The Diplomacy Thread

[koondrad]

Dear Loco,

The Leader sends you his thanks for your prompt start to paying for Code of Laws… we hope you find this technology well worth the price.

We see you've already managed to get Alphabet and Monarchy… Long live the King!

Do you have any interest in a deal for Hunting, Literature, Currency, or Metal Casting? Our offer of selling at 50% of the beaker cost in gold still stands. Payment could begin after you finish paying for Code of Laws… depending on what kind of payment plan you prefer.

Let us know how you want to proceed!

Thanks again.

Yours in peace and trade,

Foreign Minister General_W
Servant of the Leader
Epsilon Team!

Your thoughts?

I sent a reply to get the clams.

 

[jeejeep]

Not sure yet, I'll see how things look after we finish paying for CoL.

 

[jeejeep]

I suggest we send Epsilon a message telling them we will give them Theology (13) when we research it for currency and literature

 

[koondrad]

Rgr, message away.

 

[koondrad]

Dear Koondrad and all of Loco,

The Leader, may he live forever, has judged your offer to be most fair and reasonable. We agree to this trade without further stipulation.

We will send Literature to you this turn as a show of good faith, and then we'll transfer Currency to you in exchange for Theology as soon as you get it. (Can you be more specific on when that will be?)

We're most pleased by the warm trading relationship we're developing. Are you interested in further deals… like for Metal Casting or Civil Service? Both of which we're willing to sell to you cheaply.
(In fact – we're now offering a bona-fide blue-light special on Civil Service(800 )… at more than 60% off the beaker cost… meaning you could get this important knowledge for just 300 payable over time.)

Let us know what you're interested in!

Yours in peace and trade,

Foreign Minister General_W,
Servant of the Leader
Epsilon Team!

Thoughts?

I'll tell them that they'll be waiting about 12 turns for theology.

 

[Emp. Killyouall]

Yes Yes Yes! Cs! Buy Everything! Muahahahaha!

 

[koondrad]

I agree.

Jeejeep?

 

[jeejeep]

Buy everything sounds good, but what is the real plan? What should we buy first? At what rate should we buy?

 

[jeejeep]

Innovia has proposed us this trade. I suggest we decline, it has no benefit to us.

 

[koondrad]

I second that.

I think we should maybe buy civil service first.

 

[koondrad]

Two new messages from Innovia:

Dear Loco,

It would appear you paid us twice (20 ) this turn.

Was this intentional? We hope this wasn't just a game glitch.

At any rate, you are (of course) free to skip your next scheduled payment if you'd like, or just keep paying and finish a turn early – whatever you prefer.
We show you having paid 7 of your 10 payments.

Hope all is well and Theology is progressing nicely.
Have you stared to think about where you might want to go after that?

All the best,
Foreign Minister General_W
Servant of the Leader
Epsilon Team!

Was that intentional?

Dear Locomotions,

The Leader, may he live forever, sends you his warmest regards. We are most pleased to be on the verge of trading Currency for Theology with your people – but we sincerely hope that this is only the beginning.

We have a proposal that we hope you'll find exciting.

We propose the following:
After Theology, Loco studies Music(possibly getting you a free Great Artist), then Guids, then Banking, and then Divine Right(possibly founding Islam)..

Meanwhile, Epsilon learns Machinery and Compass and then makes a line for Education.

The trades could work like this.

Phase 1
Epsilon gives Machinery(700 )
Loco gives Music(600 )

Phase 2
Epsilon gives Compass & Paper(1,000 )
Loco gives Guilds(1,000 )

Phase 3
Epsilon gives Philosophy(800 )
Loco gives Banking(700 )

Money Phase
Epsilon studies Economics (1,400) after we get Banking from Loco – then we take our free Great Merchant, and send him to Loco's capital… then split the windfall cash 50/50

Bonus Phase
Epsilon gives Education(1,800 )
Loco gives Divine Right(1,200 )

Double-Down Phase
Epsilon gives Economics(1,400 )
Loco gives Gunpowder(1,200 )
​

Depending on what you want to do – we could stop this potential trade anytime after Phase 3 – but if you agree with us to go all the way…
Then the trade balance would look like this….


Epsilon gives = 5,700
Loco gives = 4,700

Loco would be ahead 1,000 beakers, potentially gain a free Artist, an extra Relgion/holy city/free missionary, and would also share in a gold windfall from the Merchant.

We're pretty excited about this idea… what do you think of this proposal?
We are, of course, open to negotiation if you have a better idea!

Your Friends in peace and Trade,

By the hand of Foreign Minister General_W
Servant of the Leader
Epsilon Team!

This sounds excellent and it could be the start of a friend for life. I'm sure there's probably some issue with it though, as I don't know all the ins and outs of our current situation.

 

[jeejeep]

The theocracy payments are going fine, I sorted it out. The trade ideas seem fine to me, but we would need to be able to cut off the deal at any time, or failing that I think it should be more flexible. if we get attacked we'll be wanting to research towards gunpowder, not divine right.

 

[koondrad]

I enquired about the flexibility and they also informed that you over payed by 10 so they will be refunding it.

 

[jeejeep]

We have finished researching theology, so we should be able to trade it now. If we can we should also try to trade it with other nations besides epsilon.

 

[koondrad]

Dear Koondrad and all the Locomotions,

We certainly understand your being busy… we're just glad the messengers are going back and forth again!

Our proposed agreement is certainly flexible! No trouble at all.
Part of our motivation for crafting the deal language in "phases" was to allow the deal to be easily modified if necessary.

Perhaps it would be more helpful to think of our proposal as a "roadmap" to help both of our teams coordinate our research with trading and mutual benefit in mind. After any given phase is completed, the deal could be modified or even canceled… but obviously some of the biggest payoff in this deal comes at the end – so we're hopeful that we can both stick with it all the way through.

As a note on your invasion fears – we'd like to point out that we crafted this deal to try to avoid becoming over-dependant on just peaceful or military techs. If there are clouds of war on your horizon, this deal still provides Macemen & Crossbows (with Machinery in Phase 1), Knights (with Guilds in Phase 2), and Musketmen (with Gunpowder in Phase 6) – these are the key military techs of the foreseeable future. Of course, the true beauty of this deal is that we don't just end up with these military techs – but also with the key economic techs along the way… just one benefit of having our two great peoples working together.

Additionally, we've never signed a formal peace deal with your people – but The Leader, may he live forever, stands ready to sign a lasting agreement if you wish one. Perhaps we can take that up after we nail down this tech deal?

Here is our formal proposal: "Roadmap to a New Millennium"

Spoiler Loco/Epsilon 'Roadmap to a New Millennium' Deal :

<proposed treaty>
Article 1: Purpose

1.1 It is hereby agreed that the Great Nations of Loco and Epsilon will coordinate their research efforts in good faith to the advancement and betterment of both their peoples.​

Article 2: Renegotiation and Cancellation

2.1 It is hereby the stated intention of both parties to stick to this roadmap and see it all the way through to its finish.
2.2 Both sides hereby acknowledge that the other may encounter unforeseeable circumstances that will necessitate renegotiation of certain phases&#8230;or even cancellation of the deal in extreme cases&#8230; and therefore agree that said renegotiation or cancellation do not in any way constitute a violation of this deal.
2.3 Both sides also agree that as far as is possible, they will in good faith notify the other team as soon as possible if they believe they will need to deviate from the roadmap.​

Article 3: The Roadmap

Phase 1
Epsilon gives Machinery(700 )
Loco gives Music(600 )

Phase 2
Epsilon gives Compass & Paper(1,000 )
Loco gives Guilds(1,000 )

Phase 3
Epsilon gives Philosophy(800 )
Loco gives Banking(700 )

Phase 4: Money Phase
Epsilon studies Economics (1,400) after we get Banking from Loco &#8211; then we take our free Great Merchant, and send him to Loco's capital&#8230; then split the windfall cash 50/50

Phase 5: Bonus Phase
Epsilon gives Education(1,800 )
Loco gives Divine Right(1,200 )

Phase 6: Double-Down Phase
Epsilon gives Economics(1,400 )
Loco gives Gunpowder(1,200 )
​

Article 4: Summary

4.1 Beaker Summary:
Epsilon gives = 5,700
Loco gives = 4,700
4.2 Misc. Summary:
Loco would be ahead 1,000 beakers, potentially gain a free Artist, an extra Relgion/holy city/free missionary, and would also share in a gold windfall from the Merchant. Epsilon hereby agrees that this is a fair deal, and will not seek further recompense for any imbalance.
​

We stand ready to sign this agreement exactly as outlined above.
Would you like to suggest any changes or additions?
We've got the champagne on ice in anticipation of having this proposal returned with your signature!

To the Future!

- Foreign Minister General_W
Servant of the Leader
Epsilon Team!

I think we should jump on this. I would also like to sign a peace treaty with them.

 

[jeejeep]

Sounds good to me. Also tell them we're ready to act on the theology deal.

 

[jeejeep]

Koondrad, there are some diplomatic messages in the inbox. Here's our current trade situation.

 

[koondrad]

Dear Koondrad and all our Loco Brothers,

Fantastic! - The Leader, may he live forever, is confident that this is the dawning of a glorious new era for both our peoples.

We look forward to hearing your peace proposal, and are looking forward to signing an official document to codify the peace that already exists.

Were you thinking of something with a definite end date? Or something that went on indefinitely with some kind of a "15 turn cancellation notification" clause? (ie, no war without giving at least X number of turns of notice)
We'd be happy with either one.

We salute you as brothers!

- Foreign Minister General_W
Servant of the Leader
Epsilon Team!

Ill check out the emails tomorrow.

We need to draft some sort of peace treaty.

 

[jeejeep]

Koondrad check your PM's

 

[jeejeep]

As Koondrad has not checked in for 7 days, I decided to act in a diplomatic capacity. Here is our correspondence.

We see that you have acquired Theology. Would you be interested in trading this for one or more of our techs (depending on beaker costs)?

We also have some excess pigs running around making trouble in the villages, but we hear that your people are hungry for pork. We would be happy to satisfy their desire for fresh meat in exchange for any other happiness or health resource you have in surplus. What do you say to this generous offer?

Theoden of Innovia



Innovians,

Sorry we took so abysmally long to get back to you, our team has been in a state of chaos lately. We perfectly understand if after all this time you have entertained offers from other teams or changed your minds about the trade. I am sending this e-mail in place of our foreign officer, Koondrad, due to the disarray. We would like to offer a trade of Theology for Civil Service and a large sum of gold, determined by yourselves (but approved by us of course).

And with Aloha

Greeting Loco,

Unfortunately it seems impossible to arrange a deal with an equal ammount of beakers at this point. However we can look to make up the difference with gold payments in any deal. On that note my team has come up with a number of propositions.

1. Music for Theology + 100g
2. Civil Service for Theology + 250g
3. Machinary for Theology + 200g

With the gold portion of the deal we are flexible as to how the amount is paid as long as its paid for by 20 turns after any trade. We are also open to any suggestions you may have, but we would like to start negotiations shortly. While we would prefer to deal with you, if we can not start trade talks soon we will have to look at Epsilon offer for Theology, however it is our hope that we can come to a deal with you.

All the best

Robi D, Aloha

Citizens of Aloha,

Sorry ofr the late reply, our team has been in chaos lately. Hopefully you have not yet begun considering other offers. Because we would not wish to miss a tech trade, I have decided to send this in place of Koondrad, our current foreign officer. At this point, the music trade looks favorable to me. However, we implore you to wait two more turns before finalizing this offer. Hopefully our foreign advisor will have returned by then and I can get the rest of the ream on board. If there is no change, I believe we will accept the first offer.

Jeejeep
Executive Leader

Sorry if people don't like what I did, but I figured I had to act before we lost the trades and fell even further behind in technology.