The Sad Death of Cluster Alliances

[Hardin]

Although I am having great fun this round there is one thing that saddens me and that is the death of cluster alliances and their accompanying intrigue, backstabbing and general mayhem.

Now I could be wrong but as a pe0n in one of the largest clusters it has become increasingly obvious that cluster alliances have become pretty much irrelevant and fairly useless.

Why is this?

Well I think the change of the of the incluster eta bonus from eta 2 to 1 (for defence) and the complete removal of an attacking eta bonus has played a considerable role - alongside the introduction of Overburn Defence and Attack and the randomisation of the universe.

In the past galaxies often lived or died by the availability of cluster defence (particularly against incluster attacks). With the removal of any eta attacking advantage there is no benefit to be gained from incluster wars and as such there is no need for galaxies incluster to bad together for protection.

....and Overburn defence means that alliances can now protect thier members at low etas almost as effectively as any cluster alliance.

Yes there is still an eta 1 advantage for incluster defence but with the randomisation of the universe people do not take advantage of it because cluster alliances now offer potentially more hazards than benefits.

Many people will no longer idle in cluster channels because they know people from oppsing alliances are sitting there and reporting on every move they make. When they are online, when they are offline, when they are attacking, when they are defending etc etc etc.

Yes this did happen b4...but when cluster alliances and friendships were often very important people would be less reluctant to cause trouble for people who may the next day be their saviour..

ATM the risk of involvement in cluster alliances outweighs the potential eta advantage and means that cluster alliances are doomed.

So why do I think this is sad? Well as someone who enjoys the political cut and thrust and interplay of the game almost as much as actually roiding I find it sad that one more source of intrigue has been removed.

Some cluster wars were fantastic events in there own right and it is sad that this element of the game has been removed.

Cluster alliances also opened the game up to new players. How many people in top alliances are there as a result of impressing in cluster activities - my impression is certainly a great many. Great alliances and attack groups also grew out of cluster ties. This no longer happens.

In a way the PA World has shrunk with the irrelevance of the cluster alliance. People now socialise with their alliance, attack group and galaxy and one other avenue of interaction (and new friends) has been removed...

Am I over-emphasisng the importance of the old style clusters and are you also sad (or even happy) to see them go?

[Storebo]

yes.... the previous rounds it was crucial to get into the clusters or u would die... And only eta -1 is not something u wanna struggle for.. build up something gain control etc.. I don't even bother really... only motivation is eta -1.. there is no danger staying out of the cluster alliance either so focus more on your alliance and the new overburn thingy.

[hAl]

Cluster alliances always belonged to the big alliances. Smaller alliances always lose out on them. I think especially people from alliances that have had cluster control in the past will miss them.

Another thing is that clusters made for huge amounts of accountswapping especially to get allies in the same cluster. This is much less interesting then it was last round cause the cluster means much less of a threat in attacks and gives much less defensive protection as well.

Cluster were interesting but also often something that was heavily exploited. The loss of them in a stategic way I therefore find hardly a problem.

On the other hand clusters were a great way to meat new people on IRC and to have an fun politically challeging channel. I kind of miss that too. Clusters were good as a social place and I miss them for that.

hAl

[Orion Treet]

yeah, I miss cluster alliances as well It was always great fun, even you weren't in a stronger one. Cluster wars added excitement to the game and a political aspect. Same thing since priv galls have gone, another big shame.

[Sjor]

overburn defence killed it all
now even a total n00b can def himself and there is no big deal if u don't have m8es in same cluster the OB def makes it all even
sad to loose this oportunity to meet new ppl

remeber how i meet you hardin bejb?

[Coaxmetal]

Originally posted by Sjor
overburn defence killed it all
now even a total n00b can def himself and there is no big deal if u don't have m8es in same cluster the OB def makes it all even
sad to loose this oportunity to meet new ppl

remeber how i meet you hardin bejb?

You haven't tried overburning in c, have you?

Hmm yeah agree on most above, but i also think that this being the last round has to do with it.
Meeting new ppl is less interesting.
Making new friendships was always to benefit from it in later rounds etc, ofc there are a lot of 'real' friendships grown from this, but tbh i dont' really c why I should spend hrs of talking with ppl i'll c for 1 more round in my cluster channel, instead of talking to RL friends with beer
this apart from the more technical points made above.

Altho i have to say i do miss it, I loved cluster wars and endless talking about who could be cluster-HC and have cluster control. Crushing little rogue cluster alliances and being crushed by the big cluster alliances *sigh* it'll never be the same again..

cluster alliances never work because one or more gc's always wants to rule over the rest and then the alliance falls into civil war

[Demented Turnip]

Originally posted by Buzzsword
cluster alliances never work because one or more gc's always wants to rule over the rest and then the alliance falls into civil war

Maybe those are the cluster alliances you've in, but overall I think that would be the exception, at least in my experience.

My take on cluster alliances this round is that they were pretty much useless from the beginning, and the only thing they were really used for was intel on your cluster mates. T'was probably a silly thing to be online with or without a bouncer.

[Auro]

/me still have fond memories of #k9teen

Ahhh, the nice spamming contest between me, Eq, and FlyingT

[Sjor]

Originally posted by Coaxmetal


You haven't tried overburning in c, have you?

no need i got myself covered even if i missed the first incoming tick
(out of cluster as i was in the weakest cluster in uni)

best is when some1 says: i have massive incs eta 6 now but take your time we can cover it also next tick (poor guys attacking with eta 9)

[Silva baby]

its predictable
cluster alliances sorta died during play to pay

[Ditcher]

Always fun to ban those losers who show up first time when they have uncovered incommings.


"When everything else fails. Try yelling for def in cluster channels"