The First Mega Game International Bank

[chrispedersen]

Hey guys!

First, ya either trust your opponents to be honorable - or you don't. And if ya don't - why play? Specifically, that people are not playing as friends.

I've never met, nor played with, any of the fine gentleman alluded to in the previous post. I mean honestly, if I had a secret agenda - why would we post it? Much more logical to keep it secret, isn't it?

Secondly, how can anyone complain about an organization that anyone can join?

Now I've gotten a pm about pregame alliances being distasteful - and indeed some here have made a post about that. And I would like to prompt discussion on that point.

To me, a pregame alliance - is going into the game with a hidden agenda - working with people you know - a hidden advantage that is unfair.

To which I'd like to bring up for discussion a few points:
Haven't nations been assigned, aren't we designing pretenders, refreshing ourselves on the abilities of our nation? I know I am. In short - aren't we already playing the game?

How does diplomacy at this instant.. vary one whit.. from diplomacy conducted once we receive our starting positions? How is it any more or less fair?

Secondly, I think the unfairness of this, if it exists which I don't think it does, is FAR dwarfed by 'diplomacy' already inherent in the game. For example, can any of you, but especially the veterans, say that you honestly wouldn't think twice about attacking Baalz - just because he *IS* a veteran - especially if you have another possible target? And I have a suspicion that as a new player I have similarly been targeted.

Similarly, aren't there some nations that are known weak, that you would look hungrily upon? For fire nations, aren't you less likely to attack other fire nations? How about who *your* neighbors are?

Aren't these factors likely to be much determinative of game behavior?

Now some have said:

"Pregame alliances are bad. Lets form an alliance to oppose these evil bankers."

Now in-game, I think thats all kosher and in fact good fun. Out-of-game I have to question both your logic - and the firmness of your convictions.

Lastly, I love to compete, and I love to play, and diplomacize. I find reading about the bank, and AntiBank, and the Bank of Ulm, and setting up D.I.C.E - fun. But I'd really hate for their to be hard feelings out-of-game because of it.

So what do *you* think?