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PE-RA-Diplo [Mr. Big]: Greeting
Date:Sun, 30 Nov 2003 04:43:04 +0000

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Hello to all, sorry we have been away on holiday, it will take a while
to read all the messages.

Mr. Big


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PE-RA-Announce [Moderator]: Conditions for "Alliances"
Date:Mon, 01 Dec 2003 14:41:57 +0000

Announcement from the Moderator to All Leaders:

Little Gamers raised a very important question on Friday.  Other
players have asked me for some kind of ruling.  I've been thinking
about it, and while I have some ideas, I mostly have a question for
everyone:  At what point must a private arrangement between nations be
termed an "Alliance" and become subject to the rules (alliances must
be declared, have a maximum size, etc).?  The dynamics of this game
are not at all what I was expecting, given the rules.  I had expected
to see a bunch of alliance declarations on Turn 25, given the number
of nations engaging in mutually-beneficial cooperative behavior
("alliances?").  Perhaps the maximum alliance size is too small, or
the rules too unrealistic?  The original intent was to try to improve
upon the two-large-alliance politics of the previous Era by creating a
universe with several alliances that would work as teams in
competition with one another, yet sometimes cooperating.  The size
limit was meant (a) to ensure that there would be at least 4 alliances
and (b) to help prevent members of alliances from starting fodder
nations in parallel with their main account. However, I was supposing
a somewhat larger group of nations than what we have now.  But if no
one is going to declare their alliances, the whole thing falls apart.
(Frankly, it looks to me like Tzu-xXx-HAL-Looney vs.
Churchill-Leila-Watchers-?Big? from the unit-transfer and combat
reports.)  Perhaps the fatal flaw is that if you have an alliance of
maximum size (2 nations), and you fear you are losing, then the urge
is strong to go and recruit additional support, which means getting
help ("alliance"??) from more nations...

So, what is the right thing to do?

Under Rule (8), Moderator Privilege, I can modify the official rules
as needed.  Since the current rules do not seem to be working, I need
your advice (preferably as objective and un-self-serving as possible)
regarding what they should be changed into.

-- Power's Edge, http://www.powersedge.net/ 

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