Eliminating a scorched earther=poor sportsmanship

[Reverend Zombie]

You've clealy beaten me, proving you are the better player. I am making things as difficult for you as I can, destroying my infrastructure, seeking allies to protect my lands, and pillaging my territory so your troops will starve and be unable to replenish their ranks.

Why perist in attacking me at this point--just to rub my nose in my defeat? That's poor sportsmanship!

And it doesn't benefit either one of us.

Call off your attack, and let me rebuild as a client state! You'll understand if I choose another player to become a client of, right? You attacked me after all.

With the war at an end, you can turn your resources and armies to building up for the next opponent, and don't have to worry about wasting resources to capture those last few pillaged wastes of mine.

You'll be the stronger for being such a generous victor, and a much better sport, to boot!

[Meglobob]

The only good enemy is a dead enemy!

No mercy!

Unless of course you defeat me on the battlefield, in which case I will suggest, 'talks'.

[Reverend Zombie]

Meglobob said:
The only good enemy is a dead enemy!

No mercy!

Ah, is this a RP justification or a (supposed) play-to-win justification?

If the latter, can't you see that this behavior is self-destructive--I see no reason for it other than spiteful "running up the score" against someone alredy defeated--and it's going to hurt you, too!

[Szumo]

The main point is: it's not actually going to hurt you, too

[Reverend Zombie]

Szumo said:
The main point is: it's not actually going to hurt you, too

Why all the fuss in the other thread, then, I wonder?

[Meglobob]

Its the common sense justification, if you leave another nation alive (if only barely) he could always play along with intent of revenge, should he get the chance.

[Sombre]

Not if he's going scorched earth on you. He can't come back from that, so why not leave him alone?

Not that I agree with this, but this thread does highlight a crucial problem with the logic in the other thread.

[thejeff]

If he's damaged himself enough that he can't come back to be even a minor threat, then he won't be any trouble to finish off. And at least you get the magic sites.
And he's too weak to be any help as a client state.

If he's that weak, someone else will finish him anyway and you'll have less of a buffer against them.

[Stryke11]

Reverend Zombie for the win!

[KissBlade]

That's way I've always viewed scorched earth. Yes the gains are less but it's also significantly easier to conquer a nation with no forts, no labs, no mages ...