Sir Gunz

Just coming in: While Haven continues to honorably support friends and fam (Boognish), we do not wish to participate in the current conflict (fairly obvious at this point) between Non-Grata and Boognish. We hereby declare our neutrality in this ongoing conflict that this feud remains confined to its current participants.

Velyni Vas, I am not familiar with you but you represent many I have spoken to (most of whom did not stay because they lost hope). Your are emblematic of the problems I alluded to above. I welcome you to the community and I hope you can find a home where you can also grow here.

I apologize for my lateness to table. RL- I needed these few days. I know I am very late to the discussion, and again, I risk being both redundant and tangential, but I insist the problems described above all starts at the top. It is in fact, the the most powerful and oldest nations, players, spheres and alliances who create the environment for stagnation and inertia. It is not their intent so the blame is not in them, but the solution may be with them. I previously remarked the design of the game rewards stagnation of the oldest (perhaps best developed nations and alliances), but I claimed this is unnatural because in all things there should be natural degradation over time. But not here. GK, rightly suggested the solution may be in the game design itself. However, I have believed for quite some time there is a practical solution. It would be a more unnatural and radical (and perhaps more civilized) solution where members of the community reward the new nations and provide less rewards to the older nations. As I said, radical. There is obvious self-preservation disincentives to do such a radical thing. Still, it seems to me inviting and rewarding new blood would be beneficial to the entire community. I have seen far too many leaders retire with their entire nation booming with treasures, safely stowed away for posterity and nothing else. Simply put, if the game was not designed to incentivize the next generation, it seems only reasonable to me the players must do so.

Bravo, Bravo. Congrats to all! Keep it going. I had a feeling retirement would result in positive things

In the effort to promote more peace and tranquility, Haven has continued to support up-and-coming nations/alliances by adding Nepalese Temple Balls as a protectorate. ---------- The Haven-NTB Protectorate Agreement is a protectorate treaty between HAVEN and “Nepalese Temple Balls” (NTB) made official and announced on October 27, 2020. Contents Protectorate Agreement Article I: Preamble In the pursuit of good will, prosperity, mutual friendship and overall Peace, Haven and “Nepalese Temple Balls” (herein after referred to as NTP), do hereby recognize this Protectorate Agreement as official and agree to all terms and conditions therein. They recognize that NTP shall be deemed a protectorate of Haven until such a time that NTP can stand independently as a sovereign alliance. Article II: Protection In a case where NTP finds itself in an unprovoked defensive war, Haven agrees to offer all necessary assistance to ensure NTP’s well being and continuity. Should NTP be the provoker in a conflict, Haven may offer its assistance at its discretion. Should Haven engage in military conflict, NTP, at its own discretion may assist or not assist as appropriate. Article III: Non-Aggression Haven and NTP agree to coexist in a state of peace. Neither alliance will spy, attack or conspire to attack against the other. Each will cooperate and share information relevant to security matters. Should disagreements development in strategic goals, tactics, objectives, or methods, parties will confer privately until a solution can be found. Article IV: Communication Haven will provide counsel and advise to assist in the development of NTP nations. Haven will provide development guidelines and resources. NTP agrees to earnestly and actively cooperate in the development of their own nations and update and respond to requests expeditiously. NTP agrees to accept membership of nations referred by Haven in the effort to support the development of NTP and to better ensure smooth communication between the parties. Section V: Economic Development Haven will assist NTP to develop its nations and strengthen their economy. To this effort, Haven will assist in the development of trade circles and facilitate technology deals. Haven and NTP will give each other priority status in trading of resources and buying and selling of technology. Section VI: Cancellation Either party may cancel this treaty with 72 hours notice to the other party. During this 72 hours, the treaty remains completely in effect. All on-going commitments that are unfulfilled must be satisfied. Section VII: Signatory Signed by Haven: Escanor – Guardian Angel Wardoe – Arch Angel Todor Jivkov – Avenging Angel Sir Gunz – Arch Angel Signed by NTP: Mr Nice – Kingpin

I respect your analysis, Tevron but GK makes an extraordinary point. At the risk of misrepresenting positions since I not fully engaged in the full discussion, I will toss my two cents in here. Things are dying because the obvious disequilibrium that exists. There are several alliances that have amassed the great bulk of nations of which, maybe 20% are seriously active and the rest merely seeking sanctuary. They remain uninvolved, and why should they be? They have the facade of protection of their overlords. There is no incentive for activity when there is no consequence. In fact, there are rewards for inactivity in minor interests rates, etc. With that said, the solution would have been a combination of real world consequences of "cause & effect" and real world degradation in performance or "entropy" for inactivity. Failure to upkeep a nation, should result in negative consequences to nations and alliances. There should be inherent degradation and natural anarchy resulting from stagnation. However, the overlords can simply check-in on day 20 and send bolts down to their frightened minions. Further, aggregation of resources in a nation or nations in an alliance should naturally result in conflict as populations or nations develop varying and conflicting opinions. Again, instead of this natural progression, the hegemonic structure that exists reinforces that status quo and promotes stagnation. This makes it improbable for developing nations to exercise their will in game unless they sycophantly bow before their overlords. You state, I would submit that analysis may be too narrow, and betrays the gray space that exists in all things. Most of Oculus members can (and should) independently survive and (perhaps) thrive but this hegemonic spirit that permeates planet bob bounds them to an overlord. The natural human spirit to set off on their own and sink or swim by the mercy of their fate and their will is absent. So once again, this invites stagnation and inactivity. Finally, I would argue the inability to perceive a direction may not necessarily indicate there is no vision or no purpose. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. At the end of day, is it a game of alliances or a game of war?

The Haven-WIN Protectorate Agreement is a protectorate treaty between HAVEN and “What I Need” (WIN) made official and announced on September 3, 2020. Contents Protectorate Agreement Article I: Preamble In the pursuit of good will, prosperity, mutual friendship and overall Peace, Haven and What I Need” (herein after referred to as WIN), do hereby recognize this Protectorate Agreement as official and agree to all terms and conditions therein. They recognize that WIN shall be deemed a protectorate of Haven until such a time that WIN can stand independently as a sovereign alliance. Article II: Protection In a case where WIN finds itself in an unprovoked defensive war, Haven agrees to offer all necessary assistance to ensure WIN’s well being and continuity. Should WIN be the provoker in a conflict, Haven may offer its assistance at its discretion. Should Haven engage in military conflict, WIN, at its own discretion may assist or not assist as appropriate. Article III: Non-Aggression Haven and WIN agree to coexist in a state of peace. Neither alliance will spy, attack or conspire to attack against the other. Each will cooperate and share information relevant to security matters. Should disagreements develop in strategic goals, tactics, objectives, or methods, parties will confer privately until a solution can be found. Article IV: Communication Haven will provide counsel and advise to assist in the development of WIN nations. Haven will provide development guidelines and resources. WIN agrees to earnestly and actively cooperate in the development of their own nations and update and respond to requests expeditiously. WIN agrees to accept membership of nations referred by Haven in the effort to support the development of WIN and to better ensure smooth communication between the parties. Section V: Economic Development Haven will assist WIN to develop its nations and strengthen their economy. To this effort, Haven will assist in the development of trade circles and facilitate technology deals. Haven and WIN will give each other priority status in trading of resources and buying and selling of technology. Section VI: Cancellation Either party may cancel this treaty with 72 hours notice to the other party. During this 72 hours, the treaty remains completely in effect. All on-going commitments that are unfulfilled must be satisfied. Section VII: Signatory Signed by Haven: Sir Gunz – Guardian Angel Wardoe – Arch Angel Todor Jivkov – Arch Angel, Avenging Angel Escanor – Arch Angel Signed by WIN: Mr. Engel – Owner

MM, I think it is a little more than that. I think it should be understood more as PSA - Public Service Announcement. "A public service announcement (PSA) is a message in the public interest disseminated without charge, with the objective of raising awareness of, and changing public attitudes and behavior towards, a social issue." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_service_announcement

Good work all! Let's work on strengthening bonds.

Good