Perhaps we better avoid Sink and Sim since server is now more matured.
I will make a top 12.
1. Cuddling Soon Group,lol(let's make mungus happy
).
They have established themselves well,created a core and expanded it by smashing local opposition.
No serious wars so far,but unofficially the war with The Usual Suspects has just started.
Skillful diplomacy has facilitated things so far and they have a coalition in their side to oppose TUS.
It remains to be seen if their current growth will be maintained or if they do have the mettle to make a good fight.
Location:
http://www.grepointel.com/map.php?server=en81&ref=9ljwpvvmfkiroplmxf40foofc6ccvlnawavpl1ru
2. The Usual Byzantines,lol(TUS2+Drunkards included).
This lads through ruthless effort have established supremacy in ocean 45,killing all those close to establish their core.
The usual fools who started in 45 did not appreciate the danger facilitated their effort and they ate them one by one.
So far the going was easy(relatively) for them,and recently they have stared to expand beyond o45.
After the initial mess in 44 which made the growth easy now they face better alliances,and their recent op on the anti TUS alliances (in o 44) yielded modest results,especially compared to previous ops.
Right now think 9 takeovers,and vast majority of them from awol players.
And they have had their first losses from Black List and Alpha.
So the easy ride is over.
Their initial plan was to play with a single alliance,and soon on the auspices of Zero they too changed tactic in order to be on a par with the other competitors who apply the "levee en masse".
No doubt they are a serious competitor,and if Oakleaf(let's not fake,it is known the differences on the course to follow between two Z's caused their resignation,and leadership pased to Oakleaf) will succeed to hold the different characters together they will be a serious competitor for the duration of the server.
Location:
http://www.grepointel.com/map.php?server=en81&ref=em4fn2hwqtugmy1xbiiv9kty5falqskj7pov
3. Alpha Group.
They established supremacy in 54,beating the local opponents,and are expanded beyond 54 in the core area.
Their diplo too has been good so far.
Think they have not yet shown max capacities,no doubt Blaze needs to pull some stings to improve performance.
Remains to be seen if they have the mettle.
So far all good,but serious ride starts now.
This evaluation remains to be seen is valid for all in the top 12.
Location:
http://www.grepointel.com/map.php?server=en81&ref=odwv2yctiqkisjpi9j5iytrf0zyhsi0hzv6fzulz
4. Fluffernutters.
Do not have much info about them.
Their position on the rim gives the chance for a long ride.
Remains to be seen if it is just luck,or skill too have earned them their current place.
5.Black List.
Up to a couple of weeks before few would have thought this guys would make themselves top 44 alliance.
They did swim carefully so far,and now are at war with TUS Group.
First exchanges with TUS has shown they can offer a good fight,given the size(just 1 loss from active players) and have taken 1 or 2 "bottles" from Drunkard section of TUS,but still,too early to estimate.
Remains to be seen what they can do.
6. Ex Danish groups(closely allied,most probably same alliance with a different name).Technically Army of the North and Army of Phoenix.
After the bubble of the start evaporated they lowered pretensions and combined are tightly grouped in 55.
Are winning ground toward Guards and more or less holding their own toward Alpha with whom they are at war.
Yet their location shows they will need to do a lot to be serious independent competitors,since there are plenty of sharks in all sides.
7.Aut Vincere Aut Mori.
They did not have a shinny start,yet,swimming carefully outlived the others around and are tightly grouped in 56.
Other sharks around,so they too have a lot to do to consider 56 their own core,unless they have a secret branch in that area.
The serious wars seem to start for them too.
8. Holy Mortis Empire.
This lads were shaken hard in the past ten days,and switched stance after failing to reach an agreement with TUS.
Bearing in mind the earthquake they are doing well after the change.Losses to TUS are minimal.
Thanks Scipio
Rest of top 12 alliances are part of groups,hence why only 8 are listed.
Just to be correct-I am a member of Cuddling Soon,so don't shoot me if I am biased