To get strat players to behave is like herding cats. Nobody means to be an asshole, but they are. In the war of the north, we struggled to keep even rosters. We accepted 1/3 were against you, 1/3 were for you and 1/3 was an even fun battle. We chose our battles accordingly, knowing every fight was a coin toss.
But I always thought Strat should be total war. But, unfortunately, the better you do, the more enemies you make. People would rather drag you down than build you up. When I started kicking ass in the WOTN, people who never played strat for ages came back. And then we were crushed.
Same with the Holy chadzian Empire. We were advancing a castle a month (due to lack of players), and then our enemies sold their souls to the Eu and invited them in.
NA could become like Eu strat, where everyone grabs their territories and then sits, playing other games until someone tries disturb the status quo, then they all rally and crush them.
I'm not one to boast (ok, well, I do a little) but I MADE THE LAST FEW STRATS INTERESTING! A large boast, but I attacked anyone and everything. I trusted to luck, and luck was a lady... mostly. Sure, Dutchy fucked me over, but at that point I had no forces left (and he knew that) fighting in the east. And yes, I got pissy, but when you're drunk you tend to get angry.
Speaking of drunk, I am that right now. And rather get side tracked into justifying my amazing strat history, with its insane battles, last minute reinforcements, embarrassing defeats and rotten encounters, I will tell you this. This is a war game. Never ever be satisfied with what you have! Your neighbour's city/castle/village requires your ownership. Unless you are Eu. They just slip into the old boring ways. Oh, and if you are defeated, why not surrender? Hold your lands and fight for a new lord. Think of the rewards you get when you win strat.
Oh wait. There are no rewards. Ok, fuck strat, just focus on doolz.