MERLOT Dipolmacy Discussion

[AlphaShard]

I can see your argument, but at the end of the day it's a judgement call. Personally I think the information has more diplomatic value when given away than it has practical value when held back.

I agree the Diplo value far outwieghs the practicallity here. Honestly this feels like a free +1 "Oh wasn't that nice?" After all they didn't have to tell us at all about their Gems for quite some time to come. Not that it gives us an advantage but it puts people in a "Friendly" mood.

 

[grant2004]

Sorry for the controversy. Nobody seemed to have a problem when I revealed our theory that these canals were all connected, and when we discovered that this was not the case I was reminded to update the message. I took it that revealing the continents were connected would be no more valuable information than revealing that the canals were connected.

I do agree with the majority, that it's more worthwile to give them information like this, to look more friendly. I don't see much that they'll be able to do with the information that they couldn't have done without it. Also they had told us in their message that they believed there was a single mainland, so revealing that all of the spokes were connected shouldn't be a big revelation for them.

 

[DaveShack]

I think that it was handled fine.

 

[grant2004]

Again, it seems to be taking a while for Merlot to respond. If we really want to open borders with them we could offer it in game, and that might get their attention, however I believe we'll have enough available trade routes with our tech trading partners that opening borders with Merlot wouldn't boost our commerce very much, but would boost their's. We've made the offer through diplomatic channels, maybe that's sufficient for the look friendly strategy and we should leave it at that. What do you guys think?

 

[Trystero]

I think it is a good idea to just offer open borders. It would have little real impact now, and we could always rescind the offer later. The trade route income wouldn't be that great, and we have a significant tech advantage on them. We might as well look like the good guys.

 

[Irgy]

Have we offered open borders yet?

Quatronia's comments on sinking exploring workboats are worth considering. Avoiding contact between Mavericks and Merlot is a very good idea. However, it's a bit diplomatically awkward to say the least

 

[Trystero]

In response to Merlot's war declaration, I suggest sending the following response:

So be it.

 

[Irgy]

If they don't send anything to us, there's no real need to send anything to them imho. Everyone involved knows what the situation is, there's no real point holding it against them.

 

[Trystero]

That was sort of a Civ4 AI diplomacy-inspired joke. (OK, not a very good one...)

 

[HUSch]

We can send the pic of Monte (when he shows his teeth), I love it.

 

[AlphaShard]

That was sort of a Civ4 AI diplomacy-inspired joke. (OK, not a very good one...)

I thought it was good enough there Trystero, we can use Monty like Husch suggested.

 

[AlphaShard]

So the Merlot want Maverick cities and that *might* be the most fair option. It will allow them to face as they said 4 opponents.

I want to win too but I want to do it fair and right now if it's an "empty" player they may as well just give us the cities at that point. I think I am ok with the Merlot having the cities, since they seem to still be in the game unlike the Mavericks who is apparently down to just Obsolete. What happened to DMOC?

 

[Irgy]

As I said in the game tracking thread, it seems fairest to me too. We'll still crush them fairly easily, and we won't invoke the ill wills of the other remaining teams by gaining what they might consider an unfair advantage.

Of course there is an argument that we deserve the cities by right of having presumably done the best diplomacy with Mavericks (by way of not saying or doing much and therefore not lying to them or betraying them ), such that they chose us over the other teams. Such diplomacy is solidly a part of the game. The only thing that stops me trying to make that argument is that there's clearly a large outside-the-game factor involved here.

 

[Lord Parkin]

Yeah, Merlot taking the cities seems reasonably fair to me. It's unlikely to have much effect on the outcome of the game for them anyway. So let them have their cake for now.