Most of what you say is true (more like all of it) players such as myself just want to have decent fights with whats left of the game. Instead leaders such as yourself will take advantage of any situation possible. Is it not fact that Rabid and Panda plan on merging? If its down to three tribes why not battle it out in a free for all if you're confident in your tribe and abilities (activity).
1. inviting some Panda to Rabid is being discussed, how you define a merge is a matter of perspective.
2. Rabid and Panda have been allied since infancy, and up to this point have gained nothing from one another other than security. Speaking for Rabid we've taken on everyone in front of us, big and small.
3. I had hoped to force a Panda & X. alliance vs. us in an effort to get that one good war that we all crave, but it wasn't going to happen due to leadership of X. and perhaps Panda (I am unsure of all the details). Neither was I going to cancel the alliance and hit Panda in the back while they were already engaged in a good war, how would that be sporting? We have sought competition every step of the way, and have been disappointed at each turn.
4. Without competition, and waiting out the result of the Panda vs. X. war which could last a month or longer, members of my tribe will drop off one by one out of boredom until when there is a chance for war we are merely a shell of the tribe we were at our pinnacle.
What option do I see? Win the world, and that is to either honor our friendship with Panda and assist them in their war, or offer those of them deserving some leadership an invitation... either way it is as it was at the beginning, when we both were fledgling tribes, not yet top 10 and we formed our friendship.
What I will say is this... Panda fought their wars largely unaided by us, and we fought ours the same way. Each of our tribes built through war. This is a war game, and how being a tribe forged by war, and select recruitment is ruining the game I fail to see.
X. had one chance to win this world, and they were given an opportunity to take it and turned it down, and that forced my hand. As a leader, regardless of how badly I wish for a very competitive war, when there is not one to be had, I choose the welfare of my members, and victory over the higher path. I have seen what will happen, I have led a # of top tribes, tribes so dominant that the only possible way they could lose is inactivity, and that is what happens
every single time if you allow it.