Crownguard

Happy birthday! As for the first cake, it *could* be delicious if that was some sort of crushed Oreo topping or something...

As a newer*, please inform me how protecting neutrals is a moral position. As far as I see it, these nations are not defenseless, they have no treaties with outside entities, and they have no interest in dealing with the outside world for whatever causes come up, 'moral' or otherwise. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but what use is sacrificing for others for a principle that none of us espouse? Do their nations deserve unmitigated growth while ours have to burn for their right to turn their back on the rest of the political system? If they were passionately defenseless, there might be a case...but explain to me how having troops and the ability to buy nukes makes you a global innocent? Now I say this liking Pax Corvus, truly. I only spoke to Cerridwyn and one or two others on IRC a few times while back in INT, but on the whole they are solid people. They have their belief system and they stick to it. If I were not interested in any fashion in playing politics in this game anymore, I might consider joining them someday. I also happen to like members of DBDC, so there's that. Only thing that one can argue about 'morality' in this is that both sides enjoy themselves and hopefully get something out of it. DBDC does what it feels it must. Pax Corvus gets to remain sharp and tests their principles. I fail to see the issue here. *'12 defined as being new

If you could explain a bit more about yourself and your values, it would be much easier to recommend alliances where you might best fit in.

Umbrella arrogance once again requited. Well done Ogaden.

I'm all for clubbing people who club seals, if that's an available option.

Was fun fighting you all, hope to have more fun fighting by your side now!

I couldn't have been nuked by any finer group of folks o/

SRA are good people and you would be a good person too if you liked them.

Minor addendum: 20 days, not 10. 20 days would make it what it is now, rather than 100 tech every 10 days (and thus better than actual dealing)

Something to consider for smaller nations. As a "newer" player (joined in '12) I got to experience at least some of the feelings mentioned by other players. Consequently I hoped I might be able to offer a few thoughts: 1) One major issue of this game is acquiring tech. Beyond my obvious bias being in Umbrella, most older players have a very vested interest in gaining cheap tech, and most newer players have a very real desire to grow quickly to be relevant. The money from tech deals, unless someone is funneling aid money to grow a nation, is the primary means a newer nation grows. Literally tech selling is the lifeline to grow as a newer nation. The problem is that an alliance (mostly) doesn't have a huge vested interest in *growing* that new member; the need for a reliable seller is MUCH greater than graduating someone into the lower-mid tier. Unless the new player is fully active and atypical etc. Thus, an alliance has a bit of a tension inherent: new nation wants to grow and learn, older nations running the alliance want reliable tech and people who aren't going to burn them on deals. Herein is the suggestion: Implement a system where a neutral (computer) 'guaranteed market' sells tech at relatively unfavorable rates, say 6/100 or the like. The caveat would be that a player could elect to purchase all six of their slots from this computer player, or they could mix buying from new sellers and such. No limits on who can buy, the computer market has unlimited tech to sell, and anyone can fill up up to all 6 of their slots with that computer. It could even be automated to send a tech offer as soon as a slot expires to the player, or you can make it like a 10 day wonder where you purchase and can't repurchase til time is up. This would enable an unfavorable, though guaranteed means, of acquiring tech at reasonable rates for buyers. For sellers, it would make them much more valuable and may take the 'sting' out of losing a reliable seller to yet another buyer to compete with. Sellers could give their tech at much better rates, but would always have a one-up on the computer 'market'. ----------------- OR alternately, implement benefits for tech selling within an alliance, such as a happiness bonus or a bounty to the seller so they get a bit more *zing* for trading with their alliance mates. This would encourage more camaraderie and keep people sticking closer to their alliances instead of hunting around for sellers/buyers outside the ranks. ----------------- 2) This idea is a bit more radical, but perhaps it could be something that people would find useful to make wars more painful and give a benefit for lower tiers: Make it so PM is no longer an option for a player past a certain level of NS outright. Say once you pass 20k NS or somesuch you no longer can go into peacemode during war. No restrictions on war chests or anything else, but it would prevent a lot of wars dragging out as people cycle in and out of PM and wait for folks to elect to fight. Wars would go a lot quicker as voices call for peace once they lose all their nukes, get zied, etc. Smaller nations can prepare for 'the jump' to the serious wars. Peace mode is a tactic sure, but it would be something where wars are faster and more furious because EVERYONE is a target, not just the non-peaced out ready ranks. This would, again, let smaller nations know they can be 'safe' and grow to a certain degree, while the 'gap' doesn't grow so crazy large that they can never catch up. It would literally *encourage* alliances to grow their new nations fast, because they will need numbers to fight. It will make sure alliances prepare their newer nations, because they will be thrown into the meatgrinder with everyone else. In short, it will encourage people to prepare newer nations for war, while making wars quicker as the outcry grows much more to end things when WCs run low. Shorter, more painful wars. ----------------- Just some off-hand ideas. Feel free to pick away at them.

Reptile fund? Care to tell me what you are doing there agents? Congrats on the new(ish) government!

I appreciate it, thanks. Look forward to interacting (well, more officially) with all you folks and others.

I haven't seen many heroes, to be honest. Other than that, it seems apropos.

Such a great movie quote.

Orville's Civilized Diplomatique?

That hurts smurthwaite. Cuts deep.

It should be as big as (insert yo mamma joke here) -----> X That is the only safe answer, really.

Mortal Wombats are awesome and more people should be hailing this to reflect said awesomeness.

Well here is how it generally works: You join an alliance and they teach you the ropes. Most have some form of guide and IRC channels to help get you acclimated quickly to how alliance politics works. The good ones give you a mentor or at least check on your progress. You grow quickly by doing what are called 6/200 tech deals, where one person sends you 6 million in cash, and then you send 2 rounds of 100 tech to equal 200 tech. Doing this with 6 people gets you a nice wad of money as a smaller nation. If you stay active and show an interest in the alliance, you will find yourself getting positions of responsibility as people start to trust you. Once you rise high enough, you might be able to affect alliance policy or even get involved in foreign affairs. That's what you offer an alliance....you're a long-term investment for growth. What you get is that you get to be protected from raiders, a community of people to chill with, and learn to play the game well. As for what alliance you might like, that depends on if you like an alliance's theme, you see what they offer for start-up aid, who seems the friendliest, etc. Hope that helps you out.

Congrats on your new home and forums. Try to avoid the ferals lurking around here.

Hey yourself! Good to see you around. Also, congratulations on the treaty then. Random person above me notwithstanding, there wasn't some subtle dig or entendre up in that statement.

You say this as if tech isn't the most important thing you can keep besides your honor...

Congratulations on the line-up, though that's a bit delayed (probably not PR for me to hail this, but whatever). Good to see Redneck in there as always.

The lack of happy ending is disappointing yes, Walsh. Then again I'm not quite sure I would trust someone's hands on me here on the OWF, strange massage or otherwise.

I look forward to Rey The Great taking pollution down to zero.