Sval

A very merry birthday to you

Your experts need to cut back on the sauce 🍻

I'd love to know the methodology in detail. Because I have no idea why OWR is on there.

I heartily endorse this message.

I gave it a shot. I had to be a bit generous with the category definitions to make some fit, because a few of the alliances I found seemed to straddle the space in between. I think Orbis currently has Superpower spheres rather than any Superpower AAs. There's a clear dynamic to our politics, and from my perspective it's driven by two opposing pairs of co-operating Great Powers. For Rising Powers, I thought as much about their intent as I did the outcomes of their actions. Pretty much AAs leading the formation of new spheres, or appearing to step up and add new drive or direction to existing ones. And ones I feel have the potential to realise more than the average AA. Middle ended up being the ones I felt didn't quite meet Rising Power status, but were clearly more than just Micros. Micro Powers were the AAs whose sphere I could identify, but weren't the first or second AA that came to mind when I thought about that sphere. Perhaps a bit more subjective than my approach to other categories. But it is what it is. No Power was a bit of a wider brush. Some AAs are there because they have no driving influence in sphere politics, but that's not to say they don't influence the game in some way. Others, because I know they're struggling to find their place. Don't Know; simple enough. They may be significant within their sphere. But I don't know enough to comment on them. Arrgh get their own category. They're not exactly at the heart of things. But they'll never be easily forgotten. If they make a move, we all notice, but it won't change the wider ebb and flow of Orbis politics.

Order of the White Rose Announcement On a cool yet sunny Sunday 2,191 days ago, OWR came into being. What a wild ride that’s been. Sval Prime of Order of the White Rose Yep. We’re 6 today.

The description is just badly-worded. It should just say "This project gives you two open project slots." and leave it at that.

My very best wishes to all involved with this new endeavour. May it server you well going forwards.

Now now. Don't go Russian into this.

I heartily endorse this.

Not the best Gladiator rewrite I've ever seen. I hope with Hollywood taking in the remaining cast this movie can be properly salvaged. "There was a dream that was Rome... This wasn't it."

They may stop me succeeding, but they'll never stop me trying! They decided since everyone comes to me anyway they'd opt for an extended vacation.

Order of the White Rose Announcement In the spirit of bringing more posts and “culture” back to the OWF (because that’s apparently what the WoTs say we all want) OWR would like to present its new government lineup. Prime - Lord Sval, of Yukikuni Protectorate Legate of Internal Affairs - King Gonzalo, of Great Novotnia Legate of Economics - König Karl XVIII, of Neuheim Legate of Defence - The Forger Ekrdin, of Nain-Possible Vicarius of Internal Affairs - Chairman Meow Kabu, of The Cat Couch Republic of Korea Vicarius of Economics - Ruler Greypher, of Gensokyo Vicarius of Defence - President Tomoya, of Kaide Master of the Quill - King Bendigeidfran, of The Petty Kingdom of New Gwynedd NB: Foreign Affairs was disbanded at the formal request of the Foreign Affairs staff Look at you, reading the small print. Nice job. No, they still won't let me retire. Believe me, I've tried… While I have your attention, how about a joke? Did you hear the one about the magic tractor? It went down the lane and turned into a field. No? Fine, I'll disband.

Wattuh & Wahdurr Raise a glass to peace.

It's quite something to consider that a full two years after leaving the game due to cheating, NPO's actions traumatised Orbis so deeply that the very ghost of them still dominates the narrative of how we conduct our politics. Until we come to terms with that and choose to step away as a community, nothing here is ever going to change.

Have you got any scotch?

Generally, it's the toxicity that permeates this place. Specifically, a few things we see happen time and again. Take newbie AA DoE threads, for example. How often they end in ridicule. How often over the years I've seen newer AAs post about what they feel are their significant goijngs-on, only to be shat on by parts of the wider community because "That's not the sort of stuff we post in Alliance Affairs". Or the fact so few seem able to keep IC and OOC apart. How often the IC/OOC line of attack has been blurred or outright crossed. Or the fact that HC's insightful thread had to be moderated for racism within only a handful of replies. I really can't see things changing. I think people will keep behaving the same way they always have. Why wouldn't they? What reason do they have to change? I'd like to see things improve, going forwards. I'd like to see more content and more positive engagement from all across Orbis. I'll certainly cross my fingers. But I won't hold my breath.

I'm all for making the forums the centre of Orbis again. But if we're going to make it work people need to stop crapping on everything new. If we want the depth back to this place, we need to stop filling every DoE with "Disband". We need to encourage every alliance to speak here, to share their culture, to add that colour and meaning that spurs discussion and debate. We need rivalries to be good-natured and entirely IC, instead of the OOC venom that almost always rears its head. If we want the passion we need to stop stamping on one-another's enthusiasm. It's a noble goal. And I honestly don't think we're capable of it.

This thread delivers on so many levels. The twists, the turns, the sheer adventure. It's great to see so many people putting so much passion into it.

Best way to name a war is to see what the combattants start calling it throughout, and then have a vote on the most common one after the war is over.

I always suspected...

Hey, does this burger smell like relish to you?

Order of the White Rose RoH We’re a little late to the game, but this has been something we knew required careful consideration and reasoned discussion. And in view of recent events, it is something which we simply could not take lightly. Relish on Hamburgers. After much deliberation, OWR has reached the conclusion that Relish on Hamburgers is, at minimum, a basic requirement for a burger. We are aware that some people may prefer mayo, some like ketchup, and one or two may even add a dollop of barbecue sauce. This is acceptable. But there must be relish! A burger without relish is no burger at all. Ideally, we would also like a pickle. Signed, Sval Prime of Order of the White Rose. Also; apparently there’s a war on. So let’s all have fun.

It'll be an honour standing by your side through this.