Dear G-Force:
In the future could you please make two separate threads- One funny, entertaining and blissfully ironic like the OP, then another that's dry and straight forward, just listing the facts. That way people with a sense of humour can answer your diplomacy in a similar vein, while those to whom Stratland is much more serious than the real world can respond with bitterness and wailing.
I myself am bothered by how powerful you guys are, and definitely don't want NA to become 2 factions, one evil empire vs a forced alliance of freedom loving independent factions (or one harmonious conglomeration of right minded citizens vs. anarchic backwards warlords, depending on where you stand).
To avoid the mighty feared wall of text, I will insert my views in this spoiler:
As we all know, Strat is actually quite boring. And it will be even more boring if only 2 leaders make all the decisions. Sadly, the only excitement is the politics. I dream of a world where Machiavellian lords plot and conspire, where the little guy could be the nail (a la for the want of a nail the shoe was lost etc.), influencing the not quite as little guys. As a trader, I wouldn't want to trade in complete safety through half the map, I'd want to risk sneaking through a small, enemy held territory; risking my caravan and all its goods just to get to the small friendly faction on the other side a little quicker. I want cabals, backstabbing, desperately made concessions and unholy alliances.
And then I go on, brevity not really being my thing
But that's just me. I completely see the point of having good trade relations with Europe. Druzhina owns the EU desert, and that makes a nice, safe, very profitable trade route. When I was surprisingly attacked by old friends and sent on a European Vacation, Fenris took me in, feasted me, and protected my broken little army. I bought goods and made my way east to NA, protected by the wolves to the west of me, and the mountains to the south. So I decided to capture New Shulus, and become Defender of the Pass... and make a hell of a lot of money while I was at it.
This, of course, was not meant to be. Greater powers than me had already decided New Shulus' fate. As a tiny clan, the 13th could not hold out. To be honest, I was for awhile tempted to betray the compassion and friendship of the Wolves and hole up there, to enjoy the title of Lord of New Shulus as long as I could, to see how long Acre and Fenris would blockade me before they had sufficient strength to oust me from my stronghold. As a mercenary of questionable origins (though I swear I come from noble stock, and will stick a knife in the back of any bastard who says I isn't), I enjoyed the sudden legitimacy holding a fief gave me. But two things changed my mind. First, the good and kind words of Kinngrimm, who, with nary a snarl in his voice, offered soothing and comforting words to me, a mere mercenary (BUT WITH NOBLE BLOOD! See above) even though he commands vast territories and vassals. That, and being trapped in a fief is quite boring.
and on and on
So I gifted the fief to him. And he gifted me right back. Nobles like us do not sully ourselves with buying and selling. After that I went buying and selling. And now I'm very wealthy. I have the ear of many Lords and Nobles and even a couple Kings! A small faction of 2.7 players can make a difference with small clans. But if it were just two mega factions, I'd just be told to breed troops or hand over my hard earned silver to some mega army. Do you want that?!? Do you hate me so much you want me to have a small, lightly armed army travelling back and forth between two or three fiefs? Well, probably four, two buy fiefs and two... well, you know the economics of Strat.
So please, if you have any love for me (which I think you do, I saw you looking across the room at me- and don't tell me it was because the wall clock was above my head), splinter off into various groups, war and ally amongst yourselves, cause shit, offend people, and just cause general chaos and mayhem. The mafioso families were always backstabbing each other. A true don would stab his best friend in the back (or beat the shit out of him with a baseball back then throw him in the trunk of the car and bury him in the desert), and I truly think you should too.
With a little respect and a lot of fear,
Bryggan,
Commander of the Thirteen Knights,
Ex-Lord of New Shulus
Ex-Defender of the Pass
Purveyor of Fine Goods and Sundries
Fourth Place in the New Sargoth Egg-and-spoon Race
Sumus Mala Fortuna