Do you like conspiracy theories?

I think conspiracies are legitimate parts of the game. As long as no dev rules have been broken (more than two accounts per person), anything should go.

Isn't that the whole point of (the poorly-named) Diplomacy? (I think it should be called Espionage, because there is nothing diplomatic about thieves and saboteurs and assassins.)Don't you think there was a reason the devs included the Covert operations tech? For sneaky, backstabbing conspiracies, of course!

Were they siege engines or siege blocks?  60 siege engines on a 142-population player would indeed be scary.  It's not out of the realm of possibility for a newb to have 60 siege BLOCKS as they are indeed sometimes sent as gifts.  I have been known to include one siege block "for luck" in presents to new players, although usually only to players in my own alliance.

It is confusing that the author of this thread is posting replies in the OP, instead of as replies.

I'd rule out Tenaril or exodus, and go with either mercenary or unrelated coincidence. When you hunt, set your army to Occupy. Problem solved. For thieves and direct city attacks, I recommend a slaying rune.

@Rill: I believe he is suggesting that the aggressor has enlisted the aid of a newb that spawned near him, and is supplying that newb with armaments.

@Dwrwd: I suggest just harvesting further away. Your harvesters are indistinguishable from any other new player. He can't kill what he can't find.

I would suggest you send occupations to the squares you harvest from for sometime, if he attacks these then you have evidence he was the agressor if he tries to escalate things.