[the Admiral] on War and Peace

Day 2,204, 16:01 • Published in Netherlands Netherlands • by M. de Ruyter


Dear burghers of the eNetherlands!

It has been a long month, standing on the side-line, seeing the changes happening in our game, but also in our e-world. I believe our government did her best to handle this, and I know it isn’t easy. Now is the time to take the right decisions, and rely on people and relations we know we can trust, to help our country forward, and take full advantage of recent changes! Here are my thoughts on how we could do that.



The Admiral on War and Peace

Last month the game saw some promising new changes. This happened just after our successful airstrike into Canada, some even believed we could return to our original regions to stay – and aye it feels good to have retaken what is rightfully ours. Now, we are even offered a peace treaty by our long-time oppressor, who until a month ago was only mildly interested in “an offer they could not resist”, meaning we had to pay them loads of money for only 1 of our original regions. Now they all of a sudden offer us 2, plus we’d get back the taxes they collect in the regions they would take from us. The main question now is, will we just settle for what they offer?
When a small and weak country is offered a peace treaty by an immensely large opponent we should think. And think again.



1. First: what is in it for them?
They ‘need’ to counter the effects of the new determination bonus and the FF medals, as it will cause a temporary drop in their 100/100 bonuses. So they’re trying to do some damage control. I have to give it to them: they had a plan, even before we were trying to understand the lengths of the changes. With this deal they have guaranteed themselves an ever better position effectively laming the position and chances of the smaller and weaker countries around them. Do we really want to go ahead playing the game the same boring and desperate way we were used too, regardless of the changes in game mechanics?



2. Next, ofcourse: what is in it for us?
We could negotiate for redemption of our losses in tax income and bonuses, as they will inevitably once retake our regions. why not negotiate for the loss in Congress gold as well or even...? But even so, they can toy with us whenever they want, they can be the puppet master and we dance (swap regions) when they dictate us. We could get our TP medals, but we will help them take even more advantage of their weaker brothers. That doesn't feel right.



3. Last question: what if we don’t?
It has been predicted we would lose our original regions for a month, maybe two, then take it back for a week and lose it again. But look at what's happening in Germany now.

Say we would lose income, as our bonuses drop to possibly zero. We might lose Congress and gold. But don't forget our New Netherlands regions, where we could do similar region swaps. On the possibilities: what if the countries around us would start to be a bit more courageous and together we would come up with a counter plan? We would not be able to weaken our enemy continuously, but by working together we could cause some painful cracks in their well-organized war machine. Just a thought, but this could very well become reality very soon.



New alliance?
Anyway, this will never happen if we let the empires dictate the future of the smaller nations in this game. This will never happen if we don’t build very strong alliances and friendships with countries – and moreover people – we have learned we can trust. We need to be there when a new alliance arises. Alliances with dear and old, and powerful friends, that will support us if and when under our terms we would like to sign a treaty. Am I dreaming? Maybe, but I am not dreaming alone, and it would be my honor to officially represent our country in those talks.



True allies / old allies
The last government has been mending fences with nations we have not been all too close with in the last months to year(s), while accidently offending a true ally. And how do we know what to expect of a new or renewed relationship? Can we trust them, will they put up? Why invest in them at the danger of alienating our true an old allies from us? And that at a moment in time were we need them the most..



Democracy as means, not goal

It’s great if you can be open about plans and if you have the time to write lengthy articles, but in reality a lot happens that you will never see. I urge everyone to stop pretending that it is in our country’s interest to just share everything with everyone and start motions about that in the name of Democracy. Even theoretically: what if we let people who just show up once every 3 weeks, who are clueless on game changes or international relationships, decide on important matters?



Everyone who is willing to put in the time and effort, can get to government positions where this information is available. But in times of war (and in a wargame there is no time of peace – only interbellum) information should not be out on the streets. My government will be open to everyone who wants to be part of my team, cooperative and constructive. No level required, no party background. The government is open, communication not.

And ofcourse Weekstrom will be Minister of Finances in this cabinet!



"Ïck wil van niemand geroemt noch opgehaalt worden, als ik slechts mijn gemoedt magh voldoen, en mijn orders uitvoeren".


M. de Ruyter