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Welcome to the Trade and Technology Ministry

For Term 3:
Minister of Trade and Technology: Rik Meleet
Deputy Minister of Trade and Technology: Civanator


Currently researching: Republic

Tradeoptions: n/a

Election promiss:

1a) I am not an aggressive trader; I am a balanced trader. Meaning, I won't go through with trades if it will hurt us in other ways, I see trading as a path that has to support the nation, not the nation support the trades. I wouldn't go into debt to get that last tech, if there wasn't an immediate way to get out of debt by re-trading. I will look long and hard and make sure we'll get the best possible deals. I balance the gains and cost. I even look at future trades; I don't limit myself to current possibilities.

1b) Maps are often overprised. Same holds true for contacts. This means that selling our maps and contacts will gain us a lot of gold, if done properly. Especially contacts are a "once in a lifetime" trade which have to be used for the maximum result. It shouldn't be squandered "just for the sake of it". But it also needs timing; there is no more contact-selling when the civs have met or someone else sells it. Map-purchase I go easy on. I tend to buy the first maps only as an addition to a deal; thus reducing the cost. Map-sales have to be postponed as long as possible, but when we do want to sell it, sell it to the entire world. After that you can sell it again every turn, although I find that boring.

2) The save I am looking at is 250 BC. Construction and Polytheism are to be gained in trade by Russia and Egypt. My 5 techs to research are: 1 - Republic. We need that government for better production, food and commerce and perhaps even more important: cashrushing. 2,3,4 and 5 - Feud, Engineering, Invention & Gunpowder. We are the nation with the most free land around and thus under threat by more crammed civs, Babylon for instance. It is not unlikely war will be declared upon us. We need our musketeers either as a deterrent or as a defender or even attacker. I have contemplated Chivalry, but since India needs it for war-elephants they will go for it, resulting in us trading for it. Depending on the state of the world then; peace -> Theology, Education (killing Germany's Great Lib) and Banking. War -> Straight to Military tradition. We have horses and sufficient deserts to have some Saltpeter.

3) That is a hard one. Chieftess is an excellent choice, with proper trading skills. She also knows the cost of techs fully. But she doesn't seem to realise that aggressive trading can be more a burden than a blessing. It's no use buying an expensive tech from Civ A, only to discover the next turn Civs B and C have it as well, reducing the cost. If we buy a tech, we automatically make it cheaper for the next guy on the block. Trading also includes checking very often the time-frames of when the other civs discover and have discovered the previous techs and how they got hold of it. Anticipating what will be researched next by the AI (for instance India will go for Chivary) must be taken ito account as well. And you have to be careful in getting or paying gpt-deals. If you pay too many or too big gpt-deals; you encourage that Civ to increase it's research. If you get too many or too big gpt-deals, you are in risk of a war-declaration. It's the balance that counts.

Congrats, Rik, and best of luck. I know you'll do a great job. :)

I have appointed Civanator as deputy. Join me in welcoming him to his new job.

** Applause **

3 T&T polls are currently up;

A What do we research after Republic Poll (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80590) is up.

A poll on obtaining Construction (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80588) is up.

A further trades after we obtain Construction - poll (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80591) is up.

All 3 polls are open for 48 hours.

I would like to see some discussion over our future scientific goals. Not just one tech after the one were researching. We need to plan ahead, for we can act accordingly.

Minister Rik Meleet,

War has been declared upon us by Babylon. Although we will suffer, I request that we begin using the general bulk of our cities to beign military building, defensive mostly.

Originally posted by Sarevok
War has been declared upon us by Babylon. Although we will suffer, I request that we begin using the general bulk of our cities to beign military building, defensive mostly. The Governors have the final say in what the cities in their provinces will build. My department still prefers libraries and harbors, for research and trade, but even I can see that without an army to defend and expand our nation, there soon won't be a nation nor trades left.

Originally posted by Strider
I would like to see some discussion over our future scientific goals. Not just one tech after the one were researching. We need to plan ahead, for we can act accordingly. That is a good idea. I will start a discussion soon.

Minister Rik Meleet,

I have made my requests to the governors on the issue of war. For your purpouses in keeping Fanatica Productive, I did not ask Audiac to participate in the mass buildup. That is berry's requested job. I trust that you will be able to use Audiac to build up the region in conjunction with the Minister of the Intierior.

- Sarevok
Minister of Defense

In the Citizens thread the T&T department has posted a thread about whether we should trade The Republic around.

You can find it here. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81235)

A poll has been posted here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81490), about whether we should or shouldn't share our knowledge of "The Republic" with our "friends".

Minister Rik Meleet,

To aid you in your trades should the people decide they do want to trade the Republic, I have started a poll here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81538) about the alliances. The poll is open for 24 hours so will be closed before the next turnchat. If the people vote to make more alliances I shall simply say in my instructions that alliances should be included in your trades, allowing you to specify the actual trades to be made. I hope that this will be satisfactory.

Thank you Minister Furiey.

In case the people vote for alliances to be included in trades, I would have asked you to include them in your instructions. Your aid in this is highly appreciated.

My Lord Minister,

Having not reviewed the options in some time, I'm curious if there are any luxuries available for us to trade, or if we're even capable of trading luxuries with other countries.

Would you be able to enlighten this humble seeking of knowledge?

-- Ravensfire

My Lord Minister,

Be sure to include instructions to donate the city of Eridu to the government of India, assuming it continues to draw success in the polls.

-- Ravensfire

Raven:
Incense was tradeble and we have. I included that in my instructions. I also gave the T&T's approval for the donation ("trade for better relations") of Eridu.

Several trade discussions are currently held.
610AD Persian trade possibilities (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82997) is the most important one.

Also tech-debate is happening in the Research after Chivalry (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82998) thread.