The Mission

We are looking for fair play (good sportsmanship), loyalty, selflessness, tenacity, and skill in all new members.  The first four must come naturally, the last we can teach.  These are our definitions for those things.

FAIR PLAY

Some MK players use any cheap underhanded way of beating the enemy.  They crowd other players.  This means they place their base very close to an enemy in hopes of killing that enemy quickly before they get a chance to defend themselves.  This often includes entering a game and immediately attacking an opponent.  This ruins the game for everyone.  If the crowdee is good, they are rarely successful (see the stats of the player Rocky)  However, after being crowded, you will rarely win the game.  Most crowders will know who is and who isn't susceptible to crowding.  If you beat them back a few times, they'll stop trying it on you.  Second, turn doubling.  You've probably noticed that turns aren't taken in order and you sometimes take two turns in a row against another player.  You shouldn't do this on purpose if you can help it.  (Doing it and failing also gives them the opportunity to double you back)  This isn't such a big deal except when people double to attack a base.  That's just cheap.  All of the doublers units get to fire twice without the enemy getting to defend himself.  I don't do it and many players know that.  Even if they would do it to someone else, many won't do it to me.  Sometimes doubling is necessary if you would miss your turn if you didn’t double.  That is unfortunate.  We always try to give the opponent a chance to take his turn.  (In a Quick 24, I usually give them 12 hours if possible.  More if I can.)  If you're not fighting with someone or about to fight, it doesn't matter.  No one likes it when other players double them and should therefore not double others.  Third, hanging a turn.  That's when you log in and keep active longer than necessary to complete your turn so that another player will miss a turn.  Fourth, keep your word.  Sometimes during games you might make written treaties with other players in a particular game.  (i.e. not to fight each other until turn 14 so that we can fight a common enemy)  I once had such a treaty with a player and he betrayed me.  I still see him and anyone who associates with him with disgust.  Why play if you have to do these four things to win.  There are other things I'm sure, these four are the only ones I'm aware of.  Other players know who is honorable and dishonorable.  Dishonorable players don't get any respect, regardless of their stats.  I don't ever want to be the Metal Knight if it means sacrificing my honor.  If one player acts dishonorably, it reflects on all of us.   Likewise, if another player has noticed the honor of your allies, he will expect it and treat you honorably.

LOYALTY

Our reason for not recruiting like the other alliances is that we want our members to be loyal.  We want to be a group which stays together all of the way to the top.  (where, we'll take turns being the Metal Knight) Someday, Skyven will put on his list of past great players, our alliance.  We want every member who ever joined to be there.  Once someone gets the password, we expect them to stay.  If people ask to join, we feel they want to be with us.  If we had to ask(or recruit), they might join because of the power of suggestion.  You may also be called on to at some times to take revenge against a player who cheated, mistreated, or betrayed one of your allies.  If we all stick together and punish those people, they will not want to cheat, mistreat or betray any of us again. 

SELFLESSNESS

This is the part that keeps us from alienating any members of our alliance.  There will always be an urge for members to start up their own alliance.  The head of an alliance gets 5 points for every win one of his members gets.  Starting an alliance is a good way to pad your stats.  Its not like that with us.  I am the alliance head because INDIAN asked me to start the alliance so he could join and we could play together.  In return for the points anyone who follows me will make for me, I intend to let them make those points back.  We will all rise the ranks together.  When we play alliance games, and we have know we have won, we will let the players with less points take the good kills when possible.  This helps us rise the ranks in two ways.  A cadet, who takes out the Metal Knight will get a lot of points.  He will take also take a lot of points from the Metal Knight.  If the Metal Knight loses a lot of points, we all become closer to him.  Selflessness works for us all.  One other point of selflessness that extends outside the bounds of our alliance is helping new players.  If you see a new player who is doing something stupid, point it out.  He will not continue playing the game if he is never successful.  He will never be successful if he keeps doing stupid stuff.  We need adversaries or the game would end.  It is good for new players to join and do well.  Also, if you can, let the new players live as long as possible.  If they never get to play a game after turn 4, they won't want to play anymore.  If they are no threat to you and you don't need their resources to beat the experienced players, let them live and practice for a while.

TENACITY

Tenacity is best described in some verses of the Bible.  Ecclesiastes 9:10 says "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might."  If you have a Bible, you might consider reading Ecclesiastes 9:4 through 10:10.  These are words to live by regardless of your belief or disbelief in a God or Gods.  These verses show why you should always fight on.  Regardless of the situation, you should do your best.  Even if the battle looks like it can't be won.  Even if the numbers aren't in your favor, you should try as hard as you can.  Tenacity has another benefit in MK.  If you fight every enemy down to the last unit, try to destroy him even when it looks like you can't win, he will think twice before placing near you or attacking you again.  He will try to avoid you because there are easier fish to fry.

SKILL

Skill is not just for the strong but for the wise.  Act wisely and you will usually win.  Act foolishly you may lose.  We don't to profess to have the market cornered in skill or wisdom but we try so that someday, we will corner that market.  We definitely don't have the market cornered on experience since Jrudinsky and I have only been playing since November 2001 and INDIAN has only been playing since October 2001.   I think we are doing very well for our lack of experience.  I learn something new every game.

That's the code.  That's the code we feel will get each one of our members to the top.  The top is where we intend to be. 

Nemesis,

Lord Darth Roger