I've gone back and forth in my head about how best to make this next little chat, and I just kept coming back to this thread.
Once again, we have staked ourselves out into the world to encourage our new chapter with Lindos, and once again we have found a way to draw some rather irate attention.
Now, and I say this with every bit of respect to PGM, many players of this world have quit. Very specifically those in the eastern waters of PGM territory. We aren't finding quite the fight that we hoped for. That's not to say it has all stopped, they actually just caught us the other day and snagged a city- which btw Trocanitoreloaded and those who were on top of that cs, great job getting support into that. For a moment we thought we were going to make it then all of a sudden a bunch of support started showing up, haha. I digress
Between the new world opening and eating up playing time, and the lack of the big fight we were hoping for in the south, we had an odd turn of events. We were contacted by Srbija, who in withdrawing from their waters offered us a bunch of cities in o54. Now anyone who has paid attention will notice this lies directly against the northern coalition core and indeed the cities were on contested islands. A bit of discussion among the southern alliances and some decisive action, we decided to take the deal. We would move into the north, and venture into fighting what seems to be the more active PGM members, based on the mass amounts of fighting we have seen in the reports. And we were also planning on taking a run at Commandos as they control the area between our new cities and PGM.
Fast forward 46 hrs! (Those were some tired oars) Our cs started landing and cities started turning over.
Now I pause to acknowledge that there is a belief that we made this move only to cause trouble and pick a fight with the northern coalition. I've personally spent many conversations in the past with the northern groups and I considered them very fun people and while we had no diplomacy of any kind we had a mutual goal in fighting PGM and so it honestly was not our intent to fight them. There was of course always the chance that since they are pacted with Commandos that they might fight us if we attacked Commandos, but in the end any direct aggression would have to come from their side.
SO! As cities turned over the rumor-mill begins to work overtime. I was contacted within 24 hours about why we were there, and if we would be willing to trade our newly obtained cities in o54 for cities elsewhere. These talks lasted for a little while until we decided that unfortunately we weren't interested in being anywhere else. The location we had selected put us where we wanted to be both for expansion, and for that slightly neurotic tendency I have to keep my back from being too exposed.
Another sidenote- even while these conversations were going on about a deal to hand the cities off to the trio- we were getting rumors and contacts saying the internal word was "Final Exam can't be allowed to own cities in o54." I will of course be the first to admit this comes from hearsay, but it was not a comforting thought.
Lo and behold though, not more than 3 hours after we rejected the trio's offer to give them the cities- spy reports started kicking up. Within hours came the harbor checks, and within the first 24 hours we had already killed our first cs attempt. Now- one can argue that because of the rejection, their only recourse was to attack us (and mark us red). One can also say that organizing mass amounts of spies, followed up with harbor checks and routine attacks for the last 48 hours means they were ready for this fight. In the end though, we are just happy for the fun.
The north and the south have met and are fighting it out for the entertainment and enjoyment of you all. (I'm looking at you iCyber.)
We might try to run a scoreboard, might not, but honestly it's nice to see some new names on reports and while the trio hasn't been as chatty as I like people to be when playing, I've had more attacks these last few days then since Lindos started!
Bring on the popcorn everyone- 4 months till WW and the excitement is just beginning.
And to the fighters of Dark Judgement, Army of One, Wargasm, Commandos, National Spartan Agency and whomever else you guys are pacted with-
Your exam has just begun.
(Sorry, I had too.)
ro:
Good hunting all!