Team Info and Contacts - Templars

[Dreylin]

Swiss, do we actually know the terms of the embargo negotiated between Templars & Imperio? You are assuming that it is for military technologies - or even MC - only, but that may not necessarily have been the case. Also, Imperio have never come to us and said "we are noy willing to trade military techs with you" merely hidden behind the language barrier and ver slow diplomacy.

I agree that in all likelyhood, all of these are the case, but what does it hurt us to send the above text to Templars?

If you feel strongly that there is a better way to present this to them, please show the rest of us.

[Swiss Pauli]

From Templars in response to our offer for MC:

Regarding techtrading, we are happy to trade techs, however, the
techdeals already in place prohibit us from trading the specified deal
with your team. We are currently researching Theology, so perhaps we
can set up an exchange in the near future. We look forward to
exploring this further.

What is Theology if not a military tech? Why would Imperio not trade Monarchy, or Maths, and yet gives us the vastly valuable Currency? We don't stand to gain anything by accusing Imperio of breaking a deal when they've not done so, so why include it as a false accusation won't make Templars any better disposed towards us? It's not been a one sided embargo either.

We should replace this by stressing how much more the embargo hurts Templars than it hurt Imperio (as I already stated).

Finally, we're offering a 'substantial price', but in the preceding sentence, we're downplaying the pain we suffer by not be able to trade MC from Templars. We should try to be consistent, at least.

In the end, I don't think Templars will trade us MC, so we shouldn't give them information they don't already have, e.g. our NAP status with Imperio.

Once again, I seem to be the lone voice of dissent when it comes to our communication with Templars, so if the team wants to send something along the lines of your proposal then we can do so, but I'm not going to retract my opposition to the direction we're taking.

[ruff_hi]

not sure about this sentence ...

"As we have said before, we think this is hurting your team more than ours."

Suggest ...

"As we have said before, we feel that trade embargoes hurt the team restricting trade as much as it hurts the target."

[Dreylin]

Tweaking the existing text, I have changed the embargo sentences and removed the reference to Currency:

Honoured Knights Templar,

We wonder if you had reached consensus on our NAP extension proposal. Per that agreement, should we not hear back to the contrary before the end of the current turn, we consider the NAP extended to T134.

You may have experienced this as well, but we are finding that Imperio are most inconsistent in their dealings with us; one minute we are close trading partners and valued allies; the next, they are enacting specific technology trade embargos upon us and asking our allies to do the same. As you may already be aware, their perfidious spies have undertaken acts of sabotage within our lands. We have sent repeated emissaries to their lands seeking an extension of the NAP agreement which recently expired; all returned without gaining audience with their fickle Rulers.

We have been able to meet the lost tribe of Bananas (thank you for your offered assistance with this matter) and initiated diplomatic contact. They are as worried as we are by the rise of PAL and the premature perishing of the Rabbits, and are interested in cooperating with us against the Titans which PAL & Imperio are becoming. We would seek to add Templars to this budding alliance of smaller teams. Would you be interested?

We still hope to persuade your noble Order to allow us access to the secrets of Metal Casting. As the only empire now not possessing this key technology, we are willing to offer a substantial deal for its acquisition. Given that we have techs that you lack and that we have traded them to nearly all of the other teams it seems that we both find ourselves in a similar situation. Namely, missing a tech or two that nearly all other teams know, apparently due to a trade embargo which greatly benefits a third party.

Under what terms would you be willing to trade us Metal Casting? We are willing to make a substantial Technology offer; in addition to which we are willing to put a down-payment on your first tradable Sugar resource. We would immediately make available one of our Wine resources, to be cemented as a swap as soon as you have a spare Sugar available.
Your humble friends,

TeamRB

[Sullla]

In the end, I don't think Templars will trade us MC, so we shouldn't give them information they don't already have, e.g. our NAP status with Imperio.

That's fair enough, but we won't ever manage to swing a deal if we start with that attitude. Remember, talk is cheap. If we keep sweet-talking Templars and offer them nice deals, who knows what will happen? We sure as heck didn't think Imperio was going to trade us Currency either! (I still don't know why they did that...)

Besides, what information have we given away? Only that Imperio sabotaged us, and if Templars were watching the resource screen (which admittedly they probably weren't) they already know that. The only other thing we said was that Imperio rebuffed our attempts to extend our NAP, and Templars will kinda realize that anyway when the Imperio soldiers pour over our border. I say better to give Templars a little extra info, with a good chance of getting them on our side as allies, instead of clamming up and treating them like sullen neighbors. That will all but guarantee they side with Imperio against us...

Besides, we're offering them a really sweet deal here. Everyone seems to be looking out for themselves in this game, so I still believe there's an excellent chance we'll be able to get them to trade us Metal Casting. Especially if we can get Banana to pressure Templars as well.

[Swiss Pauli]

Well, Currency wasn't embargoed, but MC assuredly is. And Heroic Epic must be tempting for Imperio right now

I didn't have time to draft an email/PM to Templars to complain about their super-slow replies. Maybe Zeviz, as joint TL, can send one, mentioning I've gone to the mountains to meditate, such is my frustration at their (un)diplomatic corps

[Dreylin]

So did we send them anything; SP, your last message is not clear on that?

[sooooo]

SP is away until Monday. But checking our gmail account reveals no message has been sent. I can send the latest draft if we want?

[Dreylin]

I think we should send something very soon, and we were down to tweaking the wording of the draft, so I say send it.

[Zeviz]

Dreylin's final draft sent.

[Zeviz]

Maybe in a couple days we should send them a followup email with an offer for MC they just can't refuse. (HBR, Aestetics, and whatever else they are missing.)

[Dreylin]

I say we repeat the offer as soon as Impero declare on us.

[Swiss Pauli]

reply from Templars:

Esteemed Team Realms Beyond.

Our apologies about response. Brother Aidun has been heavily caught up
in RL study, however I understand he hopes to get a chance to reply
some time today.

Yours Sir Hercules.

This is a pretty lame excuse from Templars, but Aidun did reply quickly the last time he said he'd do so.

[Sullla]

If Brother Aidun can't get some kind of response to us in three weeks, maybe they should tab someone else to be their foreign minister.

Anyway, let's hope we get an answer soon. Say what you will about PAL's aggressive play and somewhat shady moves, they get an answer back to you fast.

[sooooo]

Now we have HBR, I think we should offer them HBR, aesthetics and lit in-game for Metal Casting, along with the following note:

Noble Knights Templar,

We wish to offer you aesthetics, literature and horseback riding for metal casting. We believe this is a very good deal for you and have offered the first part of the trade in-game. You get a massive beaker advantage and a military tech (further evidence of our peaceful intentions towards you). We believe this is an offer you will have a hard time refusing, despite any agreement with Imperio (who were quite happy to trade us currency).

Regards,

Realms Beyond

Quick feedback appreciated so we can get the offer in before the turn ticks over and hopefully before they log in for the final time this turn.