Long and Longer
![Ireland](http://www.erepublik.net/images/flags_png/S/Ireland.png)
Sweet Drinker
My name is Sw33tDrinker, creator of things:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!
From nothing I've built systems other nations regard jealously.
Created differentials so Irish producers could earn more for their weapons
than the Irish consumer actually paid for them.
And earned the State a profit while doing so.
Gave our citizens a million in cash in a single day...
Then gave them a million more.
Made myself a millionaire before I'd ever built a company.
Rewrote the commune model for Irish MU's to adapt their supply performance to the game's changing economic environment.
On one slow night..
I've fought silent wars against nameless enemies on Ireland's behalf.
Raided nations' economies, and defended others.
Most of my victories will never be known to the people I fought for,
few of my opponents know it was me they were fighting.
Blocked multipronged invasions of us and our allies.
Seen our great enemy try to remove Ireland from the map forever
and brought them to mutually beneficial agreement and respect
*Did the UK tire of fighting 200 disorganized Irish soldiers?
*Or tire of fighting perpetual top Q weapons in our/allied/mercenary hands?
*Who do you think Britain really wanted to fight no more?
I've been a driving force in Ireland's rise in strength, population, and influence.
I've sadly watched this go into decline.
My own career has been a strange reflection of this.
If you haven't noticed; this article is about me!
Anyone interested in a game career involved in government would be served well by following mine:
In the 26 terms I've been playing erep, I've been a member of government 25 of them.
For the past 18 of those I've been working directly in the Finance Ministry
(I also spent 4mnths in an off-shoot Ministry of finance: the long retired Industry Ministry)
During that time I've also been president once, and a Congressman nearly 1/3rd of the time
(those who know me well know I don't really consider the latter to necessarily be an 'active' government role)
Maybe not the longest government careers in our history, but top 10 atleast!
For the first half of my career I played erep much as everyone else does:
*Chat about ideals in the Dail
*Work/train
*Save up gold to build companies
I've the once ubiquitous 'Digits' to thank for being thrust into active government at an early stage.
He's probably the player I turned out to be most like.
However I owe my Real career in Ireland, oddly enough, to a Maddog; a member of the British PTO group BCH.
A flippant 2 line comment of his about our finances in an article made me angry.
It changed the way I looked at the game
that's when I began to play the MetaGame
("Epi"-game would be more accurate, but it just doesn't sound right!)
The MetaGame is where my accomplishments really come from.
It's about breaking complex problems down into individual issues. Then examining how these issues actually interact.
When an MU sets-up in Ireland to fight for us, but moves it's commune to a country with full resources so they can maximise their supply system, that's MetaGame thinking: solving the problem by recognizing it's 2 issues aren't necessarily associated and can be solved individually.
It's how I've come to view everything in erep:
Normal Thinking- Dublin is our nation's natural capital and therefore has inflated value.
MetaGame- Dublin is a redundant resource region whose position bordering a rival makes it's stature as the natural capital a liability to the nation.
Normal Thinking- Ireland's low resource bonuses is a major problem and therefore a high priority issue.
MetaGame- The impact of resources is proportionate to the population level. Our population is low therefore unless we can attain enough resource regions to effect our active population, resource bonus impact pretty low.
Normal Thinking- Increasing our revenue is dependent on the laws of Supply-Demand.
MetaGame- Evidence is overwhelmingly conclusive that Supply-Demand are not bonded principles.
(The transformation of Ireland's destitution to world-class financeer illustrates the effectiveness of this mentality)
Normal Thinking- Our national revenue is dependent on our regions
MetaGame- Very little national revenue has ever come from domestic production
Normal Thinking- The democratic election of Congress is a sacred part of our society.
MetaGame- The election system is so fundamentally flawed and open to manipulation that Congress itself is at best a necessary evil.
Normal Thinking- A nationalist player like me views Libertad as traitors to our nation for fighting against our allies.
MetaGame- A nationalist like me views the actions of Libertad promotional efforts to nations our official actions could not reach.
A simple thought excercise:
What good comes from having Libertad in Ireland?
If a rival alliance sets Ireland as a priority target, how hard is a nation who Libertad-IRE has helped to liberate, really going to fight against Ireland... if at all?
Also, in a world of shifting alliances it pays to have some PR in currently rival countries.
In a world of alliance dependency, it pays to be able to say that PR activity is outside government's influence.
😉
What would happen if every Irish citizen joined Libertad?
Ireland could not commit to any alliance and would become extremely vulnerable due to our small size and independent status.
It's not coincidence that Libertad-IRE has shrunk from a worryingly high proportion of our total national influence to a percentage
to an acceptable advertizing budget of a mid-sized corporation.
This is why the projects I've released never bar Lib members, but by nature encourage membership/influence toward acceptable ratios
for the nation.
Liberta
😛Working.As.Intended. (not necessarily how they intended)
Anyone who has lead a nation host to a Libertad branch knows how obstinate Lib can be. I'm sure they'll appreciate this approach to the complex problem Libertad can represent. That's playing the MetaGame!
Normal Thing- The Finance Minister is a glorified secretary/accountant that doesn't effect the nation's situation much.
MetaGame- The Finance Ministry is a philanthropic hyper-capitalistic organization central to the nation's ambitions.
Normal Thinking- Your game is defined by who your in-game enemies are and what they are currently doing.
MetaGame- The admins themselves are the opponent your really fighting.
The deeper I got into MetaGame play the greater my ambitions and dreams for eIreland became.
It was once my goal simply to prevent Britain from 'currency-wiping' us from the game.
(At the time of UK invasion of Ireland it was believed a recent change in game mechanics allowed the possibility of wiping
out a nation both geographically and financially, making it impossible for the nation to ever attempt to reclaim their regions.
The UK wasn't just trying to 'beat us up' when that war began. It was an attempted 'game-genecide'.)
When I went Meta it was my goal to make them suffer for trying. To see the UK under longterm Irish occupation and make invading Ireland
an unpalateable endeavour.
I wouldn't exactly call the events of the last year 'longterm Irish occupation'. But in a way the goal was accomplished.
The invasion of Britain was funded primarily off the back of Meta-Profits I created for Ireland.
Britain was buried under Irish weapons, if not always the tri-colour itself.
I created systems for launching financial attacks on rivals, and they were successful until admins changed the economic rules to prevent this.
Designed a way to gain control over currency trade rates and reverse IEP devaluation inspite of heavy inflation, only to have admins block that days after it launched.
Made the large scale IRC Irish-supply system possible, and kept it so despite the effects of all the econ changes I've had to adapt to.
I've project creations have been so successful that for a long time a single word from me was would cast the vote of our government.
Through all of this I've being chasing my Unicorn.
The most ambitious of all my goals: to make wealth virtually irrelevent in eIreland.
The supply system was one side of this project. It made access to top quality weapons available to everyone without the burden of their cost.
That was the easy part (in comparison to the 2nd part anyway).
The other half of the goal was to get every stable Irish citizen on full upgraded daily training.
A project that would cost 10's of thousands of gold just to launch, and a daunting weekly bill to maintain.
My vision being that everybody could hit as much as they wanted everyday and Ireland's proportionate strength expansion become the greatest
in the world. A country anyone would want to join. Citizens could enjoy all the benefits of super-wealth regardless of their game age. Company ownership would be irrelevant. Money would be of
no concern.
Basically, I've been trying to make all of you... into me.
And that's my big mistake.
I've been liberatingly rich, and been playing a different game of erep from most people, for so long.
I'm completely out of touch with the people I've been working for.
In MetaGame terms the NE of Poland was inconceivably stupid.
Yet publicly the response to it has been quite favourable.
That's beyond me.
Many people are more enertained by short-term activities than long-term goals.
Some people would rather have the chance to actually play the financial part of the game instead of a government 'corporation' doing it for them.
Alot of people don't want to be like me.
Some people don't even like me.
I don't want to play my MetaGame in opposition of the majority's game.
I'm stepping down from the Ministry of Finance, and Irish politics in general.
DreadedEstate will be taking my place. I've alot of faith in this relative newcomer, and hope you'll show him the same patience you've shown me.
It's been my great pleasure to be your Minister of Finance all these months,
Sweet Drinker
What a ride it's been!
Comments
Sweet Drinker for Emperor
Thanks for everything Sweet. You're a star.
inb4kurgan
Thank you for making our country so strong even if we're not.
Friend, patriot, expert!
inb4kurganclaimsavictoryforeirelandsbiggestloss
Undoubtedly one of the game's best players. I tip my hat to you sir!
True Irish legend.
No pics, was long article but yet I still read it all.
o7
You will be HUGELY missed, friend.
= (
wkwkwk
Well done to Ireland's long and faithful servant!
A lot said that had to be said. I don't necessarily agree with you on Libertad, but that aside, your record is incredible and your conduct has been nothing less than a true servant for the State of Ireland.
Enjoy your retirement for as long as it lasts.....
"Sweet Drinker for Emperor"
x2, you have been a huge player for Ireland for so long mate o7
great job o7
Text of that size and yet you failed to show us finace books for over six months.
And you know if you show finance books you will not be able to explain your treason and theft.
You can confuse idiots with a pile of fancy words you stole from some book of economy but the fact remain you DID NOT SHOW US FINANCE BOOKS....
But i agree Libertad-IRE was lame......Libertad na hEireann is a true guardian of oppressed....and scammed...
Like Ireland you scammed Sweet.
There is no Libertad in eIreland Kurgan, real Libertad hate you and yet you're saying Sweet is liar ;😉)
You're not doing this country any favour with this weak try to put mud on someone who have given everything he can for stronger and better eIreland, and unlike you he succeed, I understand you're jelly and all that, but it's not patriotic from ya to keep those lies going...you're only dividing eIreland
I'll ignore you from now on, this isn't article bout u, it's about Irish legend!
o7
And enjoy that retirement fund, Sweets.
Really Sweet.....if you are soooo inocent and patriotic hero why you didn't use this brilliant oportunity to shut my mouth?
And all you needed was to show detailed finace books...
This are facts Sweet...not your butthurt gibberish.....and no plie of fancy words cant hide that fact.
Sweet is living in your head Kurgan. Rent free. I bet it's roomy in there.
Top man.
No MUFC...i am hated by corrupted part of Libertad coz i dared to asks some questions....
Yes..i know...no one is perfect..not even Libertad....
And yes i am jelly coz i didn't get my cut like you MUFC for your Belfast Brigade...twice...
And why this butthurt...i only ask finance books...money trail....Sweet could explain all in 10 minutes...
I only ask what, as irish citizen, i have right to know......
Sweet lives in my head....i live in yours.....you live in godfathers arse.....happy familly...
Good. You'll starve to death in my head.
Even though I was also in the group that would have liked to see some record of our finances there is no denying the benefit of Sweets actions.
o7
eIrish are very thankful for all you have done Sweet Drinker, you have helped eIreland tremendously o7
Kurgan association with you is like a transmitable disease detrimental to peoples' credibility.
People are afraid to be onboard the same boat as you.
Why would I want you to stop? It made it easier to get on with my work.
Thanks for playing the game Viktor o7
Makes me want to get involved in our finance branch. Not sure how to do that though.
Great job and thanks for all your hard work.
You've contributed a LOT with your knowledge, and have reason to feel proud of your achievements.
I, too, would like to see the finance records, simply because your refusal to disclose numbers (that you know and control so well ) LOOKS suspect, even if it isn't.
Interesting to hear your thoughts, and baffling to me that you still just don't get it re Libertad, despite it being simplistic in the extreme. Never mind, we all have different perceptions, that's life.
Two last points.
1) You're not like Dig at all 😉
2) Viktor's morphed Dark Libertad (Na E) is not Libertad. NOT. Even the dogs on the street know that, but since he TO'd it with his ego, we'll let him carry on regardless...
Have fun in the next chapter Sweet, and nice work on your numbers this month.
o7
o/
Dude. Can't believe you are stepping down. You were the probably the best player to come (and stay) in our little isle, and I thank you for all the hard work.
a serious boss
Well done, Sweet Drinker! You've helped me keep with this illogical and frustrating game, and enjoy it !!! Keep giving out hints and tips, even if you're not making eIreland top for bucks as well as bangs.
voted for the fishy gold scheme xdxd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=wVyggTKDcOE&NR=1 Goodbye my lover...
Wow! Just wow! What an article! You've clearly been an amazing member of this eIrish community and you deserve immense praise, but you rarely get it.
You will be sorely missed in the MoF role IMO. But you deserve a break and good luck to you.
Grainne
Every CP (regardless of party/MU) in forever has named me in their cabinet.
They all knew I had my own way of doing the job.
So did the ppl who voted for them.
Truth is: ppl know I've no reason to fiddle with the treasury. They are just curious how I did my job.
As for the difference between Lib-ire and Lib-na:
I (and most others) can't tell the difference.
We see mostly the same ppl in it. (looks like duck)
It's got basically the same name/avi. (sounds like duck)
From the outside it seems to have the same MO (walks like duck)
If everyone thinks your a duck, then even if ur not, you might aswell be.
When Andrik was leader he told me re Lib "I've had to explain [us] a million times."
If nobody 'gets you', you might not be making any sense.
So you won't account for anything you've done in public office?
I think that speaks for itself, Sweet.
I don't know if people are interested in your methods or not. I'm not, I'm interested in why you won't show the figures, not the process behind them.
As for Libertad IRE - it no longer exists. MU business isn't public business. Governments cannot control how MU members think or act. No amount of meta-gaming-backslaps change that fact.
Also, you ARE a duck, mate. Just sayin'
It's exciting to think what you've done with eIreland, and even more exciting to think what could be accomplished in time. I got a taste of that ambition long ago when Stranger Here Myself was still around... when I first met him he was coming to eIreland in hopes of making us an international financial super power through the finance module... eventually he went mad... but it isn't hard to see the appeal of the metagame.
Thank you for choosing eIreland and for doing so well by us all.
Sweet, you talked a lot about what you did in past. Have you set up the future or are you jumping when the buy bot money is running out?
Libertad Ireland split from the rest of Libertad when they started to fight for Dublin. Some members respect that the UK treaty was signed democraticly, others feel they are fighting for freedom in there own country.
Sorry if this comment sounds like I am raining on your fair well tour. I do not agree with you always, but have a lot of respect for you.
with regards to the "finance books", as an accounting major i'm guessing that creating useful financial statements for the public would be a serious pain in the ass. it's one thing to show the current accounts but showing thousands of transactions and financial schemes would probably be fruitless... plus it's bad business to show more than the investors report.
management summary
its what they're for
you'll cop that when you graduate and get a real job 😉
"...when the buy bot money is running out?" So when this is supposed to be the magic wand , sweet used, then half of eRep are magicians , pardon financial geniuses xdxd
Grainne the figures ARE my processes.
That's why the money belongs to the nation, the figures belong to me.
Moo Our net worth hit a new peak this month.
However if Ireland continues to make choices that cost 1/2million/day as it did this month,
then no, we are not setup for that kind of future
No Sweet. That's not the case.
The more you refuse to summarise the work, the dodgier you look.
No-one's doubting the work you put in.
I'm starting to doubt what was taken out.
"In MetaGame terms the NE of Poland was inconceivably stupid.
Yet publicly the response to it has been quite favourable."
Insanity is a drug.
As for some of the other stuff written in the article, most of the Military achievements have been due to foreign Commune operators, it wasn't in-house.
@Grainne Sweet has been working for 18 months in the MoF. The variety of transactions and schemes that would be used over that amount of time (especially considering the many changes to the finance module) can't be summarized in any useful way... because what you're really looking for is a forensic audit of the MoF.... practically speaking that is impossible.
Another accounting major. We should form a club. Whatcha say, Ian?