Sieged Cities Next to Tournament Squares Stoke Unrest on Server

Tensions have begun to rise throughout the server as the issue of cities directly adjacent to tournamanent squares and the use of exodus to aggressively place cities filled with troops to dominate regions have become a contentious issue.

“Cities Next To Tournament Squares” has popped up as a lively debate in the forums in the wake of a growing conflict between StA and The Grey Company [G!] over the placement of cities next to tournament squares. StA first razed a city belonging to Mr Damage, which was placed next to a tournament marker and filled with troops to easily dominate the square. StA decided to siege the city in order to remove it from contention, leading to a retaliatory siege from G!.

The ensuing chat in GC the other day ratcheted up the rhetoric over the issue:

[20:11]<System> ** News Flash: DePaul’s [StA] sprawling city of Dwarf Fortress is now under siege by Nowhere Man’s [G!] sprawling city of Nowhere [20:11]<Tiki> DePaul under siege? [20:15]<DePaul> Not cool. No tournament advantage. [20:17]<DePaul> I’m calling cowardice on The Grey Company – they have an issue with Quentin, yet choose to attack a less threatening player. [20:18]<Tiki> Dep, that sucks! [20:18]<Azhag the Slaughterer> That is sad, DePaul. [20:19]<DePaul> If my city helped them in any way for the tourney – then sure, all is fair. The city they chose – however – does not [20:20]<Tiki> So unjust, DeP [20:21]<DePaul> Anyone feel like helping me break a siege? Before Quentin – that is? [20:22]<Tiki> Sorry DeP, I’m pretty far away and small! [20:22]<Azhag the Slaughterer> I would if I was closer Depaul. [20:23]<DePaul> Thx everyone, even the thought helps. This is just bullying [20:23]<Belegar Ironhammer> they have 2 accounts mate [20:23]<Belegar Ironhammer> surely you can stop them [20:23]<Azhag the Slaughterer> ^^^ [20:23]<Mr Damage> Exactly [20:23]<Azhag the Slaughterer> They seems to be the same person. [20:24]<DePaul> They already killed my troops, and the rest of my cities are far away and involved in actual tourney squares [20:24]<Belegar Ironhammer> but your cities seem to be ill placed [20:24]<Mr Damage> Happy to discus a resolution but STA offered no such thing when they sieged us [20:24]<Belegar Ironhammer> well your alliance can probably help [20:25]<DePaul> They will – just asking here as well [20:25]<Azhag the Slaughterer> Will you pay if someone does help?? [20:26]*TomBombadil likes the way Azhag it thinking [20:29]<DePaul> Azhag, yes – I’d pay [20:29]<Mistery> DePaul – how’s you [20:30]<Azhag the Slaughterer> How much? [20:32]<DePaul> Getting sieged for no reason Mistery, you? [20:32]<Mistery> err not getting sieged and I’m sorry to hear that you are [20:32]<Mr Damage> There’s a reason [20:33]<Mistery> I assumed there was Mr Damage considering DePaul stuck his tounge out *sighs [20:34]<DePaul> My tongue was because I am a playful sort – Mr. Damage believes there is a reason, however we disagree about it [20:34]<Mr Damage> Maybe we should have paid someone to break the STA, then we wouldn’t be here today [20:34]<TomBombadil> As I understand Quentin&Alt destroyed Mr Damage’s city that was placed directly next to tournament square full of troops before those troops could be used… and now Mr Damage wishes to take on an entire alliance instead of just Quentin? [20:34]<Mr Damage> But we prefer to sort out our own business [20:35]*TomBombadil prefers staying away from all that war business [20:35]<AJJ> Indeed, Tom [20:35]<Mr Damage> Correct Tom [20:35]<Belegar Ironhammer> so this is a revenge op [20:35]<Belegar Ironhammer> as a dwarf; I like it very much hehe [20:35]<Mr Damage> So come and destroy us STA as that will no doubt be the end result [20:35]<Azhag the Slaughterer> that was a as*hole move [20:35]<Mistery> wow is all that I can say to that [20:36]<Azhag the Slaughterer> I mean what Quentin did [20:37]<.squarepusher> its a grey area somewhat. [20:37]<TomBombadil> would make more sense if the revenge was targeted at the correct person Belegar… [20:37]<Stukahh> Not the way it works Tom [20:38]<Belegar Ironhammer> well actions taken by one alliance member can often be seen as the whole alliance [20:38]<Belegar Ironhammer> even if only one alliance member takes action [20:38]<Mr Damage> You can use your tactics Tom but ours work for us [20:38]<MicroMe> *wonders if I can last 3h 21m* [20:39]<Belegar Ironhammer> retaliatory strikes against weaker members make seemingly immune alliance leaders put more thought into their actions [20:39]<Stukahh> Bel, indeed [20:39]<nragara> From my understanding STA have a different view to many alliances on what the consider is attacable during a tourney. [20:39]*TomBombadil wonders if Mr Damage is planning on carrying out his revenge attack against everyone in Illy. He certainly seems to have the [REDACTED] (round things)! [20:41]<DePaul> I offered an alternative to Mr. Damage – even keeping myself as the target – that was declined [20:41]<nragara> better than toast in the cd player

In comments on the Illyriad forum, Mr Damage clarified what he felt was justification for placement of his original city and targeting of DePauL

Plenty of players have relocated either next to or in close proximity to tournament sqs both in the past as well as during the current event. Some do it during the tournament or in the lead up, others have done it in between and hardly been noticed. I am neither for it or against it but simply copied the tactic from others. STA were well within their rights to attack,siege or raze the city as there is no rules against it just as people have similarly stated here about loacting cities next to sqs. In our instance we felt that razing the city was too extreme and advised them that we considered it an act of war. Combined with the fact that we are a 3 person alliance that would have no real influence on the tournament. Initial contact at the time with STA was not forthcoming but they eventually let us know their motives and razed our city.We have now retaliated and razed an STA city and consider the matter closed. STA or moreso Quentin see it differently and have vowed to hunt us down at some point. Such is their right. We were advised after the fact that it was only Quentin and his alt who acted and no one else from STA was involved. We accepted this on face value but are of the view that if you are in an alliance then your alliance is as much responsible for its members and their action as the reverse. We have learned from the whole thing that placing a city near a tourney sq is something that not everyone agrees with and probably is only something that a large alliance can support. Going forward we will avoid the practice next tournament if we are still around.

Debate over the issue continues, with some players arguing that a tournament should only concentrate battles on the squares themselves, while others arguing that when players ship in cities filled with troops to sit next to the square, the act of exodus itself clearly implicates the city in the battle for controlling the square. The Illyriad forum poll, the majority of people who responded favorably to the poll believe that cities exodused next to tournament squares should be fair game.

Editor’s Note: the Times was out of the office unexpectedly for a few days due to a death in the family. We’re working to catch up on reports.