Jan 19 2009
TW - Enough Is Enough
TW = Tribal Wars
RW = Real World
That’s how the “believers” in this game refer to their life. It’s more like a religion that a bunch of people grouped together to play a game. Tribal Wars requires a person with the right makeup to continue to play. I have learned that I am not one of them. I know that it isn’t fulfilling anymore. I’ve met up with Mr. Frustration and Mr. Anxiety and very recently Mr. Despair. Games are supposed to be about fun and this one isn’t fun for me anymore. One of my tribe mates said “No one ever wins this game.” I don’t think he realizes how profound that statement truly is.
And I came to the realization as to why. I thought it had something to do with the direction our tribal leader was taking us. I’ll call him Ernesto after Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the noted revolutionist. I don’t think its a coincidence that they are both from the same city in Argentina. They both understand the intricacies of destruction and killing. I don’t like to do either. I like to build, to create, to develop things. That’s why writing is a good fit for me.
One of my neighbours in the game is all but 14. He doesn’t understand the game. He wants to build things. And I continued to destroy his building blocks which is a game requirement. At first, he whined and complained and used a name for his village that I thought was offensive—”Hippies Die Here.” How does a 14 year old get these ideas? So I continued to attack “Junior” periodically.
Eventually, he asked why I was doing this to him. And we began to communicate. I told him I didn’t think his village name was respectful and that I would destroy him. I talked to him like the other players do to each other. It felt hollow. I was gaining no satisfaction in the deeds. So he asked what do you think I should call it then. I said you figure that out. I teach snot-nosed little kids like you lessons in life. I was playing the game the way it is intended.
He changed the name to “We Come In Peace”. Out of the mouths of babes.
I didn’t know what to do next. So I started to try and explain that this game is not for you and you need to try something with adventure and learn. He has signed up for Facebook and will join me in the RW to do something that will create and not destroy, as I suggested he should try. He reminds me of another snot-nosed kid I once knew. He thought he had all the answers. He knew nothing. That was me at his age.
So I’m working on my exit strategy for the game. I don’t think I should just walk away from my tribe mates like so many players do once they realize that this game takes a special kind of commitment. I need to leave a legacy. Something that they might remember me by.
Interestingly enough, Mr. Frustration, Mr. Anxiety and Mr. Despair have all gone away since I have decided on this path.
The tribe hasn’t been challenged much and has grown in leaps and bounds with really nothing new for the tribe to sink their teeth into. So I’m waiting for the right moment. It’s coming soon.We are planning a group attack of some kind. Ernesto has declared our next step. It’s been delayed so I have some time to build up a little more. I don’t know what my silence will do because I no longer respond to any mail including other tribes that know we are going to attack.There’s treachery everywhere.
I’m going to recall any support I have in other tribe mates villages, at that time. They may have some support in my villages but since I haven’t responded to Ernesto’s inquiry, I highly doubt it.
I will send 1 Spear to Ernesto’s main village—it’s called a trip wire.
I will then leave the tribe and then I will commence a series of attacks at one particular target—some/most/all of Ernesto’s villages. I know I cannot survive but I am not concerned about that at all. The tribe will have a new and difficult challenge. What will they do next? I have some trusted friends in the tribe, if they are still playuing. What will their reaction be?
The attacks will be underway as you read this. It won’t be posted till after the campaign is underway. It is suicide, but I need to do it. I need to learn something more from this game experience. I am not suicidal in nature. Suicide only leaves deep scars for those that are left behind. I know this to be true. My father committed suicide at about the time in my life when I was the same age as Ernesto. I hope to gain some further understanding as to why.
And then I will move on and explore and build in the Magical Mystery Tour called Hammerfall. It’s more my style. I think Junior’s new village name triggered my new outlook.
The tribe will learn some valuable lessons from this exercise. They will determine their own fate and I will continue to write about it for a time. I have given them no option. There is no possibility of my return because I choose not to return. I don’t know if this has ever happened in TW before but I doubt anyone will attempt to document it as I plan to do.
The next post will be “TW - It Continues”. Maybe we will both learn something of value from all this killing and destruction. Because we must never forget, this is a game, it isn’t life. Life has value. I can’t see the value in this game.
It’s interesting to me to note that this game is based in Germany. They do have a rather long history of killing and destruction. Not all of them of course, just the arrogant Nazi war machine. What would possess Edsel Ford to mix in those circles?
Money, money, money
