Public Enemy no. 1 alliance. I know you all know my views on their recruitment strategy. so I am going to ignore that (and sasa) and just look at the alliance as a whole as if they had all been there from the beginning. I will say that they are a formidible fighting force, they have a lot of experience and will be hard to beat. I was really looking forward to fighting them but the player I attacked last went into VM as I was taking his city so couldn't fight back. I'm not giving the city back, but I am looking forward to a fair fight when he comes back.
Rogue just moved to the no. 2 spot today and I have to admit they have earned it, they have been hanging behind VRoD for some time now. with 30 less players and a much higher average, for a rim alliance they have fought better than a lot of the core players. if we weren't working with them I would be more scared of them than PE.
VRoD everyone says they are dying. I disagree. I will admit that there was a time when things were looking bad, but we really have got back up and dusted ourselves off and are back in the game. It is a shame we have lost so many players, but isn't it a good thing when someone else takes all the traitors and spies away. A strong alliance that is back on the road to the top.
CLE suffered a blow when their top 2 left, I know how that feels and it is a critical point in an alliances life. what they do now will determine where the alliance goes in future. so they shallowed out another alliance to plump up the figurehead. Debateable whether it will work or not. as a fighting force I don't really know much about them on the frontlines but I am aware they are taking part in a war with RS/FC as well as now and again making a few internal conquers.
Strike Force sorry to say I know absolutely nothing about this alliance which is a shame as they seem to have a lot of history, good friends with PE, but slightly being pushed towards the rim with nowhere to go. would be interesting to see that pact break just for lolses but that won't happen so I am going to cut it short here.
Enigma another alliance I know nothing about, have good relationships with most of the top alliances and are at war with Oceans alliance, (weren't they once 3 alliances). Would be good if they had more of a presence in the externals, but they seem like they aren't going anywhere soon at least won't be dropping in the rankings.
Rising Stars well they are on good terms with FC and obviously Rising Stars II, (be interesting if they were at war wouldn't it) anyway, currently at war with the Crimson branches and doing quite well as far as I can tell, how much of that is RS and how much is FC I don't know. They are one of the only alliances that have managed a really long term academy/sister alliance and I congratulate them for it.
Oceans alliance once a conglomerate of 3 alliances and roughly staying in the same place after not merging but congealing together, quite a lot of the players from the Tau I think (but I could be wrong so don't go complaining at me), they have held on to this position quite well but a lot of players near the bottom not pulling their weight, they could cut a lot of members and get some new active ones in and start growing a bit more.
Rising Stars II well... like Rising Stars they have a star on their banner.... On a serious note for an academy alliance they seem to have the fomula just right, a dedicated team of teachers with a lot of points and they kick out all those inactive members. note to (enter RSII leaders name) you have 3 inactives at the bottom, get yo' kicking boots on.
Infernal Knights Who the hell are these guys, I had to open up a map just to find where they are. need more of a presence in game and on these forums. where are your voices guys, (and your CS').
Crimson Guardians lost all their best players as a result of CLE losing their best players, not sure how long they will hang around after that unwanted liposuction, will probably fade away and dissolve into the other crimson branches.
Fat Camp ah fat camp, home to so many forum personalities. 1/4 of their members regularly post on these forums, of course that isn't saying much given they have 11 players, a strong group of elite players, loyal to each other and the Rising Stars, can't see them gaining much in the rankings but that is to be expected if you are an 11 man alliance. currently at war with the 500 man crimson giant and doing very well against it. would like to see them fighting a common enemy but given the popularity of rudi's latest post that may happen soon.
*GORGONES KAI MANGES* Ummm. mostly greeks. 9 players with an even higher average than FC's I imagine the language barrier is a problem seeing as they only want elite members. if one of them leaves they may have a problem, currently holding their own against one alliance or another but nothing too interesting IMO.
League of Corinth MK2 not much to say about them, on good terms with VRoD. seem to be at war with... noone. too far rimward to attack PE so nowhere for them to go really. there best option would be to sever all ties with VRoD, but seeing as there are plenty of players there struggling to get to the frontlines and itching for a fight that would be a bad move, all in all, an alliance destined for obscurity.
Crimson Ravens seen better days haven't they. things haven't been the same since the real bigbobtheomega left, leaders doing an ok job as always but lost a few members to CLE again to pump up the figurehead... quite a bit of history with RS due to their stint as the blood ravens. personally I think their set up is patchy (location wise) and without the rest of the crimsons, they would be picked apart. I wonder if Imackay can still pick up that offer?
and that is the top 15 as I see it. enjoy reading the essay folks and please give the author credit when using his material