Not just pride.
What we have here is a game. A game among friends (or at least comrades) who enjoy playing Civ3. In order to help prepare for the intersite DG, we proposed to play this demo game. It doesn’t hurt that it is fun.
We played as Spain. We still are playing. However, decisions were made to have us try and be relatively peaceful, and to generally try and coexist with our neighbors. I and others objected to this policy, particularly when we had proof that their armies were away from us (when we founded an embassy with ND and saw that they only had two spear in their capitol – and we knew they were at war with Lux at the time).
Now, the enemy has gathered its strength. Held onto its reserves of funds and upgraded units. They are about to enter a Golden Age, and with two enemies approaching and us having an extremely broad front to defend, the situation looks hopeless. Out of our despair people have talked to members of Lego and GS. They see the potential of hope. They see the possibility of others joining us in the defense of our lands and even in some ways of helping us to grow.
All that they ask is for our freedom. Our freedom to run our own government. Our freedom to make our own choices. Our freedom to win or loose this game based off of our own decisions.
Well, apparently some of our decisions were bad. However, without even trying many here are willing to give up and beg for mercy. Many are willing to roll over and show their bellies. So be it. For them, it was not the computer aspects of what went on that made the game interesting. It was the part about pretending to be a high ranking noble, or a cardinal in the church, or even some poor sap that got killed by the inquisition. And if that is all that you ever got out of this game, fine. I have no objections to that, as a mater of fact I applaud you for it.
That is not the case for me. I am here to experience ways of doing things IN THE GAME. I like the both aspects, but by far the more important is the computer aspects.
And in that regard, by signing this treaty with Gathering Storm, we in effect are not just bribing them to join us in a fight; we are surrendering our ability to play the game effectively. What if we only have one coal in our territory and GS has none. By this treaty, upon demand we have to give up our resources, luxuries and even some of our cities to Gathering Storm upon demand. That is not being free to win. That is just being someone else’s underling. A slave or chattel. This treaty specifically states that Spain is to help GS do whatever GS needs to win, and not try and win ourselves. Not how I like to play games. I like winning.
If this treaty passes, I will only remain a member of Spain in so long as the war takes. I would not want to be accused of releasing “classified” information to another team (as has already occurred – and if the S.O.B. ever says anything like that to me in public instead of an email I will be on a plane and pound the M.F.’s face into hamburger – that is how nasty the email was. I am a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and if I am willing to go to the extent of making someone look like burger…). If at that point we do not attack GS, declaring this treaty null and void because “We wish to win and we will do backstabbing things such as this treaty to do so, and with us having all this might try and stop us” :evil laugh:. OK, not honorable, but within the scope of the mechanics of how PBEM games work. I will still resign, but at least I will have respect for the team.
I would prefer to do a more honorable approach. Either we capitulate now, sign everything over to GS and resign as a team, either joining GS or whatever, or we fight. We fight a good fight. We burn things behind us as opportunity permits, we retreat and make them pay in blood. I know that with the peace lovers this team has had in the past this sound horrible compared to the mild slavery that GS is offering. But it is the only honorable way out of the mess we have made for ourselves. So yes, it is pride. It is also honor, courage, the ability to adapt and to learn from ones mistakes. It is about being true to ourselves, how we as individuals and as a team are perceived.
I think we can win, and if not make them pay in the blood they deserve to pay in. I an not a Lawyer like Togas. I am not a politician like Arnelos. Both fine people and both people I consider friends here on poly. I am an engineer that tries to do things without much style or flair. This speech is crude compared to something they would write. So be it.
Richard W. Olson, aka “Godking”
What we have here is a game. A game among friends (or at least comrades) who enjoy playing Civ3. In order to help prepare for the intersite DG, we proposed to play this demo game. It doesn’t hurt that it is fun.
We played as Spain. We still are playing. However, decisions were made to have us try and be relatively peaceful, and to generally try and coexist with our neighbors. I and others objected to this policy, particularly when we had proof that their armies were away from us (when we founded an embassy with ND and saw that they only had two spear in their capitol – and we knew they were at war with Lux at the time).
Now, the enemy has gathered its strength. Held onto its reserves of funds and upgraded units. They are about to enter a Golden Age, and with two enemies approaching and us having an extremely broad front to defend, the situation looks hopeless. Out of our despair people have talked to members of Lego and GS. They see the potential of hope. They see the possibility of others joining us in the defense of our lands and even in some ways of helping us to grow.
All that they ask is for our freedom. Our freedom to run our own government. Our freedom to make our own choices. Our freedom to win or loose this game based off of our own decisions.
Well, apparently some of our decisions were bad. However, without even trying many here are willing to give up and beg for mercy. Many are willing to roll over and show their bellies. So be it. For them, it was not the computer aspects of what went on that made the game interesting. It was the part about pretending to be a high ranking noble, or a cardinal in the church, or even some poor sap that got killed by the inquisition. And if that is all that you ever got out of this game, fine. I have no objections to that, as a mater of fact I applaud you for it.
That is not the case for me. I am here to experience ways of doing things IN THE GAME. I like the both aspects, but by far the more important is the computer aspects.
And in that regard, by signing this treaty with Gathering Storm, we in effect are not just bribing them to join us in a fight; we are surrendering our ability to play the game effectively. What if we only have one coal in our territory and GS has none. By this treaty, upon demand we have to give up our resources, luxuries and even some of our cities to Gathering Storm upon demand. That is not being free to win. That is just being someone else’s underling. A slave or chattel. This treaty specifically states that Spain is to help GS do whatever GS needs to win, and not try and win ourselves. Not how I like to play games. I like winning.
If this treaty passes, I will only remain a member of Spain in so long as the war takes. I would not want to be accused of releasing “classified” information to another team (as has already occurred – and if the S.O.B. ever says anything like that to me in public instead of an email I will be on a plane and pound the M.F.’s face into hamburger – that is how nasty the email was. I am a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and if I am willing to go to the extent of making someone look like burger…). If at that point we do not attack GS, declaring this treaty null and void because “We wish to win and we will do backstabbing things such as this treaty to do so, and with us having all this might try and stop us” :evil laugh:. OK, not honorable, but within the scope of the mechanics of how PBEM games work. I will still resign, but at least I will have respect for the team.
I would prefer to do a more honorable approach. Either we capitulate now, sign everything over to GS and resign as a team, either joining GS or whatever, or we fight. We fight a good fight. We burn things behind us as opportunity permits, we retreat and make them pay in blood. I know that with the peace lovers this team has had in the past this sound horrible compared to the mild slavery that GS is offering. But it is the only honorable way out of the mess we have made for ourselves. So yes, it is pride. It is also honor, courage, the ability to adapt and to learn from ones mistakes. It is about being true to ourselves, how we as individuals and as a team are perceived.
I think we can win, and if not make them pay in the blood they deserve to pay in. I an not a Lawyer like Togas. I am not a politician like Arnelos. Both fine people and both people I consider friends here on poly. I am an engineer that tries to do things without much style or flair. This speech is crude compared to something they would write. So be it.
Richard W. Olson, aka “Godking”
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