CDZ Diplomatic Discussions

[Trystero]

OK _ I am going to send this:

Fellow ETTA members,

Based on feedback from other teams, we will pursue Paper next to enable map trading. This is not necessarily a high priority for us, but other members seem to have the immediate tech needs covered. Our current understanding of the research plans are:

Sirius: Paper
Amazon: Theology > Construction
Quatronia: HBR (partial) > Optics
CDZ: Machinery > Feudalism

We are always open to discussions of alternatives.

Quatronia alerted us to a Holken at the eastern end of the arm between us and Mavericks. Our settlement on this arm has been under constant barb attack, so we have not been able to fully scout this arm. We are even uncertain of the location of the Mavericks city. The only unit we have nearby is a wounded archer, which is far enough away that it is doubtful it could prevent the Merlot unit from contacting Mavericks, and is likely to be ineffective. If the Holken takes an indirect route (i.e. it heads north) we could intercept it with an axeman.

Sincerely,

Trystero, Team Sirius

 

[Trystero]

I want to send a brief message to CDZ:

Hail CDZland,

This is just a brief note to let you know we expect to finish researching Paper in the next turn, and would like to exchange maps with you. Would you be open to such a trade?

Respectfully,

Trystero, Sirian diplomat

 

[Irgy]

Yep, good idea.

 

[Irgy]

Diplomacy wise, I'm wondering whether it's time to start sowing seeds of discontent between CDZ and Quatronia. Good on Amazon for keeping the ETTT together for long enough for Obsolete to give up his attempts to redistribute the alliegances, but at this stage M&M are well and truely resigned to the 4vs2 situation.

Of course CDZ and Quatronia seem to already be doing a good enough job of sowing discontent on their own anyway, but in particular it'd be nice to set up an alliance with CDZ against Quatronia for once M&M are gone. We could convince CDZ that we'd consider allying with them against Amazon once Quatronia are gone too. I don't know whether we'd really do that but it could happen, and more to the point it's plausible enough that we could probably make CDZ believe it.

Of course all this will be fairly difficult to do given we've barely talked to CDZ, particularly not one on one. But maybe that's all the more reason to start sooner.

 

[Irgy]

Just an addendum to this, one point we could raise here is the fact that Quatronia seem to be currently taking advantage of the ETTT to do no research whatsoever (unless this has changed?). If Quatronia are voted out of the ETTT - not now mind you but after the M&M threat is under control, that would be perfect.

Even better if we discuss it with the others now, but somehow avoid being the ones to actually raise it publicly.

 

[HUSch]

We should make our trade proposal for them. fish for crab is easy the value is the same and we 've enough, CDZ has to decide which one get nothing, I think it 'll be Quat; btw they would be happy that Quat has no copper/iron and so is dependent from their second copper.

 

[AlphaShard]

I agree something is funny with the Quats they don't have their metals hooked up.

 

[HUSch]

CDZ reseach divine Right
Want we research nationalism then and build Taj?

 

[HUSch]

We should gratulate them for capture a merlot city.

 

[AlphaShard]

Should we tell the CDZ that the Quat's are building Theater's on their shared spoke? Actually Pulsar Platue and Resonance finished theres, in fact PP is about to culture pop in 4 turns.

 

[HUSch]

No, look at my post in the turn track, CDZ can see it and 'll notice, if not and then look.

 

[HUSch]

CDZ has says they reseach now mil-trad (cura with gp), after switching from lib.

 

[Irgy]

Ok, here it is then. My plan for how to remove Quatronia from the game starts with this proposed message to CDZ. Let me know what you all think of it.

On the whole, I would suggest we don't mention this to Amazon until we find out CDZ's position on the matter. I would prefer to work with Amazon against CDZ than with CDZ against Amazon, but it's good to keep the other option open. And even more important for CDZ to think the option is still open, otherwise they're sealing their doom by leaving themselves alone with ourselves and Amazon. Working with CDZ against Amazon does have one big plus though: Amazon have a lot more military strength than CDZ (at least from what I can gather), and so would be more of a threat to us as one of the final two.

Greetings to team CDZ from the distant shores of Sirius.

Being on opposite sides of the map, we've had little to discuss so far this game. However, recent victories against Mavericks and Merlot are bringing all of us closer together. We would like to open some more detailed discussion with a proposal for you.

As you know, Mavericks and Merlot are now confined to the home islands, and with the recent invention of Rifles and the rumours of Cannons to come in the near future it is hopefully only a matter of time before they can be removed from consideration once and for all. When this occurs, the current arrangement of co-operation between what will be the four remaining teams will have come to a natural end. So it is time to start planning how the diplomatic layout will look once this occurs.

Of the four teams in the ETTT, the one which stands out as the lowest contributor, and least co-operative, is Quatronia. It appears you have had difficulty dealing with them and a fair degree of conflict yourselves. We have also found them un-cooperative, failing entirely to respond to our attempts to better co-ordinate in the war against Mavericks, resulting in many lost lives on both sides. Although recently more productive, they have on the whole contributed the least to the ETTT in terms of technology, prefering instead to save cash for a selfish warrior->maceman upgrade plan. They are also an easy target by way of being in a fairly weak position.

So, we write to ask you, were we to propose to remove Quatronia from the ETTT, would we have your support? You have as much if not more to gain from this as us, giving you an opportunity to end the pointless culture war on your shared spoke by military means.

This would leave three teams in the game. Ourselves, yourselves, and Amazon. Currently our understanding is that you have an NAP with Amazon, and it is likely of no surprise to you that we have an NAP with them ourselves. This could leave Amazon in something of a superior position by being able to choose which of us to side with while at less risk of being the solitary partner themselves. In order to avoid this, I think it is important for the two of us to start to strengthen our ties. Including potentially even an NAP to complete the symmetry going into the three team end game.

We can assure you that this is a unique offer, in the sense that we are not throwing suggestions such as this around to every team. We have heard only good things about the integrity of CDZ members, and hope that extends to at least treating the suggestions we have made here with the proper degree of confidentiality even if you are not interested in our proposals. We are eager to hear your thoughts on the subjects.

Best wishes,
Irgy, on behalf of Team Sirius

 

[AlphaShard]

I approve of this action and message. I like how you've put things into terms of our displeasure with Quat. This is what we need.

 

[Alltriia]

I would sit on it untill we know what are they stance with the Amazons.

 

[AlphaShard]

I think they will have bigger issue with Quat, I'm sure they want to win and part of that would be them getting the Quat contested land on their spoke. Or Merlot island for that matter.

 

[Irgy]

I would sit on it untill we know what are they stance with the Amazons.

How do you propose we find that out in that case though? We won't get any extra info on the subject just sitting around. We could ask them: "What do you think of Amazon?", but they might wonder at our motivations. At some point we need to explain our thinking (or at the very least some hypothetical thinking that we want them to think we have) to them. This might be as good a way to start that conversation as any.

I guess my point being I'm not sure what you're suggesting to do? We don't want to just keep waiting around for too long, certain people are getting impatient and somewhat sick of the ETTT. And with good reason, for all that I repeatedly argue in the ETTT's favour.

 

[Alltriia]

"Hello, do you like us?
[ ] Yes [ ] No"


But seriously, perhalps sending them a non formal hello letter. Possibly including some somewhat secret data about us so that they would open up in the reply.

 

[Irgy]

"Hello, do you like us?
[ ] Yes [ ] No"


But seriously, perhalps sending them a non formal hello letter. Possibly including some somewhat secret data about us so that they would open up in the reply.

I think I kind of see what you're saying. Something like the first three sentences of what I wrote, but then followed by waffle to pad it out rather than giving away all our schemes in one go? The biggest trouble I see is that it's a slow process, and we should have started it a long time ago. In fact, that it's a process we should have started it a long time ago is probably true regardless of anything else. Starting it now however may be a little too late. Which is why I jump almost straight to the point. But it could be true that taking it just a little slower could be a better compromise. I'm not completely convinced but I can at least see the argument.

 

[AlphaShard]

WEll we should definitely send something to them.