1.) There are three game admins right now. Two of them are available under the right circumstances but aren't active. We could decide to shut the game down tomorrow if we wanted to. That event would be effectively a permanent ban of every single player here. Just like any other website on the internet, this site is our private property. None of you have any guaranteed right to use our services.
2.) The game admins have absolute power due to the nature of how websites work. We can see and edit the data in the database. We can see and edit the game code. If you believe that the game admins are biased, corrupt, or engaging in other nefarious activity then I suggest that you find a different game that has admins that you feel that you can trust. It simply does not make sense for a player to participate in a rigged game.
3.) The game admins do not currently play on any clan-based servers. Even if they did so in the future, gameplay changes are not made to benefit or hurt any specific clan. Game and forum moderators do not have any special influence over gameplay changes. For better or worse, the attempted process for gameplay changes is a meritocracy: we try to take the best ideas from players and our own minds. If you have an idea for a gameplay change or even just a complaint, post it in the right place and an admin will read it.
4.) We do not make gameplay changes in response to players threatening to quit. The reason for this is simple: players often want different things. Player A could say that he will quit unless Clan GDI is enabled and player B could say that he will quit unless Clan GDI is disabled. It is impossible to satisfy both players.
5.) I am appreciative of the players who help keep this website through patron and premium running but it does not entitle you to have your demands met. Requests and suggestions from all players are treated equally. Patron status is a way to show support for the game and to get access to the Patron forum. That is all. It is not something that you can use to get a player banned, unbanned, or to get any kind of gameplay change made on your behalf.
6.) I have always been honest with this community. I have, by far, the most to lose by lying out of anyone here. I have no idea why some of you are so eager to believe every bad rumor, conspiracy theory, or piece of propaganda that you come across. I will give you a very direct hint: the players who deliberately stir up trouble against the game staff are lying to you. They have lied to you in the past and will lie to you in the future. They have nothing to lose by lying. Tricking you is a fun little game to them.
7.) The game on offer here is a text-based game where you play turns to grow your country. There is no other game on offer here. This includes activities such as harassing players or staff until they quit, working to expose "corruption", or any other conflict with the game staff. Moderators and administrators are neutral parties and are not in conflict with players. To be frank, think about how little sense that makes in the first place. If players are in conflict with the people who own the game then what is the winning condition for the players?
8.) My goal here is to create a fun gameplay experience for players. The game is here if you want to play it. If you don't want to play it, that's fine too. I don't view every player as a precious resource that must be protected at any costs. Some players do an extreme amount of harm to the community and game compared to the benefit provided by one additional active user.
9.) We've had the same rules posted since 2010:
https://www.earthempires.com/rules . Some players have the idea that running multies is the worst possible offense and the only thing that they are not permitted to do. That is not true. I would also like to direct your attention to this line: "In extreme cases, such as hacking or breaking other laws, players may find themselves banned from all game related areas."