Embassy to the Amazons

[cav scout]

Advantages of getting techs right away:

* Get the benefits of the techs (reveal horses, etc.)
* Gives us great leverage to pull CDZ into our alliance

Disadvantages:

* Reveals that we are part of the ETTT and loose the ability to highwire.


At this point I would say that we should just get the techs as the Amazons suggest. We don't have the tech advantage to highwire initially like we thought we did. So the advantages significantly outweigh the disadvantages.

EDIT: Oh and Amazons probably want Meditation to speed up Priesthood. We should gift them this ASAP even if we decide to hold off on accepting techs.

 

[Earthling]

Yeah, we don't have a tech advantage given that Sirius already has Alphabet, and a likely higher GNP/research rate.

We don't need to trade for everything if we don't want to but as soon as we do any trades it becomes mostly revealed some tech alliance is set up - maybe MERLOT doesn't realize for a while, but Mavericsk will. You are right that AMAZONs probably want Meditation, that certainly makes sense, and we want Alpha to trade to CDZ, and probably AH just for internal development.

I think that going straight for Iron Working, we should be able to tech 100% with all our gold now, is fine, and then after that a good setup might be to go Calendar after Sirius gets Math (and Sirius goes Currency).

 

[CharlemagneXLII]

They sent this:

Greetings to our Quatronian Allies,

We wanted to ask you for your information and thoughts about CDZ. We need to bring them in soon if we're going to take them. We agree that it would be nice to have them, but if they are already closely allied with Merlot or are just taking too long to respond, then we may have to bring in Merlot or the Mavs.

We wanted to let you know we've been working on the Great Wall, so that we can avoid duplication of effort. It is good to be open with our Allies to avoid duplication and let us all grow stronger.

We look forward to hearing from you.


Sincerely yours,
SilentConfusion, AMAZON diplomat

We should probably send them a short, polite message telling them to be patient.

 

[cav scout]

Got this from SilentConfusion:

Cav,

We sent a short note mainly asking for your information about CDZ and your prospects for recruiting them. Just wondering what the status is with them.

-SilCon

I think we should ask the Amazons if they (and Sirius) are ok with us revealing the ETTT to CDZ and giving them a formal invite. We can say that they are already on board for a standard tech trade of Masonry + Iron Working for Alphabet and now is the right time to put all the cards on the table.

EDIT: sent SilentConfusion a pm to this effect.

 

[Earthling]

I think that's the right thing to communicate too, but again, not entirely up to date on everything. We still haven't met Sirius yet so a bit of back and forth if AMAZONs need to relay that.

But I think:
-CDZ don't appear to be too closely working with MERLOT at all or anything; they haven't even met MERLOT for very long
-They probably would accept and be a solid ally in the ETTT, if the AMAZONS and Sirius approve

 

[CharlemagneXLII]

They sent us this:

Greetings to the Continuum,

This message is in reply to the Private Message we received from Cav Scout.

Go ahead and offer the ETTT to CDZ. Before offering the ETTT to CDZ it is important to know if they are already allied with Merlot. If they are already allied with Merlot then we will have to ask the Mavericks to join us. The symmetrical 4-way alliance would be ideal, but any 4-way alliance is better than a 3 versus 3 situation.

At this stage with three teams already in it, we need to make sure that CDZ knows that the treaty is not negotiable. This does not need to be told to them when it is offered, only if they try to make changes.

We understand that you might have to make a side alliance with CDZ to get them on board. We are OK with this because we know that our teams true loyalty is to each other. We look forward to completing some agreements between our two civs to increase the security of both of our civilizations.

Unless CDZ can be brought into the alliance and agrees to all the terms of the ETTT, we should not trade Alphabet to them. If CDZ joins us they can provide us with Iron Working and whatever else they may have and only then will they enjoy the benefits of being a member of this Trading Alliance.

We hope that you are able to determine whether or not they are already allied with Merlot and that, if they are not already allied, you can get them to join our Alliance. The sooner we can get a fourth member the better for everyone in our Alliance.

We have met The Mavericks this turn, and we would like to offer the ETTT to them before the end of next turn if we don't have a fourth member by then, especially since they have more to offer the Alliance in terms of tech. Please convey the message to CDZ that they have limited time to decide whether to enter the alliance.

We hope to hear the news from you shortly.


Sincerely yours,
SilentConfusion, AMAZON diplomat

I've already sent our message to CDZ since Amazon is pushing for this now. I'm getting tired of Amazon's persistence here; we can't let our relationship with them be defined by us constantly rushing things for them- this is the second time they've sent us an ultimatum of sorts in regards to the ETTT. We should send them a message to the likes of "don't be hasty".

 

[cav scout]

We should send them a message to the likes of "don't be hasty".

Agreed. I can understand that they want to get the ETTT locked in as soon as possible. But expecting CDZ to decide in just a few days is unrealistic and way too pushy.

It seems the Amazons are really insecure about a rival alliance. But Mavericks only have contact with us right now. CDZ doesn't have a workboat going their direction and the Merlot boat is still far away. We need to explain to the Amazons that there is time.

Also, we could veto the invitation to Mavericks since we are now part of the ETTT. I will put together a draft reply in a bit.

 

[cav scout]

I'm thinking of sending a pm like this:

SilCon,

We are a little confused by your last message. You say you would prefer to have CDZ in the ETTT but you don't seem to be willing to give them enough time to do so. We understand and agree with the desire the get the fourth member locked in as soon as possible. But lets not be too hasty, this is a demo game afterall. Teams need time to deliberate things. We think CDZ should be given more than 48 hours during the workweek to make their decision.

Right now the Mavericks only have contact with you and us. CDZ hasn't sent a workboat towards them and Merlot is just barely into CDZ waters with their workboat. It will be a long time before the Merlot boat can reach them and we can easily sink it when it enters our waters. So we don't see the rush to invite the Mavs right away.

 

[galdarian]

Amendments in Italics

SilCon,

We are a little confused by your last message. You say you would prefer to have CDZ in the ETTT but you don't seem to be willing to give them enough time to do so. We understand and agree with the desire the get the fourth member locked in as soon as possible. But lets not be too hasty, this is a demo game afterall. Teams need time to deliberate things. We think CDZ should be given more than 48 hours during the workweek to make their decision.

Right now the Mavericks only have contact with you and us. CDZ hasn't sent a workboat towards them and Merlot is just barely into CDZ waters with their workboat. It will be a long time before the Merlot boat can reach them (>10 turns) and we are considering sinking it when it enters our waters. We don't see the rush to invite the Mavs right away.

 

[CharlemagneXLII]

Good, I like it. I hope this situation diesn't happen again.

 

[RegentMan]

 

[cav scout]

I sent it to their team email

 

[galdarian]

You've got mail

Greetings to The Continuum,

we hope to clear up any confusion you may have about our sense of urgency.

We most certainly would prefer to have CDZ in our Alliance than either the Mavericks or Merlot. We were concerned, however, that the Mavericks would meet either Merlot or CDZ and be able to form an opposing alliance and that is why we felt a sense of urgency. If you can assure us that the Mavericks will not meet CDZ or Merlot, sinking whatever boats necessary to keep this from happening, then we are happy to give you the time you need to convince CDZ and seal the agreement. If, however, you can't give us that commitment, we feel that we will have to settle for any fourth member instead of waiting to hopefully get the preferred fourth member.

We have learned that the canals leading to the center of the map do not go all of the way through but dead-end in the middle. This would suggest that any CDZ, Merlot, or Mav work boats would have to pass by you to meet each other. Have you explored the canals at all? From your message it seems that Merlot's work boat is still far from meeting the Mavericks. Have you seen a CDZ work boat? Neither Merlot nor CDZ has sent a work boat in our direction. If we can track these work boats and sink them if necessary, that can buy you more time to get CDZ aboard, although we will all feel better when we have brought our fourth member signed up. The sooner we can get them on board the sooner we can start coordinating our tech output.

Just a question about your tech path... What are you currently researching? We will have Priesthood in 2 turns and Sirius is finishing up Math.

Sincerely yours,
SilentConfusion, AMAZON diplomat

 

[cav scout]

Proposed reply:

Dear Amazons,

We can guarantee that no CDZ or Merlot workboat will ever reach the Mavericks via the southern approach that goes past our island (we can easily sink them). The Merlot boat is still a long ways off and CDZ used their one boat to explore their channel and then hook up crabs. And since there are no canals through the middle and you and Sirius have the northern approach blocked... the Mavs are effectively isolated.

Just so you know the Mavs noticed our tech trades and withdrew their offer of MC for Writing + Alphabet (which we were stalling on). They are now proposing a much more guarded trade, offering Monotheism for a bunch of tier 1 and 2 techs worth twice as many beakers. We are stalling on this as well.

The Mavs seem like a nice team off to a solid start. Their only mistake seems to be not sending out workboats. They would probably make good ETTT partners if CDZ doesn't work out. So we are still very much open to that.

CDZ has had this weekend to discuss the ETTT, so we will send them a "time is short" note right now. If we don't hear from them in 24 hours after that we will send another note giving them a 24 hour ultimatum. Does this sound good?

Techwise we are doing Archery right now as a place holder. CDZ is researching Iron Working so if we get them onboard we can start whatever tech the ETTT needs (MC, Calendar, etc.). If we can't get CDZ then we would like to start IW.

Sincerely,

Cav Scout
Team Quatronia

.

 

[galdarian]

That sounds good!

Edit: Forgot to add that there is a slight possibility that Mavs and Merlot will figure out that they can meet in the middle by each sailing a boat thru to the center and then one of them dropping off a land unit to cover the gap (I think there is a 2 tile 'center'). We could position ourselves for this eventuation by garrisoning some units.

 

[CharlemagneXLII]

That looks good, send it. We can't stop these teams from meeting each other forever, whether they figure out the middle trick or get to sailing. I certainly don't want to sink any Mav boat as we would then be staring down Triremes. Our plan should stop them for long enough though.

 

[cav scout]

Sent it off.

 

[CharlemagneXLII]

Can you send them a quick note letting them know CDZ has ratified the ETTT and that we have met Sirius? I'll send the greeting to Sirius soon, which mentions that the Vikings are on board.

 

[galdarian]

Amazons have now met team CDZ in game and can communicate directly. Can we please draft up a letter to organise the trade of workboats. It should be something about settling our explorers in the new land and as a mutually beneficial trade of culture perhaps your explorers may choose to do the same.

 

[cav scout]

Sent SilentConfusion a note requesting a boat exchange.