Maps, simply put, have to reflect reality. If they do not reflect reality, then they do not uphold their purpose and therefore fail as a map.

Case in point: The Mitchell Map, the original map of the United States. If you look at Michigan on this map, it is a deformed mitten. This deformity partially resulted in the Toledo War between Michigan and Ohio over disputed land claims that came about, partially, due to shitty mapmaking of the Midwest at the time (then a frontier in the United States and actually called "The West".

Clearly, we don't have this issue with the most recent map posted. We know our geography, we know what is where and who runs it for the most part. But this simply makes errors of this magnitude even more inexcusable.

The fact of the matter is that Varkonia exists, is a military power, and is a member of a massive alliance with allies across the map. It is fundamentally recognized as a political entity by most, if not all, nations on the server.

Leaving them off does a terrible disservice to new players especially. New players not recognizing borders of existing nations left off due to not replying to a post could find themselves in danger of getting pearled, walking into a vault, ect, ect. It is dangerous, and it leads to unnecessary conflict in the future.

The job of mapmakers is not to draw conclusions on the existence or non-existence of nation states, but rather the reality that exists upon the server. That reality is abundantly clear whether it be Varkonia or Imperial Truidence. To simply ignore that reality is ignorance at best, and incompetence at worst.

This concludes my Bg post.