NEWSFLASH! PEACE vessel sighted off Pi Square!

[Drogue]

I have received a PM from johndmuller stating that they have made contact with Pi Square, and that they wish to trade techs (they are offering doc. mobility) and a treaty. Should we accept? I vote we should offer them something innocuous like Planetary Networks, sign the treaty, and ask to exchange maps (they will have charted much). What do you think?

Issue 1 is the Treaty,
Issue 2 is the tech trade,
Issue 3 is whether to offer maps for maps or not.

Full PM is here:

Ahoy Prime Function:

That Schooner off your coast at Pi Square is the P.E.A.C.E. Military Services vessel Montezuma's Revenge of Tripoli, or PMS-003, in your more intimate referents. The Cuspidore BrownBeard greets you as a Brother-of-thep-Sea and has suggested that the crew refrain from coarse and crude behavior in your line of sight.

We have dispatched a bottle to Tripoli requesting "proper" (whatever that means) diplomatic instructions, but meanwhile, in the interests of time, the Cuspidore feels authorized to open negotiations somewhat, so that you may plug in (or whatever it is that you do) to your higher command and initiate the proper routines.

The Cuspidore expects to be able to offer "proper" (whatever that means) trade relations to your "people" and expects to be able to offer the tech "Doc: Mobility" for your consideration. We would wish to know what trade goods you might have to offer in exchange for that knowledge.

We may also become authorized to discuss a Treaty-Between-Brethren-of-the-Sea, should you be similarly inclined. Coordinated efforts to discover improved xenorum distillation technologies, and the breeding of better brewers yeast are also possible items of mutual interest.

So as not to irritate the other factions too much, your prompt evaluation of this matter would be appreciated. Meanwhile, we will of course refrain from coastal raiding, lewd behavior or target practice on that lovely little town of yours. We would, however, wish to allow some of the crew to experience the pleasures of the seamier side of Cyborg life (there are many popular shanties already being sung aboard the Revenge in anticipation of shore leave) should you be able to direct us to the appropriate Quarter of Pi Square.

The Cuspidore

You have 2 days. Please post arguments and reasoning, and I will PM JDM back as soon as it looks like we have a majority. Time is of the essense.

[Drogue]

I voted Yea to all, as it is of mutual benefit to both us, and to the detriment of the other factions. Tech trades now could give us a major edge over the PUT. I vote we trade Information Networks, as it is relatively usless on it's own, but can lead to much. If they will not accept, I vote sending Planetary Networks or Centauri Eco if we have to, but not Applied Physics.

What do others think?

[Corellion]

I agree fully. In addition, IN probably won't help them much, as I don't forsee them becoming a research threat (in the near future).

There is also the possibility of us improving our research rate by co-ordinating research and trading. This will give us a big edge over the University... however PEACE may not go for it.

Should we try asking them for Doc: Flexibility? It would be useful, but they'd probably be hesitant to surrender their naval monopoly.

[Googlie]

Hmmm - Planetary Networks - visualize P.E.A.C.E. Probe foils spanning the oceans, infiltrating, downloading techs from The Angels and the PUT ......

You'd want a watertight infoshare and techshare agreement for that I'd think - prolly along the lines of a fifty year pact. Or else Doc Flex in exchange so that you could send out your own Probe Armada

'Course I'm just a neutral observer ...

G.

[Drogue]

Googlie: Much as I enjoy your interjections, and am thankful for the help, I wonder if in saying things like this to every faction, you are somehow changing the course of the game, as you see everything, you may aid factions in ways they should not be, and may even help a faction if they were losing. As someone in all forums, I think it might be better without advice, since you know others movements, maps etc. I think it would make it a better ame personally. Although this is obviously merelyb a humble suggestion from an ever devoted follower

With regards to the tech, I think Doc Mob for IN and then offer Plan Nets for Doc Flex. Might as well go for both

[Method]

or centauri ecology. i'm not sure giving out plannets is a good idea, for those reasons googlie stated, and others.

yes to all BTW (except plannets)

[Drogue]

Well, would you rather have a friend having probes, who can then trade techs stolen from PUT with us, or would you rather they have laser foils, and a step closer to impact foils? The 2nd scares me more to be honest.

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Drogue
As someone in all forums, I think it might be better without advice, since you know others movements, maps etc. I think it would make it a better game personally.

Point taken, Drogue. And while I may feel that I'm merely stating the obvious (lest it be overlooked), I accept that it may "influence" events if inferences were to be made (eg as you say, I'm privy to all the factions' discussions and in "stating the obvious", as I call it, I might have implanted the idea that the Peace might be willing to trade a tech 2 for a tech 2)

I'll save my posts in future for the innocuous stuff like base names, etc, unless called upon for a odds calculation or short scenario test or whatever.

G.

[Drogue]

Thank you. I don't mean to curtail your fun, merely to make sure that it is faction against faction. Much of your RPing is great to read, and really livens it up

/me breaks into a chorus of GooglieGod's Prayer

[Maniac]

Personally, I'd vote for YES to a treaty. Concerning tech trading, if they offer the currently not so valuable Doc:Mob, I would only be willing to offer InfoNets in return. If they would offer Doc:Flex, I'd offer PlaNets in return. Then we both have probe foils, an equal deal. Of course, until we have our next turn in hands, we cannot know what techs the Pirates have. Perhaps they already have InfoNets or PlaNets. Would it be forbidden for Googlie to check and tell us which techs we already have in common with the Pirates? We'd know it anyway next turn and it would make our diplomatic contact easier.

As for map trading, I'd first ask them what is their opinion about the UoP. If they don't like them, I'd suggest a map trade and a pact to rid Chiron of libertarians.

PS: I forgot to Vote "Yeah" on tech sharing.

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Maniac
Would it be forbidden for Googlie to check and tell us which techs we already have in common with the Pirates? We'd know it anyway next turn and it would make our diplomatic contact easier.

You can check it with the current turn simply by opening the diplo box and offering all tech to the Pirates - it'll only list ones that you have that they dont .... ergo ones not listed that you have are common

(That can be done for any faction except the AI, even although contact has not been made with them - there's no way to block off that info from view in PBEMs)

G.

[Drogue]

Maniac: I don't think they've met the PUT yet. I will PM JDM with our offer of Info Nets for Doc Mobility, and ask if they are willing to trade for Doc Flex and swap maps, as well as agree to the treaty, since we have a majority of those active IIRC. Thank you all for the input.

[Corellion]

Don't forget... although we will both have probe foils, they'll be able to build them, but we won't (seeing as we have no costal bases (anymore)). Maybe we should wait until we have a base that can produce them at a reasonable rate before we trade. It will also increase the probability they'll be willing to part with it for less, as they and we will have better techs by then. Of course, that CP heading to the Manifold Nexus can always be built on the coast.

[DeathByTheSword]

i said yes to all

[DeathByTheSword]

hmmm after reading everthing...i see i was to late....doesnt matter...