So yesterday we saw some "constructive critism" they call it, mainly from Portugese players, after a balance change to the Alliance update. However, I didn't read many facts about this change to support their critisism, instead I merely saw accusations of Vatou favoring his buddies, together with some unneccesary insults.
So, let me give some actual critisism: the last update was yet another massive buff for wiped nations. And here is why:
1) Sworn enemy now ramps over time: Nations that are occupied can easily put sworn on their occupier. However, occupiers can only place one sworn and enjoy bonus against one of the nations they occupy. Best example is Croatia, they occupy a lot of different strong countries, so their effectiveness went down a lot.
2) "Defensive" pacts: It only applies to core regions, and if you are attacking (revolting) it applies to the revolting nation. So another 10% damage buff for wiped nations, and a useless mechanic for countries that are occupying.
3) Bunkers only applying half their bonus to allies. Revolt bonus already only applied half to allies, now also bunkers. Effectively another 2.5-12.5% damage nerf to "the inglourious basterds, and any other occupying block".
4) Fanatic Pacifist change as opposed to Fanatic Expansionist: Before there was a simple 15% damage buff both occupiers (pacfist) and wiped nations (expansionist) could use. Now with the ethics change, wiped nations can just totally negate the bunker bonus - literally just take over the bonus at no cost, which the occupying nation has to pay hundreds of BTC in upkeep for. Very cool update! What do "we" get? 3% damage bonus per pacifist lvl. I mean sure, maybe finally we can use these useless buildings? Wrong, nations will get double the revolt progress, basically rendering pacifist centres useless when picking this ethic.
5) Calculating average development instead of core for damage calculations: Lets say we have 1000 core development, & our wiped nations too. For the damage calculations we would have 1500 development, they would have 500. A massive imbalance, making it so our enemies can make much bigger groups (while being equally strong in player lvl / damage). Not only increasing threshold when they damage will start falling off, no, also enabling a lot more nations to benefit from the revolt damage bonus they would get when allied.
Now still, after all these changes yet again buffing wiped nations, we didn't complain like some crybabies. No, we actually think that yes, it should be possible for wiped nations to regain their land, and not face occupation forever, and measures are needed to give them some benefits. But the acutal problem isn't damage modifiers - it is income monopoly.
All of these changes made us (occupiers) question:
Why we are even occupying nations in the first place?
Because really, what do we get as Belgium & The Netherlands from occupying the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway? Besides flexing that we are stronger than them, literally nothing. It costs us A LOT MORE to hold these regions, than that we benefit from them.
We contemplated to just release nations, as apparently occupying countries in a war game is very bad - the message we get with all these balanced changes completely not in our favor. Limiting our alliance power and increasing our costs based on occupied land is just ridiculous, because - what is the point from the extra development income if you in turn have to just pay extra Alliance maintenance and basically negate all the bonus you get from it + less damage bonus? (not even talking about wiped nations possibility to form larger blocks.)
THE REAL PROBLEM - Income monopoly, snowballing & strategic resources
The way stategic resources work, and company income totally dominate the game should be reworked. I will get flack from this from a lot of allies, but it is the actual truth, and the thing Vatou & council should actually tackle. Instead of continously buffing /nerfing damage modifiers, and discouraging nations to occupy any sizeable community.
Currently, geography decides everything. If you spawn next to a bunch of nations with no actual playerbase: CONGRATULATIONS free strategic resources & a top production item to gain income from employees.
Due to their geography, Egypt and South Africa can quite easily gain the most strategic resource bonus, and take the strongest income generator in the game. While our enemies are much larger in player count, and benefit from a lot more damage bonusses, the continous stream of money is creating a snowballing effect and makes it very difficult for enemies to compete.
My suggestion: make occupying worth it & overhaul strategic resources - occupying a large nation should give much more rewards as opposed to occupying a nation with zero actual players. We need this, instead of making it anti-fun to occupy other nations.