People complain about UIF mega alliances, but funny I remember strat 2.0 began with a mega alliance instantly forming with Shogunate, Searaiders, Pecores, ATS (The Northern Empire), Templars and maybe some others to invade LLJK in the southern desert and wipe us out of the game, because "they aren't like us.. they don't take the game seriously.. they play for FUN!!" Also fear mongering about our plated chargers blotting out the sun, etc.
Top secret undercover goon espionage teamspeak recording of the conspiracy here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bbk3h4ungh65hkiAfter we heroically defended ourselves against an unjust and unfair crusade, we found ourselves surrounded by enemies, with pockets of french resistance by the Pecores inside our borders. Any time we attempted to make a move, our accounts were hacked, our armies deposited into neutral castles, our rosters deleted seconds before a battle began, endlessly griefed by suspiciously adept hackers that were never brought to justice.
And what did you know, eventually we found some friends out there. Clans who also had shit experiences dealing with people like Fallen, Templars, Shogunate, The Northern Empire, and many other factions that were all about lying and manipulating players or cheating and exploiting game mechanics to win. They had common enemies with us, and only together did we come close to having a chance to win a war.
Those guys were Risen, Bashibazouks, Union, and Legione Italica. Every meeting with them was hilarious, because I felt like I was part of a criminal conspiracy with Turks, Italians, and Russians who often seemed to not trust each other but had to work together to win a war. We had many, many battles, helping each other out on different ping, sharing troops or gold, and fucking clans up who everyone got sick of. They were all "UIF" at that point but it was obvious they never received any actual help from DRZ or Grey Order except mercs and a safe border.
The thing is I've dealt with tons of clans in all the versions of Strat as a diplomat, leader, whatever. And those UIF guys were some of the most reliable, honest, and fun people to play the game with. Many other major clans had leaders or strategies that were all about lying, backstabbing, scheming, exploiting, shitposting, generally being really awful to play with and very easy to hate.
So to be honest, if you want to have a reason to blame the UIF for ruining strat, you can start with looking at how awful some of the other clans have been and how easy it was to find common ground in wanting to kill them in Internet Swords and Horses.
Most importantly, go ahead and attack one of those clans in the UIF. I guarantee they will welcome and enjoy the battle, and will fight fair until they win or lose with little to no help from other UIF clans except in mercs unless they need a place to regroup and rebuild, or multiple clans are involved. That's how its always been before, and how all alliances should be. No need to be paralysed in fear and inaction, or to only attack smaller clans in 5 to 1 stomps, or to proxy war by funnelling endless supplies to another clan so they faceroll themsleves to a win. NA or EU, alliance or independent, vassal or master, play the game, fight some battles, and have fun, you pussies.
