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Leaders~Editorial

Well friends, a lot has happened since I wrote a couple days ago. I considered writing an article on the theft of our Military companies by once trusted para Widdows9000, but I thought it best to leave that to people with less emotional involvement than me. However that has been the cause of my silence these last few days!

There have been some important developments since then, both nationally and internationally. PEACE has remained divided in Europe, with most of the PEACEKeepers and many PEACE countries openly fighting against Hungary. Euphonix, the world’s greatest living soldier, wrote this short plea for the Hungarian government to call off the war. Many PEACEKeepers also moved to Malaysia to fight against Indonesia. With my loyalties torn on a personal level, I have returned to the UK to stand for congress in the hope to help the transition in these troubled times.

In world news there was an interesting article published by RazorSRB outlining future potential training wars. Many Serbians had advocated a training war between Serbia and Bulgaria (both allies), however the close proximity of Romania had made that impossible. Attacking an adjacent region and RWing it would cost hundreds of gold and risk a Romanian attack without MPPs, resulting in (at best) the Serbs having to fight Romania and a RW every time. There are five variations discussed, and RazorSRB argues that the best solution is to have a latin American training war like in the old days of PEACE. Whether this happens now the alliance is divided is up in the air.

In other news, Eugene Harlot has resigned (again?) as head of the United States armed forces. Not unsurprising: most commanders burn out after a few months in the top job, it is simply too stressful to keep going, especially with an army as large and fast growing as the US army. Matthieu Bonne has written an article complaining about media trolls. Well we know that feeling in the UK. Please go home Americans! We know you don’t like us, no need to call us names all the time like children. All I can be thankful for is that at least the Americans have a sense of humour, even if it is pretty basic. Not all countries are so lucky: some get Romanian trolling.



Britain ~ Interview with Pensive: Royal Marine

Today I’m interviewing Pensive. Pensive is a member of the Royal Marines, the most mobile wing of the Royal Navy. The Marines are a secretive bunch and not much is known by the public about their actions, yet their reputation has grown so much over the last few weeks that I’ve felt compelled to try and find out a little bit more.


When you started playing eRepublik, what made you decide to follow a career in the military?

Originally, I had intended to follow into Congress. On my first few visits into the #eUK on IRC one night late on I spoke with GlaDoS (The then PM) and Necrosis (then MoDaFA) about Congress. They seemed to think I had some utopian ideas about government; I can't remember what these were now but one prompted GlaDoS to type "lol Pensive how long have you been playing Erep?" and suggested I would prefer being in the military, although they did admit that by even considering congress I was already qualified.

So you would describe yourself as a career soldier?

Now; Yes. At first when I had joined the Navy I didn't really know what to expect or have much knowledge about game mechanics - I was still struggling to understand battle walls at that point, but everyone in the Navy was helpful so I could approach anyone with questions in Navy IRC. I would say that if I had joined the Royal Guard at that time instead of the Royal Navy, I would have probably drifted back into a Congress route again.

How did you feel being one of the first marines?

Well I remember the night last month when RR Napier posted the original Marines application form on Navy IRC, and I just literally jumped at the chance. Of course, leaving behind Stubeard and Amalie Lohzen wasn't an easy decision, as they had both been very good commanders of my ship and I had enjoyed their teamwork loads to move into a complete unknown. Because I was the first person to lodge an application after a whole 15 minutes after the application first went up, it started a friendship with RR Napier - after he PMd me on IRC to let me know that he got the application and I almost knew that it would be a change for the better as I didn’t know that Amalie ElPhantismo and Revo would be following from my ship. So far it hasn't disappointed anyway.

What makes the marines different to the normal Royal Navy?

Essentially the Marines are similar to the Navy in lots of ways - we do the usual Navy routines the same as many other ships, but Marines are required to be IRC active and have almost daily activity which means all the marines build up close friendships. Whilst many navy ships can take up to 36 hours for all its squad to complete a move if asked to move at awkward times that EDEN seem to like torturing us with, generally speaking the marines can be there in less than 12. Sometimes we can even get in a fight before day change, as many members hold their fire until going offline for the night to make sure that their fights are used where its needed and not in a training war when there is real battles to fight.

Some high strength players have specifically requested to remain in the marines. What do you think this says about the unit?

I think it says that a lot of people don't want to leave the family that the original marines made. After spending an evening in Marine IRC you would see what this is - I really can't describe what goes on in there for many many reasons. It's never so much about the battles, of course they are important, but the talking that goes on behind them; For instance I can't even remember the battle that was fought on the first day of the eCricket league when Napiers Sabres and the Royal Maureens played each other on the first day, but everyone can remember the result - "SABRES WIN BY 4 WICKETS" was spammed a lot that night. That's not even mentioning that some marines joined the Navy team instead of the Marine team. Everyone enjoys being on IRC and discussing about stuff that’s been happening in the game on a regular basis - we might not have the strength; but we make up for it in good conversation.

Do you see the marines occupying an ever-increasing position with regard to British defence policy?

Actually, believe it or not, we discuss this all the time. With recent events notwithstanding, we have always tried to push for the marines to take over from the Special Forces as the premier fighting unit of the eUK - bothering Fezoj, RR Napier and Mr Woldy about this almost every time they're on Navy IRC.

How did you feel when it was discovered Widdows9000 had stolen UK military companies?

Outraged - in one word, as did most of the Marines. This enraged me especially because it was done under the Minister of Defences nose who was most unhappy about the whole affair, almost blaming himself - I had even said in IRC at one point that if RR Napier quits the game over the events that Widdows would regret it. The actual discussion itself over the events took place in the Navy IRC and it went on for hours til we all got tired of talking about it, usually it died for 5-10 minutes and then came roaring back again when someone said "What's going on guys? What's happened?" as they hadn't read the forums. One of the "great jokes" of the eUK Navy is RR Napier usually saying the line "The Navy is not a Democracy" usually told when "WEPS WEPS WEPS" was put into IRC indicating we wanted weapon supplies for battles. Looking back this statement since this it's funny because it's true - only Fezoj and the Navy command team OR the current PM can and should give us orders. I endorse questioning those orders, but after that if you are truly loyal to the military, your voice should turn to the ballot boxes or if serious enough a congress member to propose impeachment. The entire navy works in companies for our entitlement to weapons, and if any member of the navy had done what Widdows9000 did for even one Navy owned company, it doesn't bear thinking about. A short time later some of the Navy started a donation run, admittedly suggested in jest by me but this was soon a pretty good idea - as of typing this the Navy has donated 350 gold to the Ministry of Defence.

Do you have anything you’d like to say to the readers of the Economist?

I would urge anyone who is interested in fighting, and in these interesting times who couldn't be, to sign up here. I would say that without the Navy I personally would of quit eRepublik a long time ago and that many of the Royal Navy's former members have went on to Congress, Cabinet and Lords positions after their terms in the Navy with the knowledge that the Navy hands down. So if you are feeling stuck in the UK lately in that dead end job two clicking and want to see the world sign up using the form and join in the IRC - we're open every night of the week.




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