My first inclination was to dismiss this as sour grapes but on closer reflection you do make a very good point, as I recall saying something very similar quite recently myself!
Only difference is, that was in our town forum and I was of course talking about the combined might of three of the largest
alliances in this world (SETH, Anasazi, Bounty Hunters), all seemingly working together in mutual defence. I've lost count of how many towns these actually have between them... 40? 45? More?
Conversely, you are talking about three individual
towns (albeit each with a few stalwart allies among - mostly - other independent towns & smaller alliances), each of which has risen in the rankings through
entirely different means. One made rapid early gains in fort control and now, with the latest battle size changes, can hold them all relatively easily. Another has done a truly superb job of juggling many alliances & relationships, picking up many forts by virtue of popular support against somewhat less popular targets! The third has picked up a few small forts by actually
specialising in fighting such battles - in much the same way as some other towns specialise in dueling, or rapid construction, or perhaps in simply having many great money & resource earners.
My point is that none of these three towns gained their current ranking simply
because they have become allied. Being allies only helps each of them
keep what they have rightfully earned, each in their own unique way.
It's a world of difference compared to how, say, a group of already-large alliances all combine to work together for fort control...
As for the "3000 hp mammoth", I think Jake would be the first to say he certainly dies enough often to disprove your claim that he cannot be killed! True, he also holds our town record for the most dodges in a single battle (78), but then he has purposely built his character as a pure fort fighter and naturally aims to be the best he can be in that rare role - in much the same way as a pure dueler, pure builder or pure-whatever.
Every "pure build" character has disadvantages to offset his or her natural advantages, and we certainly should not disparage this new "type" of character simply because they are still quite rare. There is absolutely
nothing preventing other people from becoming specialised Fort Soldiers,
if that is how they wish to play the game. I'm sure we'll see far more of them in future new worlds, helping to keep the game fresh and exciting - and I'll be among them!
