Dimplo Scholia: - Vox Controli - comments

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by Shiber
You have a point.
I think we're all tense because we realize that the Voxians know that the best time for them to attack is during the late ancient age, but we can't be certain that they've decided to attack us. They have other neighbors, and they might have decided that we're too strong and are planning to attack a different team (RP maybe).

Attacking anyone but us would be extremely stupid of Vox unless they can secure an agreement from us not to attack them while they're doing it. They would have to commit a large percentage of their forces to have any realistic hope of success (and even then they'd probably need an ally), and such a commitment would leave them wide open to an attack from us.

The only time I'm really worried about is the next 20-30 turns. If Vox hits us before our production advantage really kicks into gear, things could get messy. After that, we'd still get hurt enough I'd rather delay fighting longer, but the balance should be tilted clearly in our favor.

Nathan

[Shiber]

There could be something about the geographical features of the terrain between Vox and RP that could make them prefer to go for RP, or perhaps they have explored RP's territory and have decided that they're very weak. Or they could be just afraid of us because of the impression that we give in the F11 screen. People do stupid things when they're afraid.

Anyway, I agree regarding the next 20-30 turns period.

[alva]

Didn't RP told us they were on a different continent all together?

[Shiber]

Then how could they possibly have met Vox?
Anyway, I thought we've established already that RP was Civ X. IIRC they told us that they've met Vox... or was it another civ?
I'm too hyped up to think properly right now.

[alva]

GodKing wrote on 10-01-2003 00:25:

DeepO;

Vox is the one team we have not met, nor have we been able to open relations with them in any significant way. We have met Lux and GoW. Lego and ... I cannot remember their name (ND?), are close to us and we expect to make contact with both of them soon IIRC.

You are on another continent. We have explored to our south and find an ocean between us. We have heard rumor that Vox is close enough to see, but is separated by water. Only rumor, so we have nothing to confirm with. Another civ is near Vox who is toward your NE we suspect.

[DeepO]

Yeah... I mentioned that quote a few times in this thread already... plus before that I fantasized about being alone with Vox, with a 1 tile sea between ours and the next continent.

BTW, for them, it would be good to attack us the moment they can switch to another government, which would for me be al the more reason to try to get a deal for republic with them, preferably with them researching republic. Monarchy is closer, which makes it easier for them, the longer we can stall their possible attack, the less attractive it becomes for them.

DeepO

[alva]

Blowing their GA while in anarchy would be a nice bonus

[DeepO]

Keep on dreaming... the moment their scouts see us coming, they will switch to a government if they have a chance. So by the time we'll get there, they should be out of anarchy. And we most likely won't start a war before we have gov ourselves...

BTW on the colouring of that quote!

DeepO

[Shiber]

My memory betrays me yet again.

[DeepO]

Don't worry Shiber, it's friday

DeepO

[nbarclay]

A deal where Vox researches Republic and we plan to trade for it would be a disaster. For one thing, it would seriously slow down our change of governments because of the disparity in research rates. (Indeed, we might find ourselves the last civ to get Republic.) For another, it would give them an absolutely perfect opportunity to backstab us by backing out of the deal so they have an advanced government and we don't.

In regard to their seeing us coming, by the time they'd be ready to change governments, the civs' borders should be right up against each other. There won't be forward observers to warn of an impending attack.

[alva]

In regard to their seeing us coming, by the time they'd be ready to change governments, the civs' borders should be right up against each other. There won't be forward observers to warn of an impending attack.

Do you have a rough estimate on how many turns in the future we are talking here?

[nbarclay]

We're almost certainly more than 40 turns away from Republic even in the best possible scenario (research Writing, research Code of Laws, trade for both Philosophy and Literature), but I'm not sure how much more.

[Arrian]

Trading for Lit will be probably be more expensive than the research cost of the tech would indicate, due to the fact that it allows the GL.

-Arrian

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by Arrian
Trading for Lit will be probably be more expensive than the research cost of the tech would indicate, due to the fact that it allows the GL.

Maybe, maybe not. Courthouses and being closer to Republic are pretty valuable things too. And the possibility of prebuilds makes trying to delay someone else's starting a project such as the Great Library a lot less useful in MP than it is in SP. On the other hand, if a civ is within just a few turns of finished, it will probably guard Literature very jealously in case someone else might have a prebuild going.