Founderless Dispatch IV: 20% of Our Board are Raiders

[Daytime to Night]

erm...

isn't this what defenders are already doing?

Yes, we are a defender region who already work with existing defender regions. However we have always had a community of our own, with our own history and reputation, and it seemed like a fun thing to share a region together (having previously been a community of multiple regions).

[Ever-Wandering Souls]

Well Karp had been dispatched undercover to win the competition with his stirring rendition of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" (complete with teddy bear outfit), thus allowing him to choose Founderless as next year's host, but that plan was busted.

As a backup, Falc's been nominated to don his sequined jumpsuit and give us his best Elton impersonation with "I'm Still Standing", the thought being that no-one will want to host (or attend) another RaiderVision after that monstrosity.

The FRA winning and taking Host would be incredibly poetic. Best work on having a really good entry! (and still being here in a year )

[Dendarii Mercenaries]

For what it worth, we contacted the the best remnant of the FRA available to us, prior to initially adopting the orphaned event Former Arch Chancellor Wopruthian gave his approval to adapt content including the concept and rules, on the condition that the heritage/inspiration coming from FRA was explicitly acknowledged - as it still is in the handbook today.

I would hope that, as expressed alresdy here, no one feels the need to do anything silly like "take back" an event that was abandoned, found a new home, and is thriving there. But hey, if we ever hit a snag, I too would hope someone steps in to keep it alive once more!

Scared of competition? Though to be fair it would be bad taste imo.

[Federal Republic Of America And The Cari]

We're running a pool on how long it will take before we impeach Falc, if anyone would like to join in.

3 weeks

Heyyyyy

[Earthly Heaven]

Thank [violet], we've been shit about Defender awards since you've left. Get planning!

This was one of the first things mentioned - we will be glad to host the Defender Awards again, community-willing.

Do this, my son.

[Another Sedge]

Update #1. The last one doesn't count.

We're still here!

Yes, for those of you who thought Founderless was nothing but a really late April Fools' Day joke, you were WRONG. We might not have done anything. We may have nearly closed the place down. But we're BACK. And better than ever. That may be setting the bar quite low, but we have to start somewhere. On which note:

Sedge is Unretired

-ish. Yes, I'm writing these updates, because 1) I'm the best at it, and 2) no-one else wanted to. As a Game Mod I have to be careful* with what I say. For the sake of balance, I will therefore stick to subtly undermining Founderless via satire until such time as they cotton on (my money's on 2022; if the place is still around). I'm not actually defending. Or doing any real work, I'm just here to point and laugh.

End of an Era



Our esteemed and now erstwhile leader 6ixDaze has stepped down as Executive Director. Note: this is the person formerly known as Falconias, who decided to re-brand because that name was the embarrassing concoction of a teenager. And then picked "6ixDaze" as his grown-up identity. We thank him for his service, and he's now been shuffled off to the retirement home position of "Recruitment Director" where his new, mature persona will surely help him relate to the young players flooding onto NationStates.

6ixDaze's term was summed up by one wholly impartial observer as "not being quite as disastrous as his time as FRA Arch Chancellor", which seems fair, though it doesn't really take into account that Founderless never really had much to ruin. For a Falc term we're rating this a solid 4.5/10.

Beginning of a Better Era

Founderless' new Board of Directors has been rejigged to the following:

Executive Director: New Cordian Empire
Defence Director: Karputsk
Intelligence Director: Numero Capitan
Foreign Affairs Director: Witchcraft and Sorcery
Recruitment Director: 6ixDaze
Communications Director: Sedge
Social Director: Jamie

This was announced with all the proffesionalism you've come to expect of us:

Sorry, I don't know New Cordian Empire or Witchcraft and Sorcery well enough to poke fun at them. Working on that. Jamie's main job as Social Director will be to massage the bruised egos of Board members who have read this update.

Missing Persons Alert

Our Intelligence Director disappeared approximately two days ago, and for professional reasons I probably shouldn't joke about why. However, we do need him back. We're therefore issuing this alert to all invader regions - please check in with your members to see if Numero Capitan is among you. He answers to many names, including:

Daytime to Night
Ursidae's Dad
Red Back
Natipac Oremun
Shell
Jak wait, I'm not going there

If you find him, please let us know and take good care of him in the meantime. Rumours that this is all staged and he's going deep undercover are strenuously denied.

Bear With Us

The Founderless Rangers have been relatively quiet of late, but Defence Director Karputsk has assured us that plans are afoot. His team have been spotted from afar building a large wooden bear on wheels, which is intended to be gifted to The Black Hawks. Please take it into the Council chambers, where it can stand for evermore as a token of our trust and mutual respect.

Here's something to warm your hearts whilst you await its delivery:



Other Stuff

• We don't have a Security Council Director, but if we did, they'd be working on Liberate The New Inquisition.
• Any regions that have embassies with Founderless can enjoy reading this again on their forums when it gets posted there. Sorry, 10KI will have to wait for someone else to do that for me... I think I'm still banned from their forums for the Devonitians coup
• If they let me post another, the next update will be in about a month.

* having reached this footnote after reading the rests of the update, you may disagree.

[Velvet Elvis]

Sedge, we may not be that well acquainted yet, but all you (or anyone else, for that matter) needs to know about my approach to foreign affairs is this.

In other words, no sweat, you old farts are in good hands.

[6ixDaze]

Sedge hasn't even been Communications Director for 2 hours.

[Benevolent Thomas]

I'm not actually defending. Or doing any real work, I'm just here to point and laugh.

Boo this man!

[Comfed]

Don’t tell me you’re going to be one of those regions with a discord and no forum...

[Witchcraft and Sorcery]

No. We won't be.

[The New Cordian Empire]

I hereby pledge not to turn Founderless into a shithole.

[Boda]

I laughed. It’s glad to see that Founderless is also a fan of shitposting

[Tim-Opolis]

It's no coincidence that the return of Sedgistan has coincided with yet another statement victory for defenders tonight in Japan

[The New Cordian Empire]

It's no coincidence that the return of Sedgistan has coincided with yet another statement victory for defenders tonight in Japan

FRAnon confirmed.

[Goobergunchia]

We don't have a Security Council Director, but if we did, they'd be working on Liberate The New Inquisition.

.... ugh, this is a tempting resolution to write.

[Velvet Elvis]

Founderless Statement regarding the region of NationStates

Today a telegram was sent to all residents of the region of NationStates. This telegram was composed by the Founderless Board of Directors and sent by our Delegate Northern Chittowa. The Board was of the opinion that, with the ongoing disturbance and unrest in the region, the region’s residents should know about their delegate’s dark past and open their eyes to the reason for the events of November 28/29. Especially since many natives have expressed serious contempt for raiding and raiders, we thought someone needed to inform them directly of Mikeswill’s hypocrisy. He has counseled, sheltered, and enabled raiders throughout his entire history, and he claimed to be keeping his constituents in NationStates safe while enabling the pillaging and destruction of countless other innocent communities behind their backs.

In addition, we would take this opportunity to respond to comments Mikeswill made in this post on the NationStates RMB.

a) regarding raider attempts to raid NationStates. This is a logical fallacy. Just because raiders have attempted to raid NationStates does not mean Mikeswill does not sympathize with, support, or give counsel to raiders. The facts are not mutually exclusive and to claim that they are is a distraction and total misrepresentation.

b) Founderless did not participate in and does not condone the raid of NationStates. Had we known about it, the Rangers would certainly have deployed to stop it. The reason we sent the telegram is because we are tired of Mikeswill's holier-than-thou attempts to deny the ugly truth about why NationStates was put in this position.

c) For him to suggest that we are jealous of him or his "neutrality" is not only a farce, it is another distraction. End of story. Founderless is most certainly not neutral, and to claim that we are jealous of it is a feeble attempt to grasp at straws.

d) Certainly Mikeswill would not have participated in a raid during his nearly 17 years as delegate of NationStates. The point is that he has directly aided and abetted raiders through the founding of Ile de France, and he is now attempting to distract from this by claiming non-participation.

The Board stands by its decision.

Thank you,

Witchcraft and Sorcery/Velvet Elvis
Foreign Affairs Director, Founderless
-------------

Greetings! I message you with condolences for your region's recent invasion. As someone who has suffered through invasions, I know how traumatic it can be to see your community attacked in such a way.

Thankfully, it seems like the damage has not been lasting, and your region is secure again for the time being. However, it is worth considering why NationStates was attacked after so many years. Unfortunately the finger can only be pointed at one person - your Delegate, Mikeswill.

While Mike is a charismatic leader, and has managed the region well for many years, he also hides a darker side - as a leading invader figure, associating with some of the most notorious groups of raiders in the game, including the now-proscribed DEN, The Black Hawks, Lone Wolves United and more. His puppet nation The Highlander 1 is the founder of Ile de France a thankfully now inactive invader group that nonetheless was responsible for pillaging and destroying hundreds of innocent regions like yours in the past. As you can see in the region, it is tagged "Invader", features a pinned Guide to Invading dispatch, and the RMB has posts from some of the most disreputable invaders in the history of the game.

The only reason Mikeswill has been able to keep NationStates safe in the past is that he has sold his soul - and your region - in a Faustian bargain to the invaders. In return for his support, they leave your region alone.

This might make you wonder why your region was recently invaded - the answer is that it was attacked by a group of nations who have fallen victims to invaders (including to groups Mikeswill supports) in the past, and who wanted a small measure of revenge. Seeking revenge is an ugly emotion, but the people who attacked your region in this case at least elected a fellow native as Delegate and then left immediately, causing no lasting harm. Sadly, most other regions attacked by Mikeswill's fellow invaders suffer far greater damage.

This telegram is to meant to inform you of the background of your region's leader. It is clear from recent posts on NationStates' RMB that many of you share my distate for the invasion of regions. It is time to open your eyes and question your leader. Mikeswill may keep you safe, but at what cost? Does he deserve your endorsement if he continues to consort with invader groups? Is there a better way to do things?

These questions I leave to you to answer - but be aware; there are groups of like-minded nations out in the wider world who stand up to those who invade regions. We work tirelessly day and night to defend regions against the menace of destructive raiders. You, and your fellow region members have the power to change your region's direction. Perhaps NationStates could help to stand up to the bullies next time around?

It was signed by Northern Chittowa.

[Comfed]

Why did you feel that you had to send a mass TG on a situation that doesn’t involve you, to a region that you have no connection to? Why do you care?

[Falconias]

Why did you feel that you had to send a mass TG on a situation that doesn’t involve you, to a region that you have no connection to? Why do you care?

Because our mission is to look after the sovereignty of NationStates. Part of that is ensuring natives are able to have informed input. Mikeswill has been spoon-feeding NationStates natives a false narrative that they are somehow holier-than-thou and quite frankly we are tired of defenders being dragged through the mud. Their latest RMB post accuses us of being involved in the delegacy-tipping, which we were not, and churned out other lies, or convenient statements of fact that are simply dodging the truth (i.e. how he claims he has never participated in a raid - we know that, he's been delegate for 17 years, that wasn't the point).

At some point, someone had to call Mikeswill out on his crap. That is not likely to win us many fans in the peanut gallery. We don't care. NationStates' natives need to know their leader is not all that he makes himself out to be.

Sorry, 2nd edit - we've said this before, but for the record had we been aware of this occurring, we certainly would have deployed to defend against it, despite how we feel about Mikeswill. It is for the natives to decide who their delegate is, not Lily or TGW. They went about this the wrong way, in our opinion, though we are on the same page with regards to Mikeswill's open-secret raider sympathy track record.

[Velvet Elvis]

a situation that doesn’t involve you, to a region that you have no connection to? Why do you care?

... except that's literally what defending is.

We chose to do this because we care about the natives of NationStates and their right to the truth. We're tired of the half-truths and obfuscation and we believe the natives have the right to self-determination with regard to the truth, the real truth, about the person who claims to be protecting them while enabling raiders behind their backs.

[RiderSyl]

They went about this the wrong way, in our opinion, though we are on the same page with regards to Mikeswill's open-secret raider sympathy track record.

i do have a question, as a member of the org that lead the op against Mikeswill. What was one of the right ways that LILY could have gone about it?

[Falconias]

They went about this the wrong way, in our opinion, though we are on the same page with regards to Mikeswill's open-secret raider sympathy track record.

i do have a question, as a member of the org that lead the op against Mikeswill. What was one of the right ways that LILY could have gone about it?

Engage with the natives without resorting to military intervention, and take Mikeswill to task in GP and through dispatch. If natives become informed about his hypocritical past and continue to support him, sobeit. If Mikeswill imposes his will (no pun intended) through force, then military invention would be the last resort.

[RiderSyl]

i do have a question, as a member of the org that lead the op against Mikeswill. What was one of the right ways that LILY could have gone about it?

Engage with the natives without resorting to military intervention, and take Mikeswill to task in GP and through dispatch. If natives become informed about his hypocritical past and continue to support him, sobeit. If Mikeswill imposes his will (no pun intended) through force, then military invention would be the last resort.

the FRA might as well be the Fun Removed Alliance. I, like pretty much everyone else in LILY and lot of folks across R/D, play this game because it is entertaining. When reading a reply like the above, it's not a surprise at all that the moralist movement took a hefty backseat to TGW in recent years. Who wants to do all that stuff Falc just laid out? Who wants to meet all these arbitrary requirements before they can go after the prize? Defenders had to indoctrinate their own folks into the "raiders are IRL bad people and griefers that must be stopped for the greater good" nonsense in order to push people to actually update, and it's because nobody wants to play the game like that of their own accord. Defending was better off without this 'only one right way to play' garbage, and while it's nice to see the names involved active again, I don't welcome the return of what they'll be peddling. Play this game however you want, as long as it's within the rules of the site. That's how it should be.

[Aleister]

Because our mission is to look after the sovereignty of NationStates.

Only when that sovereignty aligns with your moralist, defender high horse.

Engage with the natives without resorting to military intervention, and take Mikeswill to task in GP and through dispatch.

NationStates' natives need to know their leader is not all that he makes himself out to be.

That sounds a lot more like propagandizing against the sitting government of a sovereign region to me. And the fragile reasoning you use to back this is that the natives of NationStates "don't really know who Mikeswill is". Mikeswill, the nation who was just their sitting delegate for 17 years?

NationStates was meme'd on with that raid and it was kind of funny. The FRA trying to use the attention on the event as a way to influence the region's natives to push their pro-defender agenda is not as funny.

[A Bloodred Moon]

Because our mission is to look after the sovereignty of NationStates.

So you send a telegram undermining their legitimate delegate while your buddies launch an attack against the region in question? It’d appear that defenders will only defend when you bow to their every demand.

Their latest RMB post accuses us of being involved in the delegacy-tipping,

The post you lot linked in the statement talks about defenders violating NationStates’ sovereignty to overthrow the legitimate delegate, which is completely accurate.

NationStates' natives need to know their leader is not all that he makes himself out to be.

So you sent them a telegram to undermine their delegate, after your fellow defenders overthrew his delegacy?

Sorry, 2nd edit - we've said this before, but for the record had we been aware of this occurring, we certainly would have deployed to defend against it, despite how we feel about Mikeswill.

Out of curiosity, was the large force staging to overthrow Mike spotted by other defenders?