WAR!
by Pixeleen Mistral on 10/04/07 at 9:58 am
Alliance Navy and Merczateers too busy fighting each other to fight griefers
by Curious Rousselot, war correspondent
[UPDATE: the lost Alliance Navy pictures have been recovered from the combat-damaged laptop and added to this story.
note - underscoring the dangers in covering virtual warfare, Ms. Rousselot's laptop was damaged while covering this story - we hope to retrieve picture of the Alliance Navy soon and post them as an update to this story - the Editrix]
the Merczateer generals
While most of the residents of Second Life continue in their hedonistic pursuits of daily life in the Linden’s vision of Eden, there is a serious conflict going on between two extremely well trained and organized armies. As reported earlier, attempts by Herald correspondent Urizenus Sklar to mediate peace talks failed recently and the Alliance Navy, one of the oldest military organizations in SL, and the Merczateers, a former ally of the Alliance Navy, began open warfare for the oldest causes of war in human history; land and pride.
A few months ago, the Alliance Navy and the Merczateers were allies. As with any organizations that compete in the same arena, there was a certain amount of competition between the two but in general they shared the same goals and operated as well as any alliance can.
One of the members of the Merczateers, we will call Mister Rodgers, had a private island and decided to offer use of it to the Merczateers. In good faith, the builders of the Merczateers began constructing a headquarters on the island. After a few days, all the objects were returned to the builders and little explanation was offered.
It seems that Mister Rodgers had offered the use of the sim to the Alliance Navy and the Merczateers leadership believed that the Navy had been wooing Mister Rodger in an attempt to get use of the land. It was later learned that this was not entirely accurate. When asked about it, Nanao Mahfouz of the Alliance Navy said, “At the time, I refused his offer [for] two reasons: The first being moral qualms. At the time, the Merczateers were our allies, and our friends. There have been shakeups in our alliance in the past, but I was still determined to make sure that we would stick to holding up our end of the friendship.”
Judge Hocho and Nanao Mahfouz of the Alliance Navy
Lurdan Huszar of the Merczateers explains what followed, “After this, we bought our own sim, this sim. Badnarik. Now, about a month into having it, an Alliance Navy marine accused Merczateer General Jonathan Arna of “copying” his combat knife.” This, of course spawned an investigation by the Alliance Navy and as Lurdan Huzar put it, “General Arna and Alliance Admiral Mahfouz got into an argument following this, and declared war after Arna shot him in anger.”
Ironically, Jonathan Arna later left the Merczateers and joined the Alliance Navy. Shortly before this article was written, he left the Alliance Navy. His current affiliation with any military units in SL could not be confirmed for this article.
The Merczateer commanders, reacting to the increasing tension and bad intelligence, contacted other military groups that had been enemies of the Alliance Navy to establish a new alliance against what they perceived was a no-longer-trustworthy Alliance Navy. As egos, perceived past wrongs, and the escalating hostilities continue we are unlikely to see an end to this war in the near future.
embedded Herald correspondent Curious Rousselot and the Merczateers troops
War in SL is a very odd beast. Since an avatar doesn’t really die, a traditional war of attrition is not possible. When an avatar is ‘killed’ it is transported “home” and can quickly teleport back to the combat zone. As a result, attrition in SL becomes the reduction in troops caused by frustrated people quitting the unit they joined.
Advantages are gained, as in the real world, through technology, training, and number of troops that can be deployed. Both the Merczateers and the Alliance Navy have burgeoning technology departments. Each trying to build better weapons and combat vehicles.
The most fascinating aspect of large-scale combat in SL has got to be the SLSALT (Second Life Strategic Arms Limitation Talks). Both the Merczateers and Alliance Navy abide by this treaty. In fact, both claim to be promoting it for ‘fair’ combat between military units in SL.
The Alliance Navy and Merczateers are both role-play groups for modern military. Both have clear hierarchy and claim the same desire to protect the residence of SL from griefing and abuse. Manao Mahfouz says about the Alliance Navy, “Combat aside, we pride ourselves on being the oldest, and most successful anti-griefer group on the grid. We’ve been fighting hostile armies for two years, and amongst them we’ve gone up against the largest forces ever assembled, on multiple fronts in simultaneous attacks, and we’ve yet to be beaten. This is a major asset in providing security and expertise in how to handle griefers towards other interests in SL who wish to keep their events safe, such as IBM.”
Mazer Ludd, Alice Mirabeau, Jeremy Duport at an Alliance Navy base
The Merczateers are no less concerned with helping the residents of SL enjoy their freedom. Anthony Lehane of the Merczateers explained future plans to help new RP groups, “In the near-future the Merczateers will be beginning a community-outreach program. This will include providing basic necessities for new Second Life residents, and providing smaller, less developed militaries with the basic needs they require, that we can produce. Provided that our engineering department keeps soaring steadily as it is currently.”
Ethan Schuman added, “Specifically, a set of skins, prim hair, animation overriders, and new weapons that adhere to SLSALT combat rules without being able to grief as current weapons [do].”
War in SL may still be more civilized than in RL, as this reporter had the rare opportunity to hear from a sniper of the Alliance Navy during the interview with the Merczateers as this short exchange shows:
Ishida Dye (Merc) shouts: Mikael, I request that you leave…
Ishida Dye (Mec) shouts: Or you could attack, either way would be fun…
Mikael Khalamov (AN) shouts: No, I choose not to attack when you guys have an important guest. I’m nice like that.
Let us hope that bruised egos can heal and peace talks between these two waring factions can become allies again.
InfectedLAWL
Apr 10th, 2007
Is there anything more immature on SL than this?
Nacon
Apr 10th, 2007
They don’t even realize they only can improves their build and graphic…. can’t improves LSL script for their weapon since most freebies can do what they got now. And since when we (even IBM) need armies when we can ban people from estate power?
This is at its finest example of immature drama going on for kids in SL…..
I mean big babies….
I mean adults…. wtf.
Harlequin Salome
Apr 10th, 2007
Interesting choice for a headline, and meaning the actual purpose of this is lost. Our issues with the merczateers are directly related to our anti-griefing. I will not debate their greifer ties here, as those are already tread over to the point of exhaustion, but to us, the Merczateers are *harboring* the very griefers we hope to fight and drive from the grid, ergo we are in fact still fighting griefers. Also, despite what others may think, we have the manpower and resources that we are able to conduct more operations in addition to this.
This hasn’t hampered or inconvenienced the AN at all, in fact.
And Nacon, you’re not even worth responding to. If you want to be a troll, take it to 4chan.
InfectedLAWL
Apr 10th, 2007
You don’t have to belong to /b/ or w-hat or any other supposed ‘griefer’ group to be able to laugh at a bunch of adults playing soldiers in SL. It’s truly cringeworthy. Drive griefers from the grid…what with, your e-guns? LMAO…. Griefers can be stopped by proper sim management, ie adult behaviour, not by dressing up as soldiers and TPing around issuing orders and firing little pretend guns. LAWL! This is why griefers exist.
InfectedLAWL
Apr 10th, 2007
Your pretend war started because…
‘…an Alliance Navy marine accused Merczateer General Jonathan Arna of “copying” his combat knife.” This, of course spawned an investigation by the Alliance Navy and as Lurdan Huzar put it, “General Arna and Alliance Admiral Mahfouz got into an argument following this, and declared war after Arna shot him in anger.”‘
LMAO!!!! Oh man..that is fuggin’ priceless. A ‘General’ ‘copied’ a ‘combat knife’…an ‘investigation’ followed…a ‘General’ and an ‘Admiral’ got into an argument…and then ‘WAAAAAARRRR!!!’ broke out. Seriously….this is the funniest thing I have read in ages.
urizenus
Apr 10th, 2007
no, griefers exist because of raging hormones and (for whatever reason) a felt need for attention at any cost.
Kami Harbinger
Apr 10th, 2007
While I appreciate the need for security, these squabbling groups playing at security agencies are not a very good solution. In the real world, private security exists primarily to monitor for intruders and arrest them for collection and booking by the police. These SL armies just shoot each other, or threaten bystanders. They act like it’s a videogame. This is not the right world for them; they belong in Eve Online or WoW PvP.
13-year-olds will grief whether these armies exist or not, and the armies don’t do much if anything to stop it.
The right solution to griefers requires a staged response:
1) Ban them from your land where possible; ban-sharing systems like banlink may make this even more effective, if used responsibly.
2) Abuse-report them if they persist.
3) Hire a bouncer/security guard with the ability to ban people if you have high traffic and high griefing.
Playing soldiers doesn’t help any of that.
Nacon
Apr 10th, 2007
“…we hope to fight and drive from the grid, ergo we are in fact still fighting griefers.”
Uhh.. sure. Question… how you fight a griefer in a sim that you have no power over with… that has no health damage enabled, no build, push resisted, and no script? Seriously…. how?
Here’s how… file a report. You can’t do worth of other shit. Unless you want to bump your avatar with the griefer and taunt it with name calling… sure, I guess that works sometime (hardly). Best weapon is to grow up and ignore.
Wait… better question, has anyone in the big business hired you to protect them? IBM? MoU? ESC? Pontiac? Toyota? Scion? Nissan? Intel? AMD? Dell? Gateways? BigPond? Nike? Addia? American Appeal? Anshe Chung? AzureIslands?
Saddly, those are real big adult games and you’re still an idiot.
(I don’t recall seeing you stopping SLLA and any Grid Attackers at all… and wtf you need vehicle for?)
Commander Cirius Montale
Apr 10th, 2007
To respond to mr Nacon here, yes, IBM did indeed discuss its security arrangements with the Alliance Navy, and we did indeed provide information and recommendations to its staff within SL.
Ethan Schuman
Apr 10th, 2007
A popular stereotype of military/security groups is that we all belong to the same category: little kids with tin Sheriff badges we found in our morning cereal trying to assert ourselves as the bosses. This is simply just not true. While the Alliance Navy tries (and fails, miserably) to maintain an image of a benevolent anti-griefer faction that struggles daily to protect the “civilians” of Second Life from harm, groups such as the Merczateers, Corsair, Vanguard, and numerous other groups (people familiar with the SL military community will know of whom I refer to) are not interested in interfering with the lives and affairs of other residents. We are a subculture of the metaverse, and we wish to be left alone to do our thing, and have fun. I hate to draw the reference, but the SL military community is a lot like Gor in this respect: It’s controversial, most people know little of it, and because of this it’s a target for constant ridicule. However, most Goreans keep their lifestyle in their private territories, and do not bother anyone. While the Alliance Navy may (foolishly) believe they have some sort of divine mission from God to protect Second Life, the rest of us are here, not bothering anyone in most cases, just trying to have fun. Please do not lump them in with us.
Now to address Harlequin, as I know the only thing he knows how to do is fight (though he does so quite poorly): Yes, the Merczateers have allowed griefers into our ranks before, and we will continue to do so on a case by case evaluation of each individual. While you all choose to approach the problem of griefers with guns and fleet ships and moving in all barrels blazing, the Merczateers deal with griefers by allowing them to join, giving them a home, giving them a purpose, TRAINING them, and teaching them NOT to grief. Griefers usually engage in antisocial activities out of boredom. Instead of taking the elitist attitude of the Alliance Navy, the Merczateers welcome them into the fold, and give them something to be proud of, eliminating their need to grief in order to enjoy Second Life. Now, we don’t welcome in all griefers. As I mentioned, each is evaluated as an individual. If we see potential to turn around the recruit and shape him or her into a well trained soldier, or at least someone who doesn’t orbit people, drop Batman boxes, and summon the Wrath of Cosby out of boredom, then we bring them in and go to work.
To sum this up, Merczateers and the Alliance Navy are two extremely different groups. The AN are crusaders, hell bent on driving griefers from the grid at any cost to anyone. The Merczateers… well, we just want to keep to ourselves and other military groups, and have fun. Also, just as an interesting point to raise here, the definition of griefing is the intentional disruption of another individual or group’s experience. As Harlequin stated, “Our issues with the merczateers are directly related to our anti-griefing. I will not debate their greifer ties here, as those are already tread over to the point of exhaustion, but to us, the Merczateers are *harboring* the very griefers -we hope to fight and drive from the grid-, ergo we are in fact still fighting griefers.” I don’t know about anyone else, but that definitely seems like ‘the intentional disruption of another individual or group’s experience’ to me.
Proteus Hand
Apr 10th, 2007
Interesting Comment, Harlequin, for we have collected proof that the Alliance Navy is quite more apt to
*grief* than the Merczateers are. If you don’t believe us, go ahead and check the fifty barricades set in front of doors, as well as half-deleted buildings, and seemingly pathological spawnkilling.
“Ho Ho Ho”.
Harlequin Salome
Apr 10th, 2007
I was attempting to *not* take personal issues into this sphere, since we’re already dealing with our differences on the grid. However, its fairly obvious that Ethan and Proteus, both members of the Merczateers, can’t help themselves.
As for spawncamping, allow me to quote from the Merczateers training manual directly.
- Spawn killing will not be tolerated, give the opponent time to rez and prepare, the second he/she moves, they’re fresh game.
So they won’t shoot you as you rez, but they’ll certainly not give you a chance to do anything.
And as for barricades, Proteus, allow me to take you on a tour sometime after a mercz attack, as we clean up the detrius left around, mostly dead ABATS craft littering the ground like tin cans. Not to mention the German flags and dead choppers your “assimilated and reformed” fellows in RoG leave at the slightest provocation.
But again, this is the sort of stuff we deal with. I stated in my post that in our view you were harbouring greifers. Its an accusation, but one tempered with the aknowledgement that it is our point of view. In return, the both of you resort to being rude and accusatory.
You simply don’t know when to stop, do you? I pity you both, and the vitriol you carry.
Ethan Schuman
Apr 10th, 2007
Rude and accusatory? Hardly. Stating that you all are disillusioned crusaders whose era has long since past them by on the way to Second Life antiquity is not an accusation, it’s a statement of fact. Your own words allow any reader with critical interpretation skills to see that the Alliance Navy no longer performs a vital, unfilled role of protector to the grid, but that you grasp at strings of a once glorious past in a desperate attempt to maintain some semblance of purpose in a society which, simply put, no longer needs or wants you.
As far as “combat tactics” are concerned, your attempts at Clauswitzian Warfare through spawnbombing any who oppose you back to the stone age with the use of fleet ships (which up until recently no military group had counters to) is pure evidence of your condolence of using tactics meant to ruin the playing experience of another simply to prove a point. If you are so hell bent on opposing griefers at no matter the cost, you need to take your rifle, put the barrel in your mouth, and pull the trigger. The Merczateers fight for fun, we keep things on a level field, and if at any time either party isn’t enjoying themselves, we pull back to base for some R&R. After all, entertainment is what this game is all about. The Alliance Navy, on the other hand… arouse the wrath of the mighty Templar, and you’ll find your day suddenly gone from great to a blackscreen of “Contacting new region, please wait” as they carpet bomb your homepoint for hours on end, until you acknowledge that they were right (or blow them out of the sky, if you’re one of the groups lucky enough to have an air force.) And don’t even get me started on your grav packs, WarpPos equipment, and use of seekers. However, the general public is most likely not interested in the specific battle tactics you employ, so I won’t delve into them. All I will say is that Merczateers will not stoop to the levels you do in battle, now or ever, and we will never attempt to ruin someone’s day just to prove a point.
Mazer Ludd
Apr 10th, 2007
To InfectedLAWL and Mr Nacon:
Just because people enjoy Second Life in a different way than you do does not mean that we are “childish”. Speaking of which, typing “LAWL” does not increase the power of your argument.
We are roleplayers, and the members of each group are friends with their comrades. Although, sometimes the lines of roleplay get blurred when theft and threats of violent in RL (From the “Federation”) come into play.
I personally would rather shoot at people for a few hours than sit at a club, play a dance animation, and have cybersex. We all get different enjoyments, but why would I go to a club and have sex in SL when I can just do it in RL (it feels better and the girls are really girls)? I can’t shoot at people in RL, so I do it in SL.
As for improving technology in SL, there is always a way you can change a script to make it work more efficiently. Also, we are constantly comming up with new ideas for weaponry, ships, gadgets, and vehicles in much the same way you see items improving on the normal SL market.
On a final note, please stop being afraid of things that are different.
-Mazer Ludd, First Sergeant, Alliance Navy
Mazer Ludd
Apr 10th, 2007
Also, I saw Ethan’s comment after I posted mine.
“If you are so hell bent on opposing griefers at no matter the cost, you need to take your rifle, put the barrel in your mouth, and pull the trigger.”
Suicide is not something I find funny. I’ve known several friends who have passed this way and I don’t think it’s yours, or anyone’s, place to joke about it.
Ethan Schuman
Apr 10th, 2007
Clarification, as Mazer brings up a good point: That comment was meant as an in-game suggestion, not out. I know for a fact Harlequin is a good guy outside Second Life, even if we don’t see eye to eye on some (fine, many) issues, and if harm were to come to ANY Alliance Navy member outside of game, as it unfortunately once did, I would feel the same level of sorrow as I would if it had happened to a Merczateer, a German, or any other SL military member.
Perhaps that is the one thing the majority of the SL military community can agree on. When the rifles go down, we’re all part of one big, extended, and extremely dysfunctional family. That’s probably why we fight so hard, and so often.
ringy dingy
Apr 10th, 2007
wow this is really stupid!
Avil Creeggan
Apr 10th, 2007
Let’s stop for a moment, relax, and think, as I quietly type away at a keyboard for a while.
First, to the assorted persons complaining about the presence of all aformentioned in Second Life, a discussion:
Your Second Life is many things. Our Second Life is many things, one of which is sitting, on the land we paid for the right to use, and throwing prims at one another. To date, the current conflict between the Merczateers and the Alliance Navy has yet to infringe upon residential areas. It’s hard to infringe on residences when it involves private islands leased for the explicit purpose of combat and otherwise unoccupied simulators (Tethys).
Next, a side note on “anti-griefing” groups. We aren’t groups dedicated to hunting down and exterminating griefers, neither of us. We are just groups who share the same common dislike of persons and establishments intended to disrupt the goings of the avatar of Second Life except, due to our own technology and taste, we are uniquely positioned to directly offer assistance, on request, and to offer advice and “strategy”, as it were, to those who desire it. Nothing more, nothing less. Considering the two-million odd avatars within Second Life, it is impossible to feasibly “wage a war” on those who grief it.
On a last note, Mister Schuman, I’ll note that Merczateer personnel have increasingly made use of gravity scripts and have shown interest in employing tracking technology leaked from our former own Dynamic Drinkwater.
Perhaps now we can have a slightly less ignorant flow of conversation within this commentary.
–Avil Creeggan
E-9, Alliance Navy Fleet Division
P.S.: http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/4448/damnyoucreeggannnnnnrj7.jpg
NobodyImportant
Apr 10th, 2007
How’s about we get a third view on this here stuff.
From what I can tell, the Alliance Navy is the elitist “We’re better than you because we’ve never griefed before” group that thinks its job is to ‘protect’ SecondLife from various griefing groups. Yes, I called you guys elitist. That’s how you come off.
The Merczateers seem to be the general “run-of-the-mill” outcasts of society, I.E. (somewhat) normal people. And newsflash – because they accept former griefers into the group does not make them griefers. Although, I gotta say, you guys are starting to take it a little too seriously; the AN are rubbing off on you. It seems they’re making you think the internet is Serious Business.
Both groups have their faults. The AN seems to be rather butthurt about stolen e-items and an imagined threat the Mercz pose. The Mercz are butthurt about a sim that may or may not have been acquired through shifty means by the AN. With so much butthurt going around, and the Serious Business status you two are giving the internet… This can only end badly.
My suggestion? Shake it off. Remember, the internet is not Serious Business. Most griefers are bored 13-year-olds; except for a few factions (which I won’t name) that want to remind you just what I’m telling you.
With all that said:
I commend you all on your imaginative costumes and avatars, and it’s nice to hear that (at some level) intelligence permeates the goings-on in your groups.
Harlequin Salome
Apr 10th, 2007
Well, the common misconception is that we go out after people, and we don’t. The misinformed accusations aside, we’ve never actually attacked another group first. *shrugs* It just doesn’t happen. We will engage groups attacking us or an ally, but basically, as I have told a great number of smaller group leaders, don’t make yourselves our problem, and we’ll happily leave yo alone.
In fact, in conversation with other group leaders that are hostile to us often finds me making this statement: “Just walk away. Just walk away from this, and stop messing with the AN. Stop the attacks, and this all ends. All you need to do is walk away.”
Not really the words of a hyperagressive elitest group, but rarely does reality actually enter into conversations about the AN. I’m constantly amazed at the stuff that is said about and to the AN, almost as though anything a person wishes to say is alright, because we’re just AN. Like we’re not real people.
Proteus Hand
Apr 10th, 2007
From my standpoint, I have to say that the poor Alliance Navy has come to something resembling a midlife crisis… (that may be the case for a few Admirals… but I won’t venture there.)
Think about it, The Alliance Navy were a blessing when they first began, policing sandboxes teeming with griefers (note that these were the days before hit logs.) Without a doubt, they were a wonderful thing to have around.
Now, however, the Lindens have given the power to fight off griefers to everyone, add to the technology given out for free for protection, and Psitech gear for paying customers, this renders the Alliance Navy useless to the general public.
However, we , The Merczateers, have always been out for ourselves… and nonetheless, useless. This being taken into consideration, you can see how the war was started.
Here’s a little history lesson for you all.
The Merczateers was founded in Sandbox Cordova, basically to have an all around fun military experience, not to mention, it was ORIGINALLY an 18th century military, so we were like Gor with guns.
However, that idea eventually died out, and we acquired Soviet-like tastes, which undoubtedly spawned a handful of knock-offs as well. We grabbed some land in a sim called Clear, built our forces poco a poco, and then moved to a laggy sim named Isere, which was eventually discarded for Adscita, where we reached our peak. We had over 100 grunts in our service, not to mention elites, and it was during this time, that Christoph Naumova, a leader in the Merczateers, apparently stole some leaked AN armor.
This started a war… obviously.
The First AN war, I was not present for, but I hear stories similar to them assaulting us for several days on end.
Soon after, Christoph got into an argument with several other members in the High Command, feeling that since he was paying for the land, he deserved more respect.
He eventually snapped and destroyed the base one night, as well as ejecting everyone from the group.
Several members joined the Alliance Navy as a refuge, that being the largest and most powerful alternative.
After some planning, a handful of ex-Merczateer Generals decided to ressurect the old group, and began planning, however, Lurdan Huszar jumped the gun, and started a month early, angering Psyzan Matador, and Super Penguin, who promptly stepped down from their positions and resigned.
From here, Anthony Lehane and Lurdan Huszar attempted to rule a shaky group in Gangwon. This proved to them that ressurection isn’t an easy issue.
After moving to Hjalmer from Gangwon, several of the old members returned, as well as a few new ones, and the old shine began to show once again, this time with the Alliance Navy helping us on our way back up.
At this point, we felt ready to move to our own sim, The Woofer, however, this proved apparently not meant for us, due to issues stated above, and caused much distress amongst the ranks, had it not been for Ethan Schuman and Alenzia Epsilon, this war would have started much sooner.
There was uneasiness amongst the ranks for the next month, until Febuary, when Kekken Biberman got us a deal on a massive class 5 sim, Badnarik, a much better deal than The Woofer, which we are still incredibly happy for.
Soon after we settled Badnarik, the Alliance Navy launched a joke attack during Prince’s performance during the half time show at the Super-Bowl… we do realize that this was a joke attack, but it removed many fears about war with the Alliance Navy, and many now felt comfortable with the combat that lie ahead.
The Alliance Navy has always had a problem with… hunting down ever last griefer on the grid… and it has reached a point in which they turned on their once Allies, thinking that Jonathan Arna had stolen a knife from them.
If you wanted proof, we could have shown you that the knives were NOT prim copied, however you remained ignorant, and eventually involved the DMCA, as well us using private IM logs as evidence that Arna used the knife as reference. (Which, might I add, breaks the disclosure clause in the TOS.)
Eventually pestering him into leaving the Merczateers and joining the Alliance Navy, then ordering him to sell you half of our main building, and finally, ejecting him from the Alliance Navy for… “being a dick”.
We are Merczateers, and nothing before us is eternal, not even Mr. *Slams teacup on table* “HO HO HO”.
And good day to you.
Mr Smiley
Apr 10th, 2007
I grow tired of reading these long diatrides from both sides on this conflict so i shall lay this out simply. This is a game of chess and its down to the kings on both sides. This war will end only by an act of submission…
Ares Artizar
Apr 10th, 2007
Or by the Merczateers finally beating down the AN once and for all, as they should. The Mercz have always been more fair, offering a rehabilitation point for former griefers. The AN’s response to bringing in griefers is a big fat NO, and they hate anybody who brings in former griefers who actually want to reform their ways. I can only imagine how Bruno Ziskey runs Sparta in this area.
Teddy
Apr 10th, 2007
what i would like to know is wtf is the point of fighting if everytime you kill the person respawns. I mean The Sims Online i can understand, because there you can actually end a war by doing REAL damage over here the only way you could kill someone permantly is to whip out a script literaly detroying their fucking computer.
Commander Cirius Montale
Apr 11th, 2007
What’s the point in fighting? Good point, lets all holster our guns and go sit on dancing pose-balls in a club, which would be infinitely more enjoyable for those concerned.
The AN and the Merczateers could have a dance-off, in which the side who gets the better poseballs wins, in some bizarre fatalistic pointless contest.
If you approach SL with the attitude of ‘frankly what’s the point?’ You’ll swiftly find that there isn’t one. It is a user generated world, and it is up to the users to find their own point. The Merczateers and the Alliance Navy have found theirs in role-playing and combat, others find theirs in profit and commercialism.
Which does raise the question, what is the point of the Sims Online?
Commander Cirius Montale
AN Signal Corps Media Representative
Griffin Yeats
Apr 11th, 2007
Well, isn’t this an interesting argument. But, seeing as I like to cause you [being AN] to get angry, I’d like to quote some things from previous passages. “Well, the common misconception is that we go out after people, and we don’t. The misinformed accusations aside, we’ve never actually attacked another group first. *shrugs* It just doesn’t happen”. Mr. Salome, that is completely and udderly wrong, think back to when…TCG was around, although it was the Merczateers who did start the engagement, you were also jumping at the bit to bomb the hell out of Andromeda with your “Razor”. I’d also like to tell everyone here about my MTAA, which is the only current competitor to the SLSALT. It includes many more important ideas within its contents, and has numerous smaller armies signing it. While we do our best to enforce it some groups (RoG) do not like to follow it. However, as far as AN, the SLSALT is enforced lightly, if not at all. Not to mention the griefing in Pennekamp. What are the swarms of smiley face boxes for? And Mikeal standing on top of the guns I wish to take pictures of for my actual gun business. I have seen quite a few “griefing” attempts (which, by the way, was correctly defined by Ethan in above passages) attempts by the AN, and have easily stopped more than one. My point – The AN is something I’d like to see gone, too much ego, and while I busy myself on my 2000 sq. m. plot, having fun, you get to sit in “Woofer”, and cause trouble with the Merczateers, who are alot better for stopping their association with you. You also say the “templars” are a group for elite soldiers, who have honor. It is merely a group for AN high-command to think that they are higher than other beings. I’ve taken your “elites” more times than I can count (which, to stop the possible retort of “which isn’t very high”, is an extremely high number). Oh, and, why did you ban me from “teh w00fer!1!1!!oneoneone!11″??//??shift+slash??//?
(Had to add me some comic reliefe (with an e).
Boom Shanka
Apr 11th, 2007
Man, people sure are intolerant.
I’m a pacifist, war-protester, etc. in RL, and I honestly have no problem with these people doing what they enjoy. They have very well defined structure of behavior and self-imposed rule sets for what sounds like a completely fun and satisfying immersive experience.
And “outsiders” who would enjoy a taste of their immmersive experience, i.e. hiring them to protect against griefers, if even as a highly visible deterrent or show-of-force, is enough in itself to justify their presence in SL.
Just a bunch of people having serious fun and providing a virtual service to the community.
As much of a pacifist as I am in RL, if it were me forming a military group, I’d probably end up going all fascist and Roger Waters on the group. I’d be marching around SL with a megaphone and a hammer yellin’ at people haha. I don’t have the self-discipline these guys do. Good luck and a memorable time to you all!
The Griff (Sergeant Griffith)
Apr 11th, 2007
Now now everyone, don’t stereotype militaries as greifers because the AN is a major threat to the grid (They lie when they say they’re anti greifers.)
I’m Grand Commander Griffith of the Federation.
The Federation IS indeed a combat group. We do our best to not affect bystanders in what we do, and we are anti greifers…using Abuse Reports, of course. (If you see anyone in the Feds gerifing, just send a report to Linden Labs as well as me or another Court Marshal. We’ll deal with the greifing member.)
And Mazer, please, tell me, WHO threatened RL violence against AN? And if you had half the brain you think you do, you’d IM me or another FJD member with details. Your propaganda is false, as are most of AN’s little stories.
AN’s honestly all bark and no bite. THREE of us took down an entire force of AN, at least thirty (Ask Griffin Yeats, Kingzogre Onlyone, and William2 Alexandre, the people who accomplished that) of them, at The Woofer. I went down to The Woofer with two cadets and took on the AN’s “elite” group, the Templars.
Merczateers are going to beat AN like red headed step children (lawl comik reeleef.)And I’ve went through each of the prims in the so called “Copy” knife, and they’re original. They’re not AN, they’re made by Arna. AN thinks that anything that remotely seems like something they made is OMFGZ COPEEBOTID WTF!11111one!1111111tehshiftplustehone!!1111=222111
Pardon my typing, I’m not feeling too well in RL.
The Griff (Sergeant Griffith)
Apr 12th, 2007
I am a gigantic furfag with a distended, infected, bleeding asshole from all of the fuckings I have received from my furfag friends. Its an awesome life, come join us lol
Pardon my typing, I’m getting raped.
The Griff (Sergeant Griffith)
Apr 12th, 2007
Man, people sure are intolerant.
I’m a pacifist, war-protester, etc. in RL, and I honestly have no problem with these people doing what they enjoy. They have very well defined structure of behavior and self-imposed rule sets for what sounds like a completely fun and satisfying immersive experience.
And “outsiders” who would enjoy a taste of their immmersive experience, i.e. hiring them to protect against griefers, if even as a highly visible deterrent or show-of-force, is enough in itself to justify their presence in SL.
Just a bunch of people having serious fun and providing a virtual service to the community.
As much of a pacifist as I am in RL, if it were me forming a military group, my mom would probably get scared and say, “you’re moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air”.
I begged and pleaded with her the other day
But she packed my suitcase and sent me on my way
She gave me a kissin and she gave me my ticket
I put my walkman on and said I might aswell kick it
First class, yo this is bad,
Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass
Is this what the people of bel-air livin like,
Hmm this might be alright!
I whistled for a cab and when it came near the
License plate said fresh and had a dice in the mirror
If anything I could say that this cab was rare
But I thought now forget it, yo home to bel-air
I pulled up to a house about seven or eight
And I yelled to the cabby yo, holmes, smell you later
Looked at my kingdom I was finally there
To settle my throne as the prince of bel-air
Pardon my typing, I’m doing a barrel roll.
Anonymous
Apr 12th, 2007
Heheh, now that’s a good laugh.
Give that kid (Griff) a gold medal.
Gwunt
Apr 12th, 2007
>>How’s about we get a third view on this here stuff.
I know who your talking about, when you say the one faction that is trying to tell us all about such behavior, and yes, they do it for the lulz, just like every other greifer does. Most of these people, in this little faction of greifers, whom are /b/tards, of course, are 13 and shit like that. Alot of /b/tards and PN members -are- kids, I know Nep was, so yeah.
Also, all these folks who are saying ” Ahh hey lets stop playing soldiers n dance n play slingo llolololol ”
No thanks, SL war is -fun- and -challenging-… It’s like saying ” lol stop playin fps n play some woW plx lawl ” … No thanks, I’ll stick to the BOOM HEADSHOT.
lol, wut?
Apr 12th, 2007
And I’m glad to see half the AN are /b/tards too! Ha ha, IRONY.
mootykips
Apr 12th, 2007
“Gwunt”, you have violated Rules of the Internet #1 and #2, as well as betrayed Anonymous in their efforts. You are no /b/tard, you’re just a gaiafag.
The Griff (Sergeant Griffith)
Apr 12th, 2007
Man, people sure are intolerant.
I’m a pacifist, war-protester, etc. in RL, and I honestly have no problem with these people doing what they enjoy. They have very well defined structure of behavior and self-imposed rule sets for what sounds like a completely fun and satisfying immersive experience.
And “outsiders” who would enjoy a taste of their immmersive experience, i.e. hiring them to protect against griefers, if even as a highly visible deterrent or show-of-force, is enough in itself to justify their presence in SL.
Just a bunch of people having serious fun and providing a virtual service to the community.
As much of a pacifist as I am in RL, if it were me forming a military group, they’d do the mash
They did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They did the mash
It caught on in a flash
They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The Griff (Sergeant Griffith)
Apr 15th, 2007
Why does it say that I posted something I didn’t?
The Griff (Sergeant Griffith)
Apr 15th, 2007
Ok, someone’s editing my posts, this is really annoying.
Oh wait. I know who it prolly is! AN.
Rei Switchblade
Apr 16th, 2007
Jonathan Arna is still in the AN. He is an E-1 in the Marines.
Slx2
Apr 17th, 2007
I’m pretty shocked to see some people bashing both the AN and the Mercz for ‘playing’ at soldier.
SL is what you want it to be for you and your friends, its not what YOU (idiot bashers) want it to be.
I think its pretty cool what the AN is trying (and have been trying) to do. At least its better than sitting in a money chair, or dancing at a club (while your afk no less) .. oh wait that might be bashing YOUR preferred activities.
don’t be divisive
Markus K.
May 2nd, 2007
RE: “You don’t have to belong to /b/ or w-hat or any other supposed ‘griefer’ group to be able to laugh at a bunch of adults playing soldiers in SL. It’s truly cringeworthy. Drive griefers from the grid…what with, your e-guns? LMAO…. Griefers can be stopped by proper sim management, ie adult behaviour, not by dressing up as soldiers and TPing around issuing orders and firing little pretend guns. LAWL! This is why griefers exist.”
Two tours in Iraq. I don’t pretend to be a soldier. I am a soldier. I belong to one of these “groups.” What have you done for your country? Don’t use broad statements you can’t back up.
If you would care to educate yourself you would find that the Merczateers, Alliance Navy, Sturm-Korps, Blitzkraffe, etc… do not try to police the grid, nor do they hold combat on any public or unauthorized land/estates. They do not offer themselves as mercenaries. They are warfare simulation groups that share a common interest and that strictly abide by rules to govern fair game play. SSALT and M.O.S.C.O.W. for instance are two groups that govern combat game play between these factions.
I will admit however, groups that offer easy recruitment and excessive weapon distribution with little rules do exist such as the SL Sky Navy. These groups are typical among sandboxes and new players. They are “griefer” organizations and should be removed.
None the less, SL military groups such as the Mercz, A.N., etc.. do not deserve this stereotype or this slander.
DaveOner
May 2nd, 2007
All I know is you can tell when AN guys show up to Carnage Island or just about any other sim because the fps drops 50% with all that crap they wear. That and most of their stuff looks like it’s made out of legos!
I’ve never had a moment where I thought to myself “man this griefer is overpowering me with their harassment. I wish there was an army of some sort here to save me from them!” I’ve aquired enough stuff over time to be able to defend myself…otherwise I know how to “go elsewhere”.
AN is too full of themselves for being a gang wearing matching red pajamas. At least the Mercz don’t pretend NOT to be just for fun and military roleplay.
39th
DaveOner
May 2nd, 2007
Just saw this…
“Two tours in Iraq. I don’t pretend to be a soldier. I am a soldier. I belong to one of these “groups.” What have you done for your country?”
Nothing you do IRL is going to validate anything you do in SL. This is part of the ego problem that the “military” community in SL has.
OT, but as far as what I personally have done for my country, among other things I voted in an attempt to de-throne the administration that keeps sending you out for imperialist occupation under the guise of “doing something for your country”. Don’t get it twisted.
Too many of you are simply drama queens looking for respect and acceptance in SL because you can’t get any in RL. If that wasn’t the case you’d keep your “conflict” to the damage areas in SL.
Imagine if you put all the energy you waste on this political crap into REAL politics and things that ACTUALLY MATTER. Maybe then you wouldn’t live in a world you have to escape from with this stuff!
Earlier someone referred to the military community in SL as being similar to Goreans. Don’t insult the Goreans. Most of them are able to keep it to roleplay and not get their feelings hurt if there’s a play conflict like this. Like them or not (I don’t for the most part), they have ACTUAL discipline when compared to you kids!
39th
Newbie
May 3rd, 2007
“OT, but as far as what I personally have done for my country, among other things I voted in an attempt to de-throne the administration that keeps sending you out for imperialist occupation under the guise of “doing something for your country”.”
My… my… is this going to turn into a political debate *sigh*.
OT, I sometimes wonder, could it be that the reason some “Bush lied kids died” type liberals so vehemently espouse the idea that the war in Iraq is illegal or wrong is because on some sub-conscious level they realize that they themselves could never be a soldier? Do some of them have some need to explain to themselves why they aren’t putting their life on the line for their beliefs? *shrug*.
In any case, I found this article because I guy at work started talking about second life, and I was thinking about firing it up when I get home. I had thought that a good way to get a start in my second life would be the same way I did in my “first life”, joining the Army. That said, does joining any SL military provide one with a salary? Money for virtual-college? Linden dollars in any form? Heh.
Christoph Naumova
May 7th, 2007
Hahah.. I love how I’m pictured as the badguy. Was quite simple…. And I’m sure a lot of people agree with me on this subject. The command back then was based off of the wants and opinions of children. I simply created a better vision in which to live, one where the AN didnt push the Mercz around like puppets.
Funny thing is, I never even used a single bullet to do the most damage. Psychological warfare got the best out of them.
As far as to why I got rid of the base? Wasn’t my own personal wants or feelings, it was the wants of the people in the group. If Lurdan wants to be a coward and side with people who treat him like shit. (Happening right now in Badnarik!) Then so be it. I needed to wipe the slate clean without my name on it.
So I did.
Salone Runo
Jun 16th, 2008
Lol.. Pathetic.. We all know AN and Mercz aren’t the only large militaries in SL.
- Salone Runo, Vangaurd Brigadegeneral
Tzu Paine
Sep 25th, 2008
Well this is interesting.
The only effective warfare is psychological warfare in SL.
Because the warfare as its described above is simple a childs game… no matter how much they stress its importance.
All it proves with this kind of fighting is which side can grief the other more.
If it that was the case, I could destroy both sides in a matter of seconds. Depending on the lag, I would bring one more person with me… making a total of two… that could humiliate both sides without a scratch. The only thing that trumps my in game powers is estate and linden powers. And even then its only a matter of time.
Children like this are too busy showing off the size of their guns, bragging that its bigger than the enemies.
…. like shooting fish in a barrel.
I win.
Jun 11th, 2010
I just went into t3h futurez and posted a comment on this. In the future Merczateers and AN got along for a while in the IS, but Merczateers made them ragequit (ARGGHHH D:< IMA MEANY) and now they are *trying* to stand alone.