One thing which is NOT being addressed is the fact that Inno wants it this way. Personally, I go all the way back to the 1st days of Apple Computers with programming and can tell you that for EVERYTHING in the game to happen it first must have the script written so it CAN be a possibility. Think of it as getting in your car then looking at a map to see how to get to where you want to go and to get ANYWHERE you first have to follow the already built road, and just as all roads lead to Rome since the Romans built most of the roads in Europe, all programming roads lead to Inno since they do all of the programming. It's impossible unless Inno makes it possible. Inno has created the programming roads and if Inno didn't want it this way then they can very simply change the script so that it's no longer possible to go there. Inno has not made any programming changes to stop "pushing" from happening. Quite the opposite. in fact.
I was first alerted to players having "feeder cities" (one's which ALL items go to a Main city) around 18 months ago. The player seemed to be doing it for the free goods. It seemed like a lot of effort for little reward and probably was. Then Inno introduced Ancient Wonders and then I realized that, ok, yes, having feeder cities certainly would help develop AW's. Then came the tournament which didn't help a player with feeder cities at all.......until they decided to change the tournament to operating on a curve (one which is MUCH easier and less costly for smaller cities) and then I realized, okay, it's a MASSIVE advantage to have feeder cities. Now players in Winyandor have an ENTIRE Fellowship full of feeder cities to go along with their Main one so they can collect ALL of the tourney rewards, including enormous amounts of kp to funnel into their Main city. Inno has made it EXTREMELY advantageous for the growth of your city if you do this. So, then it begs the question, what is Inno's level of culpability? It's one thing to give out free guns to anyone that wants one then say "don't shoot anybody" and claim that you've done your part to prevent violence but, from my reflection, most reasonable people would expect someone to get shot eventually and really wouldn't want any guns around in the first place. And we've obviously reached the point where people are using the illicit tools which Inno has provided, (as noted repeatedly, this isn't even the first THREAD on the subject) but Inno draws no recourse. Even without all of the comments on the Boards about it you would be foolish not to think that Inno doesn't monitor it's product closely like a laboratory technician watches over the mice as they run the mazes to examine and study their experiments. Just look at how Xelenia monitors these Boards like a hawk and you question whether the devs monitor their own game?? (By the way, you're doing a great job, Xelenia! Please don't erase this comment or thread!) So, they know all about the "pushing."
So WHY does Inno want it this way? While the first two paragraphs are indisputable, I admit to be speculating as to why... The first hypothesis I reach is that they feel it is more profitable to them. (Sadly, the answer usually is: money). Elvenar is the runt of the litter in Inno's stable of games. While other games like Grepolis and Forge of Empires are allotted revenue for television commercials among a media blitz, Elvenar is given none of this. I, myself, came here after playing another Inno game which I had seen an ad for and I'm glad I did because I enjoy this one exponentially more! Furthermore, those programs are largely static while Elvenar requires new script be drawn routinely for new Guest Races, etc... increasing the overall costs to Inno to maintain it. More costs = Less profits. Knowing that is the reality of the situation the next question it begs is whether or not INNO EMPLOYEES are involved in this? Are they among the cities doing this so that people will buy more diamonds to try to keep up with them? A few people have mentioned that they know people are "pushing" and it doesn't take away from the fun they are having here, a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. I'm not here to try and be "the best there ever was" even though I know others are, I'm just looking to enjoy myself. But that's entirely different then being THE DESIGNATED ILLEGITIMATE LOSER, isn't it? Show me someone that doesn't have a problem being the designated illegitimate loser and I'll show you a loser. I cannot encourage you enough, PLEASE do something about this, Inno, as people ROUTINELY come to me talking about this issue.... and I hate giving bad news.