Foreign Affairs Planning: 1030 AD

[eyrei]

I would like to make two RoPs. One with the French and one with China. The French agreement will allow their troops to get across our territory much faster, and the Chinese agreement will give us further improved relations, and will continue after our alliance against the Indians is up in 7 turns. Also, I would like to end this alliance (but not necessarily the war) along with the alliance with the Russians against India when these 7 turns are up. The RoP with the Russians will then need to be renewed, though they will likely offer us some small sum for it.

The Indians have nothing of value to offer for peace, though hopefully this will change after a few more turns.

 

[naervod]

That sounds like a good plan, although I am worried about a betrayal by the French after we sign an RoP. I am not particularly concerned about the Russians or Chinese, but since the French are scientifically ahead of us I am a little worried there. Also, they most likely will be the ones to swtich sides out of China, Russia, and themselves.

 

[eyrei]

French troops are going to move across our territory regardless, and a RoP should get them out faster, and reduce the risk of them declaring war slightly, because of the existence of a treaty.

 

[Cyc]

I am not one to support ROP's. I can see China to improve our relations. I can see Russia as they are allied with us against the Babs. I don't really like the French connection as I feel it would weaken our relations with our good friends, the Iro's. Surely we can re-negotiate peace with the French? I really don't care how quickly their troops move through our territory. I do care about the Iro's.

 

[Feodor Ardent]

Another proposal . . .

There are currently enough French troops across our frontier to wreck havoc with the hard-pressed Iroquois (and with us, if they've a mind to it). I would advocate an ROP with the French to get their expeditionary force quickly to where they are going, then a simple blockade to prevent anymore border crossings west of The Burrow. Let the French get out of our territory, and keep watch to pick up on any Iroquois tiles they might "liberate."

I would also opine that, with the Persian offensive picking up speed on the eastern end of the continent, it is not in our best interests to have the French army heading west. They may be needed at home.

Feodor
(Poring over maps at HQ, dedicating memorials at various battlegrounds where Indian, Russian, Iroquois, and Babylonian Expeditionary forces all came to grief.)

 

[eyrei]

I would support a blockade of the landbridge combined with a RoP. It would empty our territory of French units before they are tempted to attack. While I do wish the Iroquois luck in their current wars, I do not trust them anymore than I trust anyone else, and since their army is no match for ours, I am not all that worried about what they think of us. Regardless, they could probably handle the French force if it does not receive any reinforcements.

Note that a blockade would also keep English troops from attacking Babylon, but I doubt they would have much effect anyway.

 

[donsig]

I like the idea of letting the alliances end. I'm on the fence about the RoPs. Do we have enough troops to form a blockade? The shortest blockade I can see runs from the mountains near Morgana along the American border through The Burrow and to the Great Bay. 9 tiles plus The Burrow. Thats a minimum of 9 units. We have 3 spears, 48 pikes and 33 muskets. That's a total of 84 defensive units to guard fifty some cities. Perhaps it could be done. Has anyone asked the military department about this?

 

[Octavian X]

An RoP and block seems like an excellent idea to me. I only worry if we have enough units to dedicate to a roadblock accross the bridge without letting the defense of our cities suffer.

 

[eyrei]

There has been no comment from the military on this matter, so I have no idea what that department thinks about a blockade. I will say that our most obsolete units should be used to accomplish this, however. I will post an informational poll on the subject shortly.

 

[Chieftess]

Just to note, Falcon is moving back into his college dorm, so Falcon has little time to post.

Also, I'm on the fence on this, too. We'd need lots of forts to defend with. And, atleast 3-5 units per fort.

 

[Zarn]

I am against it. I don't think we have enough troops. We need railroads, so we can spread troops out more, before we can do this, IMHO.

 

[eyrei]

We do not need forts and 3 units per square to blockade that landbridge against non-hostile units...

 

[Chieftess]

Of course, maybe I'm just paranoid about emperor level.

 

[eyrei]

This might help set your mind at ease:

Because of the way AI pathfinding works, they will not be going up to our wall and then be tempted to attack because they cannot get through. They will simply never be sent on a land route to areas west of that wall.

 

[Feodor Ardent]

Because of the way AI pathfinding works, they will not be going up to our wall and then be tempted to attack because they cannot get through. They will simply never be sent on a land route to areas west of that wall.

Thanks very much, Eyrie. That is the situation in a nutshell.

I've used this tactic many times. Unlike Civ II, the AI will not keep pounding its head against the wall unitil it loses its temper and attacks. I've made walls like this out of explorers; they are cheap and highly mobile; if war does start, they tempt the AI away from more important targets.

Speaking of explorers, were we not going to recruit some saboteurs to take out Babylon's saltpeter and iron?

Feodor
(Looking up from his debate notes and squinting crossly in the lamplight)

 

[Plexus]

Seems like whenever I get to a discussion it is already over. I advocate the construction of a wall, I am tired having troops running through Fanatika unannounced as it was the reason for our last war.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Sorry to be late in the discussion. I too seem to have gotten caught up in reading all the PI material.

It seems that the RoPs are getting good relative numbers in the polls. However, I plan to vote Abstain. China and Russia can both engage Babylon without setting foot in Fanatika, and as Cyc mentioned, an RoP w/France would not sit to well with the Iroquois.

However, my vote to limit RoP's now is actually part of a bigger picture. I think that starting now and continuing into Term 6, we need to formulate a perimeter defense that will allow us to confidently say to any approaching civ, "Leave our territory or declare war!"

Have we said that to anyone the entire game? Just think..... England traipses all the way across our strategic routes to engage Japan, only to find out that the war is over. So back they go, once again becoming obstacles in the process. When India struck the North Province, there stood Babylonian troops near Strider's Haven impeding the relief efforts of our Taliesin knights. And speaking of the Indians.....well, we all know how that turned out.

As our FA Leader, please tell me the possible repercussions from enacting a closed-door policy upon other civs. I am aware that this could greatly affect our alliance options, but maybe the time can come where a nation on the other side of the world doesn't need to join the fight. Of course, we should not adopt this policy until our borders were well fortified, but it's a goal we should strive for early this term.

As far as an explorer wall......the mightiest nation in the world would resort to a game of Red Rover to fool the computer? Well, I would rather fortify with riflemen in mountains and a few more units of cavalry at the ready in Padmativa and Leningrado. Let's do it the more realistic way and keep our self-respect.

 

[Chieftess]

We also have to consider that we have a few towns "spilling out" of "The Wall". (Project Iron Curtain anyone? )

 

[donsig]

Originally posted by Chieftess
We also have to consider that we have a few towns "spilling out" of "The Wall". (Project Iron Curtain anyone? )

Right but the shortest wall we can build that inclues Padmativa and Leningrado would be 18 tiles - twice as long. Perhaps we should throw up the short wall first and then see if we can afford another nine units to lengthen it.

Civanatoria, Pensacola and New Falcon's Nest in the Southwest Province can each contribute one pikeman from their garrisons for the wall. I've added the suggestion that these units be upgraded and used for the wall.

 

[eyrei]

I realize there is opposition to the RoP with Russia. My concern is that without this, after the alliance against India ends, we will have no agreements. I expect war will result shortly thereafter, which is not necessarily a bad thing...