My Impression of Utopia Today

[Panthira]

I came back to Utopia on the urging of my husband - whom I met in Utopia in 2000 when he joined my kingdom. The kingdom doesn't matter. It's the alliances, the politicking, the diplomacy, and that I ran my kingdom using an Anarchist approach - successfully and with great fun! Anarchy isn't chaos like many would have you believe, and it, to me, is the very essence of what Utopia is about (maybe that is topic for another time and just mho). The fun? That's why we play, right? I enjoyed the heck out of this game, and met some of the most interesting, intelligent, Out-of-the-Box thinkers. I spent hours before a round calculating - by pen and paper - my strategy, with builds and long term planning. No one seems to actually do calculations themselves anymore? I have been ridiculed and scoffed at for playing beyond old school. Downright archaic, I am. It's all done by Upo, or whatever program. I did like Angel back in the day, but that was fine when the kingdom still used forums and communicated instantly. Now it's Upo this and Upo that, Munk... (Great work on your programs btw, no offense. I appreciate it, but now no one seems to think for themselves, because you all did it for them!)

Now, I say this coming back after many years of not playing. I am told everything has changed, and all provinces in a kingdom must be roughly the same size or it's a disadvantage. I worked my build. And then I depressingly changed my race, which I was excited about and unusual, according to the Monarch's wishes, and regretted the planning and days mulling over what I thought was my perfect build. I started fresh, with a race I really don't care for and with hours notice, but good of the kingdom, right? I am a team player. My build was working beautifully, but I was told no. You are too big. You are no good for us, and you just don't know how it is now.
I am being micromanaged, and having my wings clipped at every turn. I don't profess to be an expert, by any means! I mostly did what I was told, but I realize now that wasn't ok. i needed to stick to strategy, the one *I* designed and built. But I can't. I am being harassed for taking any turn that could be construed as independent (I was told it was disrespectful) of the Borg Collective that has become, according to everyone I have discussions with, the New Utopia.

That would get boring so fast! No.... couldn't be right.

I studied kingdoms and ran some numbers (pen and paper, ha!), and yeah, there are HUGE kingdoms, but their provinces are sickeningly all roughly the same size and NW, and not even that large. What am I looking at? Socialism? Communism (the ones with a few larger provs)? Dictatorships? Bots? Automatons? I have read it's not a democracy on these forum boards, but that one I sort of understand.
I get jazzed up by people's ideas and their creative ways of playing, as long as they are active, and find that so much cooler than maintaining the status quo so.... why again? Wars? To win the Great Utopian War I don't know about? Really, I am a newbie now, even though I played since 1998-2006 or 2007, there are new rules and the guide seems to be missing a whole lot, so I am unaware of how some things work.

I understand someone posted earlier about being upset about Utopia and how it seems like it's just sitting here till it dies. I don't know if that is true. I've only been here for a couple of weeks, but I am a little worried. This game means a lot more to some of us than some of you can imagine, I promise you. But it is what it is, and I feel powerless to do anything about it, even though I want to... as is my nature.

This is not a complaint about my kingdom, as it's newer and I don't intend on smearing anyone's Utopian name. This seems to be a general feeling from everyone I have mssged or spoken to about the game. I have spent the last two days not growing, not attending to more than the merest of province maintenance, because I was made to feel rotten and ignorant of New Utopia. Instead, I spent my stealth helping KD mates, instantly, and it helped. I didn't mind that part and rather enjoyed the interaction. We had more chat than ever, more interest than ever, and more successful hits without retals than ever. But then when I had no stealth left after two days of this, my pop balance was suffering dramatically. I couldn't find a target for gc and had almost no stealth left. I asked if anyone knew of any quick target with gc, and one of the KD mates gushed about how he found a great one, "but the gc is ALL mine. You can have the runes." BTW, I don't have ToG and I don't need runes. And I was sent to Upo. No help, no discussion, and honestly I hate going to Upo. I feel like there is MORE of a lack of communication than ever, and *that* might be my kd itself, I don't know. I have asked about other chat clients and nothing has come of it.

This is my re-entry into Utopia. I had steadied myself for sadness, but this is more agitating than I expected. The funny thing is, I still love playing the game, and the numbers. I love the comradere, when it exists. I like meeting people from all over the world, and sending mssgs to provinces I attack (or thieve) with an opening for discussion. Someone got a good amount of acres from me today, and I sent a mssg congratulating him, and thanking him for trimming my fat. I got nothing back. Oh well.

So what I am hearing is: Play what the kingdom wants you to play, stay in the range the collective wants you to be in or you can't find targets, money, participate in wars well. Your kd will disapprove if you veer off course and try something else - even, and especially, if it's successful. The kingdom will not take time to help you (upo! That's all you need now!), even when you are spent helping them. I have halted growing completely, which for my race is a death sentence for future growth for a very LONG time with fort, wars, and after war (sorry, forgot the acronym) and all of the consequences for trying to get resources outside of that framework. I shrugged and decided that it wasn't worth the fight to try to keep growing. I don't know if the round is over for me as far as being "successful", but I feel pretty bummed out and not excited anymore. I am still learning, so maybe I have this all wrong... perhaps I am spoiled with some of the rounds I played in the past. Perhaps I am just an Anarchist who often gave my monarchy to others in the kd in time of need so they could reap the benefits. In the past, I planned with my kdmates for strategies during war, and they had some great ideas that helped us all. I was chosen as the Voice of the Kingdom by being Monarch, but my KDmates were all on equal footing, and I wanted them to be heard and successful. We made our virtual, long forgotten mark, by playing that way.

And with that, I have almost run out of steam.

BTW, why does my stealth take 14 hours to regen ~40%? Maybe that is correct, as I am not a rogue, but the number patterns don't add up.

I can only guess this kind of thread has been posted numerous times. I'll spin my wheels, but I felt I needed to speak out. I was having a blast, and I do like some of the changes. <<=== Seeing the positive.
I don't want to be all, down with Utopia, because I could never be that way. Pls tell me, fellow Utopians, is what I am seeing correct? Is this how it is here now in the New Utopia?

(If my Monarch reads this, I don't know what to say. Don't take it personally? I am discouraged.)

BTW, your avatar is extremely creepy, Bishop. ;)

[MyNameIsMatija]

That's how it is... my way or the highway sort of thing, at least if you want to stay competitive. It's pretty hard to find the balance but many KDs will expect you to be a drone, get used to it or start your own or join some KD that's dedicated to not be confined by the rules you speak of. It's fine if you see it as a collective goal and everyone is on the same page which is not the case in your KD by the sound of things. Someone once told me selfishness kills KDs and this is so very true because people start comparing their actions to other peoples actions and it all goes downhill. Basically it's infectious so to speak.

I understand that this game can mean a lot to some people and I can relate but you need to know what you want to do in it, do you want to stay competitive or build your own province the way that you find rewarding but concede that this will not be done in the most organized of KDs.

[Anri]

I enjoyed reading this. Utopia is a sad place.

[Panthira]

I hear what you are saying. Good points, and thank you. Actually, I did not veer too far off course, nor did I allow myself to go more than 50 acres above what I was told to go, but I had a plan. Also, my race is dependent on growth to maintain a healthy economy. I could play her another way, but that would require GC to rebuild again, and it still won't be successful, mathematically speaking. She will do ok, but not like I had her going. Strong, while not too large. I held my own for a very long time without a hit, and the kd gushes about our nw. Considering we are missing several provs and I am the largest by a little even still, well... that seems odd.

[Panthira]

Thank you. It is... but the framework is still here to become a happy place. Chin up.

[MyNameIsMatija]

I don't know how your exact KD works but try discussing it with your leadership before doing anything on your own and see where that goes.

[Artic Fox]

Not to mention, the threatening waves from big kingdoms to give cfs or war. Bend or get raped.
& micromanage of provinces to the extend of how many thieves you have. Tsk tsk tsk tsk

[Panthira]

I don't know how your exact KD works but try discussing it with your leadership before doing anything on your own and see where that goes.

I tried, and tried, and tried, and I was told this is how it works now. Period. On my own?

[Panthira]

Not to mention, the threatening waves from big kingdoms to give cfs or war. Bend or get raped.
& micromanage of provinces to the extend of how many thieves you have. Tsk tsk tsk tsk

I am not up on how all of that works now. I was told how it works, and I am not seeing the benefit of the extreme structure of wars. Even the supposed positives don't seem to outweigh the negatives in the limitations of what you can and cannot do.

[MyNameIsMatija]

I tried, and tried, and tried, and I was told this is how it works now. Period. On my own?

Ok well like I said, leave them if you can't deal with it or concede your independence... Sorry but that's how it is :(

[Panthira]

Ok well like I said, leave them if you can't deal with it or concede your independence... Sorry but that's how it is :(

That is so unfortunate, because again, I was told this is how it is in most of Utopia. Unless you are in the ghettos, then expect to die.

[Panthira]

Not to mention, the threatening waves from big kingdoms to give cfs or war. Bend or get raped.
& micromanage of provinces to the extend of how many thieves you have. Tsk tsk tsk tsk

What is the point? I am not understanding. This would discourage so many players with continuing or enjoying the game for long. I must be missing something...

[MyNameIsMatija]

Imagine if you were in an orchestra and your orchestra wanted to perform a certain symphony but you had another song in mind that you like better, you can't play your own tune while the rest of the orchestra plays the symphony, how would that sound?

[DonJuan]

Well, seems like your experience was also magnified by the low quality of kingdom, but your assessment of Utopia is correct for the most part.

Of course there is more math nvolved than just the ones that pertain to your province. Obviously NW based gains, gbp, and geo-political landscape also play key factors in whstever you do amd whoever you play with...for example the reason why war kingdoms prefer to be small (in general) is a) better war targets and b) nw-based gains are in their favor (smaller provinces gain more when hitting same nw is bigger)

Obviously this is all generalized but what in trying to get at is tho seems like your a fine player, many returning players make the mistake assuming that their old methods and calculations are still valid. Also know that in a smaller gane, land is now a liability...if you do not use acres effectively or defend it adequately, it can be taken from you like any other resource.

Now I totally suggest leaving that kingdom your in only because there is faster communication clients available that other people use (IRC) and there are kingdons willing to teach old players new tricks.

[Leonidas]

That is so unfortunate, because again, I was told this is how it is in most of Utopia. Unless you are in the ghettos, then expect to die.

Arguably it's what sets the non-ghettoes apart from the ghettoes. Some degree of skill will make up for a lack of military-style discipline in the ranks, perhaps. But taking a look at it from the other side of the coin, there are tons of ghetto monarchs out there trying to control provinces which won't listen to common sense, who are getting farmed in and out of wars, and will spend half the age clearing out inactives.

However not fun your current situation is, I believe that is even less fun (unless you're a bit of a masochist)

The assumption here is that your monarch does have some basic strategy right, and is not just blindly following what he heard someone say was the right thing to do. If that's the problem, there're probably other kingdoms where you can get sensible monarchs, but you'll still have to largely follow kingdom orders.