Team GONG Embassy

[General_W]

Word in from GONG!

Hiya Council,

As we all know the attempted tech deal was pre-empted by Cane's need to self research Invention in order to dump a pre-build into Leo's. I wanted to tell you earlier that that was the case and the tech deal had been shot in the foot but I didn't want to give away our rush to Leo's in case you had similar designs.

We here in Gongdom continue to work on our culture as our rabid partners seems stuck on full tilt. We're not getting much in the way of info from the Babes but it seems as if you're exacting a heavy price on them otherwise I think they would be more forthcoming. The other difficulty w/ getting any info out of the Babes is that I think their team now consists of Wotan and a part-time Whomp. All others have gone into hibernation.

Anyway, I have nothing much to say other than "Hello!" I just wanted to keep the lines of communication open.

Regards,

jb

That's nice… I guess

Actually – it is pretty good to know that BABE is indeed still on a full-tilt war setting.
It's not over yet gentlemen!

I propose we send back an equally nice but empty letter. There's really no opportunity for us to do anything with GONG, and they seem still committed to that alliance.

Dear jb and the traveling GONG show band,

Good to hear from you. No worries about the Invention thing. We totally understand, and figured that was pretty much the case when we saw you had built Leos. Nice work on that, by the way!

Our door is always open anytime you want to talk about something. I don't suppose you'd be interested in a trade for Education? … Oh… yeah… the whole Spybrary thing… nevermind You could have just asked, you know!

Hope all is well in the land of GONG,

Warmly,
General_W, speaking with the voice of The Council

EDIT: Sent to GONG gmail 10/3/07


Thoughts? Better ideas?

 

[peter grimes]

'tis fine with me.

I'm not so sure they are still committed to that alliance - if anything, it seems like they may be fishing for a new partner

 

[donsig]

They might be fishing for a partner but what do we have to offer each other? I can't think of much and they probably can't either - and that's why the empty letter. The proposed reply looks fine to me.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

A fair amount of diplomacy is keeping lines of communication open.

 

[General_W]

I'll send this off then.

 

[Paul#42]

Maybe we want to make sure that GONG is aware of this:

GONG and BABE do not necessarily have to agree on BABE taking TGL.

If BABE is smart (and desperate) and catches GONG off guard they might land in one turn by surprise and fight their way to Sugar Mountain in the next turn.

I don't know about GONG's naval recon but if BABE galleys approach with like 8 galleys and 14 MW plus 2 pikes, that would be easily enough to fight their way to that town in one single turn.

GONG would not raze Sugar Mountain after the landing and they won't have time to do so the turn after.

It would be quite a coup.

Should we ask GONG whether they have prepared some naval early warning system?

Good thing of such a coup however would be the massive blow this would give to GONG's 100k plans...

 

[donsig]

Well, it's a dilemma. If we talk to GONG about a possible capture of Sugar Mountain we may tip them off to a Spybrary Elevator ploy they haven't yet considered. Have they already figured out the possibility? Has BABE thought about it yet? We've been aware of it. IIRC, Chamnix is aware of it and now that Kuningas is back, FREE is aware of it. Would Wotan the Warmonger have thought of it by now?

I don't have any answers here but I know we have to face this situation one way or another. Now, if GONG loses the Spybrary city they also lose any other wonders there. Do we have any intel on what's there? If they are truly going for 100k they may be in the process of building another wonder there. That would be good for us.

SABER is now trading with GONG, correct? Perhaps we'd be better off talking to SABER first to about this. Maybe they could give us some intel on GONG?

I guess I wouldn't write to GONG yet.

 

[Paul#42]

I cannot imagine any Civ player in such a situation - behind in tech pace, other civ builds TGL - not thinking about scenarios how and when to acquire that town...

It is just essential thinking in any come-from-behind-setting of this game.

I'm sure BABE has been aware of this possibility for quite a while.
Maybe GONG not, because they have TGL and may fail to adopt the role of an invader...

 

[peter grimes]

Well, then it is necessary for us to inform GONG of the possibility.

But we should try to phrase things in ways that GONG will understand: Hey - If you're really going for 100k you have already realized that you can't afford to lose Sugar Mountain, so we're sure you've garrisoned that town against a possible Babe invasion.

btw- Here are the stat's on Babe's invasion of Coucil property. We trust you can muster an effective defense. Thanks!

 

[Paul#42]

Well they can afford to lose that town (if its only that town), especially if they get some techs like Steam and Nationalism or money that always help with a 100k attempt...

That single town lost for a couple of turns will only give them an extra turn, that will be easily accomplished by the enhanced rushing abilities coming in with these two techs (draft and disband far away immediately).

The accumulated culture of the town does not get lost to GONG, not sure whether wonders continue to generate culture for its builders after recapture?

So we should be careful when talking to them...

 

[cubsfan6506]

I don't think we should go probing Saber for info on gong. We aren't their number one ally anymore. gong is better friends now. That would be like Saber probing us on free.

 

[Paul#42]

We could trade two luxuries to GONG.
Should we consider negotiation?

There's no trade embargo against GONG in order, right?

 

[donsig]

I see no harm in making an offer. It would be nice to get some gold.

 

[Paul#42]

Or even better: two luxuries?

How much gold would we take for a luxury?
CA2 tells me 10% on the luxury slider make ~35gpt.
two luxuries make 10% lux, right?
That would mean a lux equals ~17gpt for us, correct?

I'd never pay 20gpt at this stage for a lux to the AI, but I know they paid to me...

Multiplayer veterans, step up!

 

[Aigburth]

I would be surprised if Gong don't have 2 luxuries to trade and I think this is what we should try to acquire.

We might have to move fast as Free have a lux in common with us so it is possible they could trade it to Gong before we do.

 

[Paul#42]

We might have to move fast as Free have a lux in common with us so it is possible they could trade it to Gong before we do.

Well that would not fit their plans to attack GONG but it could indeed be part of a deceive

Anybody dare to draft a diplomatic note?
Don't know if the General is available?

 

[peter grimes]

Hail [whatever it is that gong calls themselves]!

Our wisemen have recently devised a way of safely traversing the twisted seas, allowing trading ships to travel between our two nations!

We would gladly sell you our [two luxuries] for a fair price. What say you?

Hopefully some of your high culture will rub off on us rubes

-The Coucil

How's that for a start?

 

[donsig]

Greetings GONGers!

It has been ages since we last spoke but a new era has dawned opening new possibilities. We are no longer as isolated as we once were and this allows for us to trade goods between our two great countries. We have precious gems and splendid dyes to offer you that would surely make your citizens happy beyond belief. Perhaps you have items laying about that you could trade to us for these things. Please make us an offer.

The COUNCIL

They don't have gems?!?

EDIT: Babe also does not have gems.

 

[peter grimes]

Let's keep in mind that gold they spend on resources is gold they can't use towards their victory attempt. Of course, the resources will help them, on the other hand...

 

[donsig]

I'm not against taking gold for luxes. Loves your comment about their culture rubbing off on us Peter.