Ok.. So now that I finally have some time.. heres my quick take on the top 12
1. TBD
Swim
Said it before, I'll say it again. This group makes it hard to label them as anything other than Swim. They take on opponents time and time again and have come out on top. Do they need help? No.. But as you will see below.. a storm is brewing, and again, it should be their biggest test to date.
2. KOD
Swim while Floating
One Fish. You cant ignore the numbers, and you can't ignore the core. KOD has done a solid job of developing along with this server. however, it is how they have gotten there that makes me think its nothing but a sturdy veneer guarding a structure ready to crumble. First.. when I first joined this world, KOD (was KOD.) was #1 in DBP and taking on the #2 alliance and their next door neighbor in Argentum. After some growing pain type losses, KOD bounced back nicely. What have they done since? Nothing. They have not been at war with any other alliance since Argentum. This group now ranks #9 in DBP which is the largest desparity in points v dbp among top alliances. While we can all agree Argentum has been dead and gone for several weeks, KOD continues to clean house on their cities. Smart move in developing a core, but it really isnt anything to call home about. And unlike what other people may have said, KOD never took 70 cities from Argentum in a day, though they were one of the first to start hitting them. So while KOD is growing nicely.. they arent really impacting this world through their fighting.. However it does seem that they are putting together a nice group of Western buddies that I am assuming are planning to eventually do something.. So bravo on your "diplomacy".
- As an added note, it is of my opinion that Coalitions are worse than MRAs. At least an MRA owns up to the fact, and as CJ and others have mentioned, they can see some success in other worlds. Coalitions do not. Coalition leaders still have the arrogance to want to be their own entity, but they are afraid to act independently. This is counter-intuitive and part of the reason they typically fail. They all need each other, but dont want to need each other. So in the end, the entire group just becomes floating fish.
3. Jossys Giants
Swim
The entire first part of this server we heard it all with this group. "They arent tested," "they need help doing anything," "they will eventually fold under pressure.." Well it finally happened, and we saw the results. Jossys seemed to have been hit by surprise. But where other alliances have panicked and keeled over, Jossys rebounded like the attackers we knew they were. While they may not be the best defenders in the bunch, you will likely be hard pressed to take more cities from them than they do from you.
4. Koopa Troopas
N/A
Per usual no rank from me.. But consider this: What do Argentum, Men of Mayhem, *TEG*, Legion, Dynasty Veternas, and others have in common? They are core alliances that do not have the statistics or growth rate compared to this group. Sure some alliances have been hit hard, but others have not (DV and OB) Koopas have been at war with someone since the day they popped out of beginners protection, and each time they have taken on a bigger foe. With over 150 cities taken from Legion alliances in less than 2 weeks, Koopas have at least shown they can hang with the big boys.
5. APOCALYPSE
Swim
I always try to give an alliance 5 or lower a swim. Its been hard, but I think APOC can do it. Though they are slightly limited in their expansion, they have proven to be an experienced bunch. Just like Koopas, when will the day come to be tested. They have played this game thus far avoiding any expectations, but the time may be coming soon where they have to put up.
6. Legion of Death
Sink
Not much this group can honestly do.. Getting hit from all sides. While part of it was their own doing, the only reason they are still in the top 12 is because they have consolidated down to two alliances. However many of their players are running to VM while the rest seem to be focusing on defense while looking for another home.
7. Rational
Float
As with APOC, this group's biggest enemy is location. A big war looms in their future because truth be told they need to expand somewhere. While Legion makes for a seemingly never ending snack, moving north into 65 presents several new issues. They are also your typical untested rim alliance, but they seem to be battle hungry. Their next move will likely push them over the edge into either sink or swim.
8. Dynasty Veterans
Float
Two Fish They got first blood against Jossys and I'm sure morale couldnt have been higher. But that quickly turned around. The war between these two groups proves to be an interesting one. As of right now they are the only major NW alliance to be actively in a war. But this group hasnt really done much attacking or defending in this world. I am honestly surprised they are actually still around. However the bigger question remains on which group will receive help from whom, and what will happen when war outbreaks further into the world.
9. Orpheus Boys
Sink
Red fish When it comes to coalitions, there are always a few groups that dont or cant pull their own weight. Thats OB. OB is #14 in attackers and #22 defender. Their location puts them smack dab in the middle of the lovers circle. There is likely so much green around them they grow frustrated at their own irrelevancy. This frustration leads to inactivity which leads to disbanding.
10. Imaginary Friends
Sink
Blue Fish This is another group that just is limited through their own doing. While Id love to see them hit DV or OB, they instead have become apart of this "bigger picture". At least with them they could possibly assist DV in their battle with Jossys, but in the end, their sole existence rides on the fact that they hope others will do the work for them.
11. Anastasis of Neb
Float
More fish? This group wont go away.. They started in the core.. now have gotten themselves back to the western rim and I guess you can call it a come back. Another "test" for Jossy's it seems, but this group has never been much when it came to fighters. I dont know how much of their original group is even left, but I'm sure no one seems them as a threat. They likely float while bigger "threats" are dealt with.
12. *TEG*
Sink
This is not your typical TEG that we have seen from other worlds. This group (like other TEGs in the past) took a gamble and attached themselves to a group in hopes of putting up a fight. They are stronger defenders, but this time the gamble bit them in the face. Hard. Being partially in O55 makes them a target. Being lumped in with Legion makes them a target to everyone around them. Not much for this group to do. I expect a fight, but in reality, it cant last long unless something drastic happens.