Ouch. This is getting bad. Weeks ago I warned people about mercenaries who would play king maker and empire breaker (I do not remember which thread, honestly, but I did). Then recently in the ANZAC thread I admonished them about gaining #1 through any prank over hard work and/or an honest defection.Now, it is one thing when a player has an honest change of heart and switches sides, even for the third plus time in a career, but it is another when it is done just on a whim. Does loyalty have no meaning? Are the highest ranking players hopping around so sporadically so important that they are above the game? Well, I am going to give you my straight answers: Loyalty is worth a LOT in my book. Empire changes or "going neutral" should be done with definite thought and reason. If you don't belong, then move. But don't move for the heck of it! As for question #2, I do not care how high on the score board one is, one is never bigger than the team (whatever team that may be) despite what their score says. A cavalier attitude by a top 25 or a bottom-ranked player will get the same net result from me: disappointment. When high ranking people have "fun" with the Meta, it is much like a cat playing with a mouse. The cat will get bored with the mouse, eventually abandoning it or torturing and eating it as the case may be, but us common players who do not change empires like socks ARE THE MICE right now. And the army of mice might be getting ready for a revolution against the cats... Think about that.
End of quote
Everytime you think that Pirate Wisdom has run out. Along comes some more. As the oldest active empire still left, and one of the few oldies that still has its original emporer (not that i haven't thought of handing over the reins, these guys just wont let me hehe) it's been a strain on all of us taking the lead in holding this thing together.
On Loyalty: Hey it was EBZ and I for awhile, then Gunner, EBZ, Svalin and I for awhile. Gerakken is now the longest continuous running member of G.R.O.S.S. still active. We had fun in 41st place, moved up quickly and had fun in first. Of course when we took first the accusations flew at us. Ironically, There was a movement on the part of a couple people within our empire to boot him at one time for disloyalty. I squashed it and told those that wanted it if that's all the loyalty we could show any of our members we may as well fold. Ironically, they are the ones that have retired. Gunnner's still here. I think that sentiment stuck with us. Who knows what the future will bring. We may merge with Anzac. May not. But we're gonna be here. I noted you Jedi were proud of losing only one member. G.R.O.S.S. only lost one as well. A second joined out of spite. I emailed him to leave untill he got things worked out with his old empire. He stayed a while longer and moved on. So in reality, we've lost one only as well. I realize this is just a game, but much of human character is revealed in how you play. Like one of the jedi said awhile back. I'll stack us up against anyone.
So if we're a little too trigger happy on the loyalty thing, it is indeed a product of who we are. If we've accused some unjustly, I appologize.
On Cotal: Lets see. Anzac, Buffalo Bills or whatever she called it. Fellowship. Anzac. Jedi. Hmmmmm. I like to think I have a little jedi in me. The force is telling me she bears watching.
Well ok the force is slapping me upside the head back and forth telling me she bears watching.
[Message Edited]
Stardock Forums
You are at 99 right now. I can understand taking a break though - I took a break for several months, and that was after only 1/2 a dozen games (with only one submitted to the metaverse - I was having trouble getting them through then.) Anyways, enjoy your vacation, and it is good to hear from you again.