to fight over. You have the reputation of your clan, and a little plot of cyber-land you call your website. As in history clans come and go, and the members of disbanded clans behave much like medieval knights: they either join another clan, or they fade away in �history�. Unfortunately, also like history, if they fade away the experience and the knowledge of those clanmembers disappears with them.

If we look at the clans themselves we see that they form a band of players who really float around in space with an incredible amount of other bands floating around there. If we now look closely at these bands we notice that some are bigger, some are smaller, and if it comes to a clash the large one usually wins. Also it can be seen that a big clan recruiting players is more likely to pull away players from the smaller clan, then smaller clans are in taking players from bigger clans.

It can therefore be suggested that its basically: the large, strong ones survive.

How can a smaller clan successfully win from a larger clan? Unfortunately that is not really possible if the odds are about equal, for then the larger clan will always have more players to pick from, and, hopefully, better quality to choose from.

Someone starting a clan in this day and age will have his work cut out for him(or her). They basically pick on the bones the really big ones leave for them. If they happen to challenge the wrong one, they are toast.

This of course is fairly negative for someone who wants to start up a new clan. A new clan does not have the knowledge or the experience to deal with larger clans. A new clan does not have the resources to deal with more experienced clans. A new clan needs help and who can help a new clan better then an older clan? Therefore, after having set up your clan, and when you have started the first training sessions contact clans in your �league�. With that I mean that you make an effort of searching out clans that are about your size and with an image which you find positive. When you have found these send them a note introducing your clan, and that you want to possibly cooperate with them. A number of clans will react negatively, but a number will also react positively. To those reacting positively send an invitation to join you on an IRC where you can explain yourself and ask for pointers.

If you have any experience yourself, share it with them. At a certain moment in time, when you feel the mood is good, and the clan is responsive: offer an alliance.

Alliances for TF and TFC can exist in four sorts:

1. Intelligence Alliance

2. Military Assistance Alliance

3. Economic Assistance Alliance

4. General Alliance

Intelligence Alliance

The intelligence alliance is a union between two or more clans with as its objective the exchange of information on other clans. It bases itself on the assumption that clans, during their existence will gather experience and information on a number of clans and people. A single intelligence officer from only one clan can only do so much work. Intelligence officers from more then one clan can do much more, and in some cases provide overlap to verify data. Of course it should be taken into account that an intelligence alliance can only work if it is a confidential arrangement. This means that except for the Intelligence Officer and the Leadership of the clan, no recruit of staff member should be a part to this. This will prevent leakage of the alliance.

2. Military Assistance Alliance

The Military Assistance Alliance is a cooperation on a �military� level between two clans. This means that clans can train together. However, if the clanleadership wishes so it can also mean that only observer missions are sent. Observers will then be present at a training session and give assistance and advice to the clan in question. Make sure this is always done on the basis of reciprocity, i.e. you see mine, and I see yours. Otherwise you could just be at the receiving end of a ingeniously planned intelligence operation. This alliance can be an open relationship and would benefit of more clans becoming part to it.

3. Economic Assistance Alliance

The Economic Assistance Alliance is a cooperation of clans whereby they agree to share resources, be it webspace, servers or knowledge. This is especially beneficial for small clans who do not have the resources to set up a representation or maintain a server. It should however be taken into consideration that when a clan becomes party to such an alliance this should be on a �quid pro quo� basis. The clan making use of the resources should therefore make a written agreement on what they will give to the supplying clan. This could be �target practice�, training partnership, etc. This alliance should be advertised as much as possible so as to raise also the profile of the Economic supplier.

4. The General Alliance

The General Alliance is just basically a friendship between two clans. This may serve as deterrent, e.g. �I�m small but look at my friends�, or as a token of appreciation.

The offer of an Alliance should be followed by a precise agreement pointing out the following items:

1. Name of the Alliance

Example: �Agreement on the Exchange of Information�

2. Parties to the Alliance

3. Specific working area of the Alliance

Remark: be very specific here and try to rule out as much generalities as possible.

4. What to do in a dispute (who will decide when a problem arises)

Example: �In case of a dispute between persons of the Parties a special meeting is called of the leadership of both clans, consisting of three representatives of both sides. In this special meeting the complaint is put forward to the meeting and a decision is made on the validity of the complaint. If the special meeting finds the complaint with ground the clan to which the offending person belongs is asked to undertake sanctions. These sanctions can, but do not have to include disciplinary actio. In case of a dispute between the clans an emergency session is held at which three members of each clan will be present.This meeting will try to resolve the issue. If resolving the issue is out of the question the Alliance is declared dead�.

5. Date at which the Alliance takes effect

Example: �This Agreement will go into effect on the the 6th of May in the year XXXX�

6. Running time of the Alliance

Example: �This Alliance will be honoured by both Parties for a period of at least one year after which the clanleaderships will convene a meeting and review the Alliance.�

Other items of interest can be fitted in when and how necessity calls for them. Remember an Alliance does not automatically mean that you are a �slave� or lesser partner of the other clan. It just means that you have banded together in this great and evil world....