Article

19849

I've been wanting to write an article on this topic for a while; I've been putting it off but I can wait no longer. With the most recent spate of e'Muricans leaving for greener pastures I feel as though it is now or never.

America: something has to change.

In the last 48 hours a number of people have left the USA. This isn't unusual per se, but how long can this go on? I have to give props to the people that have tried their best, whether it's been via running MUs or trying to lead through political positions, but it's likely that if the US hasn't passed the point of no return already, that it is fast approaching.

In the past the eUSA seemed to have relied heavily on paying MUs for their support, as well as having deep pockets thanks to a few players. In short, buying gold kept the USA afloat. Since then MUs have left, players have left, and what now remains is a combination of 2-clickers, derps and random personalities. What the US needs is one of 3 things, but let me start with what was relied on in the past to make my case.




1. Big Money, Deep Pockets

I won't name any names, but this was (imho) one of the things that helped e'Murica be the nation they were before their fall. And this isn't a bad thing, regardless of the insults that are often thrown about in regards to "buying" success. Secura is, after all, set up for this. But with some people leaving for greener pastures (or the game entirely), it's obvious that America no longer has this like it used to have. One could make the case for trying to find other people in the game who would be willing to drop RL cash in large quantities in order to raise the USA back to prominence, but who would be willing to take that gamble with the current state of eMerica? And though I am sure that there are those Americans who have already bought quantities of gold, it clearly was not enough considering the current state that America is in. Individuals with large amounts of discretionary cash are out there, but I would say that the likelihood of finding people with a willing (and adequate) checkbook is an extreme longshot.




2. Mercenaries gonna Mercenary

Many would argue that MUs are, in many ways, more influential and powerful than many nations in esim. This may be particularly true with the truly elite MUs. MUs have held nations hostage, demanding rich rewards lest they leave to fight for other nations, and we've seen MUs PTO nations on their own (and on occasion, said MUs emptying said nation's coffers). That said, the eUSA needs damage, organised damage, and there are a number of MUs on Secura who are the "movers and shakers" of the server itself. Of course one could argue that this is what got the USA into their current predicament in the first place, in that they were forced to rely on a couple sizable MUs to carry the day as the damage from 2-clickers was entirely unreliable. However, what is worse - being forced to pay exorbitant fees to MUs in order to be on the map, or being permanently camped but not having to pay those fees at all? The answer, I feel, is self evident. And even if one were to perhaps imagine a worst-case scenario, such as a situation similar to a WSS PTO...the point still stands. What is worse?

Even though this may not be the most ideal solution, the promise of future tax revenue might be enough to entice some MUs to make a go of it. With the current uncertainty of the esim world, I would suggest that the US accept any such offers as being forced to rely on alliances alone may not, will not, be enough. Simply put, dealing with the unpredictability of MUs and writing them a blank check is a small price to pay for freedom and stability.

Vive la mort, vive la guerre, vive le sacré mercenaire

3. "The Ohlauu Solution"

It still amuses me how most people in esim view PTOs as only a bad thing, and never as something positive to be considered as an option. Take as an example, ohlauu and Canada. For weeks I saw people talk endlessly about it being a PTO with no thought seemingly given to the gains that they had made under ohlauu. To go from being Portugal's doormat to taking part of Britain was a stunning reversal of fortunes, yet the complaining was still there. From being a neutral observer myself, there was an interesting rumor that ohlauu was trying to get Canadians to stop arguing and fight as he wanted them to fight - up to and including using supplies as a lever with which to do so. Yet, the general reaction was in some ways an open revolt.

Even if it was a PTO, I've always felt that the Canadian people handled it in the worst way possible. Their success at the time was bringing players INTO Canada, as opposed to afterwards when many of their notable players have left. Players like Benjen and Bolliver Sockwash ? Not in Canada. Even though I didn't agree with the move into GB itself, I still feel as if Canada shot themselves in the proverbial foot. Could they not have simply tried voting him out at a later date? What about trying to deal with him in a different fashion? Even if he was difficult to deal with, pushing him to give up on Canada and decide that it was time to give the Canadian people their comeuppance wasn't exactly Canada's high point.

So USA, you have little to lose at this point. A PTO would give you an ally (regardless of what control they could exert) as well as some hope that America can at some point stand on it's own without having to try finding an alliance that will have any interest in helping you free yourself. And even a PTO need not be permanent - in fact, a potential PTO could fade away at a later date. And remember, even if you manage to break out from under Lith in the near-term, there may be a number of other countries willing and able to try doing exactly what Lith did. Do something, and do it soon, before all of the active Americans get citizenship somewhere else.


Sincerely yours,
Erronius





Previous article:
Was Alaska DDoSed? (11 years ago)

Next article:
Maddörfackin' Sverige! (10 years ago)