Spooner

When it comes to browser games, absolutely.

I don't know what you're talking about. I'm on that MLG Orbis Circuit, bro.

Here's a few easy things to make the UI more functional for the players. By the way, I love the new "X Defensive Slots Open" feature, thank you. None of these are vitally important, but would make gameplay much smoother from a user's perspective. #1) [Most needed, in my opinion] Display when nations get off beige on their nation profile. Have it say something like: "Color: [ ] Beige (ends 4/20 1:13)". This saves me from having to dig through their war records, find out the time each nation begied the player, which war ended last, adding X days, etc. Would be very appreciated. #2) Make messages read from top to bottom. If you get a new message start the message at the bottom (to see what was recently said without scrolling). If you want to read stuff previously written, just scroll up. Not a big deal, at all, but would be nice. #3) On this page: have a tab labeled "My Open Offers". With accepted trades of 3 steel, 2 food, 20 uranium, it takes too long to dig through the list and cancel any still-open offers.

Very few people will be able to protect you at that score range -- regardless of the price. I'm surprised your members aren't being raided by those 99% guys more often.

PRIDE. POWER. PURPLE!

We could open a new thread about this, sure. In the meantime though, I understand what you're saying. I'm aware that us having a prior community is the reason we rocketed up so fast, which is sort of my point. I've noticed that alliances in this game survive if one of two factors is present: A - There's some sort of prior trust/community that comes to this game as a group, together (for example, Mensa) B - Some big-name guys form the alliance from the ground-up and drag their buddies into it (for example, Alpha) To be completely blunt, I don't see what small alliances such as Odd Squad or Charming Friends really bring to the game. They don't have neither the leadership, or the numbers to be effective. If I was a new player -- what would they offer me? If I have no ties to the community, a larger alliance would offer me the best shot at building my nation, most likely. If I wanted a "small community" vibe, I would go to a small alliance with competent leadership. Roz Wei for example. A great deal of small alliances I see signed as protectorates are two-bit alliances that offer nothing unique. Mediocre leadership, disjointed score, and disorganized. Frankly, I think it would be beneficial for the community to have them cut free, adapt or die, and the good members can flow towards larger alliances, or the smaller alliances that are well-organized (read: militarized) enough to remain. Just my social-darwinist two cents.

One thing you should know about Mensa, if the posts aren't by leadership, take them with a big ol' pile of salt. Most of us aren't privvy to what leadership is thinking. We're told we're allowed to attack XYZ alliance, and it's suns-out-guns-out. The majority of our membership doesn't really know the core reason we're going after a given alliance. Unless it's Rose. Then we know that the holy wrath of Dio burns hot with bloodthirst.

I would disagree. MENSA grew quickly, so can they. If the alliance is going to suck now, it's always going to suck. Not being raided is pretty simple -- have some deterrent. We figured this out fairly quickly. Make it more costly to be raided than it's worth to your attacker. The way to be safe in this game is not to sign protectorate treaties, if anything, that paints a massive target on your back, as we've seen numerous times now. The best way to stay safe as you grow is to have a capable defense, and to maintain friendly relationships with as many alliances as possible. For example, let's say someone like Evenstar had a 5% military score, and zero allies. Situation #2: they have 5% military score, and UPN as a protectorate. Situation #3, they have 20% military score and zero allies. Situation #4, they have 20% military score and UPN as a protectorate. The risk for the small alliance is as follows: 5% military score no allies > 5% military score UPN treaty (because they will get sucked into wars) > 20% military score UPN Treaty (sucked into wars still) > 20% military score no allies. As you can see, having a protector is only beneficial if you have no military (read: suck). In that case, frankly, I think you deserve to be raided rather than given a golden participation sticket & one-way ticket to the Orbis hugbox. Why is 20% military score & no allies the safest option? Simple. If I see a 20% military nation, I won't raid them. It's not worth it, never will be. However, if UPN goes to war, suddenly they become a viable target. As such, if they are militarized/organized, signing a treaty with UPN IS NOT BENEFICIAL.It merely gets them sucked into encounters they otherwise would not have. Personally, I suspect the majority of this protectorate business is to increase recruitment (suck out all the active players into the main alliance, leave the rest), but I am merely speculating. I'm not calling out UPN specifically, merely that recruitment seems to be the primary incentive from the protecting alliance -- as I have explained, offering this "deal" does not really help the secondary alliance, nor the health of the game overall.

Your fault for being the busty figurehead of UPN, compadre.

To be fair, this whole web of every single alliance having 5-6+ treaties makes the game rather stagnant & cumbersome. It always ends up in this legalistic bickering that's been taking place on these forums practically monthly. Also, we were right. Signing small protectorates as allies backfired, as we knew it would.

Honestly, I don't actively dislike UPN or it's protectorates. That said, you guys are trying to spin this just as hard as anyone else. I'm getting real tired of the "act of aggression against defenseless protectorates" facade. Your protectorate alliance has been in a war for nearly a week. Why you would still be "defenseless" nearly a week later is beyond me. You're trying to blame your lack of activity & organization on those who capitalized on it. Rather than posting on the forums about how it's not your fault, how Partisan is a snake, how we're aggressive tyrants, and everything under the sun, you should focus your energy on organizing your alliance members into an organized force the next time around. The world will trample you if you let it, complaining on the forums won't prevent alliances from walking all over you.

Well, we know Arrgh brings the booty.

If you don't want your protectorates wrecked, then don't declare wars against the friend of a friend. Especially if you're not prepared for the war in the first place. I don't see it as ruthless, really. But then again, MENSA-folk are cold heartless bastards.

Good lord, this is juicy. I don't think $12M worth of steel is worth the PR hit, but this is a real blast.

MENSA STRONK. GET HYPED.

Where have you offered your terms? I haven't seen them anywhere. As far as I'm aware, our terms are for you to publicly declare your sincere & eternal devotion to Dio Brando on the forums in exchange for peace. We are a simple people.

As far as I'm aware (which is minimally, leadership makes their decisions behind smoke and spooky mirrors~),we declared war since generally protectorates jump in on the side of their primary alliance. Like clockwork, they are a week late usually, but they show up in time. Perhaps members were bored and wanted someone to attack, beats me. You're strongly tied to the opposing force of this conflict. Why are you surprised that you were dragged into it? Odd Squad is basically UPN Lite. Your color schemes are even the same. SK didn't ask to be dragged into UPN's conflict with tS, but they were still blitzed. All's fair in love & war.

Haven't you heard? It's been all the rage since the Proxy War. These days signing on as a protectorate is practically a death sentence, it seems.

Why are you frustrated with Mensa?

Being "courageous" in an online text-based browser game is not at the highest of my priorities. Regardless, we already have. If memory serves, we attacked BoC when the odds weren't stacked in our sides favor. Then we moved on to DEIC (when the sides were a bit more even). Now that everyone's slots are filled up, we've moved on to raiding alliances such as yours. Hence the lack of declaration of war. You dragged yourself into the conflict when you signed a treaty with UPN. When you tie yourself to an alliance, you shouldn't be surprised when you get dragged into their conflicts.

Couldn't you simply chalk up the steel as the promised aid? Your ex-protectorate seems salty that you promised aid, which allegedly never arrived. Seems like you have an opportunity to take out two birds with one stone.

You're not significant enough to warrant a DoW.

VE tears are reward enough.

You guys in VI seem cool. I made peace with the one VI fellow I was at war with. In the meantime, I'll continue to roll Odd Squad because Ashwyn (in his infinite wisdom) feels the need to provoke Mensa, despite having no military.

Would you like to join a better one? ^_~