This is pasted from my profile at the urging of some who have read it. Its not a unique idea, as Stukah of SIN has already proposed player/alliance initiated mini tournaments. And is perhaps what the developers had in mind for BL all along.

Concerning Landclaims

In my humble opinion, Landclaiming is the naturally occuring next step in the developement of alliances from loose organizations of like minded players into "nations". By settling together the alliance creates internal lines of communication for trade and war, thereby functioning in defense and offense not as an individual who might have nearby support, but as a collection of individuals with ASSURED support.  Eventually, the Badlands map will appear as a collection of alliance nationstates, and as those nationstates outgrow the land claimed, they will be forced to decide whether to contain their growth or battle with their neighbors for more land.

    Whether early on, as alliances/players who object to landclaims fight, or later, as the landcliaming alliances seek to grow, war is the inevitable result of landclaims.

   Illyriad is a relatively peaceful world becuase it is currently anarchic and decentralised. Individual players may have thousands of squares between cities, and alliances exist not geographically on the map, but as unions of players spread across the world. This very chaos is a deteriment to war, and landclaiming threatens this peace as the insecurity of anarchy is replaced with centers of power that create a sense of security and might which is a prelude to aggression.

   Land Claims may well destroy Illryiad.  BUT...  warring over landclaims only makes that prediction come true more quickly...

Just Sayin....

                         A Proposal from a Rookie on the future of Elgea.....

     As you can see from the above statement on landclaims, I am concerned for the futue and longevity of this unique realm which is posed by the question of landclaims. With a few more weeks experience, the outcome of the landclaim war, and the implementation of hostile factions in Badlands, I have a proposal which is probably NOT incitful or profound, but was what the intentions of the developers and players may well have been all along...

   Gee, maybe we can play differently in The Badlands, while preserving the realtively peaceful status quo in Elgea.

    Elgea stays as it is, a realm of trade, of generousity and mentoring, a realm where great alliances band together in opposition of those who would threaten this harmony.

   And the Badlands becomes an arena for competition. For alliances who wish to form nationstates, to battle for lands, to fight honorably against NPC factions and other alliances.

    I would prefer to see this be a "gentlemanly" wargame. Like the old days of meeting up in the backrooms of gamestores to play Avalon Hill wargames, or warring with minatures on replica fields of Gettysburg.  Where no one has all there cities raised, and we shake hands when all is done. Where those who don't wish to play as ladies and gentleman have the right to play that way, but also must suffer the consequences if others decide to stand against them. And where ALL the players agree the combat shall stay within Badlands, that players with cities in both Elgea and Badlands will involve only their Badlands cities in the fighting, their Elgea cities safe and sources of supply only.

   Instead of waiting for the developers to offer a Tournament, the Badlands becomes a center for player/alliance initiated tournaments, 24hrs a day 7 days a week, and where you settle HERE at your own risk.

   This way, we preserve the nature of Illyriafd which is unique, and broaden the game as well.

Just my humble opinion....

Call your granddad, forget how the rest go's. Anyway, asr, LC's have yet to do that. Also, this is happening in BL, not Elgea. It's time to shake things up.