Post by ashimar on Sept 16, 2007 6:37:38 GMT
For a long time I've had cordial relations with DasNeal culminating into him giving Cowl shelter in VALOR while W.W. I raged, effectively preserving that account from being torn to pieces by angry H|F people after my attempt to sow discord between Phoenix and H|F from within H|F. But that, my dear friends, is another story alltogether. Ahem.
Recently DasNeal invited me to join some sort of Pantheon Thinking Tank and I said I would first retreat into my own thinking tank before I would give him my answer on that. I must say some ideas had been vented already by then, but this went a bit far.
I then got this from him and after some deliberations I decided to put it in front of you all, esteemed brethren (M/F) of the Empty Bottle. Ahem.
and from a second email:
And finally a bit of last night's chatsession:
Well, I would say this casts an interesting light on Pantheon's hopes and dreams, doesn't it ?
The diabolicalness lies in that everybody is right nowadays.
Let the verbal slaughter and disecting commence.
Recently DasNeal invited me to join some sort of Pantheon Thinking Tank and I said I would first retreat into my own thinking tank before I would give him my answer on that. I must say some ideas had been vented already by then, but this went a bit far.
I then got this from him and after some deliberations I decided to put it in front of you all, esteemed brethren (M/F) of the Empty Bottle. Ahem.
J. Neal Cornett wrote:
A pleasure to meet you Marc, my name is Neal. I have resorted to
dictating into a small tape recorder to keep up with my poor memory so
I understand you slip. The fun of aging!
Since you are being frank, I shall be blunt, Pantheon has no
moles/spies at all. We have never used them and I am against them. Are
we riddled with them? Sure, I imagine most alliances are to be honest.
Do we retain member accounts when they quit and ask to have their
islands go to our members, yes. Does that make us multi's? I can't see
how it could not according to the puerile rules of this server.
Then again, I don't know a single alliance that doesn't do this or at
least is hosting members whom they know are merging such accounts. We
currently are holding three like this: truebluebrewcrew, iamafatone77
and regret. We gave away the oldest one we had just last week so there
you go, more than enough evidence to have us driven from the server in
my estimation of these electrically charged times.
I say this not to be destroyed but to establish some common ground
with MORKIN. Honestly I don't know how else to do it as we are all gun
fighters slowly circling each other with flinty eyes and fear in our
hearts.
Now let me say bluntly what we want. Smaller alliances and coalitions.
The exact number isn't as important as the spirit here. We are
suggesting that no one alliance be allowed to hold more than 100
members, further that no one coalition or pact alliances can contain
more than 300 members. That's it, no 'we have to win' or 'it's not
fair' or other juvenile goals.
Pantheon has been open to others with this ideal since the days of
V|W. I recognized V|W early-on as the perfect alliance to influence
DIGG was the only alliance that was humbled by ORC in the first month
of the game but has consistently stayed in the top 10 ranking. When we
call upon people they know we don't have the EMPIRE ego (now nicely
humbled) the false bravado of ORC and others or the cool aloofness of
MORKIN. We are just pluggers looking to keep our head above water.
Corey and I keep each other motivated so we are a good team. To be
honest 95% of the credit of what little success we have had is due to
Corey (Squinty) as he has crazy people skills and just loves his
players.
Please understand that in no way are we judging other
alliances....each style is legitimate and has pros and cons. Being a
top alliance that no one has ever thought much of because they where
early thralls means we have to work harder to grow/fight/negotiate as,
more than anything, reputation is critical on these games. Vis-a-vis,
the entire MORKIN multi-server dynasty.
Our biggest asset in this struggle is that people know we will gladly
split apart again once we reach this goal. So, we have a beginning of
a foundation of trust with others. That makes us unique. We can only
hope to reach them from there with our argument that no one alliance
should be allowed to dominate if we want to continue to enjoy the
server and the fruits of our labors. I could delve into the whole
socio-economic rationale for this but I don't think you need the
lecture. Nor will I go into a fruitless debate of how MORKIN created
this monster by favoring/protecting DIGG when they began and
throughout their growth.
So what do you feel? In your heart I believe MORKIN knows this goal is
right but questions who/how/when we are looking to change the server
dynamic. First, It needs to be said that we are not interested in
killing a single member of DIGG. If we thought it would be anything
but a wasted effort to up to DIGG and say...hey guys the top 30
alliances want you to know that they think your super alliance is
killing the server, could you split up so we can all still play? Like
all imperfect humans when they have more power than they know what to
do with they have become corrupted but worse they are blind to the
fact that they have taken the bit in their teeth and aren't heeding
anyone's (friend or foe) input.
You recognize that if change is to occur it has to come about in two
ways; civil war within DIGG or external pressure (both through
manufactured consent and the threat/realization of extinction.) We are
not prepared to cause the first but we are ready to go to war to
achieve the goal. Frankly I am just not any good with all this cloak
and dagger stuff to make a civil war work.
So where does that leave us? Well that is the million dollar question,
isn't it? MORKIN has been loyal to DIGG way longer than I thought they
would or should. That is honorable and has gone a long way toward
establishing your reputation but it has helped manufacture this
situation. I say that not to guilt you but to confront the reality of
the dynamic we are facing today.
I asked you to join our strategy group so that you can help achieve
the goal, that I believe we share, while keeping your alliance
uncommitted so that they have time to make up their mind how they want
to react. Ultimately, the only way we can succeed is if MORKIN doesn't
band together against us. But we can end this situation much faster
and with fewer members being burned, and quitting as a result, if you
would stand with us. That is the first and last sales pitch you will
hear from me, I promise.
DIGG will never crack on its own as long as the leadership has this
bit of power in their teeth. If you feel that we are going down the
wrong path then help us. I know you are worn out from all the
pettiness and in-fighting but this is bigger than any alliance. When
an alliance like ours nearly triples in size in two days you know the
public opinion is behind us.
There will never be an opportunity like this again. Once the surge
islands that DIGG caused, and took advantage of beautifully, fortify.
We have more in common than not. Let's set aside our alliances for a
moment to bring some air into the server again. The kids just want to
play a game and have fun, that's just not happening any longer.
Neal
PS share this with anyone you like but be considerate of our
forthright desire to accomplish this goal. More eyes equals more
chances of failure.
A pleasure to meet you Marc, my name is Neal. I have resorted to
dictating into a small tape recorder to keep up with my poor memory so
I understand you slip. The fun of aging!
Since you are being frank, I shall be blunt, Pantheon has no
moles/spies at all. We have never used them and I am against them. Are
we riddled with them? Sure, I imagine most alliances are to be honest.
Do we retain member accounts when they quit and ask to have their
islands go to our members, yes. Does that make us multi's? I can't see
how it could not according to the puerile rules of this server.
Then again, I don't know a single alliance that doesn't do this or at
least is hosting members whom they know are merging such accounts. We
currently are holding three like this: truebluebrewcrew, iamafatone77
and regret. We gave away the oldest one we had just last week so there
you go, more than enough evidence to have us driven from the server in
my estimation of these electrically charged times.
I say this not to be destroyed but to establish some common ground
with MORKIN. Honestly I don't know how else to do it as we are all gun
fighters slowly circling each other with flinty eyes and fear in our
hearts.
Now let me say bluntly what we want. Smaller alliances and coalitions.
The exact number isn't as important as the spirit here. We are
suggesting that no one alliance be allowed to hold more than 100
members, further that no one coalition or pact alliances can contain
more than 300 members. That's it, no 'we have to win' or 'it's not
fair' or other juvenile goals.
Pantheon has been open to others with this ideal since the days of
V|W. I recognized V|W early-on as the perfect alliance to influence
DIGG was the only alliance that was humbled by ORC in the first month
of the game but has consistently stayed in the top 10 ranking. When we
call upon people they know we don't have the EMPIRE ego (now nicely
humbled) the false bravado of ORC and others or the cool aloofness of
MORKIN. We are just pluggers looking to keep our head above water.
Corey and I keep each other motivated so we are a good team. To be
honest 95% of the credit of what little success we have had is due to
Corey (Squinty) as he has crazy people skills and just loves his
players.
Please understand that in no way are we judging other
alliances....each style is legitimate and has pros and cons. Being a
top alliance that no one has ever thought much of because they where
early thralls means we have to work harder to grow/fight/negotiate as,
more than anything, reputation is critical on these games. Vis-a-vis,
the entire MORKIN multi-server dynasty.
Our biggest asset in this struggle is that people know we will gladly
split apart again once we reach this goal. So, we have a beginning of
a foundation of trust with others. That makes us unique. We can only
hope to reach them from there with our argument that no one alliance
should be allowed to dominate if we want to continue to enjoy the
server and the fruits of our labors. I could delve into the whole
socio-economic rationale for this but I don't think you need the
lecture. Nor will I go into a fruitless debate of how MORKIN created
this monster by favoring/protecting DIGG when they began and
throughout their growth.
So what do you feel? In your heart I believe MORKIN knows this goal is
right but questions who/how/when we are looking to change the server
dynamic. First, It needs to be said that we are not interested in
killing a single member of DIGG. If we thought it would be anything
but a wasted effort to up to DIGG and say...hey guys the top 30
alliances want you to know that they think your super alliance is
killing the server, could you split up so we can all still play? Like
all imperfect humans when they have more power than they know what to
do with they have become corrupted but worse they are blind to the
fact that they have taken the bit in their teeth and aren't heeding
anyone's (friend or foe) input.
You recognize that if change is to occur it has to come about in two
ways; civil war within DIGG or external pressure (both through
manufactured consent and the threat/realization of extinction.) We are
not prepared to cause the first but we are ready to go to war to
achieve the goal. Frankly I am just not any good with all this cloak
and dagger stuff to make a civil war work.
So where does that leave us? Well that is the million dollar question,
isn't it? MORKIN has been loyal to DIGG way longer than I thought they
would or should. That is honorable and has gone a long way toward
establishing your reputation but it has helped manufacture this
situation. I say that not to guilt you but to confront the reality of
the dynamic we are facing today.
I asked you to join our strategy group so that you can help achieve
the goal, that I believe we share, while keeping your alliance
uncommitted so that they have time to make up their mind how they want
to react. Ultimately, the only way we can succeed is if MORKIN doesn't
band together against us. But we can end this situation much faster
and with fewer members being burned, and quitting as a result, if you
would stand with us. That is the first and last sales pitch you will
hear from me, I promise.
DIGG will never crack on its own as long as the leadership has this
bit of power in their teeth. If you feel that we are going down the
wrong path then help us. I know you are worn out from all the
pettiness and in-fighting but this is bigger than any alliance. When
an alliance like ours nearly triples in size in two days you know the
public opinion is behind us.
There will never be an opportunity like this again. Once the surge
islands that DIGG caused, and took advantage of beautifully, fortify.
We have more in common than not. Let's set aside our alliances for a
moment to bring some air into the server again. The kids just want to
play a game and have fun, that's just not happening any longer.
Neal
PS share this with anyone you like but be considerate of our
forthright desire to accomplish this goal. More eyes equals more
chances of failure.
and from a second email:
[snip] Regarding MORKIN dropping the pact with Pantheon versus our pact as
VALOR, ultimately we understood but felt that the lack of explanation
was more confusing than anything. DIGG admitted after the E|S war that
they only wanted a pact with us so that they would be insulated from
attacks. As you can imagine this was very disturbing to our sense of
partnership. When MORKIN pulled their pact without even talking about
a treaty of peace there were some members who felt that there was no
reason to work with them ever again.
TRIAD had a poor reputation for various reasons including a terrible
elitist attitude and a willingness to do what they could to solidify
their grip on their oceans. I never had a problem with them even
though I had been in a war with two of their alliances. They fought
hard and tought me more than anyone in this server. I recognized that
they were a collection of hot heads but with the self destruction of
Aspen and Robokhor we felt that there was a real change in their
attitude.
[snip] Similarly, give
my original discussion a solid thought or two. I believe there is real
promise for the server if we know what we want and join together to
accomplish that.
VALOR, ultimately we understood but felt that the lack of explanation
was more confusing than anything. DIGG admitted after the E|S war that
they only wanted a pact with us so that they would be insulated from
attacks. As you can imagine this was very disturbing to our sense of
partnership. When MORKIN pulled their pact without even talking about
a treaty of peace there were some members who felt that there was no
reason to work with them ever again.
TRIAD had a poor reputation for various reasons including a terrible
elitist attitude and a willingness to do what they could to solidify
their grip on their oceans. I never had a problem with them even
though I had been in a war with two of their alliances. They fought
hard and tought me more than anyone in this server. I recognized that
they were a collection of hot heads but with the self destruction of
Aspen and Robokhor we felt that there was a real change in their
attitude.
[snip] Similarly, give
my original discussion a solid thought or two. I believe there is real
promise for the server if we know what we want and join together to
accomplish that.
And finally a bit of last night's chatsession:
04:17 Neal: I understand.....it doesn't matter if ya'll choose to not support us
Certainly it would be easier
but we are beginning to come to the realization
that this is inevitable
that isn't good or bad
04:18 but it takes some of us longer than others to come to the conclusion that our wits or plans or work cannot change what is going to be
maybe that is how this will all start
maybe DIGG will just call the ball down and we are on
04:19 our entire strategy is based on that occurance
we are now considering the real possibility that they will not attack
honestly we didn't plan for that
04:20 we shall see
maybe we are deluded and deceiving ourselves but we are learning
can we learn fast enough is the real question
Certainly it would be easier
but we are beginning to come to the realization
that this is inevitable
that isn't good or bad
04:18 but it takes some of us longer than others to come to the conclusion that our wits or plans or work cannot change what is going to be
maybe that is how this will all start
maybe DIGG will just call the ball down and we are on
04:19 our entire strategy is based on that occurance
we are now considering the real possibility that they will not attack
honestly we didn't plan for that
04:20 we shall see
maybe we are deluded and deceiving ourselves but we are learning
can we learn fast enough is the real question
Well, I would say this casts an interesting light on Pantheon's hopes and dreams, doesn't it ?
The diabolicalness lies in that everybody is right nowadays.
Let the verbal slaughter and disecting commence.