Torm Ilmater
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Posted - 2006.05.04 06:30:00 -
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I'm not going to bother responding to the many attempts at flaming or rabble rousing but I'll go ahead and throw in my opinion on the whole situation. Firstly, I'll give nothing but props to BoB and the corps of BoB. Their ops always seem extremely well organized, intelligently led, and balls to the wall. Also their many industrial, military, and logistical achievements put the vast majority of EVE to shame.
Will they ever conquer all of EVE (or at least all of 0.0)? Possible. Heck, one could make the arguement that they had their chance but passed it aside for the "more fun" neutral reset they did not too long ago. Given their previous NAPs, actual holdings, and the number & strength of alliances that were actually in opposition against them it was concievable that they could have been in "control" of 0.0 space entirely within a year or two. Of course this would probably be by proxy, sponsored alliances in a lot of instances but they could have tried it if they had wanted to.
At this point they'll probably maintain their current borders and just be content to strike at any major percieved threat as well as their roaming gangs. Much like what they did to TRUST they'll probably strike at any industrial and/or military organization that is seen as a threat to their sovereignty (or even their dominance in EVE politics). They won't destroy many of them, just set them back a bit so that they maintain a growing edge over any major competition. While these other entities rebuild what BoB destroyed and get back to previous levels BoB will continue to amass wealth, power, and continue striking at other important targets.
Do I think they'll ever be defeated by a single (or even two) entitie(s)? No. ATM (and for any forseen future) BoB could, if not defeat any coalition of entities outright, at least outlast them in a war of asset attrition. They might lose some assets in a conflict but they'll probably come out ahead (either ISK wise and/or kill wise) in the majority of the engagements. Any Coalition of Anti-BoB States would probably be more likely to turn on itself than it would be to actually defeat BoB.
Will BoB ever erupt in the civil war, breaking apart in some glorious battle for Western supremacy? Even less likely than them being defeated in a major war in my opinion. Given their adherence to a fairly strong Unitary state, maintaining a small corp number, and the history that many of these pilots have together (not to mention many other things), they're a fairly tough nut to ***** from the inside.
Plenty of people are saying it's inevitable, quoting "historical" examples and saying that it's proof of said inevitability. However, what I'd see more likely to happen would be one of two situations:
1) BoB becomes so strong ISD & Concord (OOC: meaning the devs) tell BoB they can either separate into smaller states or be besieged by the amassed might of the Concord.
2) At some point because of changes in the EVE universe (OOC: new additions/changes to EVE) that are unpopular among BoB pilots or just the fact that their careers have been SO long they will eventually decide to retire the name & entity that is BoB in a similar manner to ATUK or possibly just fade out.
Option 2 would be my bet at the only way BoB will ever truly disappear or drop out of the ring of the major players. Even then though, you'd prolly see something almost as strong rise from the retirement.
Am I a BoB fanboi humping their collective legs and hoping for table scraps? No, I'm a realist and this is what I see as the most realistic possible future for BoB and EVE as a whole. I probably wouldn't ever join BoB if only because I don't like their name, however much I might admire their accomplishments. (OOC: Can't play paintball, online games, or have a farting contest without some group calling themselves the "Band of Brothers" nowadays)
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