DeletedUser46395
Guest
The Nagidos Nag, Issue I've lost count
Bringing you the Truth through Lies since next week
Proud to be standing up to truth and honesty. (I give up. - Ed)
The Originator of Alternative Facts and Fake News
EDITORIAL
We seem to have hit that bit of a server where there's not a lot happening of much interest, just a lot of consolidation. The same is even more true of these forums, as the feeble participation in the forum comp attests to. Of course this is in part down to alliance leaders desperate to protect their alliance's reputations, which we will look at in more detail - The Nag blames whichever idiot keeps saying "you can't win a server in the Externals, but you can lose one there." (Er, isn't that you? -Ed). In fact we have to look at that, because there's otherwise not much happening of interest... and I know that if I don't get some sort of issue out this week, there probably won't be any more. Now I know that saying "there doesn't seem to be much happening" will cause Irate of Ocean 97 to contact me and complain that I've not covered The Nutbutterer's war against Global Spartan Spartans, which is turning into a massacre at 4 takes to 2, but that's a risk I'm prepared to take to share my perceptions.
The politics of control - or the control of politics
This is actually a bit deep and meaningful for The Nag, but then so is a yoghurt, for that matter.
At the heart of this question is "what are the externals for?", but also "what's the point of the game?".
At the end of the day, Grepolis is a game. The Nag won't go in to questions of if it's better or worse than it used to be, but focus purely on it being a game. It's actually a fascinating game, despite its simplicity, in that it works on many levels, and depends so heavily on social interaction. Yes, it's a war game on one level, and often that's the most fun level. But you don't win it by fighting, you win it by simming. Which rather makes the fact that everyone uses the term "simmer" as a form of abuse rather ironic...
But above all, it's a resource management game, resources including gold, silver, wood, rock, military units and cities. Fact is that resource management isn't generally as interesting as fighting, but it's the side that manages those resources the best that wins, and the best alliance leaders know that. So you don't win by the fun bit...
And so to the Externals. What's the point of them? Well there are multiple purposes, including communication between Inno and its customers (no comment from The Nag on how well that's managed...) and other practical reasons, but then there are the individual world sections, which have rather different purposes.
Purpose 1 - propaganda. A very good forum for spreading information or misinformation about opponents to sway opinion either across the server, within the enemy alliance, or within one's own alliance.
Purpose 2 - to wind up the opposition. Somewhat of a development of propaganda, this is all about making your enemy act irrationally and controlling them. Ludicrously easy with some people.
Purpose 3 - To make yourself look stupid. Most people posting this way have no idea that that's the reason they're posting, they think they're making strong statements about how wonderful they are and how terrible their enemy is, but really all that they're doing is telling the rest of the server what an idiotic buffoon they are. Very popular tactic, this, which is highly amusing for onlookers. Of course this buffoonery reflects back on their alliance as well...
Purpose 4 - Information gathering. Typically, people will make statements they know not to be true, and the target can't wait to contradict that statement with the actual truth - exactly what the initial poster wanted...
Purpose 5 - Just to have fun. Proper trash talk falls into this category, when done with a sense of humour it's great. When done without, it falls into category 3.
The Nag also falls into this category. I hope.
Now leaders of the major alliances would love to control what people post here - particularly to cut our category 3, and eliminate the effects of category 4. Problem is that they can't forbid people from using it, because where's the fun in the game then? So they end up doing verbal contortions when they make statements on the subject, which is funny in itself.
A good example this week is Poopstan(i). I like Pat, he's honest, straightforward and trustworthy, characteristics that you think would rule you out of being the leader of a major alliance, but actually exactly what you need. But what neither he nor any other alliance leader needs are loose canons either damaging the alliance's reputation, or giving away information needlessly. So in a bit of minor mischief-making, the editor of this mighty organ rather painted him into a corner where he had to respond earlier this week by suggesting to some posters that he might not be happy with their Category 3 stuff.
So this is what he said:
"1. You shouldn't care what folks say...Do any of you honestly "care" what gets posted on the externals? Really?
2. You shouldn't post (as bear so aptly points out) because folks will just use the info for their own purposes
3. The forums are exactly what bear uses them for-- a place to gather info and assess people silly enough to give him and others info they can gather to use against you..
4. The more you argue or post in this forum the more you give you competition to use for their own purposes"
Point one is of course rather disingenuous, because if he didn't care what was posted in the externals, he wouldn't be making these points to try to discourage people from posting in the externals ...
(Also point 3 isn't really correct about me, I get my info in-game for the most part and seldom use this place for intel gathering, but it's generally true about others.)
But that's what all the major alliance leaders - at least all the smart ones - would like to say. However, he realised the danger in denying fun (and freedom!) to his alliance, so quickly followed up with this:
"Folks on my team -- you can of course continue to use this forum as you see fit"
Bringing you the Truth through Lies since next week
Never Knowingly Accurate.
Proud to be standing up to truth and honesty. (I give up. - Ed)
The Originator of Alternative Facts and Fake News
EDITORIAL
We seem to have hit that bit of a server where there's not a lot happening of much interest, just a lot of consolidation. The same is even more true of these forums, as the feeble participation in the forum comp attests to. Of course this is in part down to alliance leaders desperate to protect their alliance's reputations, which we will look at in more detail - The Nag blames whichever idiot keeps saying "you can't win a server in the Externals, but you can lose one there." (Er, isn't that you? -Ed). In fact we have to look at that, because there's otherwise not much happening of interest... and I know that if I don't get some sort of issue out this week, there probably won't be any more. Now I know that saying "there doesn't seem to be much happening" will cause Irate of Ocean 97 to contact me and complain that I've not covered The Nutbutterer's war against Global Spartan Spartans, which is turning into a massacre at 4 takes to 2, but that's a risk I'm prepared to take to share my perceptions.
The politics of control - or the control of politics
This is actually a bit deep and meaningful for The Nag, but then so is a yoghurt, for that matter.
At the heart of this question is "what are the externals for?", but also "what's the point of the game?".
At the end of the day, Grepolis is a game. The Nag won't go in to questions of if it's better or worse than it used to be, but focus purely on it being a game. It's actually a fascinating game, despite its simplicity, in that it works on many levels, and depends so heavily on social interaction. Yes, it's a war game on one level, and often that's the most fun level. But you don't win it by fighting, you win it by simming. Which rather makes the fact that everyone uses the term "simmer" as a form of abuse rather ironic...
But above all, it's a resource management game, resources including gold, silver, wood, rock, military units and cities. Fact is that resource management isn't generally as interesting as fighting, but it's the side that manages those resources the best that wins, and the best alliance leaders know that. So you don't win by the fun bit...
And so to the Externals. What's the point of them? Well there are multiple purposes, including communication between Inno and its customers (no comment from The Nag on how well that's managed...) and other practical reasons, but then there are the individual world sections, which have rather different purposes.
Purpose 1 - propaganda. A very good forum for spreading information or misinformation about opponents to sway opinion either across the server, within the enemy alliance, or within one's own alliance.
Purpose 2 - to wind up the opposition. Somewhat of a development of propaganda, this is all about making your enemy act irrationally and controlling them. Ludicrously easy with some people.
Purpose 3 - To make yourself look stupid. Most people posting this way have no idea that that's the reason they're posting, they think they're making strong statements about how wonderful they are and how terrible their enemy is, but really all that they're doing is telling the rest of the server what an idiotic buffoon they are. Very popular tactic, this, which is highly amusing for onlookers. Of course this buffoonery reflects back on their alliance as well...
Purpose 4 - Information gathering. Typically, people will make statements they know not to be true, and the target can't wait to contradict that statement with the actual truth - exactly what the initial poster wanted...
Purpose 5 - Just to have fun. Proper trash talk falls into this category, when done with a sense of humour it's great. When done without, it falls into category 3.
The Nag also falls into this category. I hope.
Now leaders of the major alliances would love to control what people post here - particularly to cut our category 3, and eliminate the effects of category 4. Problem is that they can't forbid people from using it, because where's the fun in the game then? So they end up doing verbal contortions when they make statements on the subject, which is funny in itself.
A good example this week is Poopstan(i). I like Pat, he's honest, straightforward and trustworthy, characteristics that you think would rule you out of being the leader of a major alliance, but actually exactly what you need. But what neither he nor any other alliance leader needs are loose canons either damaging the alliance's reputation, or giving away information needlessly. So in a bit of minor mischief-making, the editor of this mighty organ rather painted him into a corner where he had to respond earlier this week by suggesting to some posters that he might not be happy with their Category 3 stuff.
So this is what he said:
"1. You shouldn't care what folks say...Do any of you honestly "care" what gets posted on the externals? Really?
2. You shouldn't post (as bear so aptly points out) because folks will just use the info for their own purposes
3. The forums are exactly what bear uses them for-- a place to gather info and assess people silly enough to give him and others info they can gather to use against you..
4. The more you argue or post in this forum the more you give you competition to use for their own purposes"
Point one is of course rather disingenuous, because if he didn't care what was posted in the externals, he wouldn't be making these points to try to discourage people from posting in the externals ...
(Also point 3 isn't really correct about me, I get my info in-game for the most part and seldom use this place for intel gathering, but it's generally true about others.)
But that's what all the major alliance leaders - at least all the smart ones - would like to say. However, he realised the danger in denying fun (and freedom!) to his alliance, so quickly followed up with this:
"Folks on my team -- you can of course continue to use this forum as you see fit"
so no ban on forum use, but
"i would hope you would refrain from doing anything but reading them as this does nothing to further our team goals and agenda..."
So there we have it - read but don't comment is the official Extortion view, 'cos you're not trusted not to put your foot in it.
The danger with this, of course, is that people DO care what's written here, and that's why he himself has posted a little more here, as has kkkeeeer - people trusted to toe the party line, as it were. Wonder which leaders will be discouraged from posting? But if an alliance doesn't keep their end up, they start to look weak.
So in the end, the Externals DO matter, and that's why alliance leaders wish to control what's written here. It will be very interesting to see what happens next on that front...
Show Me Your Noobies
Seem to be completely asleep, anybody got any idea what they're up to? Seem rather rudderless at the moment, not surprising given the Foo situation. Overtaken by This is not a hammer on points, they've taken a few from Blood Ties but lost a few to Noobs. Who they deny having any relationship with. But then they denied having any relationships before, which wasn't exactly true.
Any info/gossip/whatever for the next issue gratefully received.
Player name of the week
RagingArdon. How DOES he get away with that?
And that's all we've got time for this issue. Hopefully the next one will be funnier again...