There have been very few new recruits for theme empires in recent days. The Jedis have a very cool theme but they are not adding as well.

For the Fellowship, I've recruited people using personal invitations and as noted by Wombat, some have switched from other empires.

My advice is to have fun empiring and recruiting but try not to get frustrated when things don't go all rosy.

I'm being naughty by going online at work outside of lunch. Yes, my jokes about Aussie work practices are just jokes.

Let us face facts brothers: after 1 week we have 6 members. Like Wombie and Pontius have said, the early Galciv rush is over. Few new starters. It happens to all games blah blah and especially turn based strategy games. Inevitable. Personally, this game is the longest I've held an interest in, because of the people. I love ya all.

Now, I actually want to read a few books and get my partner off my back too. I have other things I can be doing. I don't want to end my Galciv experience (whenever it comes to a close) by bickering about names and stuff, and trying to achieve the unachievable. There are but a few characters around the threads that I knock about with; then there are a few more that I like; others I don't care about one way or the other. A good percentage of the first sort are in G.R.O.S.S. (and a lesser number in the Fellowship).

Of the 6 of us here, I gather that none of us wants to play the role that Pontius or Ray play in their empires. Too demanding, too much time, etc.

Solution: I am contemplating joining G.R.O.S.S. if they will have me, and maybe setting up a South Sea G.R.O.S.S. thread for Southern Hemisphereans to look at. Threadzilla is way too big anyway. That way we get to compete in the thrilling championship at the head of the table; we can knock about with evil chaps of a like mind, and still retain our kulcha.

Still, I'm interested in what the rest of our small clan think. If everyone else says 'let's stick with it' then I am loyal by nature.

Wombie: you have a special place in my heart. You don't have time and mental energy to act as Emperor do ya? I've been getting a vibe from you that your playing days are slowing down. I can see us submitting maybe a game every now and then, rather than playing till our paws bleed. Your thoughts particularly like?

Though I will hate to see a fledgling theme empire disband, I would have to say you guys should do what is the most fun for you.

Drop Bear is right about the effort needed to flesh out a theme empire. If you don't see yourself able to give that amount of time, then don't. Be a happy member of another empire and do the things you find the most fun.

But then again, don't get the feeling that only the empires that reach 1st are "successful". An empire can be happening and fun even without ever reaching the top.

Drop Bear you of all people should know the answer is yes we will have you. And anyone else that wishes to join. G.R.O.S.S. from the Anzacs or the Freedom Force. We could certainly use a good magician from Slitherin house too. HEHE. And it would be a great Idea to maintain your own Southern flavor thread as you guys are on a differing time zone from us. And those that wished to stay well that would be fine too or return to Anzac.

Arrgh Mateys. It is our Destiny!!!!!!! To rule the 7 seas of the metaverse together. We must defeat Raymond and the Ringworms!!!!(I just love those catchy rock band names) It is a moral imperitive!!!.

If your main interest in empiring is to be part of a championship-chasing empire, my advice would be for you to join one of the current Top 5 empires.

The Top 5 are really breaking away so it would take a massive influx of new blood in any other empires for them to become a championship contender.

Me Cap'n beat me! All well... no matter...

I gotta put my smelly feet into those jack boots and walk the walk...

Along with the Jedi Republic, Freedom Force is one of the empires I've been rooting for on the inside. Kinda hurts to see some difficulties here.

But when I talk the talk I say, "take the fight to the enemy." So in that same spirit, I'm gonna pitch G.R.O.S.S.

Get Rid Of Slimy aliens isn't really about being a crew of pirates. It's about havin' fun. The pirate routine helps build camaraderie.

The summer (for us numerous northerners) will be coming to a close soon. The expansion may not be enough to maintain critical mass for the Metaverse. My advice: live it up! Get down and boogie! Whatever floats your boat (especially if it's the Survey Ship of Doom)! Just go for the kill!

Ray made a comment about the number one empire not being the only successful empire. It's a very wise comment - seriously, it is. But what's your gut beggin' for? To kick some butt, right? I know that's part of the fun for me!

I imagine you glanced at our names before reading these and thought "what a bunch of vultures! Swooping in here after the first scent of blood!" Well I'd like to think... hell yeah! I ain't gonna hide the truth.

Last, we could really use your help in G.R.O.S.S. MWC and the Fellowship are out-performing us and out-recruiting us. Y'all's call. Whatever you choose, we're all gonna stay on the dance floor and shake our thangs until the music stops playin'.

Too be honest, without some of you, I'd have been long gone myself.




As a member of G.R.O.S.S., I can vouch for the finest mates in the metaverse. Now our emporer, he's a jerk and has this strange fascination with one of the ugliest female swimmers ever, but oh well, you can't have everything. But you definitely can have fun in G.R.O.S.S. untill the time comes when the game has run its course.

Having fun=good
Having a chance at that top spot=good

Though If I had to pick one of these, I'd choose the former; however, having both=better than having just one of the two.

Not counting the East Germans during their heyday of course. Those were some ugly swimmers. Poor lasses, they didn't ask for what happened to em though.

My comments: I agree that fresh blood is getting hard to find. Most recruits now are defectors and unaligned lone gunmen flocking to big empires. But to get discouraged after merely a week? Not good. Once the expansion pack goes public, there will be a new influx of players. Theme empires are at a recruiting disadvantage in that they have to look flashy to attract people and it takes some more research to join the right one. Regional empires, in general, get recruits just from existing. So my advice is to not give up so soon, get ready for the next big wave of fresh players, and work on that theme. If things still don't look good after that, then join whatever empires make the individual members of Freedom Force happy.

Just get over this attitude of "It's been a whole week and there is only six of us!" Those six happen to be active players who have broke into the top 10 on the Metaverse almost overnight. Remember the last small group of renegades who did this? They were the White Council, who disbanded only to be reconstituted as the Fellowship of the Ring. Look who is the big boy on the block now. They are, and they are not so little anymore.

Absolutely right - it's why I'm also still here.



All jokes aside, brother - feelings are mutual. If I'm going to hang anywhere, I'd like to be hangin' with you.



Check, again. Been there, done that. Proud to be an Aussie, and all, but looking to spread wings.




Honest truth - I don't think I can do it in the way that Pontius and Ray do; I love being a part of it, and I've actually submitted a pretty fair number of games, managed to stay in the top fifty most of the time, got what I think is a respectable score despite not being the smartest wombat on the block. I try to rally the troops wherever I am, ANZAC or FF, but can't see myself as the lone trooper holding up the big top. I like to be part of a mob - 'brothers in arms' is the way I like to feel about being part of an empire.

Real Life Confession: I'm a GP (family physician, to those in the US) - not that everyone else isn't busy, just telling you that the medical lifestyle leaves precious little time for gaming and family; I'm surprised that I've lasted this long and continued to submit games. It's testimony to the people around here that I have. I'm not sick of the game, and am really looking forward to the expansion pack - but would like my gaming to be worthwhile and enjoyable. I can't honestly see myself being a full on Emperor, but could be a decent Major in someone's army.

I said in the ANZAC discussion before we left that of all the current empires, I felt closest to the GROSS mob, and that hasn't changed. Like you, Pirates of the Southern Seas (GROSS chapter), is a situation I could thrive in, if Pontius and his team are OK with that. I would go on submitting games with team support - just don't want to get bogged down in what seems to be developing here. Bounce some thoughts back at me!

Thanks guys for all your support and advice: its very sweet of ya all. Um, I mean very, uh, matey. It would be sweet if Cotal said it.

Wombie: I tried to quote passages from your message but can't seem to at work. I have a dinner to go to now so can't write much. I can't believe that you've found any time to have the involvement that you've had to date! Like you, I have little interest in being an organiser: just want to have fun.

Gerakken is right: we can have a good time anywhere and wait to see how the update works. But I don't see the update bringing in a flood of new players: and even if it did, we aren't out there recruiting like the others.

Like you, I can go on submitting games if there is team support and a point. I actually still enjoy playing Galciv I must admit, but I have a stack of Japanese RPGs I could be playing, and about 150 novels to read (grows by about 4/week). I'm drowning here! But the Galciv experience has been a heap of fun for me and I've still got a ways to go I reckon.

So, the Pirates of the South Seas beckons.

Bakka, Slitherin, Ajm, Hurley: are ya in? I can start one of me stories to explain this bizarre development (I think...).

Dinner here I come...

We're ok with that. Well off to bed for me. Little late here.

You're very sweet Pontius.

Would GROSS take a do gooder like me? Seriously, don't want to undermine effort by the baadest bear, the wildest wmbat et al. I joined to be part of their adventures. What is the opeinons? Slitherin, what plans thee?

Whatever you do, DONT drown, for goodness sake! If that means writing one piece and playing one game per week - take that and enjoy life to the full, like enjoying dinner!

Hurley - I doubt GROSS would have a problem; they don't seem to restrict membership in that way.

Guys, I'm inwardly sighing at the thought of making and breaking an empire in the space of a week - feel the effort's been wasted. Don't mind me - just blowing off steam; I'm much more about doing what's fun - even if it takes me a few gos to sort that out! Cheers

The Fellowship welcomes all...of course you guys know that!

If pirate life doesn't appeal to ya, drop in at our little Shire and check us out!

http://home.earthlink.net/~nascarfanatic/

Just a friendly reminder from your neighbors.

Freedom Force Facts
Issue 1 23/Jul/2003

Top of the rock awards
Over all score Hurley FFR=1 MR=19
Average Score Slitherin FFR=1 MR=18

Map Markers
Gigantic Hurley FFR=1 MR=5
Huge ? FFR=? MR=?
Large Drop Bear FFR=4 MR=73
Medium Slitherinr FFR=2 MR=19
Small Wild Wombat FFR=3 MR=2
Tiny Drop Bear FFR=4 MR=20

Philosophy Principles
White Knight Award Hurley FFR=1 MR=9
Nonaligned Wild Wombat FFR=3 MR=85
Moloch Slitherin FFR=2 MR=7

FFR=Fredom Force rank MR=Metaverse Rank

Acheivements
Metascore of the week Hurley 15080 18-Jul
Metascore of the Empire Hurley 17100 11-Jul

Masochistic Metascore of the week
Masochistic Metascore of the empire

Crippling Metascore of the week
Crippling Metascore of the empire Drop Bear 14240 9-Jul

Painfall Metascore of the week Hurley 15080 18-Jul
Painfall Metascore of the empire Hurley 17100 11-Jul

Tough Metascore of the week Drop Bear 5604 18-Jul
Tough Metascore of the empire Drop Bear 5604 18-Jul

Challenging Metascore of the week Slitherin 9270 21-July
Challenging Metascore of the empire Bakka 11380 13-July

Normal Metascore of the week Slitherin 10160 18-July
Normal Metascore of the empire Slitherin 12070 12-June

Beginner Metascore of the week Drop Bear 6630 20-July
Beginner Metascore of the empire Bakka 13070 23-June

Simple Metascore of the week
Simple Metascore of the empire Space Wombat 8800 20-June

Easy Metascore of the week
Easy Metascore of the empire Ajm37 6540 28-June

Cakewalk Metascore of the week
Cakewalk Metascore of the empire

Rattler and rollers
1.       Hurley No change ,1 new
2.       Slitherin No change, 2 new
3.       Wild Wombat No change, 7 new-Galaxy Conquest award
4.       Drop Bear No change, 1 new
5.       Bakka No change, 1 new
6.       Ajm37 No change, 1 new

Comments
One week in and we have given them all a scare. Position No 7 on the hit list and without raising a sweat.
Are we a team or what!
The utopia of a new empire has passed and the freedom folks are feeling the blues. It’s not the blues I say. It’s the calm before the storm. Some thing nasty is coming and we gotto train up on these nifty new powers.
Will we survive? Shit yeah & they will not know what hit them.

Bakka, Fighter of Freedom force

[Message Edited]
[Message Edited]

Guys,

You're welcome to join GROSS. You're already friends with my wife...

When we talked about theme v. regional a while back, the only empire I could see us merging with was... ANZAC. You're certainly welcome to join and I think a South Seas thread would be fun to follow.

If you decide to stay with FF or go back to ANZAC that's fine, but it would be even more fun to have you aboard.

Happy Raiding,
Cypher

Oh, and Hurley -- GROSS could always use an ambassador. For some reason, everyone starts shooting when they see us... we could use someone to represent us others might trust.
[Message Edited]

Hmm,

penguins usally get eaten! (at lleast it would be a change from being shot at!)

Say that again and friend or not I shall cut your tongue!!!!!.

Hurley: G.R.O.S.S. does not require evil allignment.
We can use a few wolves in sheeps clothing so to speak.

GROSS could always use another ambassador, you mean. I am on good terms with everyone. And I am something close to an ambassador.

Seriously, though, there is nothing wrong with throwing in the towel after you have given things a good go, but can you all really say you gave it good effort yet? 8 days isn't exactly monumental effort. But, when you all reach a consensus that a good effort was made, GROSS will be glad to take anyone who wants to come aboard the Doom. In the end, you all need to stay or go wherever you individually will be happiest.

Boy, spymaster, that really does sound like an ambassador talking!

Gerakken,

Everyone LIKES you -- but who trusts you? I hate to break this to you, but you have a bit of a reputation as a sneak. I don't know why - I'm sure it's completely unfounded

- Cypher
[Message Edited]

Spymasters can NEVER be ambassadors. They are usually one step below that in the diplomatic chain. Wouldn't want a high ranking ambassador to be caught spying now would we?