From where I'm standing, it just looks like the Mercs got well and truly outplayed, especially from the diplomatic and strategic standpoint. We'll see, maybe they'll be able to call upon allies or show their prowess in the field, but whatever circumstances led up to this and whatever happens after, I have to say that this assault was beautifully coordinated. So hat's off to BRD, BlackRose, HRE, and xKhanx.
I've been a long time player of the board game Diplomacy, as well as a moderator on an online Diplomacy website, so I'm pretty accustomed to all this drama, "backstabbing", "honor" and all that. My advice to the Mercs, if you'll have it, it strikes me that you guys do a lot of posturing and strutting, but you can't in truth back up a lot of your threats. Now, this is a perfectly valid strategy, and common in nature and humanity (especially younger males), but your bluff has been called. It's been shown that you can't credibly defend your claims or follow through on your threats. In nature, when this happens, it is traditional to adopt a submissive stance to ensure your survival. I can understand that you will not run with your tail between your legs, but at the very least some humility would earn you the respect of many of your aggressors and third parties, while still preserving face. How would it look if a defeated politician threw a tantrum and leveled accusations upon the victor, rather than gracefully congratulating them?
The defiance you continue to show is not entirely nonsensical, since given the likelihood of a wipe, it might be worth it to go down in a blaze here to earn a reputation of being vicious when provoked, so as to deter aggressors when strat is restarted. However, this is undermined by your vows of revenge and the grudges you will carry over after the wipe. Veteran Diplomacy players all understand that holding grudges between games is a huge detriment because it makes you predictable and when circumstances are different, where you might have once have had an ally, you will certainly have an enemy. In life, it is sometimes worthwhile to be vengeful and hold grudges to cultivate such a reputation that others will think twice about exploiting, betraying, or lying to you. However, in these circumstances, you have no solid proof that agreements were broken and you were the victim, only your word against theirs. You will garner no sympathy from third parties with that argument. Were I you, I would gracefully acknowledge the skillful co-ordination of your opponents, and make it clear that despite the current enmity, you will always be open to future negotiation, as the diplomatic landscape is sure to change. After all you are mercenaries, not bridgeburners, so why burn all these bridges? ;)
It's up to you to heed my advice, maybe it's not my place to give it. Hell, I could easily be wrong as I'm not experienced in Strategus, and this may not even be close to the end of Mercenaries in this round of strat. It just seems that way to me at this point, but I don't see why you can't turn it around. Either way, I think viewing and treating your opponents as peers and equals would benefit you more. Good luck to all, and may the best players win.
EDIT: All these complaints about timezones are funny. As if it were personal! Whenever NA and EU clash, sleep loss is inevitable.
