Vox

[ManicStarSeed]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
No deal with Vox. They have shown that they are untrustworthy, and the right place for them is outside of the game. I might agree to let them escape to Bob, if they meet me in a good mood, but generally my opinion is, Vox has to go. By no means should we start negotiations.

Mss

[Theseus]

It is too early to talk deal, in any case.

[Theseus]

More to the point:

DIE DIE BANANA-EATING SCUM!!!

[notyoueither]

Ask Vox via an informal channel to make an official offer first, without giving them a frame.

That is the proper protocol. I am serious, you do not tell your oppo what you want in a war too early. That gives them the advantage of knowledge. It is up to them to tell us what their state of mind is, not the other way around.

Oh, and we don't 'ask' them to propose peace, we tell them it is up to them if they wish to sue for peace and to come up with an offer. We go from there. We decide as a team whether to negotiate, or not. We do not begin negotiating a single minute before the team decides to do so.

[nbarclay]

At this stage, I think it makes more sense not to talk about peace with Voxian team members at all except in response to specific inquiries on their part. If they ask, something to the effect that we might be willing to listen if they come up with a good enough offer might be appropriate.

[zeit]

Oh, and we don't 'ask' them to propose peace, we tell them it is up to them if they wish to sue for peace and to come up with an offer. We go from there. We decide as a team whether to negotiate, or not. We do not begin negotiating a single minute before the team decides to do so.

It does make sense, sort of like telling them: "You started this war for whatever the reason was, and you'll have to take the first step in ending it...". We should also add that we want to find a reasonable solution that would end this war, but... (you are untrustworthy, you'll have to show us you really want to end the war, you'll have to pay dearly for what you have done, etc... all in a polite yet stern way).

I was also thinking- i've had enough of the spam BS, why not turn this war into a respectable afair, a-la-18th century european wars...

It would be a refreshing change: war-diplomacy. This doesn't mean we have to really have to negotiate, just change the tone... in the public board as well (that's the drawback... ).

[Theseus]

When the time comes, I prefer a position of strength:

"How yet resolves the governor of the town?
This is the latest parle we will admit;
Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves;
Or like to men proud of destruction
Defy us to our worst: for, as I am a soldier,
A name that in my thoughts becomes me best,
If I begin the battery once again,
I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur
Till in her ashes she lie buried.
The gates of mercy shall be all shut up,
And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart,
In liberty of bloody hand shall range
With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass
Your fresh-fair virgins and your flowering infants.
What is it then to me, if impious war,
Array'd in flames like to the prince of fiends,
Do, with his smirch'd complexion, all fell feats
Enlink'd to waste and desolation?
What is't to me, when you yourselves are cause,
If your pure maidens fall into the hand
Of hot and forcing violation?
What rein can hold licentious wickedness
When down the hill he holds his fierce career?
We may as bootless spend our vain command
Upon the enraged soldiers in their spoil
As send precepts to the leviathan
To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Vox,
Take pity of your town and of your people,
Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command;
Whiles yet the cool and temperate wind of grace
O'erblows the filthy and contagious clouds
Of heady murder, spoil and villany.
If not, why, in a moment look to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters;
Your fathers taken by the silver beards,
And their most reverend heads dash'd to the walls,
Your naked infants spitted upon pikes,
Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused
Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry
At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen.
What say you? will you yield, and this avoid,
Or, guilty in defence, be thus destroy'd?"

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by zeit


It does make sense, sort of like telling them: "You started this war for whatever the reason was, and you'll have to take the first step in ending it...". We should also add that we want to find a reasonable solution that would end this war, but... (you are untrustworthy, you'll have to show us you really want to end the war, you'll have to pay dearly for what you have done, etc... all in a polite yet stern way).

I have to say, no, no, no. Sorry, but the consensus of the team in an earlier poll was either 'no peace' in which case we do not want to invite them into further discussion, or an extremely harsh peace in which case it is far too early to encourage discussion.

In either case, encouraging discussion at this point is detrimental. We do not want them to know our outlook. It will make them fight like lions. The longer they feel they can get out of this on terms favourable to them, the longer we will have an easier time of things in the field. Saying anything other than that the ball is in their court to sue for peace and offer terms, given the decision of the team, would be folly if we were at all honest with them.

Believe me, I wish there were another path open to us. I am a proponent of peace. However, I must accept the verdict of that earlier poll and consider how best our team can manage the situation given the will of the majority. If and when Vox puts something on the table, that will be the time to revisit the issue. Not before.

I was also thinking- i've had enough of the spam BS, why not turn this war into a respectable afair, a-la-18th century european wars...

It would be a refreshing change: war-diplomacy. This doesn't mean we have to really have to negotiate, just change the tone... in the public board as well (that's the drawback... ).

This is a good plan.

[zeit]

Well, seems like Theseus already got the hang of it

I wish i could write in a shakespearean style.