Foreign affairs message

[Nimitz]

The RPers want to know if we are willing to cordintate the wonder building we do?

[vondrack]

Originally posted by Nimitz
The RPers want to know if we are willing to cordintate the wonder building we do?

I would like to hear more opinions on this, but my first reaction would be we are not. Bulding wonders is by far too important to "coordinate" with another team, even if friendly.

I do realize RPers have been very friendly to us so far, but I do not feel like agreeing on that we will go for this wonder and they will go for that wonder... The results are too uncertain (others can grab this wonder and we may need to cascade to their/RPer's wonder). Besides, I do not think we would "let" them build a wonder we really want anyway... so I can't see how such a "coordination" would be done. This is something different from research or foreign policy...

[ZargonX]

I would vote a definite "no" for wonder coordination. Once you have committed to that, you have bound yourself to another team, essentially. As Vondrack said, science and exploration sharing is one thing, but this would create a level of interdependancy that would hurt both teams if broken.

[Tiberius]

My first reaction reading this was also NO. Maybe in certain circumstancies, when more wonders are available in the same time and we know we can't build them all or we decide we don't need a certain wonder etc, maybe then, but from this to "coordinate wonder building", is too far.

We should answer perhaps that we don't want to coordinate wonder buildings, but on factual situations they can make proposals to us and we might accept if we feel that the deal is fair and appropriate.

[redstar1]

Yeah, I think we should say that currently Wonder-building is not a priority for us and while we like the assurance that such an agreement would give, we would prefer to treat each offer of co-ordination on a case by case basis.

[Tiberius]

we would prefer to treat each offer of co-ordination on a case by case basis

Exactly, Redstar. This is the idea. Does everybody agree?

[vondrack]

The "case by case" idea triggered something in my mind.

Even though I believe we should definitely reject any general wonder building cooperation plan, I think we might show our good will by telling them we are ready to consult on a case by case basis. If one of us (we or they) consider building a wonder and do not mind revealing that intention to the other team, there is no problem discussing an arrangement for a specific wonder.

The rules would be:
1) no team is obliged to consult its wonder building; building a wonder without a notice would be ok.
2) no team is obliged to agree to let the other team build a specific wonder; even adjusting its own strategy based upon the "discussion proposal warning" would be fine.
3) no team will pass any information on deals made to other teams (that goes without saying, I believe).

Rereading what I've just written... it's not that much of an arrangement after all... We would just say that we are willing to talk... well, as the value of great wonders is pretty much the same for both of us, I do not think there is a good wonder we would be willing to "leave" to them (Pyramids, Lighthouse, Library).

[Kloreep]

I agree with case-by-case. We don't even have to outright say we refuse; just respond that we'd prefer to deal with wonder agreements as they come up.

[redstar1]

I don't think we can really lose on this. This early in the game its pretty certain what other teams are going to be striving for. REX of course and the powerful wonders such as Pyramids, GLH and the GL. However, we have the advantage of knowing that we have more than enough excellent land to settle on while appearing to be isolated. I'm sure the RP team is having the same discussion and they will be of the opinion that the Glh is essential to us.

The other advantage we seem to have is that the other teams are preparing for war. While they churn out archers and spearmen we are churning out settlers and workers. Perhaps falling behind in the arms race initially but when we have 20 cities to their 10 our military capability will far outweigh theirs, if need be.