Iceland and eIreland; a discussion
Bhane
Raven asked me to write this article, after a few comment conversations on the shout wall. I have some thoughts to share on the vote for new countries.
A friend recently said;
"Countries with small populations that get added to the game are targets for colonization. I understand that New Zealand was taken over by Serbian players essentially... and that's what I'd predict would happen if Iceland were added.
Iceland is a country with a RL population of about 300,000... Would be cool if they added Iceland, but I'm not sure it would work out to our strategic benefit."
Europe is in dire need of a rubber region, if France is ever going to get a little relief. I think new countries will have the rarer raws like rubber and saltpeter. As much as it would be neat to have Iceland, it would make the neighborhood a lot more dangerous. Nations would choose the path of least resistance to get to the rubber in the new region... the path through eIreland. There's no guarantee that Iceland would have rubber, but it's a risk that I think everyone should consider when they cast their ballot. Please use the comment section to have a civil discussion about this.
I think new countries will have rare raws, to get more of those into the game. If Iceland is added with rubber, Ireland will get trodden over. Just like Germany got trampled as a route to French rubber. If you love Ireland, then you probably don't want Iceland to be added. If a new country will be added on the outskirts of Europe, then I'd prefer to see it in the East, not the NorthWest (through Ireland). If not Lux, then I would vote Armenia, Azerbijan, Georgia, Palistine, Syria. Alternatively Morocco could be a good (through Spain). I like Iceland, but it's arrival could mean bad things for eIreland. I would love to see Iceland added, as long as it doesn't have rubber or saltpeter. I doubt we would be that lucky.
I vote for Luxembourg in the hope that it will have a rubber region, for the benefit of Europe. I know it will be immediately PTO'd, but central Europe needs it. Even if you do not vote for Lux, I entreat you all to vote from something other than Iceland.
Comments
Pole
Vote for Ecuador, or Cuba!
Well I think it would be odd to find rubber in Iceland...and truthfully all those nations being voted on being added have small RL populations anyways.
Region bonuses are chosen by the admins for the play balance they want to encourage. The resource assignment has nothing to with the real life situation of the region.
Well its still not a guarantee rubber would be added to Iceland. Iceland has probably the most support of any country trying to be added for a very long time. They have worked to create their own forums, IRC and MU to keep the campaign alive, they deserve it.
If I could know for sure that it wouldn't have rubber or saltpeter, I would be ALL-IN for adding Iceland. 🙂
Subjectively, I love the idea of a new country in our neighborhood. Especially one with such close ties to the Celtic countries like Ireland/Scotland, and the Norse nations of Asgard.
Pragmatically, I have to be wary about a move that could drastically change my nation's place in the eWorld... and not necessarily for the better.
I don't want eIreland to just become the "doormat to Icelandic rubber" That would not be good for either of the nations. Iceland doesn't want to be added, just to live in perma-wipe status.
You must be kidding Joshua, have you seen how many Ecuatorians play the game spread all along Latin America? I mean, sure, Icelanders have been moving things for it, as well as Azerbaijanis, but really, in population of current players looking for their country RL to exist, I think there are many more Ecuatorians.
I do think however, Iceland will be added, even if it does not will a place in the people's choice top 2. 🙂
Just a point for you - Nigeria - largest population in Africa, minimum of 200 million people.
An 1/2 of them are rich princes that just need your help accessing their funds 😁
Just a point for you - Nigeria - Only 32.9% of people have internet access and there is much government control over media there. I doubt a lot of Nigerian people are just dying to play erepublik.
Go Iceland
put a rubber in a new nation is just nip in the bud it..
why dont you vote for jamaica mon. europa needs rubber? bhane you dirty pig.
or we could pto iceland with the help of our new friends you assume that rubber would be added there is no guarantee of that
http://i.imgur.com/35ZrhiU.png there is already rubber close to us.
Go Iceland, indeed!
I do find it a shame that we can't just vote for a country we like without having to worry about long term effects. I presume currently the Americans would be the ones to target it through Canada if it had a usable resource.
Voted
Im actually too young in Ireland to talk about it
but I guess Ireland shoulnd risk for having Iceland beside it
Maybe the best idea about improving the Ireland is to make agreements with neighbors on sharing resources
Ireland already has 2 from each resource it has
I dont know even is any neighbor beside us needing any of these resource we have
But good idea about writing an article to discuss matters such this
Wish luck here
Game mechanics make some of your ideas unfeasible. You'll get experience with those, as you spend more time with the game. I do appreciate the sentiment, and participating in the discussion.
I doubt Iceland would get rubber resource, Plato wouldn't do that. Ireland isn't that harmfull anymore, we'd be able to fight back anyone who'd try to take Iceland and keep us occupied. It's not like we're on the weaker side anymore.
I did voted Iceland, I like them iRL and I'd like eIreland to get another neighbour.
A valid point. Arguments like that are why I wanted to start this conversation in the first place. People should weigh all the pros and cons before voting.
I do hope your guess is correct, that Iceland would not get rubber or saltpeter. You are definitely right that we would make it rough on anyone who wanted to conquer an "Irish path" to Icelandic rubber. But, don't assume that our current advantages will last forever. The balance of power in the eWorld is tenuous, at best. Things will inevitably ebb and flow, as the alliances move forward. We will not always be on the stronger side.
I'm glad you did open argumented debate. We surely need one.
Everything about the new countries is unknown right now. But what strong country is closest to Iceland? It's the USA. Asgard would be friendly with them, it's too far away from Poland, and I guess Poland would take the route through Scandinavia rather than through Ireland to reach Iceland.
As I noted before.... alliances shift. Nobody knows what the geopolitical picture will look like by the end of the year. Don't assume everything will always be exactly like it is right now. I don't know what the eGlobe will look like by the holidays, but I can pretty much guarantee it won't look like it does now.
voted and till the deadline i'll be keeping up with this comment section o7
I was persuaded.
That's not pragmatism, that's pessimism. Why worry at all? If if if if if if if....
When the new countries are added, everyone will scramble for them, whatever the resources. Don't be scared eIreland, vote for somewhere close by, and colonise it first.
It is pessimism. You know I have a penchant for giving in to my very strong cynical side. 😕
Personally, I hope Iceland is added and it has iron or oil. That would be awesome. But, the downside needed to be mentioned. I was asked to publish an article to facilitate the discussion, and so I have done just that.
There are no downsides. It'll be more dry land to colonise, by existing means, and that's all. It will unlikely bring an avalanche of RL residents, unless accompanied by a big marketing drive, and that never happens.
So, more land, same game, same players, same old. If you choose a direct neighbour, it's the easiest crack at expansion you will ever get.
Smile Bhane, the eSky may never fall down at all 😉
http://thethirtiesgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/sky-is-falling.jpg
He said we'll be wiped and robbed by spring 😞
Why u such pesimist Bhane? 🙁
RL has been quite $#!tty to me. I'm a pessimist by experience.
I'll let you know if anything good happens for me. I haven't had a genuinely positive moment in my RL for nearly a decade.
Until you met ME!!!!!!!
We have to solve that bro...come to Croatia in summer...
I think Bhane's pessimism is based on an educated opinion relying on the fact that our neighbours are not Slovenias.
I think Iceland will be added no matter what, Indeed, to give some more mobility in the wars of western europe. The issue that the current players are thinking about is of course, resources. Be it as it may, I think Iceland and Ireland do have a good chance to stay on their feet, mainly Ireland, eventually Iceland.
I think admins have reacted really slowly with this. In the past months, many greatly active and older players have left the game, partly tired of the quality of the game, and of the dynamics of the wars, or even of the politics and people of their countries. I think many would not have left if they had the option of being in a new country and helping in the founding of it. That would make the country not so weak. It makes no sense to open countries just for colonization since yes, the war patterns can change a bit at the beginning, but once they are eternal colonies, it just calms down the big guys.
I know most people currently see this as a game of war, I still see it as a game to build countries, where war is one issue among many in that task. I hope that all 4 new countries get a decent chance at becoming a nation and not just at being resources.
BTW: there is a calling for anyone who wants to become part of eCuba.
☛ http://goo.gl/U2D7nq
"I know most people currently see this as a game of war, I still see it as a game to build countries, where war is one issue among many in that task"
TOTALLY AGREE! 😛
wanna go build a new country Raven? hehehe!
If you think you can't cope with a new country on your border, then please vote for Palestine, Lebanon or Syria. We would love a new country in the middle east 🙂
As rl Luxembourger, if Luxembourg is added, we will not allow PTO, we will fight hard for our country and will will setup friendship with Ireland which is a true brotherhood country o/
I already voted for Iceland and I don't care about the consequences! 🙂
Free Iceland!
FREE SCOTLAND
FREE ICELAND!!
I would actually vote for an African or Caribbean nation simply to shake the map up a little. And if you want rubber, then an African country would be prime for that. I think we need a little more diversity. Africa's a complete blank and, though it would be small, it would be really cool to see a Caribbean nation, again just for a shake up. Fact is, any nation that gets added is going to get ransacked by a bigger eNation, be that Hungary, or Serbia or US or whoever. It's just the way this place works. But who knows, we might see an increase in one of these small countries and see them become top contenders. I'm all for that.
Also central America totally does not exist, but you dont see Guatemala on the options. 🙁
I voted for Palestine 😛
Indeed, co-ordinated attack with Palestine against Israel \o/
Or just take the lot for ourselves 😛
Oi. eCyprus owns eIsrael 😛
Palestireland! \o/
And I just voted for philistine 😛
same here, but I'll probably change my vote on the last day if it's hopeless (which it's looking like it)