ABCS Tech Trade Agreement discussion

[Daddy-O]

I am combining the GS and AC diplo concerning 3T formerly ABCS here:

Sent today to AC and GS...

Friends of the banana,
Now that Elvis' birthday has passed, real life holidays are over. Let's play! Any thoughts? We were so close to signing.

The Diplomatic Banana


33

[Addled Platypus]

keeping digits crossed

[Daddy-O]

GS wrote us...

We have been waiting for word from AC on their thoughts.

nye

I set a "thanks for the update" email.

[Addled Platypus]

on their conspiring maybe ????

[Daddy-O]

prolly

[Daddy-O]

from AC to Banana & GS:

Hi guys,

I'd like to say sorry for our lack of response these last weeks. Our main diplomat Impaler has been very busy lately with other stuff, and no one else got around to writing some diplomatic messages to you. We're on it now though, and someone else will send you something soon. In any case, this mail just to say we're still alive and kicking. ;-)

Greetings,

Maniac

[Daddy-O]

Still no word so I sent the following to AC and GS:

Friends,
Our wise leaders have gone to the mountain for guidance from the Great Banana whose name dare not be uttered. They smoked banana peels for 7 days as is our custom. They sought to understand why the nations that are counted as friends of the banana have stopped talking when we were so close to a deal that would take our three nations to greatness. The Great Banana granted our wise men answers in a vision.

The Great Banana spoke thus: "If friends have not sent word, the cause is your own. Wear the moistened leaves of banana shrub 'round thine brows 'til friends they prove to be. I have spoken!"

"Oh yes! Almost forgot. I gift to you the drink of the heavens. Share this knowledge with the world. Now stop burning these peels you are stinking up my mountain."

Our wise men immediately put out their peels, headed home and brewed the drink of the heavens. I am proud to share this gift with you in the hope that the 3T might be ratified and acted on, and that we might remove these wet - though blessed - leaves from our heads.

Yea! Banana!
The Diplomatic Banana

33

[Daddy-O]

and gifted the following...

[Daddy-O]

and...

[Addled Platypus]

stroll'n the fingers until we hear word from our friends/allies ?

[Wise Ass]

Wow, I've been gone a while, and I'm amazed to see that my idea has nearly turned into a three team alliance. That's amazing work guys!

[Daddy-O]

We have 'nearly' had a deal since it was proposed but diplo talks are so very slow - like this game.

Sorry. I am bored. Now to go brew some banana ale.

[Addled Platypus]

slow news is good news ?

[Daddy-O]

From GS to Banana today:

To the people of the Great Banana,

The pungent smell of smoked banana peel awoke the peoples of the Storm and Alpha Centauri, and they held converse (NYE and Impaler had a chat). The people of Alpha Centauri will soon put forth a response to the proposals of the people of the GB.

The people of the Storm eagerly await the thoughts of the aliens our Centaurian friends and look forward to the signing of the treaty between our three nations.

The Gathering Storm

[Daddy-O]

From AC to Banana today:

Fruity Friends,

We now deem ourselves sober enough to send you a formal diplo-message. Please excuse us if some drunk talk still slipped in. Team AC wants to formally thank you for the Banana beer you sent us. We are still debating what the attached "support fair trade" message means exactly. However, we are set on always conducting fair trade with fruit-farmers from (not-so-)far-away countries.

There are a few important things to tell, so the rest of this message will (sadly) be rather dry.
Tech deal
We are very interested in this tech trade, but, there has been some discussion going on about the trade. The "terms" which Gathering Storm sent both of our teams were something we could agree with 100%. However, you wanted to change a few of those points. Untill now, we stayed aside and let you and GS argue about it. However, due to the long long silence, we feel the need to speak up.

Just for reference, here is the last message we received from you about the tech trade treaty:

Do all three nations agree to the 5 terms that Team Banana offered?

1. Technology trades will be based on beakers with equality being the goal.
2. each of the three civs agrees not to retrade any technology to a non-member party acquired in trade from one of the three; without prior agreement of all three member nations.
3. trades arranged are kept even if a tech to be traded for is acquired by other means
4. each of the three teams agrees to an embargo on the team known as Vox. Technology will never be traded with Vox and borders with them will remain closed forever.
5. tech trade arragements among member nations will be common knowledge to member nations - ie. when a trade deal is finalized all 3 members will be notified even if only 2 parties are involved in the trade.

Do we need a 6th point that defines the duration of the agreement, or is this for all time? Someone pick a date, age or tech far in the future. This is not a sticking point but it is something that should be defined.

Something like:
6. Upon this world's entry into the MODERN ERA, the members of 3T will renew 3T as is, with modifications, or dissolve Tech Trade Treaty amicably.

or

6. Upon discovering and successfully trading FISSION to 3T members, the members of 3T will renew 3T as is, with modifications, or dissolve Tech Trade Treaty amicably.

Again, someone fill in the date or technology and Team Banana will most likely agree to it.

That should cover it for us.

Your second point is a little troubling for us. It allows team 1 to retrade a tech from team 2 to team 3. There's no fundamental problem with this, we should indeed try to trade techs between us 3 as much as possible. But, with "equallity being the goal", we think it's more fair if the researching nation gets the benefits of the trade, not some middleman. So, the wording of point 2 could be:

2. each of the three civs agrees not to retrade any technology acquired in trade from one of the three; without prior agreement of the researching nation.

We also think the 6th point about duration is not necessary. This treaty only outlines the basic "rules" of tech trading amongst our teams. It does not force anyone of us to trade some tech. The precise tech exchanges will be agreed upon on a case-by-case basis. Whenever a tech exchange is agreed upon, these rules will apply by default.

Due to our stance on these points, we can not offer you archery. First of all, we don't have it, but hope to receive it in trade from GS (although we are nowhere near a tech trade deal with them). Secondly, even if we get it from Storm, we would not be able to trade it to you under The Tech Trade Treaty Terms proposed by GS and ourselves. However, once we trade Alphabet to GS (normally this would be in the first AC<=>GS trade), you'll be able to get Archery from GS for one of the techs you gave us. As with our own rules, we formally agree not to retrade any tech you give us to GS. So, our view of point 2 is beneficial to you too. You'll be able to get something for all of those 4 techs from GS too. In your proposal of point 2, we are allowed to retrade your techs to GS, which is bad for you.

Given that, AC formerly changes its proposal to a two step trade of pre-requisite requirments (Fishing and Meditiation <=> Writing) followed the next turn by (Sailing, Priesthood <=> IronWorking). This is slightly less generous but still in Bananas favor in beakers. We're hopefull this is acceptable and that the loss of archery from the deal does not sour it. Keep in mind our original proposal was explicity described as tentative. This proposal on the other hand can be considered firm and if acceptable a Binding agreement can be signed by both sides to set it in stone.

Here is the tech-beaker breakdown of this proposal:
AC:
Iron Working: 286
Writing: 171
Total: 457


Bananas:
Fishing: 57
Sailing: 143
Meditation: 114
Priesthood: 85
Total: 399

Our techs for trade are already finished and we are now progressing steadily on Alphabet. We predict a technological breakthrough in 1080 or 1040 BC. How is your research going? We hope to trade as soon as possible.


The trade route
Our current workforce has been given an other important task, so our progress on roading towards you is temporarily stalled. However, we are set on teaching the advanced knowledge and all little tricks about roading to some of our brightest children. Please be assured this road is still a high priority for us. We plan to extend our road up to the river around 800 BC. What's your progress on this item? Are your two cities linked over water or are your workers building a road between them?

Vox
What do you think about GS asking both of us not to help Vox? From our communcitation with Vox, it seems they really are in a hopeless situation if left alone, but they are not dead yet. We think we should at least encourage them to stay in the game and put up as good a defense as possible. Not helping them in-game, but atleast support them emotionally. The available area south of the isthmus is bigger and more resourcefull than our northern part. If Vox is easily defeated, GS will become as powerful as our 2 teams combined. It is ofcourse always a good thing if a member of the 3-team-friendship is strong, but do you think it would be a healthy situation? Please also note that GS is currently b-lining very strongly towards elephants and catapult



Till the next time and thanks again for the Beer.

Team Alpha Centauri
For the glory of the one Yang.