Alright, so let me preface this whole thread by saying that I'm new to the game. Here's what I know:
I've run across tons of folks (including several threads on this forum) who are terrified of 'the Russians'.
I've been attacked on sight by Russian speaking hearthlings a couple of times (never justified, I've yet to commit my first crime in this game).
I've come across several villages in ruins, raided by Russians (determined by speaking with survivors rebuilding or seen Russian on rocks left nearby).
I've also had a Russian fellow help me build my first hermitage and donated several materials as well as building a kiln and oven for me. Though I will say, he was very open about having stolen several items from others and was somewhat liberal with taking things from my cabinets.
This brings me to the following deductions:
1. NOT all Russian players are terrible murderers.
2. There are some groups of Russians who ARE terrible murderers.
Finally, I am left with the following question:
Is there an organized group of 'Rangers' who can act to balance against the more excessive acts of these aggressive groups? If so, how does one make contact with them? If not, why not? Are the Russian groups so good at developing their hearthlings that they are lightyears ahead of other players?
I would never ask of others what I'm not willing to do myself. Though I'm new and still can't kill a fox unless I'm safely in a boat, I'm wiling to build a second hearthling and start LP churning him until he becomes a decent combatant, then donate him to a cause like this.
I'm not saying that I believe that raids are wrong or that crimes shouldn't be in the game. I just believe that complete devastation of villages and hermitages is an excess and if enough folks band together then we stand a decent chance of curbing the worst extremes of this activity.
Either way, new folks probably have questions about 'the Russians'. Maybe this thread answers those questions.