Shard
Gallente
Feral Tendency
Ratel Alliance
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Posted - 2006.10.10 23:17:00 -
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These are the facts in TDE4-H:
Ratel built an outpost. Smash and R0ADKILL took it away from us. Plain and simple.
There is no reason to smack talk, there is no reason to accuse each other of exploiting any game system. My hat is off to the guys that accomplished their goals, and that includes both Ratel, and Smash/R0adkill.
Several of my long time friends in game had a silly goal- build an outpost. We were not part of a large established alliance; we were not part of any alliance at all. We had been in others, and there always seemed to be flaws, or breakdowns, that caused most of them to dissolve, become ineffective, or just did not suit our tastes.
So we set about doing it on our own. We found ways to make isk, and raised the needed cash to build the thing. We needed sovereignty in a system to put it up, so we formed an alliance to do that. We identified an area that did not have any of the big alliances claiming it. We moved there, fought some people, and eventually got some people to join us. Many of these corps were ôyoungö in game terms, had players that had not been around for 3+ years, and didnÆt have 40 Million skill points, or 2-300 members. We took those that we felt had the same kind of vision that we did, that would stick it out and be determined. And in that we succeeded.
We set up in TDE4-H. We evaluated our chances and strategy for holding it, and the repercussions if we did not.
We got our crap together, and eventually we moved it there and assembled the darn thing. Those who have done it know the effort that is involved.
We were not a group that was paralyzed by fear or the possibility of ôlosing itö. We understood the risks, and we did it anyways. There is no minimum IQ to play EvE. :D It is always important to have goals, and to try to achieve them. We did that. On August 3rd, the outpost was completed, and the first pilots docked. Smash was right on our heelsà
There was no peace possible. From near 07 Aug 06 onward, there was a hostile presence in TDE4 almost all the time. I asked all pilots to forego making isk and try to fight against the invaders. I tried to make some friendly relationships with some corporations to assist us. Hats off to Wreckless Abandon and Forsaken Empire corporations for having some faith in Ratel, going with the underdog unknown alliance, and helping us out. You will always be blue to me (I will defend myself though!)
On October 5th, we lost sovereignty in TDE4-H. In the end, Smash got what they came for. They evaluated what the game required and did what they had to, to capture the outpost. It was a game well played, and now they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
What did Ratel get from it?
Somebody much smarter than I has said ôYou are not your shipö. That is also true for the outpost in TDE4-H. Ratel is NOT that outpost. The 11-12 weeks of siege we were under has done nothing but make us stronger, and hopefully smarter. Personally, the outpost in TDE4-H will always be there, and I will always feel some pride knowing that we built it with a small group of players. Not many can say that in Eve. We were not afraid to roll the dice, invest the isk, and see a dream come into existence. We learned a lot about our own capabilities, developed a stronger alliance for the effort, and anticipate continued success building the alliance and reaching the next set of goals.
To the Smash leaders, I will miss the constant conversation in local and chat. Thanks for being up front and honest with me. Too bad our goals had to be in conflict, but hopefully you understand why they need to stay that way. At the end of the day, EvE is a game/hobby. I enjoyed the struggle; I hope you do as well. 
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