Do you think the period before the PCU came into power was similar to the end of the Republic in the Star Wars Prequels? Then when the PCU came into power and strength in 2018 it was effectively like the Rise of the Empire, they enjoyed a stint of power before the general community rebelled against the project. I'm glad that the PCU was short-lived much like Sidious' Empire in Star Wars
I don't understand why guilds signed up to the PCU or why the group gained a lot of power and traction. I do remember the witch hunts and purges in the early days though, the PCU went after certain prominent eras in the community from the previous period and essentially drove them into exile on private servers, or forced them to start anew due to the ongoing harassment, or attempted and failed to drive them into obscurity. I've also wondered if it was Perroy who wanted to go after these players, or if it was PCU officers who brought old grudges with them and Perroy simply went along with it to garner their favour. From what I remember Thunderbraid, Grelind, Hamfist, Arthedun, Shonn and Siavash were targeted. I always found it strange why during the PCU resurgence they never went after Didonus, which always made me wonder if the two groups had any links or affiliations.
A friend of mine was in a guild who was absorbed into the PCU at the time. He said it was a strange time of uncertainty, where officers and members were purged and labelled as traitors and ERPers and then the GM announced that the guild would be joining the PCU.
Times are better now, but there is still work to be done. Thank you for all you've done CoAD.
Firstly, we thank you for your continued support. Sharing our work with the server is a good way to keep our player base informed, especially those who may not be entirely aware of how deep the PCU problem goes.
As for analogies and allegories we have had many given to us over the years. The PCU have made a point since its inception to target players or guilds who they believe are a threat to their narrative, their version of how things should be done as well as individual players who can galvanize others into opposition or to think critically about what is in front of them.
While there is no clear link from the DiCU and the PCU, it is very clear that Perroy was inspired by the methods Didonus, Hrothgarr, Ottaline, Luciase, Hylde and the others employed to sabotage, undermine and tarnish opposing groups.
It is likely that why there was no direct attacks from either cult against one another was Perroy largely abandoned Stormwind based RP after the Bloody Verdict ended in shame. There was no overlapping boundaries between turf.
Your scenario about guilds being purged resemble what happened around the Argent Crusade RP scene in Hearthglen before Ardent Pursuit came into being and with Azure Dawn before they joined the PCU.
In general, if the PCU says someone is bad, they are (with a few exceptions) doing something right and generally better than whatever the PCU is offering.
Endorsement from PCU players generally means the player or guild in question is dubious at best and at worst a satellite of the PCU.