Office of Diplomatic Affairs

[asleepathewheel]

Originally posted by Theseus
I cannot believe the lack of action in the public forum.

We've thrown all the demagogues for a loop!!

You see, they're used to having several days to prepare speeches and pictures. This time they are on our timetable.

[DeepO]

maybe that could make our public announcement? a SPIN post, simply telling: "Surprise move stuns the world biggest announcement posters"?

DeepO

[Arrian]

The public forum is dead as a doornail. I didn't expect that.

Apparently, we finally did something that nobody saw coming.

-Arrian

[Shiber]

We have to get out of that tech deal with Lego.
If we go along with it, we'll be giving GoW and ND a tremendous advantage - while they'll have their income to rush more units, we won't have any for ~7 turns.
We should explain this to Lego and seek a peaceful way out of this agreement. If they refuse at first, we can offer to agree that should Lego wish so, they can condition signing any future agreement with GS with the fulfillment of this or a principally similar tech agreement. Finally, we can offer to postpone the deadline by 8-10 turns.
If they refuse to all those offers and deny us a peaceful resolution to our problem, then it's probably either because they don't value us as an ally anymore, or they want to weaken us through this commitment to research in order to balance the Bob war. Then we can consider our next actions (perhaps threaten to deny them any luxuries that we control (they'll know that this would also mean silks and other luxuries once we regain control of RP's luxuries) once our current luxury trading arrangement expires).

[zeit]

We could offer Invention instead of Banking, but only if we're going to actually research it in time...

Now, we have to decide whether or not we're willing to stand behind our word no matter what- which means we research banking, we should try to talk to Lego about it- if they're willing to substitue Banking for Invention, I say we go for it, if not, then we're left with two obvious options...

But the first move should be contacting Lego- ask them if they're willing to forego the agreement, or have Invention instead- which is a far better course of research now.

[Theseus]

We REALLY need to contact Lego and Vox.

1) I am still dying for an up-to-date map of Bob.

2) I suspect that one or both have troops on Bob.

3) Vox should be preparing to attack the northwestern isle.

[Cort Haus]

According to Arnelos, Lego has troops in GoW ready to defend against GS. I can't see them giving us a map of Bob as things stand.

The NW isle - that's ND's, I take it. Are Vox supposed to be attacking them?

[Theseus]

FYI, at some point this weekend there is going to be a chat with GoW, specifically Un0.

[Theseus]

Show of hands:

Who is ambassador to whom? Or, in the alternative, who whould like to be an ambassador?

Among other things, someone needs to handle RP with kid gloves.

On a related note, anybody up for some roleplaying?

[DeepO]

I was ambassador to Lego, but can't anymore... no time, sorry. Arrian was taking over, I don't know if he still feels for it

DeepO

[Cort Haus]

I'm available for deployment in this area if required.

[Theseus]

Thank you, CH, that is great.

Can you take the lead on RP?

[Theseus]

Well, CH has definitely stepped up beyond just dealing with RP!!

The two of us having been carrying the diplo load, and it just ain;t enough. I mean, I think we are doing OK, but GS would be MUCH better served by assigned ambassadors.

This has been one or our weakest areas... but I think the team would acknowledge that what CH and I have invested in this arena over the last few weeks has a high likelihood of return.

But I, at least, intensely feel the lack of ongoing contact with the other teams. Every time I see 12 or 24 hours pass without contact (or posts), I get extremely nervous... especially during the work week, when I am time constrained in both total time devoted and relative availability.

We can win the current diplo battles, but only with diligence, time, and attention... and then we can win the game battles!

Also, as CH and I have been so focused on diplo stuff, I do not feel that we are giving the situation the deep meta-analysis that it needs, nor the attention required for things military and economic.

[Cort Haus]

I too expect some return from the diplo capital invested, even if our immediate goals are not attained. I'm actually getting an RL return too, as it makes me think more about everyday dealings with people.

T is right that the intensity of focus has inevitably drawn attention from other areas - but with good reason as we desperately trying to overturn our balance-of-allies deficit, perhaps a price for historical 'underdevelopment' in this department. It may be that earlier on in the game, the team underestimated the value of this area, perhaps assuming that the array of technical talent in the team was sufficient to win the game. It's certainly clear that that the technical talent was dazzlingly successful at growth, economy and military - GS is a superb Civ, but destined to be shackled by the dice before it even planted its first city.

So perhaps, the deciding factor perhaps is neither the economic/military mechanics, nor the diplomacy but the RNG gods. The tile count says that GS and Vox got dealt the worst hand by fate, and Lego the best.

Getting back on topic, I also agree that we should keep in regular contact with the other teams. This is starting to happen, I think.

As for more staff in the foreign office - I can only echo T's call. Until there are, I won't be getting to play any Conquests .

[Theseus]

OK, people, we need to marshal on the diplo front.

ND - The rapprochement PM.

GoW - I still think it'd be funny to re-present our offer.

RP - Methinks Togas needs some morale boosting.

Vox - Hmmm... I know (I think) that they are Lego's vassal... but perhaps we could entreat them as now one of the "lesser powers"? Perhaps that GS, RP, and Vox should in some way cooperate?

Lego - F*ckers. Manipulative sh*ts. If there is ANYTHING I hope to achieve, it is their pain. But for the nonce... I dunno, this is wild and crazy, but what if we offer OUR vassalage to them? Or a merc relationship? Just blue skying here, but I'd like us to think outta the box.