It is true, Jae. You will see that from most experienced players. You just can't fight a battle against a populated and dense alliance without a proper foothold. Those footholds include getting onto enemy core islands, snuggling up closer and closer to enemy lines, and stacking enough support into an inactive who won't post a CQ-report and seeing if the enemy will take the bait and kill off their offense. Just proper warefare, lol. (Also, I am VERY guilty of that inactive thing

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But back to the topic at hand. It's almost the end of April, and apparently there are five months until WWs start, and there are very new changes to the world of Pella.
Top 12 Sink or Swim
1.
Mors Venit-Has been, and probably will be number one for a long time. New leadership, new players, new diplomacy. Players leaving for good has been a huge issue for this alliance-maybe the new leadership will be able to prevent that.
Swimmin'
For WWs, they will definitely be getting three WWs right off the bat, but I do not believe they will win WWs, due to how many alliances they have ticked off, and how many alliances will prevent them from winning this world.
2.
Fighting Unicorns/Too-Very unfortunate the number 1 player and fighter left the world, but these guys are still strong. Big internal strife, but they are still coming back and taking out their alliance jumpers mercilessly. Their problem will be cleaning their core(s) in time for WWs. .
Swimmin'
As for WWs, they will need to focus on at least one or two, since their core is not as nicely consolidated as MVs
3.
TGS and company-TGS has been strong against FU, even acting as a catalyst for GameError's leaving. But now, MV is on their tail, which will be one hellofa fight. With their southern front with FU and now eastern front again with MV, they will have a tough time working for WWs. Might be up to TGT to work on them. And speaking of TGT, inactives and players constantly leaving just absolutely blows. I'm biased for TGT, but I hope they can pull through.
Swim.
4.
Deus Mortis-goons of MV, former pandas, former FU jumpers. Personally hope FU takes them out while TGS works on MV.
Sink
WWs, MV will only take a select few for WWs
5.
Celtic Clan-Utmost respect for their leadership and players. They have been rocking Deus Vult's world! DV has lost a lot of players since Celtics came into the mix. Coincidence because they all had RL issues? Or did big bad Celtics ruin their egos?
Swimmin
WWs-They will definitely be contending the most with MV. But I am very unsure about how they will set up their core for WWs.
6.
Horsemen-TBH, I don't know much about them, except they are in a massive pact with Last and Black Knights. Possible Celtic strategy of having 3 alliances? If so, they will do well for WWs.
Swim
7.
Deus Vult-Still respect some players, but these guys have just gone down-hill. I don't have the time or interest to pay attention to their conquers, but DV is only taking cities from inactive BTE members. Don't know how much longer they will last, unless their coalition partners(MV) will actually help them out.
Sink that ship baby.
WWs-LOL, back to my original statement of MV does not give two stones about DV. Coalition for now, indifference during WWs.
8.
Black/Last Knights-refer to horsemen
9.
Jokers-Don't know enough.
Sink
10.
Stormbringer Coalition-Don't know enough.
Sink
11.
Checkmate AKA-They have 5 players that seem to be doing something. Seems like their only purpose is to hinder the Celts. They will not win a WW.
Swim, but only gain lots of BP
12.
The alliance with many names-AKA mine-So much bias going into this one. But mine is the remaining alliance actually doing something in this world. Fellow partners helping TGT.
WWs Status, we will definitely not win on our own. (Sorry 12 doesn't count, kinda just got bored

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Mine was a little half-baked, so I would love to see another post