Hi Mike,
I’ve asked John if we really will play a bug-hunt.
He wasn’t at home for the whole weekend and will take a look at the game now.
I respect John very much, he has done a lot with this team he’s leading (and I know about the beginning).
Let’s wait for an answer!
Have Fun!
Gixxx
So we’re moving out to destroy all DS-MTs…
A shame in my eyes!
6 DS-nations down and Mordor without defenders
Grrr!
Gixxx
*Oh well Gixxx. It’s an exercise in logistics. How to get materiel and might around the map to produce unstoppable force. The fact that 600HC is an unstoppable force to the DS and we can provide many thousands at a go should not deter anyone in the least 
Well it’s not really is it, our training goes on… 
Winsten Wun Toof
Okay,
15 years ago it might be an exercise, now it’s simply boring …
Have Fun!
Gixxx
John Simpson,
with my mother close to death my time is rare and a bug-hunt really not needed.-
We’ve given you the chance to end this game in honour…
…but it looks like this word doesn’t belong to your vocabulary!
… you!
Gixxx
Hi all - Gixxx. Aaah, so many words available, I shall try to exercise a rarely used skill of mine and try NOT to cause the most damage with the least amount of words I honestly don’t know what the Simpsons hope to achieve from the remainder of this game, but I assume it’s something positive, so the game goes on.
The freep I suppose for their part have confirmed that they wont drop the ball, and make mistakes due to boredom, they will keep unified, and see the ending of more DS nations over the coming turns. These are the things expected. Gixxx has a lot going on in his personal life alas which is a sad thing. That said, I don’t think the will to keep playing equals a lack of honour. It might not win too many friends especially when the challenge is long over, and few will want to go for a best of 3. Really, is this all worth continuing? If you say yes, then what the hell - let’s keep partying If no - then let’s get on to something more constructive and less annoying to those who don’t like beating dead things… Gixxx’s team has given the respect of offering you two games, at least if you want to continue playing, can you let them know what it is you are playing for?
Cheers
Winsten Lotsa Teef
They simply don’t want to loose it!
… but we can do as many mistakes as needed, with 6 nations down they can’t do very much!
Gixxx
I’m not playing them again, with the Circle or the Nomads, Team Simpson is dead. This is a grudge. Half their team is gone and the remains continue to issue orders for their own esoteric gaming delights. That’s not a team anymore, it’s a group of disconnected egoists.
Sign up for the 1 weeker guys, nice fast paced Indie where you can run 2 nations and bug hunt it for all you’re worth - might win in that one as the other players might just quit - not here though.
Brad
I’m still interested to hear what the reason is we’re still playing for. It might be worth it. However not bothering to reply seems to imply that the opponent isn’t worth the effort, despite shelling out a whole heap of time and money to give you the courtesy of their opposition. There wont be a 3rd game which makes the whole effort even more fruitless. Simpson can’t claim top billing any more, and can’t get a 3rd decider.
Being a tough opponent is worthy, but there comes a point where being in love with your own reflection and self made legend replaces admiration with scorn. Losing with grace is always more advantageous than winning badly. Hard game losers invariably get invited to join new teams. Bad natured winnners do not. Teams are not one off events. Players from this team fill in many other veteran teams.
I think what you are hearing is the gong that reverberates the consequences to come (you’ve heard from two challenge team captains already). I think you should also consider replying and letting Gixxx’s team know what the continuation of the game means to you. And if not - the consequences outweigh whatever perceived gain you get from the situation.
Me personally, I wasn’t here for this game, I don’t feel any ownership in either the course of the game, nor it’s conclusion. I do know however that if this game doesn’t end gracefully, I will never put my hand up to play against you. That might seem like a good thing, but as per other self aggrandising players, if you can’t get a game, exactly how good are you when you tell everyone you’re the best? You’ll have sunk your own legend.
Make a better choice, have the grace to tell the freep if there is more to this game.
Cheers
Winsten Wun Toof
Gix -
As the youngest member of team Simpson, having only been on the team for 3.5 years, I usually do not speak for the team. However, I have been given some indicia that our captain is embroiled in numerous RL situations too, and, as such, has not had time to make a proper response. Thus, I have chosen to make this limited response. Further, I rarely make any comments on the forum except for indications of willingness to try new game formats (and then playing them).
First off, we as a team are truly sorry for your situation with your mother and you have our empathy. In fact, during the last game we made numerous accommodations to you and your team along those lines.
This is the third game in which Team Simpson has played whatever team that you, Gix, have chosen to cobble together. Many of your team who are newly added or replacements halfway through this game are grousing that no rematch will be offered based on our continuing to play when we still see a decent potential of a DS victory.
The only rules that we are playing by is the rule set in the guide published by Middle Earth Games, ltd. (See, http://www.middleearthgames.com/down/guidev1-16.pdf). We offered no rules stipulations at the start of this game or the last game. (Of which this one is supposedly a rematch - despite a substantial portion of your team being replaced, willingly or unwillingly).
More importantly, you did not seek any stipulations. Every other game we have been involved in where there were stipulations (including, but not limited to, no bug hunt, no one ring, etc.), said stipulations were agreed to (and normally in writing) by the Captains in advance of the game’s start.
Now if you forgot to ask for those stipulations at the beginning of the game, do not attempt to pass your oversight off onto us or our “honor” of play. Please tell your team the truth that you forgot to request those stipulations at game initiation - that would be real honor. We will not be changing the rules at this stage, to our detriment, due to your oversight.
Based on the rules as written, we may have initiated a chain of events on Turn 2. We dedicated personal time and thoughts, and game resources and orders to that end, which may or may not have contributed in part to sacrifices in other areas, where you may or may not have gained advantages as a result of those choices we made. (I am being ambiguous in this paragraph as I do not think it proper to actually divulge or longer term strategy – although you may guess at what it is – before it actually comes to fruition or fails).
We are entitled to see that chain of events to its fruition (or failure as it may be). The fruition might take as little as one more turn or as many 8 more turns. If you stop us from completing that goal, we’ll stop playing and raise the white flag or if we determine that it is undoable, we’ll again raise the white flag. This is no knock on your team, as this is the best opposition we have ever faced. Well done in putting together a great team of ME all-stars.
In the vein of the above, we will not be taking flack from your team for your failure to do your job as its Captain to get stipulations of rules changes at the beginning of the game. Moreover, we will not change the rules at this stage of the game to suit you.
Mike Bel…
There - was that so hard? Might have avoided some discomfort if somewhere in the last month or so someone had piped up and said - “Nup, you know, we still think we’ve got a chance, but when we don’t we’ll give up!” Communication - wives swear by it and they are NEVER wrong
Cheers
Winsten Wun Toof
OK then, so shut up and beat us already we are not quitters.
Offered us two game? No rematch. We offered Gixx both games that have finished at his request. We realized each time Gixx was searching for a combination of guys to beat us. In fact I believe this is the fourth game in which Gixx has been a member of the opposing side. No rematch, wow that hurts. The American side of this team was not in favor of giving Gixx or whatever team of all stars another bite of the apple but we took the game anyway. In fairness you guys have been good, better than any other team we have played as Team Simpson. WE however will not choose to play you again.
Honour/Honor; has nothing to do with this situation. We have not cheated, we have played completely within the rules. We have not played as well as we are capable and Gixx has enlisted one of our former players who had a lot of insight into our methods, still you guys have been pasting us. However you have not eliminated the will to fight. Just because we do not lay down and say uncle does not mean we have no honor.
If you can win then do so and quit whining about it. A bug hunt is not half a team. You might have a valid argument there if it were one or two nations but that is not the case.
Money, well it is yours to spend or not spend. We are not asking you to drop. Remember each of us pays the same amount per turn as each of you.
Gixx
I am sorry about your mom, I know this is a difficult time for you. I will add you and her to our prayer list.
Rob got it right - Communication is crucial here. As we advance steadily, turn after turn, and hear nothing back (this IS a community of players still…) well, my most post above says it well enough. NOW we’ve heard back and can appreciate your views. Thanks for sharing, please keep the lines of communication open in the future, it does help to moderate the emotions of all involved, yes?
Regards,
Brad for Stumpy B
Thanks Brad,
perhaps I was a little bit too provocative with my latest posting, but now I’ve got a reaction.
I haven’t got answers on my former mails, so I’ve decided to adopt a different tone and it worked.
Don’t take it personally!
Have Fun!
Gixxx
“Don’t take it personally!”
*****Gix - try not to take personal stabs, such as impuning another’s honor, and we won’t take it personally as we know it’s a game.
You can’t talk out of both sides of your mouth, and when you take personal stabs, please expect reaction in kind.
Mike Bel…
… at least I’m able to use my mouth while you need a kick against the shin before you start to communicate!
Have Fun!
Gixxx
Anyway, I think everone finally made their point. A bit of chat given all of the pointy questions would have gone a long way. Where chat failed, a poke in the eye seems to have done the trick
Cheers
Winsten Wun Toof
You aren’t poking people in the eye with your banana again, are you? You’ve been warned on a number of occasions to keep you 'nana to yourself. If you want to play with it on your own, in private, fine, but don’t go sticking it in other peoples faces. We’d hate to be forced to squash your nana as punishment for your misdeeds…
voyeur. bored now that the games you’ve been ignoring have ended…? eh? well, put in for 2 nations on the 1 weeker and you’ll get to nag people on the appropriate threads you’re actually a part of…!! 
Some Secret Strategy is it?
My left foot. Its pure ego from a half-team that cant even wiggle arround enough to make my game half-interesting.
Reputation matters most in small communities. Good luck finding another game.
Your enemy,
Mike Bateman