Dec 18th 2011, 22:33:07
Ever since I was called back to this game by h4 during the second SOL/LaF war that LaF lost I had a special desire to solve tensions between SOL/LaF that have been on and off since the the early 2000s. I remember fondly chats I had with classic SOL leaders such as NorCal/Les and Mickster to resolve our issues honorably. With that instilled in my memory I sought to seek the same reasonable conflict resolution from the current era of SOL leaders. The biggest goal I had that I made clear to my talks to multiple SOL leaders was for prearranged wars between us when we decide to scratch that once a few resets itch of war between our respective parties. I felt it would be fair to both parties and make this game a better place for all. The result is the same (SOL gets to take turns warring different netgainers every reset), but the path to that result is more honorable and sustainable for all without the bs (L:L vs 1:1, alliance wide escalating retals vs country escalating retals, 48 hour retal window vs 72 hour retal window, etc.)
Let's take things back to the reset before I came back when SOL completely blindsided a much bigger LaF (at that time) over one of their arcane retal policies, which are intended for the sole purpose to blindside netters, and proceeded to destroy us. The next reset, SOL refused to pact us again and there was high probability in h4's mind that SOL was going to war us again and LaF preempted a well prepared and larger SOL and lost again.
SOL then finally agreed to pact LaF and instead used this opportunity to destroy our ally LCN under the safety of this pact over the same arcane "let's use this as a reason to blindside netters" retal rules. As we all remember this lead to the netters saying "enough is enough" and we joined forces to FS SOL a few resets ago. None of us wanted to be isolated, FSed, beg for a pact, and then because of it watch our allies get beat down the reset after. We wanted a more civil approach for warrers and netters to war each other, and to me, a good prearranged war is the best and honorable solution that also helps out the community in a non-toxic way.
Clearly SOL did not get this message, and the very next reset they FSed two of our FDPs again (MD and LCN). The reset after that (aka last reset), SOL played the same game again (pacted LCN) and left LaF open. Knowing how this pattern always worked, the following reset I asked SOL for a uNAP first, which was rejected, and then for a prearranged war, which was also rejected.
True to SOL fashion and pattern, SOL ended up FSing us that reset. To add more insult to the injury, they FSed us while we were already engaged in a 1v1 war by adding not only themselves but a third alliance for an old fashioned 3v1 gangbang. When we called in SoF, despite still being outnumbered, SOL called in our own FDP TIE to indirectly destroy us, creating one of the most unpleasant and awkward situations I had to ever deal with.
I said the same thing that time to some SOL leaders: If you guys wanted to war us, why not just take our prearranged war offer and war us. Otherwise just uNAP us. The funniest thing about that reset was Makinso himself posted on AT that he was looking for a prearranged war for that reset, and when I volunteered LaF, he said no. In the end SOL still FSed us. Think of how much this reset would have been different for everyone if SOL agreed to the prearranged war that they were looking for in the first place. I was definitely not amused to take SOL upon their prearranged war offer that they publicly posted they wanted, only to get rejected so they could gangbang us afterwards.
Every reset SOL uNAPs LaF, they FS our FDPs. Everytime SOL uNAPs LaF's FDPs, they FS LaF. While this is definitely a sound strategy, the biggest problem is this pattern has never been broken by SOL making it extremely predictable.
Remember that saying "fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me"? There is absolutely no way if this pattern happens that I wouldn't act on it.
So let's go to this reset. Knowing full well SOL's pattern, I asked the same two questions to SOL:
Q: Do you want to uNAP pact us?
A: No
Q: Do you want to prearranged war us?
A: No
Therefore LaF declares war on SOL. This isn't personal. I fully expect SOL to have FSed LaF or one of our allies eventually this reset anyways so this was inevitable. I sincerely hope we can sort out a good arranged war-only system between SOL and the various netgaining alliances out there as I personally have tried to push for the past few resets as a result of this war. Good luck to all sides, and please place both LaF and SOL on war DNH.
Don of La Famiglia