 2010 - 03:00 PM' timestamp='1276110009' post='2330441'] At the End of Days, during the Great Admin Reset, [b]the Rapture will sweep the faithful to a new world, where all our infrastructure and technology are equal. We will have a new chance to create our utopia.[/b] You will be stuck in this distraught world, fighting endless, brutal wars for NS advantages and misperceived political leverage. You will be cast into outer darkness. There will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth. [/quote] One can only hope. "I pray thee, Admin, that in thou divine consciousness, thee shall see fit to create a parallel universe in which all are once again on equal footing, and without prejudice or power over one another so that the world will begin anew and Cyber Nations 2 shall be it's name. Amen."

Everything worked out for everyone in the end. I don't hold any ill will towards NOIR or the black sphere. From their point of view, I, for one, was being arrogant during the app process and from mine...so were they. As BMv2 pointed out, we just didn't click. All of that was settled and we withdrew the app in good standing and everyone on both sides feeling better about it, I believe. Not knowing the inner workings of BCOM or the people there, I can certainly understand how NOIR was apprehensive to admit us, and although we do know of a couple of people who were friendly to us while spouting off about us behind our backs, those people don't represent the entirety of NOIR. We didn't leave the black sphere because of friction with NOIR. We left because there were others who were very welcoming and hospitable, so it only made sense to follow that path. No reason to draw lines, so no one should be attempting to spin it that way.

[quote name='Anthony' date='11 June 2010 - 03:29 PM' timestamp='1276284546' post='2333521'] Damn I like that NSO tag. [/quote] That's courtesy of our graphics guru and founder, Potface. Each embassy created in our forums gets a personalized tag that the ambassadors wear when they're masked. I figured they would look good here too.