If we go to war with Babylon do we want an Alliance with India?

This poll is dependent on the outcome of the War with Babylon poll here. India now has War elephants. An alliance with India against Babylon could help further divert Babylonian forces, or keep them on the southern front if Germany makes Peace. They could also be used to mop up the Babylonian colonies; although they may take Babylonian cities that we ourselves would want. This campaign will not be started and finished in one turn chat, so I have not yet started the Peace Criteria discussion, a Military Alliance will however lock us into 20 turns of War. It would also prevent Babylon persuading India to form an Alliance against us!

Please vote for one of the following options:

Yes: Option 1 - form an Alliance with India after we declare War on Babylon
Yes: Option 2 - form an Alliance with India, but after we have taken Babylon itself.
No: We’re strong enough by ourselves
Other: please post
Abstain

Option 1 will bring India in earlier, but they may take cities we would other have for ourselves
Option 2 will bring them in after we already have the key cities we want, but a later 20 turn deal will potentially extend the war still further and Babylon has more chance to form an Alliance with the Indians themselves.

This poll will be open for 24 hours.

What about signing a RoP with India?

That way we can capture the Babylonian Cities we want, without being annoyed by Indian presence who are likely to take over important Babylonian cities before we do. But the Indians will have to consider that they signed a RoP with us, so that they may not join forces with Babylon, as that would give them a bad reputation.

This leaves Fanatica with the advantages of both option 1 and option 2!!

India will pay us 2 gpt + 4g for a ROP. As you say, it will stop them joining forces with Babylon, and as they will not be at war with Babylon, we will not have to worry about them taking any cities that we may want for ourselves. It does not however use India to keep Babylon occupied on the Southern Front and mop up their outlying cities, one of the main reasons for the Alliance.

It is a very valid option though and we could go for a ROP even if we also then formed an alliance, everyone please post your views on this.

Don't pay other than ROP. The nice thing about combining ROP with military alliance: as soon as the enemy is destroyed, the deal is off and we can attack.

Another weekend poll where I couldn't vote.