Alliance (in-game)
Alliances are clans that have been firmly established, have a command-and-control structure, have representatives who are authorized to speak to other alliances, and have some method of communication outside of the game, such as a third-party site. Every alliance is different from every other alliance, for each one is set up by different individuals, and controlled by different individuals. Each alliance is also run differently. Some alliances have leadership structures that enjoy micromanaging their members' activities, while others may offer a more laid-back atmosphere.
There are generally two types of alliances, and these types are based off their primary function in each server.
Netgaining Alliance
A netgaining alliance, or simply "netting" alliance, simply strives to end each reset by netgaining. Their prime directive is to either win TNW or ANW, and their strategies are accommodating to this goal. This type of alliance strives to not draw attention to itself on public boards, and board bans are often issued to membership to keep relations with other alliances peaceful. Their methods of interaction with players from other alliances in the game itself are strictly controlled, and they generally have plenty of NAPs and uNAPs, and very few DPs for other alliances, in an effort to expose their membership to as little bloodshed as possible. Even untagged countries, while seen as farmland, are also given a certain amount of respect. No one wants to see his/her reset ruined because another member of the alliance angered an untagged country by farming it too much.
A netgaining alliance will normally view war as a method of last resort. Only when war is imminent will a netgaining alliance pull out the ancient war strategies and tell its members to not worry about netting for a reset. Some netgaining alliances have warred other alliances as vengeance for having a netting reset ruined by those other alliances. These netgaining alliances take their netting very seriously, and a certain measure of righteous indignation may be present when a netgaining alliance decides to exact vengeance upon an alliance that destroyed their countries the reset before. Netgaining alliances rarely join coalitions unless they see it as beneficial to their way of netting.
A netgaining alliance generally has a more laid-back atmosphere, especially if the membership are mostly veterans to the game, and know how not to get their alliance in trouble. Most netgaining takes very little effort on a day-to-day basis. The alliance usually places less emphasis on command-and-control, and more emphasis on training their members to squeeze every bit of networth possible out of their countries. However, there is a very limited tolerance to members who cause trouble with other alliances. There is also a low tolerance for members who leave the alliance for another netgaining alliance when war is imminent, although members often leave during these times.
Warring Alliance
This type of alliance plans to attack and demolish other alliances each and every reset. These alliances will more likely than not be part of coalitions, their embassy will be full of DPs, their membership will be very active, and their leadership will have a spider-web of 'who's pacted to who' in order to coordinate attacks from alliance to alliance in order to make sure every possible enemy alliance is covered. Command-and-control is usually very strict, but these alliances generally don't mind if their membership makes too many landgrabs on another alliance, or makes too many retaliations, etc. The more war, the better; and if the challenge is greater, the victory will be sweeter.
Life for a warring alliance is generally easier than that of a netgaining alliance, for it is much easier to get caught up in a war than it is to avoid one. If an alliance chooses to go to war, almost nothing can stop it. Only the rationality of its leaders can stop a war alliance from attacking another alliance. In Earth: Empires, the destruction of a country can be very swift, and warring alliances take this advantage and use it to its full potential. Much anticipation is expected in an upcoming First Strike, and whatever happens afterwards is up to the leadership and membership of these alliances.|
