Dealing with GoW

[Theseus]

Gross.

[Cort Haus]

Draft GS-GoW contract - v0.002

Changes to the previous draft are in italics.

The land & borders is still a bit tba - I don't know exactly what was being envisaged here.

The timing is the other factor yet to be addressed. The plans would presumably revolve around turn order.

ARTICLE I - Objective

1. The two nations of Gathering Storm and Glory of War, whose sovereign interests have until recently been opposed in a titanic struggle for balance of power on the continent of Bob, have come to recognise that the stalemate in the Second Bobian War can serve the interests of neither side.
2. The source of the clash of interests - GS's MPP defense of Spain and GoW's contract to remove the RP Civ from Spanish soil must be honourably resolved.
3. A realignment of the balance of power is understood by both sides to be their only realistic chance of victory, with the ultimate need of both sides being to have enough productive land and access to resources to be able to eventually compete with the power to the west, Lego, enjoying a large productive continent to itself, and unimpeded in its economic development thus-far by conflict.
4. The primary obstacle to the aspirations of both GoW and GS, however, is recognised to be the Bobian power of Neu Demogyptia. This contract between the nations of Glory of War and Gathering Storm defines the terms and conditions of the hiring of the mercenary nation of GoW by GS to join and co-ordinate forces in a military and economic alliance to remove Neu Demogyptia from the game.


ARTICLE II - Honouring existing contractual obligations

1. GS respects existing contract between GoW and ND requiring RP to be removed from the continent of Bob.
2. GoW respects existing alliance contract between GS and RP including Mutual Protection.
3. GS to clarify to RP that their continued protection and alliance with GS is dependent on RP making and maintaining peace with GoW as required by GS.
4. RP and GoW to mutually end all hostile and destructive intent towards the other party.


ARTICLE III - Conclusion of hostilities between GoW and GS

1. All Roleplay cities on Bob to be transferred to GS.
2. GS transfer selected cities on N.Stormia to RP.
3. Peace offered and accepted between all parties.


ARTICLE IV - Payment for Contract

1. Delivering the removal of RP from Bob, and enabling GoW to fulfil their existing contract with ND is seen as part payment from GS to GoW against the GS contract with GoW to eliminate ND from the game.
2. Agreement on land rights to make GoW the dominant landowner on Bob upon eventual defeat of ND
3. Allied participation between GS and GoW to defeat ND, with GoW taking the lion's share of the territorial spoils - giving them a large contiguous portion of Bob as far south as the jungle - would be seen as a substantial balance of the payment.
4. Once GS have Gunpowder, GoW can select a technology they would like GS to research for them as part payment of the contract. On completion, GS will deliver that technology to GoW.
5. GS is also able, in the medium and long tem, to deliver a majority portion of the overall research effort to also constitute a portion of the net payment.
6. For the final part of the payment, GoW are to be awarded the honour and glory of inflicting the final blow to ND.


ARTICLE V - Non Aggression

1. Neither nation shall attack the other during the duration of the contract unless it is mutually agreed to by both partners.
2. Neither nation shall declare war on the other during the duration of the contract unless it is mutually agreed to by both partners.


ARTICLE VI - Technology

1. At the time of treaty, GS lag behind GoW in tech, but as soon as they are level, they will be able to contribute strongly to a shared, co-ordinated research program.
2. GS are have partially researched Invention, but will need the remainder of that technology and Gunpowder to (a) be aware of the location of Saltpeter deposits, (b) deliver Musketmen to the battlefield, and (c) start contributing to a joint research program.


ARTICLE VII - Luxuries

1. Both parties to share available luxuries with each other as far as is reasonably possible.


ARTICLE VIII - Strategic Resources

1. Ideally, full access by both parties should be arranged to all necessary resources - preferably under full urban control, but through trade if necessary.
2. In case of insufficient access to enough of each resource, parties with sole access should co-operate with temporary trade arrangements to allow the other side to upgrade / initiate builds.


ARTICLE IX - Wonders of the World

1. The partners shall inform each other of what Great Wonders of the world they are planning to construct.


ARTICLE X - Status of the Spanish nation of Roleplay

1. In addition to Article II para 3 above, GS will clarify to RP that their full co-operation with the GoW-GS contract is required under the terms of the existing protection arrangements offered to RP by GS. This co-operation will require the Spanish refugees in N.Stormia to undertake solely economic development work in their new home, with surplus commercial output being made available to GS so that it may contribute to the cause of eliminating ND.
2. Under these demilitarised conditions, RP will consitute no threat to GoW, but will instead be a net contributer to the goal of the contract.
3. Should the Spanish people not accept the terms of their continued protection by GS, perhaps for religious reasons, and given that GS has already paid a substantial price in the cause of their protection - they may elect to dissolve themselves as a nation and exit the game, delivering all holdings to GS.
4. Should the Spanish people accept the terms, and loyally demonstrate a committment to the requirements of GS and their partners GoW, and if substantial political realignment were to take place in that nation to banish their hostile intent towards GoW, they should be allowed to return to a restricted portion of southern Spain, into areas not sharing a boundary with the intended southern borders of GoW upon completion of the contract.


ARTICLE XI - Envisioned Map and border agreements

After completion of the contract:
1. All lands north of the Bobian jungle to be GoW's
2. Land south of the jungle to be allocated to GS and other possible GoW allies in the fight against ND, in accordance with Article X para 4.
3. Exact staus of border area - tbd


ARTICLE XII - Completion of Contract

1. Completion of contract shall be deemed to have occured upon the delivery of the final blow to ND to remove them from the game. The satisfaction of this act shall be granted to GoW in accordance with the terms of payment above, unless both parties agree that the timing of the final act is essential for the necessary elimination of ND on that turn.
2. Upon completion, a mandatory xx turns of peace shall exist between both parties to this contract.


ARTICLE XIII - Ratification

1. Once this contract has been signed by the representatives of each partner, those representatives are responsible for taking the contract back to be ratified by the appropriate consitutional bodies in each nation of Gathering Storm and Glory of War.

2. Upon ratification by the consitutional bodies of Glory of War and Gathering Storm and notification of this ratification in each case is sent to the other nation, this contract will go into effect and the partners will be bound by its terms.


ARTICLE XIV - Amendments

1. This treaty may be ammended if representatives of the two partners mutually agree to an ammended version of the treaty and such an ammended treaty is then ratified using the guidelines found in Article XIII.


SIGNATURES

[Cort Haus]

I think we may want to do it in roleplaying style... I can take a shot at that if others can work on the GoW contract.

If you really think writing in that style will help. I had fun drafting that recent roleplay missive, but it takes ages. Would a straight chat be better? Arnelos & Togas are always asking for one, and it might be quicker and more direct way to get their agreement. Then compose the flowery version for their public.

[Cort Haus]

Timing : Upon ratification, RP would, in their turn, offer us their cities - except their capital which they can't trade - hmm. How are we going to get that without it being captured if disbanded? We either have to let GoW take it after we've accepted the rest of the Bobian cities- ouch - or declare war ourselves, or feed up an Stormian city with workers, gift it to RP and disband Pamp for a Palace jump.

Turn sequence : RP - Vox - Lego - GS - ND - GoW

This means we could theoretically seize Pamp while at war but there are obvoius complications there. ND have their turn before GoW so the unthinkable (allowing GoW to take) becomes even more unlikely.

This leaves disbanding. I think they first (E-Day) have to gift all cities except Pamp, so that the palace jump can only go to Stormia. We accept the cities, then on their following turn (E-Day + 1) they disband for the Palace jump. ND have one more turn, then it is GoWs turn, and their contract is complete. This is not allowing for any worker-fattening of an cities prior to gifting to RP. We probbaly don't want to spend the workers anyway.

It is definitely time to start talking turkey (is that expression allowed?) with RP. Some ground has been prepared for this in a recent and formal message to RP.

[Cort Haus]

Leo's

I can't get this idea out of my head - I mentioned it earlier in passing, but the logic is inescapable and I want to emphasise it here.

given that:

1. GoW are being hired by us to destroy ND.
2. Part of the payment is our military input
3. They get keep most of ND's land - also part of the extensive payment package.
4. We need ND dismantled as soon as possible.

- there is very sound argument for seeing some of our Gold as better spent upgrading GoW's 3-mover knights at half price, rather than our own 2-mover knights at full price.

If we factor this into our plans it can be also be treated as additional payment into a fairly bumper package for GoW. So bumper, that we might be entitled to some change - Invention and Gunpowder for example. It also fits nicely into GoW's own roleplay as hired hitpoints.

There is the issue of how strong do we want them to be, but the answer to that is - quite strong, actually - at least initially as there are a lot of ND cities to be taken.

[Cort Haus]

Leo's (continued)

I forgot to say that this idea can be part financed by - Roleplay - if we set them up as a modest commercial centre, and they fulfil their obligations to us to help destroy ND by providing GPT for the war effort, it can also persuade GoW that there is value in keeping RP going.

[Arrian]

Hey, just a quick apology for being MIA for the last turn and these negotiations.

Remember how I said I was "half in the bag" on friday night? I was fully in the bag, which resulted in the worst hangover I've had in a long, long time. Saturday was totally waste, and Sunday wasn't much better (except I wasn't in pain). So basically, a 2-day hangover. Gawd, that was awful.

-Arrian

[Cort Haus]

Two day hangovers are the pits. Comiserations.

[Theseus]

CH, excellent thinking and work... run with it.

[Cort Haus]

What, work this GPT idea and up-front tech into the contract ?

An RP vassel economy funding GoW rider upgrades. An Ollie-North type of plan, I feel

[Cort Haus]

Hopefully we'll get some much-needed suggestions for the map/border part of the contract.

I have not got a clue what should go there - so if no-one can help we'll just have to go with what we've got, or I'll just make something up.

[OPD]

What of the war chickens?
Should we ask for them back?

Also the 2 workers of ours they have

[Cort Haus]

Yeah, the settler who was supposed to build Fort Liberation!

If we make it funny they probably will give them back. They seem to respond well to humour.

Version 0.003 of the draft is coming soon. I'm hoping we can get Invention and Gunpowder up-front, and get them to approve of RP's economic health.

[Cort Haus]

GS-GoW Contract - draft 0.03

Just the new article to add. Could this get us we want?

ARTICLE VII - Optional Rider Upgrade Program

1. In recognition of the unique battlefield abilities af the famed GoW Rider Regiments, developed in combination with the military productive power of Leonardo's Workshop, GS considers that the contract may be more swiftly completed by diverting a portion of its own commercial output to their partners GoW for the purposes of upgrading Horsemen/Chariots to Riders. For the purposes of concluding the contract, it makes more sense for GS gold to be spent on upgrading a 3-move knight at half price than a 2-move knight at full price. GS would continue to produce its own Knights, though less than it could otherwise produce.
2. GS would like to offer GoW the opportunity to benefit from this scheme, in appreciation of the efficient military machine that the GoW Civ has constructed, and to the mutual benefit of both parties.
3. Under the program, the transfer of GS economic power into GoW military power would be a firm indication of the trust and honour placed in GoW by GS. By strengthening their partners relative to themselves, GS is offering GoW a fail-safe security guarantee against a hypothetical GS 'backstab'.
4. The level of gpt transfer would be determined by the economic conditions, capabilities, and logistics on the ground, and thus beyond the scope of this document. It might also vary from turn to turn as is pragmatic, rather than fixed-rate deals. A rule of thumb would be 'to significantly strengthen GoW's capacity to fulfil the contract without significantly leaving GS vunerable to a balance of power deficit in relation to their partner'.
5. Should GoW wish to take up this option, they will be enjoying an additional payment to the already-comprehensive renumeration package offered by GS in Article IV, and will also gain a security guarantee from GS. In a reciprocal gesture which would both honourably provide GS with a security guarantee from GoW, and serve the mutual interests of the fulfilment of the contract, GoW would deliver to GS the technologies of Invention and Gunpowder, with the benefits to both parties that would bring as described in Article VI
6. GS intend to deploy the economic potential of the RP refugees in protected northern Stormia to contribute to the ongoing struggle against ND, by making GPT payments to GS. It is apparant that this source of income could make a valuable net contribution to the proposed Rider Upgrade Program, thus assisting the contractual partners GoW and GS to fullfil their mission. It would be hoped that if GoW choose to partake in this program they would see the value of RP's alliance to GS in their contribution to the mutual cause.

[Cort Haus]

Annex 1: The War Chickens

The steps of the Stormian Senate building are stained with the tears of mothers weeping over their captured loved ones.

Reliable cleaners are difficult to find these days, and the marble is getting so badly stained that GS were wondering whether the captured War Chickens might be returned to them before the builders have to be called in.