May 6th 2010, 23:29:48
Dearest Paradigm members,
I was taught most of what I know of policies and rules, by Paradigm, where I played for a solid 2 years, most of which was as a leader. One of the things taught, was of course, retal policy. I learned what Land:Land was, and I learned that L:L ended when you made a failed, defended attack. I learned that when you retal someone, you have to send a retal message. If you didn't, it was considered a landgrab. These were things I messed up on like most n00bs do, and the proper rules were taught to me.
Since then, of course, I now have been running NA for good solid 5 years, during which time, what I learned as a n00bie has directed the course of my leadership and training of my members as well. A few sets ago Paradigm wanted to drop our FDP down to an LDP. For years I have chatted with paradigm members for fun, been their friends, wanting to know what they're up to. I don't do that to the same extent with any other clan in this game. So yes, when I was approached for a downgrade, I was hurt, and I said f it, and we haven't had a pact since.
That brings us to the current set. A set in which Paradigm has become rather grab happy. End of last set, we decided we'd kill anyone who annoyed us enough with their grabbing, and teach them a lesson. We'd become tired of smaller clans feeding off our members without recourse. Over the past couple weeks, I kept reading posts by my members, really upset about how Paradigm would spy them for days, and then grab them for their land. Multiple posts. I went to news checking and confirmed the validity of my member's concerns, Paradigm certainly was hitting us more than anyone else, and hitting enough to cause concern.
So, my personal actions were to send a message, grab three all-x fat, low defense netters, and then pump 10 million turrets into my commie indy. Two can certainly play the grabbing game. I was retalled, and it was defended. Remember that a defended hit ends L:L. This is what Paradigm had taught me many years ago. I was sent a retal message. Great, I expected one. Happy happy joy joy, I just got away with taking some land and they failed their retal! And maybe Paradigm would see the point I was trying to make? Or maybe not, as one of those I hit, went and grabbed other members, telling me ingame that if he can't retal me, he will hit my other members. I think he didn't know that I hit him, because of his other fellow members. Now, thats still all good. I suppose. Until then I was land grabbed again, and sent a message "HELLO MY NAME IS WARI." This was not a retal message (but they weren't owed a retal anyway, since the L:L had ended on a defended hit). Ok great, so their ex-VP just grabbed me, how do I feel about this? Not sure. So I didn't do anything. But, then the next day I login and get this message, and I quote "if some is good, more is better." Well then, this guy thinks he can just take and take! Me thinks not! NA's retal policy with unpacted is 1:1 escalating retals. So 3 retals for his 2 landgrabs were owed. I sent the 3 retals, and messaged the Paradigm member, wari, and informed him that I was taking my 3 retals for his 2 attacks, and i pasted in the news, and I ended the message telling him that if he had any concerns, to have his FA department contact me. All fine and dandy, I thought. But alas, the following day, I logged in to see yet another landgrab! I sent him another 2 retals, explained that he had retaled my retal, and pasted in the relevant news, and let him know to contact my FA department if there was a problem. I still was trying to be cordial and civil and retal according to all the policies I know and have followed for the past 8 years. And then, this Paradigm member hit me yet again, without any explanation. Even during this, other Netters Anonymous members continued to be landgrabbed by Paradigm.
There were no attempts to contact me via forum messaging, boxcar message, online messengers, or via an alliance talk thread asking for me. That is, until it was brought to my attention that I should check alliance talk for a thread made by The Arabian Nightmare. This thread throws out some accusations, starts some arguements, et cetera. It did not just simple ask for my contact, so that the matter could be settled privately. What that thread did for me, was confirm that Paradigm would be our war target this set. It was definitely the final straw. You can't grab us all set, retal all wrong, and then post flamatory messages about us on public message boards without any recourse.
Netters Anonymous Declares War on Paradigm
We can still be friends in the future, you just need to treat us as such.
Cordially,
llaar
Netters Anonymous President
if needed