Historians Mark Four Years Since 0,0 Was Obsidian-Bombed With Moment Of Quiet Mining

0,0—Scholars from across CivMC gathered at the centre of the world Saturday to mark four years since 1 August 2022, when Rhode Island obsidian-bombed 0,0 during the Generic War, a conflict named for how much everyone saw it coming.

The ceremony, held in the middle of the Suramir rail hub, opened with a moment of quiet mining in which each attendee removed a single block of obsidian “as a gesture of healing.” Several trains were delayed.

“We gather not to celebrate, but to remember, and also to slowly dig,” said the event’s organiser, a historian who has attended every anniversary. “Every block we take away is a block that history can no longer use against us.”

The Generic War, fought between Rhode Island and Estalia and its allies from July to September 2022, was the server’s first large-scale war. It ended with Rhode Island dissolved and its land divided among its neighbours. Historians describe it as the most predictable conflict in Civ history, a title they say will remain uncontested until the next one.

At the current rate of one ceremonial block per guest per year, historians estimate 0,0 will be fully cleared by 2031. A proposal to speed things up with additional pickaxes was rejected as “disrespectful to the pace of grief.”

“Predictable wars deserve to be remembered,” said one historian. “Mostly so that we can predict the next one, and then act surprised when it happens exactly as we predicted.”

Organisers also unveiled a small plaque marking the site. It was reinforced with obsidian.

At press time, a second, smaller group had begun commemorating the first group’s mining.