2022-01-13 FYI

[Norway174]

-snip-

I never had any problems, or run in the Syndicate personally. I've mostly just been meme'ing about them and Dean in the Discord.
I always viewed the Syndicate sort of like Borg. Especially in U5. Or like The Code from EVE. (Which is probably the worst from any video game community.)
Where you're just a bunch of memelords looking for the next laugh at someone's expense.

But this kind of puts a whole new fresh perspective on Syndicate. At least for me. And a newfound Respect +1.
And I can see now that my view was wrong and perhaps a bit misguided. And for that, I apologize.

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they were too prideful to simply hit the "PVP-OFF" button during U5.

Although, I don't know if this is entirely fair to say. The claim was to join us or die. And hitting this "PVP-OFF" button. At least f Empire scoreboard list, they would have placed themselves under you. Instead of being shown as their own independent empire.

And as a Vassal Empire, you kind of have to follow the orders of the leader empire, or face the consequences. And that's not something that's without complete gameplay meaning. (Even though there's no gameplay mechanic implemented for yet.)
You may have chosen not to issue any orders to the vassals. But nothing would have stopped you from doing it either. At least from what I knew back then.

That's at least my 2 cents.