Diplomacy: Reports, Instructions, PMs

[Arnelos]

Got a response from Vondrack since Nimitz has apparently gone MIA over the past few days.

Originally posted by Vondrack
Hello, Arnelos!

I suspect Nimitz must be having some sort of RL troubles. He has not shown up since Saturday, I think, which is very unusual for him. He reports to me every day, if there is no problem...

This is great news about the possibility of crossing the ocean to you! We haven't been able to spot anything across the sea, but then, we had (almost) no mountains on our eastern shore. The bad news is that our galley, which will really be ready in a couple of turns, will be sailing out from a coastal city just on the opposite side of our landmass. Considering the shape of our large island (oriented in the North-West direction), it will take us quite some time to circumnavigate it to the place you mention. Alas, we have no city able to build another galley on the western shore in the near future.

Anyway, I believe it would be best if you can give me the "latitude" of the place you spotted our coastal waters from (in minimap pixels? can't think of anything more convenient), so that we know where to send our first galley to and where to attempt crossing the ocean.

Thanks a lot for the good news, we feel quite worried about what's going on on your continent. It pretty much looks like the ties between our two empires will have to strengthen... to face the expanding power of the Neu Demogyptians...

Cheers,
Radek

P.S.: The best way to get into live contact with me now is to drop in the ApolytonISDG chatroom. I am lurking there for most of the day and the chatroom is free to enter. Just say "WAKE-UP" when you get there and I will notice someone wants to talk to me. We can then open a private channel.

I'll try to meet Vondrack in chat in the near future regardless, but I need to know from Togas what I should tell him and what I should not tell him concerning this matter.

As for counting pixels, I can do that very easily using a screencapture from the current save (since I have it) if I can find a copy of that original minimap Legoland sent to us. Anyone have that?

[Arnelos]

I have now been in chat with Vondrack about Legoland stuff while E_T and Ninot have been chatting with Vondrack about ISDG stuff (mostly related to appointing ministers).

I have told Vondrack that I'm waiting for authorization from Togas before I can give an exact screenshot or anything like that. Togas should be online later in the evening, etc.

Here's the image I will send him (just an alteration of the original RP/Lego minimap trade) if and only if Togas ok's it:

[Togas]

The above minimap is perfectly acceptable. Send it to him.

--Togas

[Arnelos]

The minimap was sent yesterday.

Here is the response e-mail from Vondrack, President of Legoland:

> The location where we believe we saw your coast is marked with a white "X".

Arnelos,

Thanks a lot for the information. The place you marked really _is_ in
the coastal waters of our landmass. I have already informed our team.
We will do our best to cross the sea with a galley there as soon as
possible.

Cheers,
Radek

I think we just got Legoland to contact us first rather than GoW

The next step is to turn this into a positive benefit for our team by negotiating tech deals with Legoland, but keeping in mind that their galley will make contact with other civs in short order after us and we can't really afford to overly strong-arm them because they'll just stall us until they get contact with ND or GoW.

One thing we might do, however, is to sell contact with Legoland with such civs as Vox or GS which have no hope of contacting Legoland on their own but which ND and GoW can't sell to them for a number of turns yet because Legoland's galley won't have made it that far north.

We also need to discuss (in another thread) potential tech deals with Legoland. They will have Map Making for us, but they are very behind in other technology. We could certainly use MONEY right now for upgrading warriors to swordsmen and I'm sure they have plenty of cash due to barbarian battles, so perhaps we should sell them as much tech as possible for as much money as they'll give us?

Togas, would like some feedback so I know where to start on this with them.

[History Guy]

Here is something I must tell you know that bothers me.

You will recall that as the war in Turkey began, I sent a good sized message to Picahulu, and he only replied with that brief post, saying more would come, assuredly.

However, since then, nothing has arrived, and instead we have sighted the Arab settlers heading toward our iron deposit. Furthermore, at lunch with Senor Picahulu, we parted on good terms, but he said last to me..."Be seeing you."

My suspicion is that they make have unofficially cut off diplomatic messages to us, in a way to shut us up to whatever they have planned. I could be wrong, but that is my impression on the matter.

What should I do, My King?

Hernan de History Guy Calamari the Younger
Ambassador to Neu Theban

[Togas]

Ambassadors -- Get on the ball and contact your nations about the possibility of trading Mathematics. This needs to be done as GoW and ND both have this knowledge and they are likely marketing it right now.

Take offers for tech, cash, or whatever.

Also, I will talk to Lux to see if we can make a deal. They have cash, but if they won't offer anything, ask them to give us a worker for the knowledge. Also ask them to report on the state of the war.

You may also begin to shop Literature. See what other civs are researching and try to make a decent trade for it.

--Togas

[Togas]

Originally posted by Arnelos
One thing we might do, however, is to sell contact with Legoland with such civs as Vox or GS which have no hope of contacting Legoland on their own but which ND and GoW can't sell to them for a number of turns yet because Legoland's galley won't have made it that far north.

We also need to discuss (in another thread) potential tech deals with Legoland. They will have Map Making for us, but they are very behind in other technology. We could certainly use MONEY right now for upgrading warriors to swordsmen and I'm sure they have plenty of cash due to barbarian battles, so perhaps we should sell them as much tech as possible for as much money as they'll give us?

Togas, would like some feedback so I know where to start on this with them.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARNELOS

You are hereby given full authority to negotiate on behalf of Spain with Legoland for a "First Contact Trade Bonanza." I want this to be big and include everything we can possibly receive from Legoland.

What we should get from Legoland:
Mapmaking
Gold
Workers ( can either be dropped on our shore & captured or "rented" to us for 100 turns, etc.)
World Map
Promise to give us their next tech for some VERY minimal cost (10g?)
Promise to give us their World Map AGAIN in 20 turns (after they have aquired everyone else's WM)

What we give:
Techs they don't have (use your judgement. Be generous but don't go overboard).
Our World Map
Contact with Lux.

What we should not give:
Contact with GS, Vox.
Gold.

We need to sell GS and Vox our contact with Legoland. They can give us more for this contact than Lego can give us.

Arnelos, please begin working on this immediately. You have permission to reveal to them what technology we currently have so that a deal can be reached.

--Togas

[Arnelos]

Will do.

[Ninot]

As instructed, I informed GS that we have Math and are offering it to them

In a short and quick response, DeepO was confused, and proclaimed that he thought GS had math and was offering it to us.

he noted he will be getting back to me tonight on this issue.

[E_T]

I was chatting with Vondrack today, while he was running Lego's turn.

I have gotten the following Information from him:

1) they just completed Map Making

2) they will have a Galley built next turn

3) the Galley was produced on their western shore and he's giving a rough estimate of 25 to 30 turns to get to the point that Arnelos had shown them. They have a lot of land to sail around and they want to get as much exploring done while they are on the way.

we have such a weird shaped peninsula there we will have to navigate around.
well, we will have to explore as much as possible so as we do not have to return there.
there may be a similar place like that between us and yours but between us and GS.

He'll try to give me a better Idea for how long it will take to get here at some other time.

4) they are looking for a possible place to cross to the GS/Vox contenant first, as it's close to where they are building that boat

5) they are researching Iron Working next.

6) they have not seen any Horse Barbs as of yet, but they have a fair number of them that they are dealing with now. (do we have any idea as to when those will start to show up??).

7) that they will let us know if they have made contact with GS, so that we can trade the contact from them.

I told him:
1) to let us know when we can possibly expect to see them, so that we can try to have a unit at the coast to make contact.

2) that we have not seen an Horse barbs as of yet, but that I'm expecting them sometime soon.

Eta Tamali

[Togas]

Ninot -- Gathering Storm now has Math. Most likely they got this from Vox, but we need to know more about this team. Thus far our contact with them hasn't given us ANY deals or useful information. You are authorized to plan for a future trade of Literature, just get a good deal in return.

Also, try to chitchat a bit with some of the GS guys. We need to get them to open up to us, we need some news about what's going on on their continent and why they and Vox are both militarily weak compared to us.

History Guy -- (edited orders) I have sent Neu Dem a letter. Please send your own friendly letter when you can. Please read my letter posted a few posts below.

Contact Neu Dem about the following:

Ask them how their war with Lux is going. Tell them that we found the ruined capital of Lux Invicata and congradulate them on their great military success, ask them if they will finish off Lux or allow them to live with 1 city. Neu Dem is now the wonder of the continent, a great and powerful nation, and we praise their strength and honor.

Get a deal done for the trade of Literature. We will have it VERY Soon.

Ask them again about buying contact with Gathering Storm.

Tell them that with Lux Invicta destroyed there is now plenty of land for both of us, and we look forward to peacefully residing next to them. Tell them that we understand that they wanted to build at the silk site, we also wanted to build there, and tell them that we hope that they do not feel any anger towards us -- we both had an equal right and claim to that site and the only fair way to resolve it was to see who got it first.

Restate that now that Lux is finished, they have plenty of land to grow their great nation.

Arrange for a time for us to meet and sign a new Non-Agg pact.

Arnelos -- Get that Legoland deal worked out.

AdaMada -- Are you still out there? If so, talk to GoW, we need to find out how their war is going and what their plans are afterwards. Try to negotiate a future tech deal.

Godking -- You may do the same as adaMada.

Nuc Winter -- Get in touch with Vox. Find out what they're researching now, get a future tech deal set up. Offer to trade info about what is going on here (our continent) for what is going on there. Find out why they aren't using their Immortals to crush GS.

--Togas

[Crousto]

Originally posted by Togas
Tell them that we have no objections to Arnie's movement, thank them for not moving inside our borders.

Their scout's name is Arne (named like one of their player I guess). Beware to diplomatic incidents

[adaMada]

Originally posted by Togas

AdaMada -- Are you still out there? If so, talk to GoW, we need to find out how their war is going and what their plans are afterwards. Try to negotiate a future tech deal.
--Togas

Togas,
Yep -- as far as I could see, nothing was going on in a foreign affairs sense (at least that was impacting us) with the exception of a few techs that GoW already had. I'll get up with GoW and see what's up with them.

-- adaMada

[Arnelos]

Just got in here for the first time in what? around 24 hours?

My ISP is being rather unreliable of late because my ISP happens to also be the major phone provider for the northeast and well... the phone networks have been rather unreliable of late around here. Apparently, this has something to do with some of the cables running under ground and problems with all the snow and flooding or whatever.

ANYHOW... let simply be said that my ISP is unreliable of late.

AS SUCH,

Togas - I would highly recommend that if you want that stuff with Legoland negotiated, just do it. I'll get online when and if I can to help out, but I just can't guarantee much at the moment.

[Togas]

The following PM was sent to Darekill & Picahulu

I posted these instructions to History Guy, my ambassador to your nation, but he has been unavailable this past weekend and our relationship with your nation is far too important to leave hanging.

I would like to start by congradulating you on your stunning victory over Lux Invicta. We were very grateful that your nation was willing to wait on that war for a turn and even more releaved with Lux foolishly started the war by attacking your scout. Ever since that time we have watched Lux city after Lux city fall until they are now down to only a single size 1 city. Your victory parade is only turns away! Your nation is a powerful and noble civilization and we salute you!

Now, onto business:

We will soon have Literature, an advanced form of Writing whereby knowledge is collected into "books." We would like to arrange to trade you this new knowledge. What are you currently researching? Are you interested in trading it for Literature? Please get back to me so that we can work out a trade that benefits us both.

We have aquired contact with the distant land of the Gathering Storm and would like to sell that contact to you. Would you be willing to pay us 50g for it?

We hope that Arne's tour of Spain has been informative. As you recall we gave you an all-access tour of our nation, holding nothing back from you. We know that Arne's task is now complete and we ask that when he exits our nation in the next few turns that he not stop on the roadway that we've constructed between Pamplona and Saragossa. We have units and workers moving along this route and would be very frustrated to find Arne blocking their way. So when Arne comes down from the mountain, please move him only 1 space, then move 2 spaces next turn when you cross the road.

Now that Lux Invicta has been destroyed, we are confident that the settlement disagreement between us can be passed aside. If your nation is still in need of a source of silk turns down the road we will be happy to provide it to you, but now we both have plenty of room to grow and expand, and we have a jungle between us that should help minimize the potential threat we might imagine to exist.

Spain has room to grow. Neu Dem. has room to grow. With a jungle keeping us from rubbing elbows and causing tension, I see a great and prosperous future for us both! Our Non-Aggression pact runs out in 8 turns or so, and let us not let such an important agreement lapse! We would like to meet and officially ratify a NEW Non-aggression Pact that will last another 20 turns after this one has expired. I look forward to meeting with you all in person again, to shake hands in friendship and create a new peace accord that will create a new area of peace and friendship across our jungle border!

Please write me back soon and let's set aside a time later this week when we can gather and chat and celebrate our historic and unmitigated friendship and peace.

You have an eternal friend in Spain.

--Togas, Ruler of Spain