The King, The Queen, and The Man Pulling The Strings!

Day 1,664, 03:17 • Published in USA Canada • by DMV3
This Article is a continuation of The Trolls, and Fools, and Puppet Masters articles.

eUS citizens were asked to pick the most influential person in a poll conducted last month. The results were a statical tie between Oblige, Artela, and Henry Arundel aka Pfeiffer. I have had the pleasure of conducting an interview with all three.

The King



The following is the transcript of my interview with Oblige:

What did you think of the Trolls, Fools, and Puppet Master survey results for the eUS?

To be honest I hadn't seen the original survey, so I was a interested when the results article came out.

Were you surprised you were named one of the most influential people?

Not exactly.

What's your opinion of Pfeiffer and Artela?

I have had interesting relationships with both. Obviously more of an adversarial relationship with Pfeiffer, and a bit of back and fourth with Artela.

How does an American get picked to be a vCP candidate in Germany?

I've always had a fairly close relationship with several key countries in TEDEN. I know ilphen from the SFs and TERRA, and he really liked how I ran the USA government when I was CP. He asked me to bring some of that to Germany. The biggest thing we're working on at the beginning of this term improving the eGerman tax revenue.

Congratulations on the win! Do you hold any other positions in any other foreign governments?

Thanks, and not formally; however, I do advise a few other countries on foreign affairs, and recently have been working to secure a NAP between some interested nations.

What have you been doing to stay busy since serving your 37 terms as POTUS?

To be honest after my term ended there wasn't a lot for me to do. I stay well read on international affairs, am heavily involved in some internal improvement projects in the Special Forces, and also of course my duties as German vCP.

Any plans to run again?

Plans? Not really; however, it continues to surprise me how many people ask about when I'll be returning to office. The aftermath of the situation with Chile and the attempted impeachment sort of put a damper on the end of my fourth term, but it seems like people remember the first three more fondly.

Regardless of what anyone says, it is really hard to run for CP in the eUSA, especially on a personal level. You make a lot of enemies, and some of them will go on an all out attack against you and everything that you've accomplished in game.


How were you able to run the country for so long without serious competition for the job?

The problem here is that "serious" doesn't really accurately reflect the election landscape. My opponents in my 3rd and 4th term races, Vanek26 and Israel Stevens respectively, both made very serious runs and in Israel's case even captured the majority of the nominations. Obviously Israel is POTUS this month and I hope Vanek26 will make another run eventually, but at the time the two clicker sentiment in favor of my administration was simply too high to be overcome by party politics.

Who are your closest friends/advisors in the eUS?

No Comment!

Who do you think is the most influential person in eRepublik?

This is actually the hardest question to answer. Most international players have very large circles of influence, but they tend to be regional or confined to an alliance. A lot of players (like some of the others on the eUS list) focus purely domestically.

I'd actually jot down Romper; although he rarely exerts his influence.

The Queen




The following is the transcript of my interview with Artela:

What did you think of the results of the survey?

I was amused to find myself in a three-way tie with Pfeiffer and Oblige. Best laugh I had that day - everyone knows there is only one Pfeiffer!

What's your opinion of Oblige and Pfeiffer?

They have both done lots for the eUSA in their own ways and they both have spent a considerable amount of effort on behalf of the eUSA, although they do have very different "styles". I consider Pfeiffer to be the best "President we never had".

What is it like being President?

It is glorious, infuriating, extremely time consuming, enjoyable, hard work and frustrating, in various measures at different times... sometimes many of those all at once.

Who are your closest friends/confidants in the eUS?

Not naming names, but suffice to say that their friendships mean a lot to me.

How much influence does a President actually have in eUS politics and how much of it is being a figurehead?

The President drives the general policy/direction and the drive, but their team make it a reality. Also there are things that are under the control of Congress and not the President (like Citizenships and Tax Levels / Budgets). It's amazing how many people write to you about these two issues when you are POTUS, and you just have to point them back at Congress. At least a couple of hours a day as POTUS seem to be spent just responding to ingame mails/alerts, but this is an area where influence can be made - just responding to newbie mails can make it that little more likely that the newbie will stay in the game, or will learn something useful to help them grow better.

Any plans for your post presidency?

Immediate plans are to partly "get a life" for a while, play other games, get back to my command position in Ultramarines (I've missed those guys while in command of the CivMU!) and get more involved in Party Politics again.

Do you think you could ever be convince to run for Potus again?

Yes, but after a rest please!

What is your opinion of the anti-elitist rhetoric in the eUS?

I think it's stupid. The reason there is a perceived "elite" is because there are a group of people who day after day, month after month, even year after year, put a lot of time and effort into the game and into making sure that things work. Most of the people who moan about "the elite" are the ones who don't have the inclination to do that or to work their way up through the lower level jobs just like people at the top did themselves in the past, and who think that any Tom, Dick or Harry should be able to just do anything and screw up the work of many others without the relevant training or experience. It never ceases to amaze me just how many people sign up to deputy positions and don't last more than a week or two once they realize that they do actually have to work at this stuff, learn it, and apply it. In short, derps will always derp, the trick is learning to ignore the derpery and concentrate on encouraging the people with the potential to actually succeed, the ones who last more than a couple of weeks as deputies, the ones who apply themselves and who make progress in one specialty or another. There have been efforts to get new blood up through the ranks consistently over the last 6 months, and only a few have made it. Oddly, as soon as they _do_ make it to the top they immediately get accused of being in "the elite", go figure! LOL

Anything you would like to add about yourself of politics in the eUS?

Just that I'm not done yet, and will still be around 🙂

The Man Pulling The Strings




The following is the transcript of my interview with Pfeiffer:

What did you think of the Survey results for the eUS?

I honestly expected to win that category on my own, Artela and Oblige was a bit of a shock...Ajay was obvious for his wins though.

What do you think of Artela and Oblige?

Artela has been a great friend of mine since we started working together in Terra HQ last spring, we are fortunate she decided to move here after leaving the UK.

Oblige's dedication to the game can't be questioned, he spends a lot of time and money on it...but he often makes decisions I would (and have) question.

Can you either confirm or deny the accusation that I'm one of your multis?

You are, yes. Confirmed.

Why do you think you were picked as most influential in the eUS?

Because I am.

Why do you think so many people "dislike" you or what you stand for?

Haters gonna hate. I've done far more good than bad during my time here, but I don't coddle people or spare their feelings too often. The person I am in eRep is a bit of a character, I am (as my forum title says) King Baller and mighty Swagmaster of Congress...that comes with a certain attitude I must exude. If that means the slow and the dumb get hurt feelings from time to time, so be it.

What is you opinion of the anti-elitist rhetoric in the eUS?

There will always be 'elites'. Those people who spew such rhetoric would only trade one group for another.

Who are your closest friends/confidants in the eUS?

As people get more and less active those jobs can shift from person to person. Inwegen and I are good friends, even without eRepublik. Cerb, Artela, HR when he was here. Baarogue. Daphne before she quit. All of them have filled that role, but if forced to choose just one...Inwegen has been the most constant.


What are you doing these days in-game?

Running the country, obviously. I'm so powerful and influential, duh.

Who do you think is the most influential person in eRepublik?

In the entire game? Any of the massively famous gold beasts have tremendous influence (both literal and figurative). When they were active and running around tanking like mad, I got a peek at that world from Colin and Max. A huge beast can get access to any information, country citizenship, military...whatever. They say 'money talks', but I've always felt that the saying could often be said as 'money makes others talk'. Having no door closed to you is an invaluable trait, all the true beasts have that.

Is there anything you would care to add about yourself or politics in the eUS?

When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.

I would like to thank Oblige, Artela, and Pfeiffer for the opportunity to interview them. I hope everyone enjoys reading these interviews as much as I enjoyed conducting them.