Vox Controli - correspondence & foreign affairs

[vondrack]

Either that or shutting their research down completely until we can provide them with Invention, which would allow them to research Gunpowder for us (@40t), us doing PP & Demo in the meantime.

But PP is probably safer in that Invention and Gunpowder WILL be done by someone else, and likely as fast as possible (Invention by GoW because of the Leo's Workshop, Gunpowder by whoever becomes the next target).

Well, yes, agreed, PP.

[vondrack]

Unless someone objects within 24 hours, I am going to ask Voxes to pick Printing Press as their next 40-turn research goal.

[vondrack]

Just PMed this to Beta:

Hi, Beta!

We've been discussing the research strategy that would maximize our (yours & ours) gains... after lot of pondering, we believe that it would be best for you to go for Printing Press @ 40 turns. Here is why (feel free to argue - and keep in mind the information below is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL, please... post this PM in your team forum in full or in part, but make sure all Voxians understand the information is CLASSIFIED):

1) Right after your "hop", you will have no choice but to go for a 40-turn research.

2) ATM, Lego is doing Astronomy, GS is doing Banking. These two techs are therefore out of question, as they will be discovered within ~10-15 turns.

3) This leaves only 2 techs "available": Printing Press & Invention.

4) We are almost 100% sure that GoW will do Invention as fast as possible, because they have been prebuilding Leo's in the Imperial City for ages.

5) ND and RP are very likely to end up warring each other soon (if not them, then I don't really know who could be ND's target - and that ND is going to attack someone, is beyond any doubts). Warring parties are unlikely to do any serious research.

6) This leaves Printing Press pretty much "unclaimed", likely for many turns - even @ the 40 turn research, you could be the first ones to discover it, acquiring a valuable asset.

After the initial 40 turn period, we'll see - we are not sure if your new empire could be ready to start doing faster research so soon, but - you can always pleasantly surprise us...

Let us know if this is okay with you.

There's another possibility, which seems to be a close second - that assumes you'd shut your research down completely until GoW discovers Invention (or until we discover Astronomy) and pick a more expensive tech (Gunpowder or Navigation) only then, to maximize the efficiency of the 40-turn research. But that involves significantly more risk than going for PP right now - Gunpowder, as a strategic tech, is very likely to be researched by someone else (someone faster). And we plan doing Navigation ourselves.

So, our recommendation would be: go for PP, please.

Looking forward to seeing your people on Legos Minor (btw, I believe we can consider The New Voice transfer successful now - our guardian units should be able to handle anything that approaches your new capital for those 2-3 turns you will need to hop the rest of your battered nation there).

Take care,
vondrack

P.S.: to prevent unnecessary research delays, we will be sending you Theology this turn.

[vondrack]

And here is the response:

Hi Radek. It has been discussed and polled - and there is unanimous support for researching printing press. It had already been discussed and generally agreed to before you approached us. Great civs thinks alike.

Engineering is up next turn and on its way, Btw - did not see Theology this turn.

Our last settler is produced next turn - and the transfer mechnanics start. We will be in anarchy - but will convert one citizen to a scientist - or 10% research - to keep us in the research loop.

We will expand quickly once we arrive - given that we have 8 settlers and 12 industrious workers.

See you soon. .... Bruce/Beta

[vondrack]

I believe it may be the right moment to publicly announce that Vox Controli has arrived and settled at Legos Minor with our consent. If nothing else, it may add a small bit to the confusion about what we (Lego) are actually after. Here is a draft:

Nations of the World,

It is with joy in our hearts that we can announce a happy-end to one of the greatest hardships a nation has ever been through in the PtWDG. After a violent history of tension, treachery, backstabbing, and a lost war, the nation of Vox Controli, now battered and tired, finally arrived at the coast of Legos Minor and built first cities in their new world exile.

This was previously arranged with and agreed to by Legoland, that used to claim Legos Minor as part of its homeland. We welcome our new neighbours and wish them patience, persistence, and luck in developing the harsh land of the rocky peninsula.

We also hereby pledge to protect Vox Controli in their new exile home against anyone trying to abuse the state of inevitable fragility Vox Controli happens to be at this moment. The nation of Vox Controli is no longer a threat to any other civilization - and as such, shall not be threatened either.

From now on, Vox Controli is under protection of the Legoland empire.

ZargonX,
The President of Legoland

vondrack,
FAM of Legoland

I have no problem to drop my signature - I just thought that signing my text with Zargon's name only would be sort of weird. But I am sure that if he does not mind, it would look better with his name only.

[Tiberius]

Hey, that sounds great!

Maybe we could sign it: "The Senate of Legoland".

(I can already see the "strategists" of GS scratching their heads, thinking heavily: "What that means? Where does this lead? What shall we do? ..." Hehe)

[vondrack]

Originally posted by Tiberius
Maybe we could sign it: "The Senate of Legoland".

I think this is an excellent idea!

"We" I used in the text makes much more sense this way!

[ZargonX]

Looks good, Vondrack. And I think signing it with the Senate is a great idea, as well. Though, I think we should hold off putting it up in the public forum until we have informed GoW and ND of what it means. We want to keep GS guessing, not our allies

[vondrack]

Agreed - I would PM both teams to make sure there is no misunderstanding.

[Kloreep]

Message good, senate signature good, PMs good.

[vondrack]

An update from Beta:

Greetings vondrack and citizens of Lego!

Vox Controli is getting re-established, thanks to your nation. Again - we want to express our gratitude for giving us Legos Minor, for establishing a city, and for protecting it during the Voxodus. You are generous and noble neighbours and we vow to repay you for your generosity and friendship. And as stated earlier - we will never cross you in this game.

So - to business. We are now a Republic - and a proud one at that. We have 8 cities - more than Vox has ever had. With a ninth on its way via galley.

Our cashflow is OK, and we will repay the remaining 70 gold we owe you next turn. Thank you again for the financing. Just too bad it didn't work out. Oh well. Maybe next time.

We are busy optimizing the use of the land that our Island has to offer. We will make it work- harbors are a priority right now. Along with some libraries.

By the way - I hope you are not offended but we have renamed the island 'Voxtavia'. We will send you an in-game map soon as well and you will see the names of the new cities. The capitol remains The New Voice as you have named it.

Also - a word of thanks to vondrack for the city site plan. After review by our team - we could not improve upon it - so the city sites will be familiar to you.

Trust all is well with Lego!

Regards ... Beta.

The gold comes at the right moment...

[Sharpe]

Yes, the gold will be really nice right now.

Though I take Vox at their word about "not crossing us" (odd term however), I wonder if their opinion would change any if they found out that we just founded our 14th city in comparison to their current 8. (Just as well that they don't find out our strength until perhaps after we have settled most of our area )

[Kloreep]

I suggest we replace "Legos Minor" with "Voxtavia" in our PA.

Yes, the gold will be a big help.

[Kloreep]

The sea to the NE of Voxtavia needs to be explored. But if there is land, any huts there will be of minimal value (except for the possibility of a free settler), and we would not want the land for ourselves, even if we did get a settler.

So, I was thinking, why should we even bother to explore it at all? Vox would be the one to settle the land anyway, and could make good use of a free settler. They have galleys from the Great Crossing, so they can easily explore the area themselves if we gift them Education and Astronomy. We could just ask for their WM after exploration.

[vondrack]

Just to keep all of you informed:

Voxes were contacted by Velocyrix of GS. In brief, he proposed that Voxes take advantage of the chaos on Bob and attack GoW possessions on the Mystery Isle (alias Baby Bob).

It goes without saying that Voxes will never do anything like that for real - as they very well know where Lego stands in this war. But there would be the possibility of staging an attack, actually arranging a deal with GoW (if GoW agrees, of course)... we all know how good Voxes are in staging things... They might be able to gather intelligence then, especially regarding the timing of any major GS offensives on Bob (as those would likely be coordinated with the actions of Voxes).

I'm not sure about how to handle this situation - and would like to hear your ideas.

So?