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I've been around this game for a while. I've served in many groups as a leader, a soldier, an owner. For many people who have been around as long as I have, I know we can comment on the deterioration of groups and the contemporary clan world.
It's full of preaching "fairness" and "equality" at bases but at the same time, leaders want nothing fair, they want to win. There is extreme pride, and that pride sometimes gets in the way of doing the right and honest thing these days.
I think that this community needs to realize that a good clan doesn't need an undefeated status, doesn't even need to be the fairest one out there. But a clan, and especially its leader needs to be honest.
So, I would like to try and set an example for those out there. That pride in one's group should not get in the way of a good war, a fun war, a fun time. That to attempt to keep an "undefeated" record can lead to dishonest and unethical actions.
I've had been so concerned with TGI's pristine and undefeated image, that I myself have not been doing the morally upright things. So, I am saying this because I believe it is the right thing, the responsible thing, the honest thing. I do not want to lie to anyone or act duplicitous anymore. A great group deserves an honest leader.
I'd like to discuss the Vaktovian war.
When we began the war, I was not the leader of TGI, I had given it to Tober. TGI was able to rally over 100 troops, we were gaining victories over Vaktovia left and right. The war looked good for TGI, the war looked as though we were in the clear for a win.
I had left to an international fencing training camp and run off with my girlfriend and basically disappeared for months. A lot went on in between but I came back. TGI was a mess. Apparently, Vaktovia had made some modifications to their base, making it more difficult for TGI to win, and Vaktovia began gaining more and more. I will not go into much detail about this.
But as Vaktovia began to gain more wins, TGI had begun using questionable tactics. Leaving servers, avoiding defending, modifying the base, working towards group bans. TGI was losing the war in-game and thus resorted to using the war terms to pull a victory and using other tactics to avoid defeat.
The war became a series of standstills, arguments, cease fires...
When I came back, we decided to end the war, claiming stalemate, some of us claiming victory... it was bad. Nobody had an answer, months of fighting resulting in no real outcome. It was disappointing.
I spoke with Vaktus and VAK generals on many occasions. Vaktus and I even had a chat in private where he offered to retry the fight, on fair grounds, apologizing for breaking war terms and asked for another chance. I was thinking that the right thing would be to either accept these terms and have a fair fight, or to admit the truth. The truth that I was afraid of VAK, that many of my officers were indeed afraid of VAK, and because of this fear, did not defend bases or raid as often, killing TGI's activity.
But I responded with refusal, saying that the war was over for Vaktovia had broken so many terms we would not fight them again. But the truth is, I was afraid. I was afraid of losing, of tarnishing our undefeated record. I was so concerned with holding on to the "TGI is undefeated, we are unstoppable and thus the best clan out there" record.
But I realized, an undefeated record means nothing if you did not obtain it through fair means. Perhaps VAK did commit some shady actions by making their base more unfair after nearly losing the war at the start. However, I eventually refused to fight due to my fear of losing. My pride for TGI and my personal pride would be put on the line if I accepted another fight.
This was an endurance war. And whether it be because of unfair advantage, sheer skill, flaming, all those broken war terms, yadda yadda, TGI broke some terms too, and I refused to continue the fight.
TGI gave up that fight. I'm not going to let a false sense of TGI victory over VAK spread. Because if we believe or live up to that lie, TGI itself will forever hold dishonesty within itself.
I am not setting aside personal pride, or my pride for TGI. TGI is still, a thriving, powerful group. I plan on continuing to lead it, and making it continue to thrive.
I want to be honest and set an example. A leader should be able to admit defeat, or when he/she has given up, rather than avoid it. My group should be strong because of its community and honor. What good is an undefeated record if it is undeserving.
This is my confession.
~Emperor Castellian Nevermoor~ |