Everyone:
Being annoyed by today's result is an euphemism. I think everyone is disappointed with the way it turned out in one way or another.
Either because of the lag;
Or because of the timespan we covered;
Or because their nation got AIed;
Or because they had to leave the game;
Or because there was a miscommunication mistake;
ad nauseam. Yeah, ad nauseam.
I am personally disappointed because of all of these reasons, and more.
I read people's comment on this board, saw the way others behaved today, and I've have talked with more than a few. Yes, I'm annoyed.
I'm annoyed because the game's been very enjoyable thus far, especially given the highly competitive environment.
I'm annoyed because I've rounded up a very capable group of mature players.
I'm annoyed because some of those players apparently prefer to bicker, pick up pointless fights, argue moot points or put a tantrum over something that, sadly, we had no control over and otherwise behave selfishly. Fine, mistakes happen. Things get said. Errors are made.
Stuff happens. Live with it. And please, stop taking this so personally, everything that happens is not meant as a personal offense.
Enigma(Austria) and Hmmm(Persia) have left the game.
Its sad, but we needed unfortunately, as has been pointed, to let some players go. They've left of their own volition, to allow us to enjoy the game.
That creates a vacuum, particularly in the case of Austria. I don't blame people for sticking to their own nation. We've been working for a little while on them, we've made plans, its reasonable to want to keep working on them, and not having to pick up another player's work. Especially true since Austria's situation was not enviable.
So, Austria and Persia were AIed when those players left. I made things rather clear about what could and coult not be taken from each. And btw Beli, you took 2 provs from Persia, when you were entitled to 1.
Flatus whined and left. I'm not gonna argue who was right and what happened - its not important really, point is, he left. I would have been happy to find a sub for England, but it didn't work out. We looked, there was no one. So I passed a ruling to limit damage on ENG to the minimum, and I had France agree to pay the monetary ammount that seemed fair for both England and France in regards to Calais. Not an ideal solution, but one we should all be able to live with. Considering early exploration is critical - and considering the English player should not be responsible for his sub's decision to quit midgame, I had also announced that England would be fully compensated in terms of provinces explored, colonisation & such for what the sub should have been able to do. Hell, I was planning to run a testgame as England to see what I could have achieved and edit as appropriate. And that is the end of the world as we know it? Geez.
For some reason, Drake felt that having an AI England was a problem enough to leave. Agreed that AI England is not ideal. I've said that then and I say it again. Its also why I limited the damages to England, planned reparations and edits to fix any problem arising. I'm really disappointed by you leaving us Drake. That's no way to play. Devil may not be my personal friend, like he is to you, but that doesn't mean anything. If anything, my ruling to insure that the damages caused by a sub who couldn't be bothered to finish a session when we rehosted for him was more, way more than fair to him. Perhaps it wasn't ideal, but neither was an AI Austria and Persia, or an AI Denmark for that matter. I expected more from you than simply drop on a whim, although I understand your frustration.
Its unlikely we'll have an Austria, and I've already said why. Outside of the essential Spain, France, England, Ottomans, Muscowy and Portugal, we also happen to have a Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Venice and Brandenburg player. All filler nations - important for sure, but hardly core nations. Yet, the players are attached to them and that's fine. It also means that puts us at 11 players, assuming we still have an England and Brandenburg.
If you two, Devil and Drake, decide to opt out, well I can't stop you. I won't try either. I've already said that I wanted you in the game. I've been very accomodating for the two of you, to help make the game enjoyable for you, yet it doesn't seem to be worth your time. Or is it that your pride is such that you cannot suffer to play in non-perennial conditions? Frankly, and this is true for everyone btw, I don't intend to bend myself in half every week like I have so far.
But back to the previous paragraph. We do need a solution for Austria. I was planning a few hours of edit to fix that and other thing, but I've changed my mind. I've considered various options, but it seems that - short of having an Austrian player - I'll only hear more constant whining about this and that and other nonsense. Which is fine. So until we have a player, or find another solution, Austria will be permanently offlimit. Hardly an ideal solution, but certainly one that restricts everyone equally and fairly. And this was all about fairness, right?
So yes, overall I'm annoyed. No, sorry, I'm very disappointed. Disappointed that we rounded up such a competent, mature group of players, but that the group apparently forgot the mature part.
So here's an exercise for everyone, including me. Well me, I got a plane to catch up tomorrow, so I'll be responsible and I'll go and do a couple hours worth of packing my stuff and getting ready instead of editing since people couldn't care less anyway what the result is. So I'm letting you sort this out like mature people.
I care about this group. I love this game. Although we're only 38 years into the game and that it has been progressing slow, the level of intrigue, tension, competition, cooperation and involvement has been great. Perhaps there has been too much tension as a result of people's attachment, as some apparently need to cool off.
So if you've read this far, do not post immediately. Just take some time, clear your head, cool off and then ask yourself if all the arguing, giving up, insults and other attitude were deserved, or if perhaps, some may have went too far. Just try and put things in perspective. This doesn't concern everyone to the same level certainly, but I'm not targetting anyone in particular here, nor do I want to lay the blame on anyone in particular, nor the group in general. Some of you may feel you've done nothing wrong, or that what you did or said was completely justified and fair. Still, I believe its fair to point out that some people went too far, for little good reason other than impulsivity. Happens to the best of us, but that doesn't mean it has to remain that way. And it would also be fair for you, to at least think and consider it, even for a few minutes. Its up to you guys, to decide whether it applies to you. And what can be done to be ready for next sunday, and enjoy it. Finally, when you've thought this through, go ahead and speak up.
A last note. Thanks Belisarius. Your host wasn't perfect today, I know. Happens. I played the last few years of the session roughly between 2 to 6 weeks off-sync and had to mint to repay 1000 ducats lag loans - which, believe it or not, is less than ideal! - but we managed to get it through without incident. And yes, I enjoyed myself. But mostly, thanks Belisarius, because although people kept complaining throughout the session about the quality of your host, or your advantage over them in warfare, or the game speed. You went through the couple of rehosts necessary and the limits I've - yes - arbitrarily placed on Austria and Persia. Yet, I haven't heard one word of complaint or whining from you, nor have I heard you fencing back and forth with those who were busy throwing whines at you. So yes, thanks. And if, as I hope and believe, this crew rallies and settle the issues at hand, I would appreciate if you could take over as substitute GM while I'm out-of-the-country.
To those who haven't been named, and who actually tried to simply enjoy themselves and let others enjoy the game today as well, in different ways, thank you too.
Oh yeah, and thanks to Adam breit, who's totally uninvolved in this game and yet takes the time to post something sensible. It is indeed very tempting, and very easy, to drop everything when a small little detail annoys us.
I'm looking forward to read this thread when I come back in two weeks.
Take care everyone. And please, just have fun. This is what its all about.
