In a lot of ways, I'm a terrible coalition mate. However, there are some reasons for alleging this with which I agree, and some with which I do not agree. I do not agree that my opposition to the request "Can you kill my enemies so I can get all their land and cities?" is grounds for labeling me a bad coalition mate.
I'm currently in four games, and, in two of those, I was essentially asked this today.
In one game, a coalition mate (Indonesia) asked if I (Japan) could clear out the abandoned navy ships of an inactive enemy (Philippines). "Could you send your task force along the Philippines coasts and clear out their ships so I can get my troops in there?"
In another game, a coalition mate called for immediate help from me. He was working on a completely different continent. I look over there to see what''s going on. Nothing's really wrong. He's just having trouble conquering some cities because his opponent has some units in his cities. He's not in trouble, he's just not winning quickly.
Look, I'm not against teamwork or assisting in defending someone. That's what coalitions are for, right? We have to take on a big, bad opponent? Okay, let's plan it together and do it together, if you want to. You're a poor little country and some big bully is trying to invade you just because they can? I'm on my way to help defend you. But this whole, "I'm in over my head in a fight that I picked on my own" thing, or the "I didn't build the right military to take this guy out" thing? I'm not super excited to help out with those two.
Why? Why do I have to be such a selfish jerk? Why can't I just help out a coalition mate? All the VPs are going to the coalition anyway, right? Who cares where they come from?
Well, because I'm tired of playing everyone's game for them. You're Indonesia, I'm Japan, and your inactive opponent is the Philippines. If you can't beat their navy yourself at some point, you're doing it wrong. Why am I taking time away from MY progress and beating up MY ships that I spent time and resources building so that YOU can get cities and territories? Because YOU didn't focus enough on navy? How did that become MY debt to pay? The enemy player is inactive, and I have other stuff to do, so just make your own ships and go take Philippines if you want to. OR don't take Philippines because you don't have the ships and you don't want to build them, and *I* will come over there and take Philippines for myself when I have time.
Why can't I come destroy your enemy's defenses in their cities that you can't get through on a completely different continent? Because I'm doing my own stuff, man. I'm not your reserve force just sitting around waiting for you to need extra troops. I have battles and wars of my own, and my forces are committed to those. So I'm supposed to stop my own progress now to come over there and make sure you succeed at yours? You decided to attack that person, you figure out how to beat them, OR give up and wait until we're all ready to perform a joint attack. BUT, if I can take that enemy out on my own, I don't want/need you lurking over my shoulder during the fights and then jumping forward to claim land and cities (saying, "Well, I was the one fighting them; I just needed some help.") after I win those fights. Handle yo bidness or get out the way, and I'll handle it without you.
I'm currently in four games, and, in two of those, I was essentially asked this today.
In one game, a coalition mate (Indonesia) asked if I (Japan) could clear out the abandoned navy ships of an inactive enemy (Philippines). "Could you send your task force along the Philippines coasts and clear out their ships so I can get my troops in there?"
In another game, a coalition mate called for immediate help from me. He was working on a completely different continent. I look over there to see what''s going on. Nothing's really wrong. He's just having trouble conquering some cities because his opponent has some units in his cities. He's not in trouble, he's just not winning quickly.
Look, I'm not against teamwork or assisting in defending someone. That's what coalitions are for, right? We have to take on a big, bad opponent? Okay, let's plan it together and do it together, if you want to. You're a poor little country and some big bully is trying to invade you just because they can? I'm on my way to help defend you. But this whole, "I'm in over my head in a fight that I picked on my own" thing, or the "I didn't build the right military to take this guy out" thing? I'm not super excited to help out with those two.
Why? Why do I have to be such a selfish jerk? Why can't I just help out a coalition mate? All the VPs are going to the coalition anyway, right? Who cares where they come from?
Well, because I'm tired of playing everyone's game for them. You're Indonesia, I'm Japan, and your inactive opponent is the Philippines. If you can't beat their navy yourself at some point, you're doing it wrong. Why am I taking time away from MY progress and beating up MY ships that I spent time and resources building so that YOU can get cities and territories? Because YOU didn't focus enough on navy? How did that become MY debt to pay? The enemy player is inactive, and I have other stuff to do, so just make your own ships and go take Philippines if you want to. OR don't take Philippines because you don't have the ships and you don't want to build them, and *I* will come over there and take Philippines for myself when I have time.
Why can't I come destroy your enemy's defenses in their cities that you can't get through on a completely different continent? Because I'm doing my own stuff, man. I'm not your reserve force just sitting around waiting for you to need extra troops. I have battles and wars of my own, and my forces are committed to those. So I'm supposed to stop my own progress now to come over there and make sure you succeed at yours? You decided to attack that person, you figure out how to beat them, OR give up and wait until we're all ready to perform a joint attack. BUT, if I can take that enemy out on my own, I don't want/need you lurking over my shoulder during the fights and then jumping forward to claim land and cities (saying, "Well, I was the one fighting them; I just needed some help.") after I win those fights. Handle yo bidness or get out the way, and I'll handle it without you.