What to research!

[Illuminatus]

We have three options - two of technologies are possesed by Yang (probably) and third Angels will aquire soon (Progenitor Psych). Angels suggest we research Mobility, so than we can trade it to them and receive Flexibility in return. We know why Angels want Flexibility - probe foils - they want to play big tech trader again - which can work for us partially. Also, we could produce foils to pop pods in ocean or a additional foil - it would be useful.

[Illuminatus]

I vote for Mobility, since it is the best choice IMHO.

[Natalinasmpf]

Mobility.

Its a good base choice for many things (Air Power in the far future, and intellectual integrity sometime near for police units for ICS'ing), although if we get a chance to probe Yang, and seize mobility, we should switch to Social Psych.

[binTravkin]

WE MUST probe Yang for Mobility!

It should taken care of in next 9 years!

[Ouro_827]

I go for mobility. If we probe it from Yang, then we can change to something new.. maybe get a new choice! Plus, if we don't get it that way, we'll be able to have a back-up.

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by binTravkin
WE MUST probe Yang for Mobility!

It should taken care of in next 9 years!

I would like that too, but I don't believe it is likely. I doubt we can deploy more than one probe to Yang teritory, and if we do - we will have to give up infiltration of datalinks + we have 1:3 chance to get it. However it is still a good chance. It is up to us chose - go safe for infiltration or risk for getting Mobility. Hmm, perhaps I, or someone should test likeliness of techonlogy retrieval. I wonder if somebody already explored that.

[smacksim]

I guess of the choices Mobility is best. Flexibility would be nice. Keep in mind that each tech is increasing our research costs and is off all beelines except Airpower.

One major consideration r/e our research beelines is that other factions will probably have some of those techs already and we can steal them more easily with Flexibility. As a slower-to-research faction, this should probably be a larger consideration than attempting to stay on beeline and do all the research ourselves. This should be a long term decision and we should stick with it, just like we are doing with our Secret Project. If we commit to probing-for-equity, we need to get flexibility and steal all the techs we can. If we are going to research ourselves, we need to start convincing Angels to research SocPsych or something else on our beelines for trading.

We have agreed to let them know if we aquire tech through probe actions, so if we do manage to smuggle Doc:Mobility from Yang, we'll probably be forking over a commlink in the exchange, I would guess.

-Smack

[Illuminatus]

Smack, you are lagging. First, those bastards did indeed trying to sell us Yang's comlink and they admitted that when they saw we've met them. Have they really thought we are that stupid to trade for Yang's comlink?

Also, the plan is we research mobility and trade it to Angels which redirect their research and research flexibility. We are again a tough negotiating tabel, since they won't accept exchange Mobility for Flexibility, since 'It is a level 2 tech whilst Mobility is a level 1 tech, blah, blah,blah'. Aghh, that diplomacy.

[smacksim]

My power was out for 4 days Illumin. As was my whole city. Yeah, I'm lagging.

I had to hack my way out of the driveway with a hatchet, as all the chain saws in town were busy with the big trees. But anyways....

That was stupid of them to try and sell the commlink, knowing we'd find him shortly, if they did know that?

As to their refusal to trade evenly, Mobility for Flexibility, how about we tell them our terms? Better yet, let's steal Mobility, research Social Psych, and then dictate terms: "We'll give you Mobility for a promise of Flexibility or Social Psych, your choice." And when they whine about level 1 vs. level 2 say: "You cannot research that tech without Mobility. Would you rather research both of them or participate in a trade? Up to you " but in more cleverly friendly terms, of course.

-S

[Chaos Theory]

We can just point out to them that some lower-level techs are very nice: Social Psych, Doc: Flex, Biogenetics, and Industrial Automation for starters.

Also, if they need Doc: Mobility for Doc: Flex, consider who gains what:

They gain Doc: Flexibility (since they would have researched Doc: Mobility instead).
We gain Doc: Flexibility.

We put that harsh reality to them and force them to acknowledge the parity of the trade, or walk away from it.

I'm all for being friendly, but not charitable. If they want to be silver-tongued about diplomacy, then I say be blunt.

[smacksim]

[binTravkin]

So, I think CT made it clear:

The deal is fair because both of our factions will have 2 techs after this deal:

D:Mob & D:Flex!