Turns of AXT054, third thread

[Qantaga]

Like Hobbes, I am rather distressed that this issue was posted publicly. Since we all know now that you are referring to me, I thought I would answer publicly.


From Tau Ceti's Tournament Rules:

If a probe team action is employed against a Treatied or Pacted faction, the initiator must choose the "Declare Vendetta" option, unless permission is received in advance for the action (email).

Yes, this does include infiltration.


Quoted from NorthSwordsman:

Please be advised that if you probe, you are in violation of rules.

Absolutely untrue! If you probe a human faction, you are not in violation of the rules. You are in violation of the rules if the game gives you a message saying that you must either "Declare Vendetta" or "Let it go for now". This basically means your probe team has been caught red-handed and the message is supposed to go the probee. This is a game bug in multi-player.

---[Edited to finish the thought above: The violation would be if you chose the "Let it go for now" option. The rule says you must choose "Declare Vendetta" if the game gives you that message box.]---

Now, if I did probe a human faction and that screen were given, I would choose "Declare Vendetta". I play these games for fun and my integrity is a lot more important to me than trying to "win" a game.

That probe ship is not even meant to try to infiltrate another human faction, however (as Hobbes points out), I would be well within the rules if I did want to use it to probe a human faction.
In case you are unaware, when you probe an AI faction, the first time your odds of success are pretty high. After that, they have "security interlocks" that make your chances much lower. So, it is worth it to me to send my ships far away to probe new alien bases. The way this game is set up I have to sail the seas between the other humans' islands and the aliens' poles. These areas are the open seas. It is safer to keep those probe ships away from the alien coastline until I am ready to move toward their bases (as shadowlords3 can attest from a recent post about the alien's uncanny radar abilities).

*And, surprisingly enough, the probe ship was indeed taken out by an alien needlejet during the aliens' turn.*

If another human thinks my probes are getting too close for comfort, they are more than welcome to blow them away. That is not even an act of war and does not require "Declare Vendetta".

If you feel that a rules violation has occurred, then you are welcome to notify Tau Ceti. Otherwise, I would appreciate not being publicly questioned on my integrity in following the rules of the game.

[NorthSwordsman]

turn to Shadowlord3.

[shadowlord3]

Turn to H0bbes. I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving. My turn rate may be a little slower the next few days.

[NorthSwordsman]

Gentlemen, I regret that my posting of the rules seems to have caused some misunderstanding here.

I am in no way or form accusing anyone of violating the rules of probe action. I would not make an accusation in public, I would take it in private. I was merely reminding everyone of the rules based on the foil probe I saw. I hardly think that the remarks made were appropiate, but I will let them pass. I do not question your integrity, I was reminding the players of the particular rule. Both Shadowlord3 and I had some question as to exactly what the rule meant, so I posted the rule as written. Not everyone is experienced in MP or Tournament play as Hobbes and Qantaga are! :-). Thank you, Qantaga, for clarifying things a bit with your post. I appreicate the help.

Again, I am not accusing anyone. If I were, I would not waste my time with public accusations. I would write the person privately with a CC to Tau Ceti, as it is appropiate to do so.

Let's not use this as an excuse to get all uptight. Our goal is to take out the blasted Aliens, then we can get down to the business of deciding who the victor of this game will be. I do not harbor ill will toward anyone in particular- I plan to win. If I do not, I do not. But I do plan on enjoying this game.

As for protecting borders, I am currently in a trade and self-defense pact with Shadowlord3. That is no secret. This is for trade and tech purposes, as well as allowing us to help each other out with defense against the Aliens. I protect my pact brothers from harm. That includes probes. Naturally, I would warn a pact brother of an impending probe action. I'm certain all of us have done that before.

When the Aliens are defeated, we get down to the business of deciding the victor, that pact will be dissolved in exchange for a truce. There are no co-op victories in the tournament, if I understand correctly. Until then, I defend my pact brother. I would do the same for any of you if you were pacted and I saw a probe incoming, or at least oriented toward the coastal bases in question. .

So, let's not quibble over posting of the rules. I did not intend for this to become an issue as it has, and apologize for the misunderstanding here.

[H0bbes]

The point that you are missing Northswordsman, is that while you are perfectly able to remind other players of the rules, you did so in a way that could have negatively impacted another player's game by publically posting his identity & the location of his units. There were many other ways of dealing with this issue & you did not choose wisely. That is my major point. As both I and Qantaga have pointed out, you jumped to unnecessary conclusions that raised suspicions about another player's integrity & motives (regardless of whether you meant to or not, that is the reality).

Having said that, your apology is accepted & on with the game!

Well the aliens retook my base down south. I think by probing. Tough little suckers aren't they!

Turned to Qantaga.

[NorthSwordsman]

Turn to Shadowlord3.

[shadowlord3]

Turn 2220 to H0bbes and I took out a whole slew of alien planes. I lost count there were so many and There were still some left.

[H0bbes]

Onwards to Qantaga.

[NorthSwordsman]

Finally home from vacation.

Turn to Shadowlord3.

[shadowlord3]

Turn to H0bbes.

[H0bbes]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Turned.

[Qantaga]

2218 sent to NS.

[NorthSwordsman]

turn turfed to thadowlord3.

[Tau Ceti]

Late reply, but I do not read this thread every day...

Originally posted by NorthSwordsman
This includes infiltration, I believe.

No, it does not. Infiltration is not an offensive action, and does not give you a box with a choice to declare vendetta or not. Players can infiltrate each other freely.

[NorthSwordsman]

Tau Ceti, thanks for clarifying that. I would also like to see the rule on probe teams rewritten specifying exactly what and what is not prohibited under treaty/pact conditions. Perhaps a more clearly written rewording would be in order?