Arkena, I appreciate you trying to make an argument for your team member, and I assume friend. I will not go point by point because I'm on an iPad, and I'm just not going to type that much.

I have nothing against Zatara or Spero. I've talked to both of them briefly, and they aren't horrible people. However, you never answered my question. How is Zatara going to represent the community when he's made the decisions he's made?

You don't have to give me a history lesson; I've been part of numerous conversations where Zatara spoke. You know, "top secret" stuff. I know what Zatara was trying to do. I heard his intentions over chat. However, his actions--believe or not--speak volumes. He and Spero both speak and support adjustments to PC; yet, their actions contradict that by being in the biggest blue donut Dust has ever seen. Not just that, but being part of a blue donut that wants to wipe the entire player base from the map. To me, that is stopping the majority from enjoying a game mode. How can you even begin to argue that?

The only people that argue and defend what DNS has done to the game are those in DNS. Everyone else sees it for what it is. This isn't the War Room, though; so, we don't need to get in those arguments.

All I'm asking is how the player base can trust Zatara to represent them. From being on comms and listening to him speak, then watching his actions as he disregarded loyalty for the almighty ISK, I'm struggling to see how he can even be considered a legit option.

I'm having a hard time distinguishing decisions made by the player compared to future decisions of a person in direct conversations with CCP.

This, is this really real?

This is not the election for California new joke mayor or which Wrestler Minnesota is going to vote in next (+1 to those who figure out why I mention these two states in zatara's defense)

It's a video game election, and you're saying because of his tags, and selective track record, you will judge him?

This is why I have no faith in this community. The only people showing intelligence proves how little they actually have. You're letting the EvE Metasphere dictate how you approach Dust. It's a different Metasphere completely. We're in a tiny region where a corp can only do so much on it's own when it's vastly out numbered by equal skill. But to make a corp to even reach that skill is a feat on it's own, and proof zatara has dedication to this game. A proof that FAR OUT WEIGHTS THE OTHER CANDIDATES. Besides maybe the Dust Uni one.

What does it matter if he's in DNS? The situation he was in to make him join is not comparable to any EvE standards to set a precedence to snipe him over it. No one in EvE gets backed into the corner and forced to leave the game and go play pubs with terrible players all day. Do you guys understand how mind numbing it is playing pubs for competitive players? He kept content for his guys the best way he could, and you can ask nothing more from someone whose leading you.

How you can stand running for CPM, Zatara, I will never know. You're a saint. It will take some time before people see past your tags and into your heart, but when they do, you'll see votes flying in.

It's really simple Zatara :

You are being judged on your current and past actions. DNS'a actions do not make the game better for the community. Placing excessive ISK in the hands of a few allows them influence over others (see proto in pubs). Letting a few have access to a game mode and denying it others through a mechanic you know full well was not intended is fine for a player, but NOT for a CPM.

You are in DNS. I does not matter one bit if you never play a single match in PC. Your corps assets, such as ISK and people and being used by DNS. Even if they do nothing their action to not engage DNS, is still an action in DNS's favor.

Being part of a group always implies explicit support of their actions. You cannot be in the Ku Klux Klan and expect people to trust it is only because they happen to own the best library in town and you would like to use it. If you are no benefit to DNS and it is no benefit to you then leave.

No CPM member should take part in an activity that hurts the people they are supposed to represent, so I do not trust you to represent me.

You just said you support changes to PC. Well how about you actually show us that? Right now. Pull out of DNS and stop supporting PC as it is now. Actions not words.

Stop judging people based on their alliance and start judging them based on who they are.

I think seeing the alliance a player is in and how they got into their alliance speaks a lot toward their character (who they are).

Some questions and concerns about Zatara may be valid, others, I don't think are so valid. I haven't decided who I'm voting for yet (other then myself, of course), but I urge people not to rush to conclusions. I don't feel being in the dominant landholding alliance is necessarily a capital crime for a CPM candidate. While exploits have been a problem for a pretty large percentage of the PC playerbase, largely speaking, the fault is CCP's failure to create a good game mode, and failure to police those individuals exploiting the system.

If the game is in such a way that allows one to take 100% of it, that's not the player's fault for doing it. Does everyone here expect CPM members to pull their punches in-game? Planetary Conquest is part of the game, and by it's very definition, you're kinda supposed to try and kick people out of it.

I mean, I'm big on PFC, so you know, sometimes I can be a big carebear about getting people into PC and having fun. But it's hard to blame someone for playing the game well.

Archer, I went a bit more into my thoughts on my own thread in this board, where kiarbanor asked me some additional questions. Rather than retype or restate, do you mind if I direct you towards that post?

https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=2095857#post2095857

+1 for an articulate and rational response Soraya. Thank you.

However, Zatara's actions, his leadership, and his associations have directly and negatively impacted Dust's current state of play and its future in the New Eden universe.

These are not the actions of someone who is merely roleplaying within the parameters of the Molden Heath sandbox. These are the actions of someone who has made the Dust experience worse for the community as whole, and then insists that we should turn a blind eye when it comes time to vote.

Zatara may be a fantastic CEO who can assure his corporation's survival and prosperity. That's fine.
He may be a passionate and dedicated player. That's great, no problem there.

But I see nothing in his conduct to convince me that he will put the needs of the community above his personal ambitions, his corporation's holdings, or the political expediency of his alliance.

I vote no.

I think Zatara would bring an interesting element to the CPM. He's played the game at it's highest levels and succeeded. He was a FC for Team Players in the most impressive run of PC seen to date. He started a corp and quickly turned it into one of the most feared corps in Dust 514.

I've spent quite a bit of time talking to Zatara and I believe he is genuinely interested in the long term success of this game. I don't see Zatara using the CPM as a platform for benefiting his corporation or his allies.

Zatara is an excellent candidate and I'll have him at or near the top of my ballot.

No one is blaming Zatara for playing the game "well."

But his assertion that his in-game conduct should have no bearing on his candidacy is fundamentally absurd.

His in game conduct is directly responsible for alienating new players, indulging in game breaking exploits, and enabling an alliance which detrimental to the game's development.

You hold one point that is true, and can't back it up in regards to Zatara. And that is that you can judge him on choices he's made, however, you're ignoring how he runs his corporation. Are you saying, that by allowing his guys to make the decision to what they've done, that Zatara should take the fall as a person?

In this regard, him giving his guys the option of what path they will be fighting on, was the choice that we wish CCP would give us. This man, has shown that he will listen to you, help you improve your ideas, and then implement them. FA is the proof guys, no one else in this entire game has the commitment to do what he did and make the choices he has. He heard his men out, and made the best moves for them. Even district locking was so that he could keep enough clones so he wouldn't be forced to clone pack - everyone is getting very frustrated with Clone Packs, and many corps have completely burnt out using them - so he did what the cool thing was to do back then, because he had to for his guys.

As a corp leader, Dust is not his concern, but as CPM, it would be, you would see a whole new side of him reaching out to the NPE. This would be a positive move that would help grow the trust between community and CPM. I doubt there are few who take this game as seriously as Zatara. But more then that, he would be a person to break down walls this community has set in itself, such as vet vs casual.

He would also help fix the transparency issue between CPM and Community - not the leakage of NDA, but how well the communication link works. IE. you can expect CPM to reply as best they can to all concerns

Zatara, offers a lot as CPM. To both the community and game mechanics. I implore those judging him on selective track records - ask yourselves - "If I had a competitive team loyal to me, looking up to me to make the right decisions, what would I do for them?" Then ask if it's alright to judge him based on what he thought was right.

If you vote for someone like me, I really will just completely screw you over because I legitimately do not think any of you deserve to breathe the same air as me.

So, your argument is that since he did whatever possible for his corporation--no matter the outcome to the rest of the community--he should be commended? And this is because he let his corp members voice their concerns and ultimately make the call?

You believe this translates to him listening to the community and making the best decisions for all of us?

I'm trying to simplify this; so, please correct me if I simplified it too much.

Some people can't overlook certain harmful actions, even if they were done with good intentions.

It's no great secret that I hate the majority of you... people.... on principle alone, so I'll just say this.

Zatara is attempting to throw you guys a bone. I know how he thinks and he really does want improvement for the game at large, not just for his own personal sandbox. He wants large scale fights where Tso's can throw their legions upon legions of fodder at their enemies and have "gud fights". He likes the idea of territories being split and chaotic. The blue donut isn't his decision, but he's backing it because reasons.

If you vote for someone like him, you will get experienced and educated representation that falls in line with what you guys want. If you vote for someone like me, I really will just completely screw you over because I legitimately do not think any of you deserve to breathe the same air as me.


Understand the difference between someone who is trying to help you, and someone who actually does want to hurt you. I'll tell you right now, the flag they carry doesn't tell you that difference.