Lux Invicta intelligence

[Meshelic]

FURTHER LUX INVICTICA NEWS

In a brief chat with Calc II, their temporary team spokesman until they appoint ambassadors and discover "writing", I learned some of the following traits.

1.) As the Ottomans, they purposefully desire to (and expect to) take the lead in science, backed by their industrial power.
2.) They seek an active tech trading partner. Although this seemed to be a priority, CalcII also commented that they were focusing on trade and science, more so than war and espionage, etc.
3.) They, as all the other teams, will not be challenging their starting location and will stick to what they have.

Although this information is relatively trivial (I admit), there can be some insight to be had here.

Because they are focusing much of their power to science and industrial might, they seek active trading partners to encourage relations and benefit both countries. They seem to geniunely desire a partnership with one of the teams, and this seems to be mostly based on location, although harbors and subsequent advances will make it easier to trade with them from a distance.
Very little to nothing was mentioned of warmongering, as they seem to be mostly focused on defense as a priority, then building science/culture improvements, in a more builder-type attitude.
They are also the quietest civ out there it seems. For the most part, not much has been leaked out from their private thread to their main forum team thread (or so it seems). They keep to themselves mostly, and either do so because they wish to wait until they make first contact with another civ or until they can literally build embassies in-game. Or because they want to keep quiet so no one pays attention to them.

[nbarclay]

The natural strategy for the Ottomans is to sit back and build while other civs slug it out in the early game and then, if they need more territory, grab it with Sipahi. With a tech lead, Sipahi can have a pretty long shelf life, especially since they're a lot better than cavalry at dealing with riflemen. I don't know whether they're thinking in terms of a massive Sipahi offensive when the time comes, but it's not a possibility we dare ignore.

That said, I'm definitely interested in trading partners, and it sounds like Lux Invicta might be a good candidate depending on how the game develops.

[Arrian]

I don't know whether they're thinking in terms of a massive Sipahi offensive when the time comes, but it's not a possibility we dare ignore.

Agreed. Allowing them to live long enough to get Sipahi could be a fatal mistake. Hopefully, 1 or more other teams will see it the same way

-Arrian

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by Arrian


Agreed. Allowing them to live long enough to get Sipahi could be a fatal mistake. Hopefully, 1 or more other teams will see it the same way

Sipahi are only a major threat if the Ottomans have the research to get them in time and the industrial base to build adequate numbers. If their "builder" game goes well, letting them live long enough to get Sipahi could be a fatal mistake for whoever they target (assuming they choose to attack). If it doesn't, Sipahi will be too little, too late.

So we need to watch where they are relative to us on the map and how they're doing economically and in terms of research (assuming there's a way to do that in MP). But I'm not ready to paint bullseyes on them quite yet.

Nathan

[Arrian]

True, and Sipahi are most dangerous if they are either on our continent, or have a foothold on it somewhere.

But as with any civ with a powerful attack UU, they must be carefully watched as their unit's era approaches.

-Arrian

[Meshelic]

FOREIGN MINISTRY REPORT

In chatting with CalcII and AdmiralPJ (the LuxInvictican diplomats) they asked me to discuss with my team these ideas:

1.) trading minimaps with them ( i told them probably not)
2.) coordinating a way to contact each other in game without giving up maps (ie they give US navigational directions to them, and we do the same) I told them I would discuss this first with my team.
3.) They strongly want a tech partner, as well as a long-term partner for mutual protection.
4.) The LI has a deep respect for our team and does not seek conflict with us, at all costs...

This from their entire foreign minstry team, with Trip observing.

They ALSO, in a roleplay fashion, talked about the possibility of a "royal marriage" between our two nations.

Surely they seek closer ties with us and view us as a great potential ally. I suggest we maintain caution, but this could work out to our benefit in many many ways.

I would definetely like to hear your thoughts on this.

[Arrian]

I think it behooves us to seriously consider this overture (sounds like an overture to me). So much for Trash Trips Ass The two of us working together could make for a powerful alliance.

Edit: On the tech trading issue, we are religious and are considering (I think) shooting up the Monarchy route after we get the wheel. They are scientific and can go up the "northern" route. Further, if we are lucky enough to make contact with them early on, we can probably work a trade for bronzeworking (we all know how badly I want that).

If and when we get into discussions of tech trading, however, we really need to consult the chart of what each tech costs in beakers, so we can bargain properly.

-Arrian

[DeepO]

I'll think of this, but for the moment just one BIG warning: They can say they want us for long term alliances, and I'm not weary of that, but they do have a UU which will proof its use late in the game. At this moment, they would be best to ally with (strong) ancient UU teams, just to make sure they survive long enough to make optimal use of their UU. If I understand correctly, the Siphani is going to be effective from the moment cavs get around, to the time tanks overrun them (infantry can be taken with it, I did it with normal cavs more then once).

Caution is all I ask. But, I don't hold a special grudge against Trip's team, so for the moment I would carefully proceed.

DeepO

[alva]

Mesh, maybe make special thread for this kind of info.
The sameway DeepO did (no other posting allowed).
This is going to end up buried after 3 or 4 days.

[Dominae]

Woo-hoo I get to do something as Ambassador! Points 2 and 3 from Meshelic's post look particularly interesting, as does Arrian's comments about possible tech sharing. I too am a bit cautious to welcome them with open arms...maybe they want to signal to the rest of world where we are, and watch while we burn. Must be careful here.

As ambassador, I'm dealing myself out of any marriage; a diplomat cannot have any emotional ties (maybe I'll resign, then marry into their family...!).


Dominae

[Meshelic]

Okay starting another thread for this. All posts concerning this goes to that thread...

[DeepO]

Looking at the F11 screens, we see that Lux, who has started after all the rest of the teams together with us, now has surpassed on on population (in 3800 BC, as opposed to 3850 BC).

Am I correct in thinking that this means they have more food in their first tile, most likely meaning they have a cow on grassland there? (wheat could also be the case, but that would mean they went for a non-production tile for their first turn)

DeepO

[alva]

???

Why have some of our numbers gone down?

GNP:             5mill in 3900bc     -- 4mill in 3800bc
Goods :          3megat in 3900bc    -- 2megat in 3800bc
Productivity :   9 in 3900bc         -- 7 in 3800bc

[DeepO]

Alva, I think NYE changed the citizen from the furs to the grassland before taking the screenshot, as mentioned in the turn 2 thread. We didn't need the production... it went from 3 shields/turn to 1.

DeepO

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by DeepO
Looking at the F11 screens, we see that Lux, who has started after all the rest of the teams together with us, now has surpassed on on population (in 3800 BC, as opposed to 3850 BC).

Am I correct in thinking that this means they have more food in their first tile, most likely meaning they have a cow on grassland there? (wheat could also be the case, but that would mean they went for a non-production tile for their first turn)

DeepO

I practically always go for food over production in the first tile I work in my capital. Choosing between three food, zero production and two food, two production is a bit tougher, but normally, I figure I'll make up the production by having more people working tiles farther along.