Team Info and Contacts - Templars

[Zeviz]

Swiss' message looks very good. I'd make one small change: Remove line about map being superfluous and say:

Since natural settling patterns from both of us have established most of our borders already, there are only two regions left that we need to agree on to ensure a mutually acceptable border agreement: ...

(This has same meaning, but without calling their suggested map "superfluous".)

Thanks to both Swiss and mh for taking the time to write these messages.

PS Please spell-check the message before sending. (Firefox highlighted a typo in the section I copied.)

[mostly-harmless]

Message with Zeviz' change sent.

mh

[sunrise089]

Good work guys. If I could have responded sooner I would have recommended we offer to gift the workboat to them after we make contact with Banana. (You can gift to non-teammates, right?)

[Swiss Pauli]

I was going to ask Templars to acknowledge receipt of our email, but then I noticed it took us 1 week to do so ourselves

[mostly-harmless]

So what, time is critical now. All the can do is, not respond in a week. So definitely ask them for a receipt.

mh

[Swiss Pauli]

Request for receipt email sent.

[Sullla]

Time to start leaning on Templars again. I suggest we send them an email containing the following stuff (in nice diplo-speak):

- PAL and Imperio are running away with the game (Civil Service/Currency, huge GNPs, etc.)

- We need to work together or we will all be rolled up separately. 3-way teamwork between RB, Templars, and Banana can keep us in this game.

- RB has no plans to attack Templars. Want a long-lasting NAP in place. [Whether this is true or not, we should say it!]

- Our borders are pretty much completely defined. There is no need to waste ink discussing this further! We each agree not to intrude on each other's territory.

- As a token of friendship, we will gift Templars wines once we get our extra sources connected. (This costs us very little, and could lead to considerable good will.) Mention we would be willing to consider trading them marble as well (we have two) if they need it.

- We would like to reiterate our hopes for an Aesthetics + Literature for Metal Casting exchange, and want to coordinate research for the future.

At some point, even this silly team has to realize that shutting us out and trading with Imperio is going to spell certain doom for them. Right?

Does everyone agree that we need to make a move like this? Imperio is NOT working with us, so Templars (and eventually Banana) are our only option.

[Zeviz]

Sounds good. How about proposing a 3-way alliance with us, them, and Bananas, when pointing out that Imperio and PAL are about to gain insurmountable lead? (It is unlikely that we'll be able to conquer both Imperio and Tempars before Astronomy, and after that settling new continents will be more appealing than fighting over Templars' poorly developed empire.)

[mostly-harmless]

Well, we loose nothing by trying.
But I am pessimistic.

Whoever writes up the message should include something along the lines Christianity vs. Islam and us being undecided but we will have to decide on a state religion soon. ... Holy Crusade ... blah ... smite the infidels with pamphlets ... blah ....

mh

[ruff_hi]

Are we sure their emails are being monitored? Anyone know someone in Templars that we can check with?

[Swiss Pauli]

I'm not going to spend my time on drafting emails whilst we have had any response from Templars to the last two emails sent. A quick glance at the trade deals concluded by them recently tells us they've definitely been in active contact with other teams.

[mostly-harmless]

We can just move Lady Godiva (our chariot on a scouting mission) one tile into their lands. This will give us line of sight into their cities (Constantinople preferably) and will sure provoke a response. We can accompany the move with short message "Looking for our emissary."

mh

[Sullla]

I'm not going to spend my time on drafting emails whilst we have had any response from Templars to the last two emails sent. A quick glance at the trade deals concluded by them recently tells us they've definitely been in active contact with other teams.

Would someone else be willing to try it then? Believe me, I understand how frustrating dealing with Templars and Imperio has been. But our situation is only going to get worse by NOT talking to our two neighbors.

[Swiss Pauli]

I've sent a chase-up PM to Aidun, Beta, and Hercules.

[sunrise089]

I'll have a proposed message up in a few.