DIPLO: Legoland Comments

[DeepO]

80 gold: we need to reach some consensus here... do I post a poll on this? I'm definately going to wait until more people can comment on it... for the moment, I agree with Nathan: it's a price, although not a good one. I think we can accept it, but mention that we were hoping to get offered better prices for our techs

I wouldn't put it as strongly as Shiber though: we need Lego. We can only voice disappointment, make them feel guilty on their attitude, give them the feeling they got a favour from us.

As to getting constr from a hut: I can't remember a quote, but you're right, no need to pressure them on this.

DeepO

[DeepO]

new message from and to Lego, which I hope creates the right balance between me as a middleman between lego and GS, and us not feeling very happy by the proposal. It should be possible to go either way from here, but I suggest we take care of this before the chat tomorrow. So, more opinions on the 80 gold, anyone?

This is what I got so far:
Zeit: no
Shiber: no
Nathan: yes, but not wholeheartely
DeepO: annoyed yes

I'll update if I see more

(BTW Shiber: just a response to something I missed before: nobody on Bob is interested in getting Rep from us)

DeepO

[Aeson]

I wouldn't mind the 80 gold, but make sure Lego realizes we'll ask for the 'good deal' + 80 gold back for MT.

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by Aeson
I wouldn't mind the 80 gold, but make sure Lego realizes we'll ask for the 'good deal' + 80 gold back for MT.

Is it really in our best interest to rub their noses in it rather than simply quietly doing it (and reminding them of the 80 gold if they complain about the price we ask)?

[zeit]

That's right- 80 gold means we'll have to back off from the "favourable" price for the MT. Republic is a powerful tech- any turn without it is a loss- we don't have to bluntly throw this at Lego, but i'm sure they understand the urgency as much as we do: they have more to lose from delaying the deal.

If things were to blow up, i'd give the Legos some gold- not 80, perhaps a bit less, just as a lesson that this sort of last minute change in unacceptable. Perhaps 50 or 60 gold would also do.

[Aeson]

Just read the Lego replies, and if no one else does have Construction (and Lego isn't trading it), the 80 gold becomes a much better deal. As does the clause that they will trade Republic to GoW with an NDA.

Republic will take a nose dive in value if RP is researching it (with 3 of us having it, they would probably finish it by turn 86). So will Currency and Construction... so it's pretty well balanced.

[nbarclay]

What do you mean "if things were to blow up"?

[Aeson]

I was thinking more along the lines of...

"We were hoping to make up the difference in the MT trade, but in the interest of building trust between our two teams we will pay the 80 gold up front to bring the trade to a balance at this point. This will of course slightly increase the price we can offer MT at, but should work out the same either way."

[zeit]

if things were to blow up"?

The negotiations, that is.
Were trying to build some long term relationship with the Legos- we could explain, in a friendly manner, that we rather have this balanced on future deals, that we are going to give them a favourable price on MT, and that we are not thinking this is unfair-like DeepO had said, that we're a bit disapointed, and feel like they don't share our vision of a combined GS-Lego scientific effort.

[Theseus]

I think 80 gold is fine... a trifle, really. The change in their position is entirely understandable. The provisions limiting further tech trades with other teams indicate to me that they fully understand what a tech partnership should look like.

If anything, I think we should escalate the discussion to full-fledged joint manipulation of Bob.

[DeepO]

Originally posted by Theseus
If anything, I think we should escalate the discussion to full-fledged joint manipulation of Bob.

That was what I was hoping to get to in the chat tomorrow...

update on votes:

Aeon: ok
Theseus: ok

A few more (Sir Ralph? Alva?) and I'll send it along, it sounds like we're getting to an agreement here.

And I agree that this does not mean they will get a superspecial price for MT, but I don't think Lego sees it that way either. They want the gold now, to avoid the vagueness of a favourable price.

DeepO

[Shiber]

You have my ok.

[alva]

abstain, hmm, a reluctant yes...

[alva]

Btw, How are you going to handle the chat tomorrow?
We all meet in the GS room, and 'advice ' you from there, while keeping our mouths shut on the negotiating table?

[DeepO]

okay, so that's a 6-1 vote so far, although many of the yesses are reluctant

Chat: Indeed, I was thinking on something like that. We get two channels running, one in where there is free GS chat, and another were we keep the official dialogue. I was proposing to moderate it, so not that I would be the only one to say something to Lego, but that normally I would answer, and others only talk after they are okayed. I'm starting to know these chats, too many people talking and the legos will feel ambushed. Plus, if only one talks, it's far more easy to keep the initiative, and thus decide what gets talked about.

DeepO