Our Numbers Guru, may dig out the old maps and stats if he's still around. If it's significantly different I'll gladly edit the report. I've made mistakes before, so anything is possible. No problem.
As promised, our numbers Guru, emerged from semi-retirement to research the old maps/stats, and shows that I was incorrect. The stats do indeed need clarification. And so I have edited the original post. And the world has my sincere apologies for an error, and for not being as clear as I should have been. And, my thanks to randoi for pointing it out. If only the New York Times corrected errors as quickly as the KOS WeeklyWorldNews!
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the correction does not alter the narrative.
What you don't remember, (and no reason you should) is that Karma membership as the Age neared was in the mid 30's. And on April 22nd we had 1,143 less cities than you did. That is what necessitated a merger and required our devising a plan to create a stalemate.
When the merger was underway on May 20th, fourteen days before the Age began, our cities deficit had been reduced to 794 cities.
(Later, when the merger had been fully completed and the Age was well underway, on July 1st, our cities deficit to KE had been further reduced to 371 cities.)
As one who was re-calc'ing our numbers daily, (as well as yours,) it was clear that KE still had an advantage in the number of cities as the Age was about to begin.
So you can imagine our smiles when the Age began and KE didn't. Everyone in Karma and REL knew the exact day the age would begin. There were daily messages reminding everyone to be ready at a certain hour on that certain day.
And on that certain day, not only did y'all fail to start, a number of your larger players were in fact in VM, representing 10% of your alliance's cities that were out, and unable to send resources. I know this because I personally went down the KE membership roster, and attempted to spy each one to see who was on VM, and then personally calc'd the number of cities that were out. I did not follow, who or when they returned as the days passed.
Karma & REL cities were almost ALL ready to send maximum resources. We showed up at the starting gate, on time, all present and accounted for, ready to go. KE did not. We each picked two Wonders and jumped on them. And, by the time you realized what was happening, four (4) Wonders were already out of your reach, and together, Karma and REL, had almost immediately accomplished our primary goal. And yes, it happened that fast.
But, even so, you could have picked up two or three of the remaining Wonders, or perhaps overtaken one or two others, had you adjusted your priorities. But, as we watched to see if you would, we were pleased that you didn't. Someone wasn't paying attention. Wasn't watching the races, and doing the math, and making the right choices. Spending too much time Playing on us20, perhaps, instead of Leading on en56.
The game wasn't over when REL completed the Seventh Wonder on August 16th. It was over for you when you failed to show up on June 3rd. It was over for you when you failed to alter your "plan" to address the reality that was unfolding right in front of you, right from the start.
It was over for you when you decided to follow a leader, (exceptional fighter that he is), into an environment that required critical thinking skills, instead of sniping skills. That required good leadership, and effective communication skills, instead of just a big mouth.
You keep searching for an acceptable reason why you lost. An excuse that would make it not your fault. As if you were not there, and had nothing to do with the results. You seem to forget that you were there. And you had everything to do with the result.
You keep searching for some way to show that REL is undeserving of the Crown. Chad had it right when he said there will be no asterisk by their name. You seem to forget that REL played a tough and honorable game, had great success in battle, founded an entire island in your WW area and stuck it to you when it counted most. Seems that I remember KE attempted a similar maneuver in REL's back yard, and they took that island from you, and built a Wonder on it.
Your search is over. The facts are established. And the analysis has been more than fair. I personally respect that you're entitled to your own opinion. And I don't expect it will match ours. And that's o.k. It can express any thoughts, theories, perspectives, reasons, excuses, or memories that you like. Make them up if you wish.
But it won't change the factual narrative:
Karma and REL together, executed a strategy that defeated you QUICKLY and EFFICIENTLY; and then,
REL completed FOUR Wonders for the win, then SEVEN Wonders for the Crown. And they EARNED IT!
Regardless of anything else, when you boil it down, that's what happened.
The KE leader can have posted ridiculous rebuttals, call us all noobs, liars, and cheaters, and more. But, in the end, that's what happened, and we'll just have to agree to disagree on all the inconsequential side issues.
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Have a Merry Christmas, and a safe New Year.
