Spoiler
Kyorgia: Where are the tacos?
Koth: probably in Festavo's ass
Kyorgia: In what capacity where you involved with Osiris before the coup?
Koth: I was a guy who hung out in the IRC chat and other secret channels with people of interest in Osiris. I trolled the forum a bit too. Nothing really major until Cormac became Pharaoh.
Kyorgia: When did you decide change was needed?
Koth: When I saw how terrible everyone was treating each other in the interest of maintaining whatever power they had in the region.
Kyorgia: How did you pull it off?
Koth: I wrote a lengthy explanation of this before, I'll dig it up when I'm not on my phone
Kyorgia: What is your evaluation of the OFO as it stands today compared with the founding principles?
Koth: Its no paradise, but it's better than it was. Rarely do you see the sort of fuckery that made the KRO intolerable, and generally its a cool place to be. As far as grandiose plans go, I'll settle for what we have infrastructure wise
Kyorgia: what got you into NS?
Koth: A girl from an old Pokemon forum I used to frequent. I played for a few days before CTEing, but remembered the game a few years later when I was bored as fuck. Durk can be credited with recruiting me to my first Gameplay region, but I discovered the rest on my own.
Kyorgia: Did you initially plan(or foresee) for OFO to live through so much and become such a rich and remarkable part in Osi history?
Koth: I hoped so. I guess at first I didn't think it was going to be as widely accepted as it was, but once everyone pretty much unanimously settled with it I figured it would stay around for a while. And it's been one hell of a ride since, eh?
Kyorgia: What made you join Osiris in the first place?
Koth: A little birdy by the name of Cormac. I guess Earth too, to a lesser extent. I had a love/hate relationship with the region for a long time thou...wait, I still do ;P
Kyorgia: Why did you stay in Osiris?
Koth: A sense of loyalty, I suppose. For some reason the place mattered to me, and ever since the KRO was thrown out I've been sticking around to basically just ensure that it stays that way. My life's been far too busy to stay involved in Osiris on a consistent basis, unfortunately.
Kyorgia: Would you do it again?
Koth: Not at my current age and position in life, no. Would I go back in time to stop myself? Nah. It all worked out okay, didn't it? Yeah, I don't regret any of it.
Koth: probably in Festavo's ass
Kyorgia: In what capacity where you involved with Osiris before the coup?
Koth: I was a guy who hung out in the IRC chat and other secret channels with people of interest in Osiris. I trolled the forum a bit too. Nothing really major until Cormac became Pharaoh.
Kyorgia: When did you decide change was needed?
Koth: When I saw how terrible everyone was treating each other in the interest of maintaining whatever power they had in the region.
Kyorgia: How did you pull it off?
Koth: I wrote a lengthy explanation of this before, I'll dig it up when I'm not on my phone
Kyorgia: What is your evaluation of the OFO as it stands today compared with the founding principles?
Koth: Its no paradise, but it's better than it was. Rarely do you see the sort of fuckery that made the KRO intolerable, and generally its a cool place to be. As far as grandiose plans go, I'll settle for what we have infrastructure wise
Kyorgia: what got you into NS?
Koth: A girl from an old Pokemon forum I used to frequent. I played for a few days before CTEing, but remembered the game a few years later when I was bored as fuck. Durk can be credited with recruiting me to my first Gameplay region, but I discovered the rest on my own.
Kyorgia: Did you initially plan(or foresee) for OFO to live through so much and become such a rich and remarkable part in Osi history?
Koth: I hoped so. I guess at first I didn't think it was going to be as widely accepted as it was, but once everyone pretty much unanimously settled with it I figured it would stay around for a while. And it's been one hell of a ride since, eh?
Kyorgia: What made you join Osiris in the first place?
Koth: A little birdy by the name of Cormac. I guess Earth too, to a lesser extent. I had a love/hate relationship with the region for a long time thou...wait, I still do ;P
Kyorgia: Why did you stay in Osiris?
Koth: A sense of loyalty, I suppose. For some reason the place mattered to me, and ever since the KRO was thrown out I've been sticking around to basically just ensure that it stays that way. My life's been far too busy to stay involved in Osiris on a consistent basis, unfortunately.
Kyorgia: Would you do it again?
Koth: Not at my current age and position in life, no. Would I go back in time to stop myself? Nah. It all worked out okay, didn't it? Yeah, I don't regret any of it.
Spoiler
Kyorgia: Where are the tacos?
Cormac: Apparently they're in 10000 Islands. We need to storm Grub's fortress and take the tacos by force.
Kyorgia: In what capacity where you involved with Osiris before the coup?
Cormac: Not sure what you mean by "before the coup." If you mean the coup by The Dourian Embassy in July 2013, I had served as a Sepatarch (elected legislator) and a Vizier of WA Affairs prior to being elected Pharaoh just before the coup.If you mean the revolution that brought about the Osiris Fraternal Order, then I had served as Pharaoh in July and August 2013, and then under Detective Figs (Asta) as the first Marshal General of the Sekhmet Legion. I briefly served as Grand Hedjeti, basically a co-vice delegate, before the OFO revolution, which was part of the plan for me to be able to assist Venico and Koth in removing subversive figures from the region.
Kyorgia: When did you decide change was needed?
Cormac: It was clear, to some degree, throughout 2013 that change was needed. I really can't take the credit for deciding that change was needed -- it was Detective Figs (Asta) who made the first moves toward change by dissolving the Kemetic Republic of Osiris, with broad community support. It had been clear for months prior that institutional reform was badly needed, and she deserves the credit for beginning that process. It became clear while Detective Figs (Asta) was serving as Pharaoh, after the dissolution of the KRO, that change beyond what she was trying to facilitate was going to be necessary. The conduct of the Empire core members and some defenders during her term as Pharaoh made it abundantly clear to Venico first, then Koth, and then myself, that change was going to have to be accomplished by force, with multiple regional "veterans" needing to be exiled.
Kyorgia: How did you pull it off?
Cormac: Well, we meticulously planned for every possibility we could foresee, for weeks prior to the beginning of the revolution. We actually expected a protracted war with an organized counter-revolutionary movement led by the Empire core group, but one never materialized. I think that was down to a number of factors: Empire core members being unable or unwilling to organize; our own massive strategic advantage, with three high endorsement and high influence nations; our diplomatic advantages, with broad interregional support thanks primarily to Balder, Europeia, the former UIAF member regions, The Black Hawks, and The Black Riders, among many other regions that were supportive. We expected more interregional opposition, particularly from defender regions and organizations, but it didn't happen.
Kyorgia: What is your evaluation of the OFO as it stands today compared with the founding principles?
Cormac: The OFO is stronger in terms of security and stability than I ever in my wildest dreams expected it would be, though of course it was our hope for it to be stable. There are some activity issues, and there are no easy answers to those issues, clearly, since they've persisted for a while now. I think the activity issues have more to do with regional attitudes than with regional structures. In regard to founding principles, I think Osiris has to be cautious not to slip back into some of the old mindsets of the KRO. There was a deeply conservative culture in the KRO that encouraged elitism and suspicion of newcomers, which discouraged activity. That culture was one of the things we were fighting against. I would hate to see Osiris treat the institutions created by the OFO as sacred cows, or worse yet, to start slipping back toward some of the mentalities of the KRO. When I see proposals like conflict of interest disclosures, which were used so effectively to carry out political grudges during the KRO era and were otherwise useless, I do get a little worried. I think Tomb was actually headed in the right direction lately with his proposal to open the Deshret to all citizens. Osiris needs to progress, to evolve -- not to slip back into old habits of conservative elitism and suspicion. Moving forward toward a more democratic and open atmosphere should always be encouraged. Our revolution was about creating a region that could be a brotherhood in which everyone enjoyed participating. The institutions were only important insofar as they facilitated that goal, and I hope Osiris will never lose sight of that.
Kyorgia: what got you into NS?
Cormac: I can't even remember anymore. I think I was bored and googling nation simulators. I created a nation, spent a brief time in 10000 Islands, later created a new nation and moved to the region that first sent me a recruitment telegram. That region was Exshaw, where I eventually met Koth as well as many others who were pivotal in helping me create Asgard, which is what brought Venico to NationStates. And then after that my history became... complex.
Kyorgia: Did you initially plan(or foresee) for OFO to live through so much and become such a rich and remarkable part in Osi history?
Cormac: I hoped so, obviously, but no. Most coups -- and this was a coup, it's safe to admit that now -- don't last beyond a few months at best. I thought the OFO would survive maybe two or three months under constant fire and eventually the region would be subject to a counter-coup. Failing that, I was sure Empire core members would infiltrate the governmental institutions within a few months and a counter-coup would occur that way. That the OFO is now celebrating its second anniversary is a surprise to me, but a very pleasant one. Despite my doubts from time to time, the OFO is by far my greatest personal achievement in NationStates, an achievement I share with many others -- particularly Venico and Koth, who really deserve the credit, as well as Detective Figs (Asta) who deserves the credit for ending the KRO. And then of course Joshua Ravenclaw, who was pivotal in providing stability and legitimacy to the early OFO. I'm so glad we could all be part of something that has been so good for Osiris and, frankly, good for the broader game.
Kyorgia: What made you join Osiris in the first place?
Cormac: I joined Osiris initially as part of a plan to join some GCRs in an attempt to gain diplomatic favor for Asgard. Though I chose Osiris because I liked many of the people there and thought I would enjoy it, and I did become friends with many people in Osiris very quickly.
Kyorgia: Why did you stay in Osiris?
Cormac: As I said, I became friends with many people there, particularly Earth who was Pharaoh at the time. It didn't take long at all for my involvement in Osiris to have nothing to do with my political ambitions for my own region -- which actually collapsed shortly after I joined Osiris anyway -- and everything to do with actual commitment to Osiris. It was, for a while, home to me. That's really the only way I can put it, and I couldn't tell you why. It just happened!
Kyorgia: Would you do it again?
Cormac: Join Osiris in the first place? Or help build the OFO? Either way, the answer is yes. There are some things I would change about my time in Osiris -- particularly my dreadful terms as Pharaoh, as well as my decision to commit just enough treason to get myself a lengthy ban to give myself and the region some breathing room. I should have handled that very differently and much more responsibly.[07.12.2015 01:40:56] Cormac: But the big things I wouldn't change and I don't regret. Osiris, in many ways, made me who I am as a player, for better or for worse. My most significant accomplishments as a player happened in Osiris. There's not much about that I would change, and if I had it all to do over again then yes, absolutely, I would do it. With maybe just a few tweaks.
Cormac: Thanks so much for the interview and I wish the Osiris Fraternal Order nothing but good things in this, its upcoming third year in existence. Hard to believe!
Cormac: Apparently they're in 10000 Islands. We need to storm Grub's fortress and take the tacos by force.
Kyorgia: In what capacity where you involved with Osiris before the coup?
Cormac: Not sure what you mean by "before the coup." If you mean the coup by The Dourian Embassy in July 2013, I had served as a Sepatarch (elected legislator) and a Vizier of WA Affairs prior to being elected Pharaoh just before the coup.If you mean the revolution that brought about the Osiris Fraternal Order, then I had served as Pharaoh in July and August 2013, and then under Detective Figs (Asta) as the first Marshal General of the Sekhmet Legion. I briefly served as Grand Hedjeti, basically a co-vice delegate, before the OFO revolution, which was part of the plan for me to be able to assist Venico and Koth in removing subversive figures from the region.
Kyorgia: When did you decide change was needed?
Cormac: It was clear, to some degree, throughout 2013 that change was needed. I really can't take the credit for deciding that change was needed -- it was Detective Figs (Asta) who made the first moves toward change by dissolving the Kemetic Republic of Osiris, with broad community support. It had been clear for months prior that institutional reform was badly needed, and she deserves the credit for beginning that process. It became clear while Detective Figs (Asta) was serving as Pharaoh, after the dissolution of the KRO, that change beyond what she was trying to facilitate was going to be necessary. The conduct of the Empire core members and some defenders during her term as Pharaoh made it abundantly clear to Venico first, then Koth, and then myself, that change was going to have to be accomplished by force, with multiple regional "veterans" needing to be exiled.
Kyorgia: How did you pull it off?
Cormac: Well, we meticulously planned for every possibility we could foresee, for weeks prior to the beginning of the revolution. We actually expected a protracted war with an organized counter-revolutionary movement led by the Empire core group, but one never materialized. I think that was down to a number of factors: Empire core members being unable or unwilling to organize; our own massive strategic advantage, with three high endorsement and high influence nations; our diplomatic advantages, with broad interregional support thanks primarily to Balder, Europeia, the former UIAF member regions, The Black Hawks, and The Black Riders, among many other regions that were supportive. We expected more interregional opposition, particularly from defender regions and organizations, but it didn't happen.
Kyorgia: What is your evaluation of the OFO as it stands today compared with the founding principles?
Cormac: The OFO is stronger in terms of security and stability than I ever in my wildest dreams expected it would be, though of course it was our hope for it to be stable. There are some activity issues, and there are no easy answers to those issues, clearly, since they've persisted for a while now. I think the activity issues have more to do with regional attitudes than with regional structures. In regard to founding principles, I think Osiris has to be cautious not to slip back into some of the old mindsets of the KRO. There was a deeply conservative culture in the KRO that encouraged elitism and suspicion of newcomers, which discouraged activity. That culture was one of the things we were fighting against. I would hate to see Osiris treat the institutions created by the OFO as sacred cows, or worse yet, to start slipping back toward some of the mentalities of the KRO. When I see proposals like conflict of interest disclosures, which were used so effectively to carry out political grudges during the KRO era and were otherwise useless, I do get a little worried. I think Tomb was actually headed in the right direction lately with his proposal to open the Deshret to all citizens. Osiris needs to progress, to evolve -- not to slip back into old habits of conservative elitism and suspicion. Moving forward toward a more democratic and open atmosphere should always be encouraged. Our revolution was about creating a region that could be a brotherhood in which everyone enjoyed participating. The institutions were only important insofar as they facilitated that goal, and I hope Osiris will never lose sight of that.
Kyorgia: what got you into NS?
Cormac: I can't even remember anymore. I think I was bored and googling nation simulators. I created a nation, spent a brief time in 10000 Islands, later created a new nation and moved to the region that first sent me a recruitment telegram. That region was Exshaw, where I eventually met Koth as well as many others who were pivotal in helping me create Asgard, which is what brought Venico to NationStates. And then after that my history became... complex.
Kyorgia: Did you initially plan(or foresee) for OFO to live through so much and become such a rich and remarkable part in Osi history?
Cormac: I hoped so, obviously, but no. Most coups -- and this was a coup, it's safe to admit that now -- don't last beyond a few months at best. I thought the OFO would survive maybe two or three months under constant fire and eventually the region would be subject to a counter-coup. Failing that, I was sure Empire core members would infiltrate the governmental institutions within a few months and a counter-coup would occur that way. That the OFO is now celebrating its second anniversary is a surprise to me, but a very pleasant one. Despite my doubts from time to time, the OFO is by far my greatest personal achievement in NationStates, an achievement I share with many others -- particularly Venico and Koth, who really deserve the credit, as well as Detective Figs (Asta) who deserves the credit for ending the KRO. And then of course Joshua Ravenclaw, who was pivotal in providing stability and legitimacy to the early OFO. I'm so glad we could all be part of something that has been so good for Osiris and, frankly, good for the broader game.
Kyorgia: What made you join Osiris in the first place?
Cormac: I joined Osiris initially as part of a plan to join some GCRs in an attempt to gain diplomatic favor for Asgard. Though I chose Osiris because I liked many of the people there and thought I would enjoy it, and I did become friends with many people in Osiris very quickly.
Kyorgia: Why did you stay in Osiris?
Cormac: As I said, I became friends with many people there, particularly Earth who was Pharaoh at the time. It didn't take long at all for my involvement in Osiris to have nothing to do with my political ambitions for my own region -- which actually collapsed shortly after I joined Osiris anyway -- and everything to do with actual commitment to Osiris. It was, for a while, home to me. That's really the only way I can put it, and I couldn't tell you why. It just happened!
Kyorgia: Would you do it again?
Cormac: Join Osiris in the first place? Or help build the OFO? Either way, the answer is yes. There are some things I would change about my time in Osiris -- particularly my dreadful terms as Pharaoh, as well as my decision to commit just enough treason to get myself a lengthy ban to give myself and the region some breathing room. I should have handled that very differently and much more responsibly.[07.12.2015 01:40:56] Cormac: But the big things I wouldn't change and I don't regret. Osiris, in many ways, made me who I am as a player, for better or for worse. My most significant accomplishments as a player happened in Osiris. There's not much about that I would change, and if I had it all to do over again then yes, absolutely, I would do it. With maybe just a few tweaks.
Cormac: Thanks so much for the interview and I wish the Osiris Fraternal Order nothing but good things in this, its upcoming third year in existence. Hard to believe!
