Join the new world

This game is based on the desperate struggles for countries to dominate each other and succeed on a global scale. Unfortunately, unless every citizen of your loyal country is a lucrative multi of sand worshiping Max McFarland 2, your country cannot strive in international fame and glory alone. Truth be told, a country must work cooperatively with other influential nations in order to reach a common goal at the top of the summit. Because of this, many military alliances have sprung up since the Beta days of eRepublik.

Today, the New World is primarily split along a fault between two reigning factions: EDEN {eRepublik Defense and Trade Network) and PHOENIX. The majority of the international conflicts within the New World are between countries of these two military alliances. A few days prior, I was surprised to see how misunderstood both of these alliances are. That is why this hobbit came up with a fool proof plan.

In order to educate the international public about these two alliances, my plan of action was to interview two very high ranking members of both EDEN and PHOENIX. This is the EDEN interview with Assistant Supreme Commander avec from the good ole' United States.



Thank you for taking the time out of your hectic day in order to represent the eRepublik Defense and Economy Network in an interview with this hairy hobbit.

Not a problem, always happy to visit the Shire and meet some hobbits.

When and how did you start playing this strategy experience? Was there a certain direction you wanted your citizen to take from the get-go?

I started playing eRepublik in September 2008. I didn't have much of an idea what to do in the game, so at first I just two-clicked, read the news and tried to learn what all involved this game. I never really had an idea what sort of image I'd give to my character, nor a direction to advance into. Instead I just proceeded gradually, trying everything and eventually finding my own place in the community, doing what I liked and was good at.



Every citizen has a niche from being an economic whiz to a moving writer. What would you say your niche later in your citizen's life was? Or were you a mixture of different roles?

I like to think of myself as "uomo universale" of a sort, a mixture of everything. For sure I don't fit in the classical military-economy-politics division as I've been nearly everything in all of those branches. If you insist categorizing me, then maybe I'd be of the "organizing type" which likes managing and coordinating things. Writing thoughtful articles is a specialty of mine too.

During my gameplay, I've noticed that there exists different levels of thinking. For example, people who are involved in the military as grunts think in simplistic terms - move to a region, wait for the order, fight, heal. Commanders think of how to organize operations and how the unit he commands functions. Presidents think the best of their country and they're generally limited to thinking in the "national level", so to say.

Company managers think of issues that touch their economy, and so on, the same applies to all people. I've grown past that thinking and ascended slowly to think in the alliance-level. I don't care for individual countries, nationalistic agendas or anything like that, those are meaningless to me. To me, EDEN represents to next level after country leadership and issues that involve it

Back when I started, the place was full of backroom politics, conspiring, grand agendas, conflicts and hype, and it all felt exhilarating. At its best, international politics can be the most interesting aspect of the game as it involves every facet of the game both in-game and off-game. It can be very tiresome too, and most people do burn out soon after getting involved. I'm not as active in the international field as I used to be, that I have to admit, but the field still has its appeal, and EDEN is an awesome construct that has a lot of promise.

Why do you think EDEN has flourish for such a long time in the New World since it's epic creation? It's longevity is quite substantial for any alliance.

EDEN was born on the ashes of former ATLANTIS - a lot of flaws ATLANTIS had were removed in EDEN, and the basic principles EDEN was based on were thought upon carefully when EDEN was formed. Unlike PEACE and Phoenix, EDEN was from the start an alliance for every member country, ruled by an HQ that was not tied to any single country, but rather an organ that seeked the best of the whole alliance. But, in essence, it's the people who made EDEN work and last this long.

People who cared for EDEN and worked hard to make it last, and kept up the founding principles of the alliance. Phoenix has always been an alliance for a few countries that use it to seek their own interests only, and that was their undoing.

Speaking of PHOENIX, the major rival of EDEN, how does EDEN truly feel about PHOENIX? Many members of EDEN suspect that PHOENIX is dying down to a slumber. Would you say that PHOENIX is dead, or EDEN is becoming stronger, or neither?

I can't speak for the whole of EDEN, but to me it seems Phoenix has died a long time ago. It has no functioning unified command structure for the armies of the member countries, no nothing. The new war module gives a great advantage to attackers. Every region you take makes it harder for the defender to come back - they lose income and must pay the same amount of gold to attack as the attacker paid.

Following the initial collapse Phoenix experienced at the end of V2 and at the start of "V1.5", the inability of Phoenix to accommodate to new rules led to the downfall of the alliance. It might still make a comeback, but only time will tell us.



A new member of any alliance is like a new hobbit baby back in the Shire. How does EDEN feel about Bulgaria leaving PHOENIX and leaning towards EDEN? Would one have to suspect any suspicions?

It's a wonder Bulgaria hasn't left Phoenix ages ago. It would be a smart move for Bulgaria to leave the sinking ship and join the winning side. Still, even if Bulgaria would choose not to align with EDEN immediately, but rather take distance from Phoenix first and review its position, it wouldn't have to worry anything from EDEN. We're not Phoenix, we don't coax our friends and allies. Bulgaria would be welcomed in the Brotherhood of EDEN, and taken in gradually to make the transition and terms beneficial for both sides.

What would be an alliance without an epic win? In your time with EDEN, what has been the single most exciting war campaign the alliance has ever seen? Why do you think that it was so memorable?

I'd say the most exciting war campaign I was involved in was the Operation World in Flames 9 months ago. That campaign started a new World War, and it served to unite EDEN again under one objective. It started an era of multi attacks, and every day was filled with battles across the globe. Nobody was bored back then for sure, and the epic battles for Heilongjiang and Liaoning were memorable in the least.

As a good number two the operation to get Poland in North America in June 2010 was an epic win too in every way possible. I'm proud to have been the main organizer behind that.

But with that, no alliance is perfect. What was the most devastating loss EDEN has ever had, and why did occurred to make that happen?

Hard to pinpoint the most devastating loss EDEN has _ever_ had - one could mention reduction of USA into one state only as the biggest loss, or more recently, the loss of Rhone Alps and Aquitaine to France and Hungary from Spain in June. The latter was coming for a long time, but it differs from the first one by that it happened inside one day.

But well, the overall reason behind it is the usual: negligence of common priorities, and people being lazy when they shouldn't be. It's the same always - victories happen when people follow common objectives and act, losses occur when people lose focus and neglect objectives.

Due you think to the weakening of PHOENIX that EDEN is more divided than ever or more unified than before?

EDEN hasn't been divided in months. We have a common goal to fight against Phoenix, and that hasn't changed. There are no internal disputes between EDEN member countries, so no, I can't say EDEN is anyhow divided. Unity shows by EDEN armies fighting for their allies, which is what's happening. In comparison Phoenix has more than plenty internal disputes, all showing up in the media and reflecting in the outcome of battles.

And that is good. Nothing can succeed over a divided alliance. Over a week ago, you wrote an article titled "The Impending Collapse of EDEN Empire" in which you gave your perception on how EDEN was going to end up. Do you still stand by what you have written?

I mostly wrote that article as a warning of how EDEN could end if we're not careful. The greatest enemy of an alliance is not an external threat, but rather internal division. EDEN has a chance to achieve total victory over Phoenix if it stays focused and united till the end. Take note, readers. It can only fail if it becomes sloppy and incoherent in the way I described. Keep fighting, keep up the spirit and encourage people around you to do the same, don't let your leaders lose focus. That way we win.

There is no point of an alliance if it doesn't see any movement in momentum. What do the members of EDEN have to do now to see it keep growing as one united global alliance?

There are still several objectives unfulfilled. We can maintain the momentum if everyone keep pushing, and even after that, I doubt there's a period long enough on the top until the other side gets its act together and forms a resistance strong enough to give EDEN as an alliance something to do again.



Newbies pretty much are the backbone to any successful alliance. What would you say to all the newbies reading this who want to get involved in international politics?

I would advise them to start from the basics. That's how I started - did grass-level job at first for a long time, got involved in party politics, learned how country administration works, rose from position to position slowly, and after a while, got elected as President and later I was lifted into HQ. International politics is the next level after domestic politics, albeit much different at its core.

I haven't seen yet one person who has jumped straight from the grass-level to international field, and most likely you won't be the exception. Keep an open mind, find your niche, learn how things work and see if international politics suits you. You'll get there if you're up for it.

And finally, what would you say to all those PHOENIX supporters reading this interview right now?

What's there to say? They consider me an enemy, and nothing I say will make them think their alignment. But well, I guess I'll wish happy times for them. Have fun being on the losing side.

Thank you again for having this interview! I greatly appreciate it.

Not a problem.



And if you liked what you read, please vote, subscribe, comment, and shout! Thank you!

Best Regards,

Congressman, New Hampshire
~Your neighborhood friendly hobbit.~