Crime & Punishment

Edited to reflect I was being a bit dense there.

Sounds like Rias should've been running the show months ago, maybe CD couldve worked out.
All the valid points have been made/said, the last few long posts were good feedback wise.

I'd say disband Complaints and have Rias make a new alliance, with a bit more strict checks on who they take in. Sounds like he's someone you can atleast talk to as a different merc entity, unlike kypp/scandor.

Normally I avoid posting on the forums as it isn't my cup of tea, but I'd like to give my thoughts on this subject.

Forsaken Asylum and Complaints Department had been my home for almost half the time I've spent in Eve and a place I was proud to call my home for most of the time I spent there. I met a lot of great people in there and had the privilege of learning under some of the most trenchant minds high-sec mercenaries had to offer. Star, Sweet, Scandor, Rias, Shazz, Loeni, Khrom, Makayla, and many more I am probably forgetting to mention helped to mold me from the pve carebear I was into a formidable pilot. While I certainly don't fancy myself as the emperor of high-sec, I do feel I am at the very least competent in this line of work thanks the efforts of the membership of FA and CD.

However, FA and Complaints were not without their faults. I've always felt Scandor was the best leader I've ever been under in any game I've played. He was fair, fun to play with, knowledgeable, a savant of diplomacy, and even quite the intellectual; all the makings of a great leader in and out of a game. The only thing I've ever held against him was his attendance. Even if you are a paradigm of leadership if you aren't there sometimes for weeks on end you can't very well make a difference. Reflecting on it now I feel if you have such a phenomenal leader it can be to your detriment in their absence as it ruins morale and leaves people without direction.

I don't think I need to mention to anyone that leadership has been more often than not been in a problem in FA and CD. There were far to many "do nothing" leaders in the FA days with a few of the directors flaunting their power without doing anything to justify the individuals having it. To single one person out I never cared for is Karina and I never saw him do anything to better the alliance in my time there. Then on the opposite end of the spectrum CD had three leaders with joint and equal leadership. Scandor was on a lot at the start, but quickly came on more and more sparsely. Sweet was a shadow of his former self and I won't even begin to open that can of worms. Which pretty much left Kypp and he only covered one time zone. This in my opinion was the crux of CDs problems and has led to this impass.

On a personal note to you Rias I think you are doing a wonderful job (at least from where I am standing). My only regret is you weren't made leader months ago. Think of it like when a new president comes to office he/she is left with the problems of your predecessors. Even if Complaints were to fail I sincerely hope you would not blame yourself. I've felt Scandor has always been very reluctant to let go of the reins and I do vehemently hope you have been given a great deal of latitude in how to lead the alliance and even appoint others into leadership roles if need be. Your altruism, intellect, participation, and sincerity is what your alliance needs more than ever. Good luck man :)!

I would like to say thank you for the many kind words for me in this case and please understand that I genuinely do appreciate them.

I also accept that in a number of cases the statements made are critical but also constructive and for these again my thanks.

There is however a reality to this, firstly I am not alone as leader of this alliance and in many ways where I succeed it is because of the support of the leadership and my alliance to the greater extent, I cannot take the credit for all that is positive in this alliance because it is built of a great many people all of whom are important.

In truth suggestion that we should disband because some of our pilots are not brilliant overlooks the potential of people and I mean that to the greater extent in eve. Do I believe every pilot in my alliance is excellent, no, do I believe that every pilot in all merc alliances is excellent, again no. But if the leadership of CD were to sacrifice members and corporations for short term goals we would overlook the opportunity for people to realise their potential, leadership for me is not cutting out those that need work and only concerning myself with the already competent, leadership is seeing those who can be better, be it guidance in the way that they act when in confrontations such as on forums or in local or how they fly or even fit a ship, leadership is about getting the best from people and helping them improve in all aspects and I cannot in all good conscience walk away from that...There was a time when I knew nothing of being a merc and to begin with I was terrible, do I consider myself elite (for lack of a better expression); no, do I reckon toe to toe; one on one; I would hold my own, yes, because of what I have learned; because I have been afforded the chance to learn and educated by those who would take the time rather than cast aside in favour of a more polished article it is to me to pay that forward.

It is also worth mentioning that I have never rated someone based solely on their killboard but more on how they conduct themselves, these are my alliance mates, my friends, people I respect and have an affection for, but that is me and I do not judge others for what they hold true to.

Commander Lojak, There are very few people I have met in this game I hold in higher esteem or affection than you and I have honestly missed you buddy, thank you for your support and kind words.

It is a long hard walk, I do not walk it alone and I will not forsake those who walk it with me.

RB

???
The end is nigh

Seems they are operating just fine on your doorstep.

We had hoped that this kill was a sign that CD would get its act together and put up a bit of a fight.

No such luck.

But they don't seem to be putting up much a fight with anyone at the moment.

Their killboard pretty much tells the story: https://zkillboard.com/alliance/99006045/stats/

They were putting up 400 to 500b isk in kills per month between January and May, and they look to barely reach 62b this month.

Wow! Do a search for old friend's names, and this is what pops up!

I haven't really played in a while. In fact, I just came back from a lengthy hiatus, though I kept my account active. And there are some interesting comments. I have a toon from the FA days, as well as some flying in a couple other merc alliances before my break. My move was to null. I couldn't stand the sound of the voices of several people in FA and left while I still had interest in the game. My Hong Kong TZ wasn't the best, anyway.

I have to say up front that I know Sweet in game and in real life and heard of the issues with CD. I was the Shooter on a carrier, and before launching his jet would ask him for his stuff in EVE if he didn't make it back just before the cat shot. I also met a few FA and CD folks at an EVE event that made me want to come back to game a while ago. Though I didn't fly with you folks in CD, I have to say he had respect for all of you. Except Zan when Zan robbed him and Sweet's corp. If Sweet was nothing else in game, he was always honest, fair and transparent.

Rias, keep up the great work. I hope CD makes it due to you. Sweet had nothing but good things to say about you. I think he said you were the only voice of reason when he was sadly kicked out.

Scandor was reported to be AFK almost permanently, probably due to being stoned/drunk all the time. He would often let new people in, and even poached recruits from the other corps, but he would typically treat the new guys like crap because they were not part of the original core of people. Geat guy? Yes. Fun to fly with? You betcha. Diplomat? Kinda. Leader? Never from any of the time I flew with him. More of a self-promoter who gave just enough details to make you think he was doing well for you, but always on issues that would have likely worked out the same way regardless of who was in charge. I can think of many things he botched.

Kyp was reported to be afraid of change and leadership and also of leading from the rear. He mentioned good and bad (mostly good) about a lot of people in CD, but I couldn't begin to remember the names. Scandor warned Sweet to watch for Kyp's power grab attempts, though I never had follow up on that.

Seems a common theme was fear of expansion and change. I tried to get a hold of Scandor and Sweet in game, but it seems neither is ever online these days.

Anyway, hope the info helps you with your rebuild. Good luck to you.

Humidity must be killing my eyes cause a minute I read your name as Tara Bushido...

Good to see everything back to normal in CD again. No drama is good. By the way .... have a good time in VMG Scandor. #WHEREDIDMYPOCOSGO2 #KYPPRAGE4EVER #NOAT4U #KICKEDB4WALLETISSUES #LOLZ #OMFGSERIOUS?

Something something Eveskunk.