Turn 350 AD

[Cort Haus]

Draft note to Togas:

Thank you for the cities, this move is helping with the current phase of negotiations with GoW. We've pumped Miller Town up to six and sent you that for your Palace jump - should that transpire and be your choice. We we have settlers on the way to claim and consolidate the territory on Bob, and to start rebuilding Spain.

Negotiations proceed positively with GoW, and we are are also seeking Lego's approval / involvement. We'll keep you informed.

Well, reasonably informed. I don't want to break the news about Pamplona yet - we might have to bargain that away for a decent chunk of Bob. I'd like to know whether GoW want Pamp dead or alive, so to speak. As you said, it would be a handy retreat for our wounded Knights, but they're very determined to get it.

[Theseus]

OK, screenshot is on the way, then I'll post unit counts.

[Theseus]

[Cort Haus]

Despite the handy retreat, I don't want to take Pamp and then hand it to GoW if that's gonna hurt RP bad - who'd probably rather disband it. I think the possibility of PR disbanding it could even be a card for us to play.

We could come clean with RP and say there might be SP there which is what GoW are after. If only we knew for sure about the bloody SP situation. We're negotiating partly in the dark.

[Theseus]

The stack at YK33 is still 4 Pikes and 12 Knights.

Forces around Barcelona -
4: 1 Pike, 2 Knights
411: 3 Pike, 3 MedInf, 2 Cats, 6 Knights
441 & 4411: 2 Pike, 1 MedInf

Forces around Alamo -
63: 1 Pike, 12 Knights
8: 7 Knights (4 at 3/4, 3 at 4/4)
9: ND - 4 Pikes
78: ND - 1 Musket, 3 Pikes
77: GoW - 6 Riders, 3 Workers (including Sir Ralph!!)

In OG: (I think)
2 Knights, 1 Horse, 1 WC, 2 Warriors, 2 Settlers

[Theseus]

I don;t think the negotiation over territory is quite done. I'd rather we stick to our guns for the moment on territory, and come up with a mutually acceptable plan re saltpeter (if that's the issue).

I imagine that GoW are worried about access WHILE at war with ND... we can solve that problem, I am sure.

[Theseus]

What is your thinking re the remaining cities in N. Stormia?

[Cort Haus]

I'd like them to be pumping Spanish commerce, ideally - to flow into our coffers for the effort against the Yellow Stain. Speaking of which, I wonder if they know about this by now and are making GoW a counter-offer?

We need the chokepoint but not the NW cities (Beta, Wittlich) if there's no threat up there in the medium term - if we get the deal. If we got the cities back with mkts/ch/harbour we'd get some production out of them.

[Cort Haus]

Shall I send that note to Togas?

[Theseus]

Yes, it was well written.

About the cities in the north, I meant in the short term... in my playing of the turn, I had gone ahead with offering them to RP, and yet you did not. Reason?

Separate note: Just to enhance our cooperation... I am confused by why you are on and off 'poly, as evidenced by the light bulb next to your name. I keep thinking you might have signed off for the night to sleep. :hmm:

We might want to set up chats for future turn play.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Theseus
I don;t think the negotiation over territory is quite done. I'd rather we stick to our guns for the moment on territory, and come up with a mutually acceptable plan re saltpeter (if that's the issue).

I imagine that GoW are worried about access WHILE at war with ND... we can solve that problem, I am sure.

You're right that the territory situation is not done.

They want a lot of land. The whole of Bob almost - except for a thin sliver between the coast and a DMZ - and only east of Barca. I can't take that too seriously - it gives them 90% of a huge continent, but I do take their Pamplona demands seriously.

Until we know for sure about the SP I can't see how we can offer them a concrete plan. If we offer a hypothetical plan and they accept - it confirms our assumption and we've found out from them where the SP is - to an extent. So, they can't accept such a plan.

[Theseus]

I don;t follow the logic... I say we put the question out in the open, where is the saltpeter?, and stick to our desire to control the territory south of the jungle.

[Cort Haus]

On the northern cities, I wrote in the Good morning Spain thread :

"I'm assuming that we don't want to transfer other cities unless Gow sign. We still need to manage our West coast."

On the next post you said 'correct' - though it may have been in answer to something else. I was also thinking of a buffer zone between GoW and RP while they've got no defenders and are still at war. Can empty cities be taken straight off a boat?

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Theseus
I don;t follow the logic... I say we put the question out in the open, where is the saltpeter?, and stick to our desire to control the territory south of the jungle.

Worth a try. There's a big gap between the two positions.

[Theseus]

Ah, sorry, you are correct about the cities in the north.

I've got to break for a while.