This misses the entire point. I, at least, am not looking for glory or experience or anything, I just want a loss to be a loss, not something that drags out all night.

For certain raiding groups in Etherwilde there is a formula that sometimes works for avoiding the endless raid cycle, and buying at least an hour or two of respite.

1) Don't run in to defend right away. Give them a minute or two to run around unhindered first.
2) Then go in and fight, but not too hard. Do enough to do damage, maybe kill one raider if you can, but then lose, and decisively.

You have to give them the sense that they got a real fight, but also give them every reason to think they soundly won it, because we're disorganized and awful (that part isn't that hard -- we are disorganized and many of us, notably me, are awful), and they're so much better. If you lose too easily or too fast, they're not satisfied and keep coming back kicking things trying to provoke a response more suited to ego-stroking. But if you do too well, or gods forbid actually win, that ensures hours of punitive raids with bigger and bigger groups clearly designed to obliterate morale.

Don't mistake me: I'm not intentionally creating this by throwing fights I could have won, or anything. I might hold back running in early, and sometimes I drop my offense when the pivot-point is past, but usually I suck badly enough, and am active at times when too few of our better fighters are active, that this happens without any effort to make it happen. But it nevertheless works often for certain raiding parties.

:shrug: Yeah, I really don't think this is that bad yet. Maybe because I used to be in Glomdoring of old and have seen how Celest/Magnagora used to get stomped on by the other.

This has to be the most depressing thing I've seen in any raiding thread.

Tips on how to effectively stroke their e-peen so they'll leave you alone? Seriously?

GAUDIGUCH NEWS #330
Date: 12/5/2010 at 19:18
From: Adonai of the Inferno, Ayrna Shahrizai
To : Everyone
Subj: Choices

Gaudiguch, I'm going to say something. This is just my opinion, not
something you have to personally believe or that you have to agree with.
It's based on years of observation, forethought, and ideas.

It's become obvious that we have enemies in the Basin. Hallifax has
turned from the path of common sense to become bullies who love to rid
us of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They no longer care
to make the lands we live in a better place, and instead wish to
basically irritate us and pick at us every month with raids. We have
other enemies, but Hallifax is the main culprit, especially when Vortex
is raided.

Now, many of us lived in other places before Gaudiguch, and my former
home was Magnagora. I can remember raids by New Celest that went on for
hours; they would slay demons, costing the city power. We would go up to
defend, they would slay the Demon Lords and we would work feverishly to
revive them with essence and such. The fact is, we of Gaudiguch are
lucky because not only does their slaying of the creatures of Vortex not
cost the city power, but the Fleshpots are mighty and perfectly able to
fend off attacks.

I've said all of that to say this: the fact is, if there is a raid on
Vortex and we don't have enough people to drive them away, we might as
well just ignore them. They can't do any lasting harm, and most of the
time they aren't there for the hunting, they're there to draw us up to
Vortex to slay us. Don't give them the chance if you can't return the
favour. I understand you Illuminati can hear the creatures cry out, and
I sympathise with you, I do. But the fact is, the creatures aren't gone
permanently and more will be born as the old ones are slain. My fellow
Pyromancers, I'm including the Fire Lords in this. By the time we are
able to get to Fire after hearing one cry out, it's already dead. We
can't empower the Lords like some can, so it doesn't really do much if
they are slain. Just... ignore it if you can't put an end to it.

I know what some of you are thinking as you read this. "Cowardice!", you
cry out. "Why is she suggesting we become cowards?"

Discretion, they say, is the better part of valour. I won't presume to
speak on Lady Kalikai's behalf, but I like to think I understand Her
ways better than some. One of Her many fantastic qualities is tactical
forethought; She considers her enemies, plans thoughtfully, and knows
when to attack and when not to rush into a foolhardy battle. There is
nothing "heroic" about rushing into a battle just to be slain, your
death meaning nothing. If you must die to defend your home, take one of
your enemies with you, or make a difference in battle. Otherwise, your
death means nothing.

This reminds me of something, while I'm here. I realize that battle is
often fast-paced and confusing, and that some have a better feel for it
than others. If you are perhaps one of these people who know what you're
doing, that's great, we need you. However, this doesn't make you more
important than a writer, or a cook, or someone who has little knowledge
of battle, and it certainly doesn't give you the right to intimidate
these people or call them cowards. Everyone has their niche, their place
to belong, and they don't deserve to be talked down to or yelled at just
because they don't fit where you think they should. Yelling at each
other during a battle solves little, and harms much afterwards. Yes, I
know battle is exciting and often raises tempers. But when it comes down
to it, there's no reason to alienate your citymates just because you're
getting angry with how things are going.

You've come far since the city returned, Gaudiguch. How much farther
will you go? What will you do to achieve your goals? Will you work
together to attain what you want, or struggle amongst yourselves and
attain nothing? Are you standing around chatting with your friends and
accomplishing nothing, or are you willing to work in order to make
Gaudiguch a friendlier, better place to live?


Penned by my hand on the 16th of Kiani, in the year 283 CE.

They don't sound particularly griefed.

Sounds like a common sense post to me.